Search for "route planning software" and you quickly land on systems built for corporate fleets with 500 trucks – and "price on request." For courier services, van fleets, and small freight forwarders, that is rarely the right league. This comparison puts seven relevant tools into honest perspective: what they can do, who they pay off for, and where their limits are.
Transparency up front: Maxmove TMS is our own product. We include it in the comparison, label it clearly – and say just as clearly when another tool is the better choice.
What actually matters in route planning software
Four questions decide which system fits:
- Planning type: do you plan fixed tours the evening before (classic distribution), or do you dispatch incoming orders ad hoc all day (courier business)? Many optimizers are built for the former.
- Fleet size: algorithms that optimize 500 stops across 40 vehicles cost money and onboarding. With 3 vans you need fast dispatch, not operations research.
- Driver connection: does the driver get an app with navigation, status updates, and digital proof of delivery – or a paper slip?
- Everything around it: order intake, pricing, invoicing, customer communication. Pure route optimizers solve one link of the chain.
The 7 tools at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxmove TMS | Couriers & fleets of 1–50 vehicles | AI dispatch, driver app with digital POD, booking page, marketplace orders; free entry | No optimizer for complex multi-depot networks |
| PTV Route Optimiser | Mid-size to large distribution fleets | Mature optimization algorithms, strong map base | Enterprise pricing, implementation project required |
| Ortec Routing & Dispatch | Corporate logistics, retail | Highly scalable optimization, deep ERP integration | Oversized for small fleets |
| plantour (PASS) | Forwarders with fixed tour areas | Solid tour optimization made in Germany | Focus on planning, fewer order/customer processes |
| gts systems | Distribution with depot structure | Practical tour planning, German support | Classic license software, few courier workflows |
| portatour | Field sales & visit tours | Automatic visit planning straight from the CRM | Not a transport tool: no shipments, no POD |
| Circuit for Teams | Small delivery teams, last mile | Very fast to start, fair per-driver pricing | Routes rather than dispatch; weak order management |
The details
Maxmove TMS is built for the courier business: orders arrive via booking page, email intake, or API, AI dispatch proposes the right driver, and the driver app documents every delivery with a digital proof of delivery. On top comes what no pure optimizer offers: connected fleets receive additional orders from their region via the Maxmove marketplace. Entry is free; paid plans come with a 30-day trial. Honest limit: if you optimize 2,000 stops across several depots every night, you need a dedicated optimizer like PTV or Ortec.
PTV Route Optimiser is the standard when optimization quality is the deciding criterion – for example daily distribution with tight time windows and high stop density. In exchange, you operate in the enterprise world in both price and project scope.
Ortec plays in the same league with an even stronger focus on large accounts and ERP landscapes. For a fleet under 50 vehicles it is rarely economical.
plantour and gts systems are thoroughly solid German tour planners for forwarders with recurring tour structures. If you mostly plan (rather than dispatch ad hoc) and want an on-premise-friendly setup, they are worth a look.
portatour shows up in every route planning search but is a field-sales tool: it plans customer visits for sales reps. For transport, everything is simply missing – shipments, vehicle classes, proof of delivery.
Circuit for Teams is the pragmatic entry point for small delivery teams: upload an address list, optimize the route, go. But as soon as order intake, pricing, and customer communication enter the picture, the approach hits its limits.
Our recommendation per use case
- Courier service or transport fleet with 1–50 vehicles: Maxmove TMS – dispatch, driver app, documentation, and extra orders in one system. Start for free
- Distribution fleet with hundreds of stops per night: PTV or Ortec – real tour optimization pays off here.
- Forwarder with fixed tour areas: plantour or gts systems.
- Field sales: portatour – and only that.
- Small team, last mile only: Circuit for Teams.
Still unsure what your fleet needs? The TMS overview shows every feature – from fleet management to digital delivery documentation – and you can start a free trial right away.
