Compare
Routal vs Descartes
Routal and Descartes, point by point: planning, dispatch, tracking and proof of delivery.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Routal | Descartes | |
|---|---|---|
| Route optimization | ||
| Advanced constraints (time windows, capacity, skills) | Included | Included |
| Zone-based planning | Included | Included |
| Real-time traffic routing | Included | Included |
| Traffic simulator | Included | Included |
| Electric vehicle optimization | Included | Not published |
| Driver management | ||
| Native driver app (iOS & Android) | Included | Included |
| Route dispatch (WhatsApp, push) | Included | Included |
| Proof of delivery (photo, signature) | Included | Included |
| Barcode / label scanning | Included | Not published |
| Offline mode for drivers | Included | Not published |
| Customer experience | ||
| Real-time fleet tracking | Included | Included |
| SMS & email notifications | Included | Partial / limited |
| WhatsApp notifications | Included | Not published |
| White-label customer portal | Included | Partial / limited |
| Customer satisfaction ratings | Included | Not published |
| Analytics & reporting | ||
| Delivery status analytics | Included | Included |
| CO₂ emissions calculation | Included | Not published |
| Developer tools | ||
| Full REST API | Included | Included |
| Configurable webhooks | Included | Not published |
| Support & onboarding | ||
| Guided onboarding | Included in Enterprise | Included |
| Dedicated support manager | Included in Enterprise | Included |
Included Partial / limited Paid extra Not included Not published
Why some teams step off Descartes
Rarely about the product. About the size of the suit.
With Descartes
They bought for an operation bigger than theirs
Bought for the three-year plan. Three years on, the fleet is the same and the team uses a fraction.
The rollout ate the year
The project tied up operations for months. By go-live, the problem had already been solved by hand.
Every adjustment depended on someone outside
Delivery rules change every few weeks. If each change is a request, the system runs a month behind the street.
With Routal
Live this week, not this quarter
Upload a CSV and deliver that afternoon. If the ERP needs wiring in, that's weeks, not quarters.
Sized for your operation
Descartes targets fleets above 20 vehicles. At 5–30 daily routes, you pay for a suite built for someone else.
Changes without raising a ticket
Zones, time windows or the driver workflow: your dispatcher changes them on screen. No ticket, no consultant.
Trusted by logistics teams worldwide
Customer results
Real results from real operations
Delivery teams already running on Routal, in their own numbers.
+15%
more productivity at Alfil Logistics
30 min
of training to plan routes at Sant Joan de Déu
★★★★★
“Routal has become a key tool in our daily operations. We save time, money, and gained full visibility over our entire operation. The experience couldn't be better.”
Lucio M.
Director · Facilities Services
★★★★★
“The platform is very intuitive and easy to use. It lets you optimize routes quickly and efficiently and monitor deliveries in real time, which translates to significant time and cost savings.”
María S.
Route Manager · Food & Beverages
★★★★★
“It's a very easy-to-use platform, and support is fast and efficient when you have questions. I've been using it for two years without any issues.”
Claudia R.
Logistics Manager · Construction
★★★★★
“I've used it at different companies and it has brought great benefits: better fleet utilization, fuel savings, reduced wear, and lower maintenance costs.”
Manuel Enrique F.
Logistics Manager · Transportation
★★★★★
“We're very happy using Routal. It's simple and easy to learn, super useful for new team members. Creating new stops is incredibly easy with bulk and individual upload.”
Onasis M.
Planning Lead · Logistics & Supply Chain
★★★★★
“What I liked most about Routal is how user-friendly the platform is. The maps, the dynamism, the fonts: everything is very easy and quick to learn.”
Dana M.
Planning Analyst · Logistics & Supply Chain
★★★★★
“Great route optimization, ease of use, and above all customer support. When you have questions, they're always resolved quickly.”
Noemí M.
Logistics & Planning · Transportation
★★★★★
“My experience has been great. They're always updating with new tools. It's very dynamic and the time calculations are perfect when designing routes.”
Marco G.
Planning & Logistics · Transportation
★★★★★
“The intuitive way to use it. No thousands of buttons for basic tools, and the interface is super dynamic and pleasant. It's been the most reliable routing platform.”
Axell D.
Communications · Logistics & Supply Chain
★★★★★
“I've been using it for over 5 years and I'm satisfied. They focus on functionality while keeping a clean aesthetic. Customer support is fast.”
José Enrique R.
Licensed Professional · Construction
★★★★★
“It fills me with satisfaction to generate my routes knowing there's no margin of error. The daily route optimization is fantastic and you learn fast.”
Eduardo F.
Logistics Manager · Transportation
★★★★★
“I build flexible routes, and Routal helps me offer efficient options.”
Hilda O.
Bachelor's Degree · Logistics & Supply Chain
★★★★★
“It's a very helpful app: it saves a lot of time when planning our logistics.”
Manuel Alejandro C.
Technician · Business Supplies & Equipment
Routal vs Descartes
What teams ask before deciding
Real questions from teams with a Descartes quote on the table.
What is the difference between Routal and Descartes?
Descartes is an enterprise logistics suite: routing, telematics, visibility, customs and global trade under one group, sold consultatively with assisted implementation and custom pricing. Routal is a last-mile delivery management platform that goes live on its own and is operated from inside the team. On planning capability we are far closer than the difference in company size suggests. Where the two genuinely separate is time to the first productive day, and who has to be involved to change something.
What does Descartes do better?
Serious things. Their optimization is continuous rather than batch: an order arrives, traffic shifts or a driver calls in sick, and it re-optimizes incrementally without breaking fixed routes, which at scale is a real advantage. They handle multi-depot operations with large vehicle counts and either centralized or branch-based planning. They use historical traffic alongside live data. And their catalogue reaches well beyond delivery: if you need customs, global trade or freight visibility from the same vendor, we do not compete there. For large fleets across several sites, Descartes is the sensible choice.
When does Descartes make more sense than Routal?
Their own site says it: the ideal fit is fleets of more than twenty vehicles, and in practice they shine well above that. If you run fifty trucks, several depots, strategic network planning and a department able to carry a months-long project, Descartes is built for you and we are not going to pretend we cover the same ground. If it is vans in a city, five to thirty routes a day, and the person who plans also answers the phone when a delivery fails, the size of the suit matters more than the size of the catalogue.
What does each one cost, and how long does it take?
Descartes does not publish pricing: the model is a tailored quote after a commercial phase, and the rollout is planned as a project with consultancy and integration. That is not a criticism, it is how enterprise software is sold. On our side, the Standard plan's price is on the website and you start the same day if orders come from a spreadsheet. If an ERP or e-commerce platform has to be connected, on Enterprise we build it with you during the month of onboarding. The useful question is not which licence is cheaper, but how much of your team's time each option consumes before it produces a first result.
How much does Routal cost?
Routal costs €199 a month with 4 vehicles included, and each extra vehicle adds €49 a month, excluding VAT. You can try it for 10 days without a card. If you need to connect it to your ERP or want us to run the rollout with you, Enterprise is priced to fit and includes a month of onboarding.
Still missing an answer? Talk to our team
How much does Routal cost?
Routal costs €199 a month with 4 vehicles included, and each extra vehicle adds €49 a month, excluding VAT. You can try it for 10 days without a card. If you need to connect it to your ERP or want us to run the rollout with you, Enterprise is priced to fit and includes a month of onboarding.
See full pricingReady to switch from Descartes?
Import your data and go live in under a week. No lock-in.