How to Choose the Best GPS for Delivery Drivers in 2023

Working in the delivery business is all about speed and efficiency. The more efficient your route plan is, the less time you have to spend driving around. It’s that simple.

The faster you can get your route done, the earlier you can finish and pick up another shift or even go home.

This means your GPS is one of the most important tools in your arsenal, telling you where you are and getting you to where you need to be. Nice, right?

If you’re having a hard time making your stops on time, however, your current GPS may not be enough to get your deliveries done as quickly as you want.

To make the delivery process go more smoothly, in this article I will explain how to choose the best GPS for delivery drivers and discuss why you might need more than just GPS tracking to get the job done. Keep reading to find out what you’ve been missing in your delivery toolbox.

The best GPS for delivery drivers is what you already use, but it needs help

It’s true, the best GPS for you is the one you already use! You have it all figured out, you’re used to it, and it works for you.

What could be better?

Obviously, features that can help you plan your routes — so you can get done earlier and keep customers in the loop about their packages.

The good news is that you can still use your favorite GPS system, just with the added power of a route optimization tool that works with it, like Circuit Route Planner!

Below, we compare four of the most popular GPS apps, all of which can work well with our route optimization software.

Google Maps: Best for low volume

Google Maps is a trusted source for real-time traffic and road closure information.

Google Maps also lets you save addresses, pin your parking location, and save routes for offline use in case of poor cell service.

The app has a routing feature as well, but it only allows up to 10 stops. And you have to plan the order of your deliveries yourself because it doesn’t optimize your route.

Cost: Free as long as you don’t exceed the monthly limit

Best for: Google Maps is an excellent option for motorists. It’s also very helpful to bike deliveries because it shows designated bike routes and flatter surfaces.

How do I get unlimited stops on Google Maps?

Sadly, adding more than ten stops on Google Maps is a real pain. But there's a solution — Google's My Maps feature lets you plan up to 100 stops. It'll take some extra work, but it's doable.

Check out our full guide on how to plan a route with Google Maps

Apple Maps: Best for turn-by-turn navigation

Apple Maps is only available to iPhone owners, of course, and for those who have Apple CarPlay in their vehicles. The fun thing with Apple Maps, though, is that you can simply ask Siri for directions.

And you’ll get turn-by-turn directions, including the lane you’re supposed to be in. It also shows you the speed limit of the road you’re on. You can choose to see a 3D map of your destination if you want to scope out the parking situation.

Cost: Free

Best for: Apple Maps is a great choice for Apple device owners who would like hands-free, turn-by-turn directions.

Waze: Best for avoiding traffic

Waze is another widely used GPS app on the market. And part of its appeal is its interactive customer experience.

Waze lets users submit traffic updates and road hazards, then combines them with its GPS information and real-time tracking to provide the best possible route for users.

Waze lets you enter multiple stops as well, but you’ll have to decide on the best order to get to them.

Cost: Free

Best for: Waze is best for drivers who want to avoid traffic problems. The app also offers three different routes, if available, so it’s good for drivers who want a few choices.

HERE WeGo: Best for poor cell signal

HERE WeGo used to be Here Maps. It’s also the default map installed on German cars like Audi, Mercedes, and BMW.

The app is actually impressive, as it offers turn-by-turn directions that are accessible in both offline and online modes. When offline, it finds the shortest route without real-time traffic updates.

HERE WeGo also provides information for cycling routes and public transport like buses and trains.

Cost: Free

Best for: HERE WeGo is best for drivers who have limited data or who spend a lot of time in areas with poor cell signal. Simply use the offline mode or download the map, and you’re covered even if you lose internet connection.

What is GPS route optimization?

Route optimization is just a fancy term for how you plan your most efficient route for the day. As a delivery driver, it’s not far-flung to say your job involves many things you have to keep track of, like:

• First, you probably make multiple drop-offs. On a slow day, you’re probably looking at 40 stops; on busy days, it’s more like 80 to 200. Whew, right?!
• Second, you have to consider urgent or time-sensitive deliveries. Obviously, those are the packages you probably need to prioritize.
• Lastly, you have to constantly prepare for and adjust your route for traffic alerts or any unexpected delays. It’s annoying, but it’s a fact of life for delivery drivers.

With Google Maps or GPS units like TomTom or Garmin, it can be hard to make a route plan that takes all of the above into account in the most efficient way possible.

But with a route planning and route optimization tool like Circuit Route Planner, you can easily create the best route, adding in as many stops as you need to make your deliveries — and prioritizing those time-sensitive packages in the back of your vehicle.

As you know, having the best plan for your route means less driving time and less money spent on gas. And when you’re being paid per package, being able to fit in more deliveries for the day means more income for you!

The best part is that you can do all of this from your phone using your preferred GPS app — whether that’s Google Maps, Waze, or your iPhone’s Apple Maps.

Circuit Route Planner also lets you re-optimize your route in case of last-minute changes, like a canceled delivery or traffic delays. Not to mention it’ll collect proof of delivery, whether you need a signature or have to take a photo using your smartphone.

Cutting down on any confusion about a package’s location is always a good thing!

How does Circuit Route Planner's optimization app work?

So, how can you get in on the action? It’s easy! Step one is to go to your preferred app store and download Circuit Route Planner on your phone. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices.

When you log in, the app will ask for your preferred GPS system. You can choose Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, or any other navigation app you have installed.

From there, start adding your stops to build your route either by typing, through voice, or by using map pins.

Don’t worry, though, Circuit Route Planner has the same auto-complete technology as Google Maps to help you put in addresses quickly.

Next, enter any notes, such as if you need to take a photo for proof of delivery or if you need to send notifications to the customer ahead of time. This way you’ll never forget what needs to be completed at each address.

The app also lets you set delivery times for VIP packages if you have any of those.

Then, once you’ve added all your delivery stops, click “optimize” and Circuit Route Planner will create the fastest route.

All you need to do is follow the plan and tweak it as you go about your day. It’s that simple!

If you’re part of a team and get a prepared route from your dispatcher, Circuit Route Planner also lets you rework the route as you go about your day to account for any delays or changes in your plan.

Try Circuit Route Planner free now.

The benefits of GPS route optimization

Obviously, GPS apps are great and can be a super-helpful tool. They tell you where you are so you can accurately get from point A to point B.

They can even have extra features, like real-time traffic information and auto-complete addresses.

But for a small business owner or professional delivery driver like you, you probably need more than just being able to easily look up addresses.

For instance, Google Maps only lets you add up to 10 stops for a trip. And you have to manually arrange your route for efficiency or it might have you going back and forth or backtracking for missed deliveries.

If you have hundreds of stops to make, this obviously won’t work well. You might even have to pull off on the side of the road to rearrange your route.

Fortunately, a route optimization tool like Circuit Route Planner does all the heavy lifting for you — helping you save time by allowing you to enter all your stops in one go.

It’s also super-easy to add, delete, or re-optimize your stops while on your route with hands-free voice entry.

It can even pick up on time-sensitive deliveries. For instance, if you’re delivering food or anything of that nature, you’ll probably be expected to get there within a set time frame.

No one wants their food going cold!

No one wants their food going cold!

Another nifty feature is the package finder, allowing you to keep track of where you’ve put specific packages in and around your vehicle.

The less time you have to spend looking for a package, the quicker you can deliver it.

So, optimized route planning is definitely the way to go if you want to find the best route possible, keep customers happy, and get done with your work faster.

Time is money, and the last thing you want is to have to backtrack missed deliveries, sit in traffic, or hunt for addresses! Life’s too short to be that stressed out.

Download the Circuit route optimization app

Frankly, if you want to make more money being a courier, you need route optimization software. Route management tools like Circuit Route Planner are a must in your job.

With route optimization, integration with GPS navigation apps, proof of delivery, on-the-fly adjustments, and a fast package finder, you won’t have to stress about making your stop on time.

This also means you won’t have to spend more money on gas going back and forth, up and around, following a route that’s not optimized or efficient at all.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your delivery job that much better with Circuit Route Planner. Start optimizing your delivery routes today so you can spend more time doing the things you love.