Top Problems With Distance Planner Apps in 2026

We analyzed 17 negative reviews from the top 5 Distance Planner apps on the App Store. Here's what users hate most.

17
Reviews Analyzed
9
Issues Found
72/100
Opportunity Score

Top User Complaints

Ranked by frequency — how often each complaint appears in negative reviews.

#1: Forced subscription/paywall after data entry

High Severity

47% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"They let you add all your stops but then you can't do anything unless you pay $20 or try a "free" 7 day trial"
"They ask for money after you enter all the addresses. They should've asked for payment in the beginning"

#2: Poor route optimization accuracy

High Severity

24% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"This doesn't optimise it randomly puts the route in order"
"I can't tell how, bit it already led me stray four times, leading me to the house-next to intended address"

#3: App crashes and error messages

High Severity

18% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"Kept getting error messages when trying to use the app. Don't recommend"
"App not working wont let me log in, or do anything… used a different phone same thing"

#4: Excessive pricing ($20/month)

High Severity

35% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"It's way more than what I think it's worth"
"I found this while looking for a free app to plan routes, it will allow you to input your entire route before asking for $20 a month"

#5: Tedious UI and navigation handoff

Medium Severity

18% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"The UI is tedious while driving and the import route feature is fickle and doesnt always work"
"it takes you from its app to bring up supporting (your regular GPS) app which is time consuming"

#6: Limited free tier functionality

Medium Severity

24% of negative reviews mention this issue.

"I had the free version which is up to four routes per plan and they are now making me pay for a premium service"
"U have to pay to do anything past 5 so might as well stick with google"

UX Pain Points

Design and usability issues driving negative reviews.

Bait-and-switch monetization flow

Users invest time entering all addresses before being hit with paywall, creating frustration and feeling of manipulation

"They let you add all your stops but then you can't do anything unless you pay $20 or try a "free" 7 day trial"

Difficult to learn interface

Route organization and initial app navigation has steep learning curve compared to alternatives

"I found this app not so easy at first to organize my routes. It took a bit longer to learn than other apps"

App-to-GPS handoff friction

Switching between route planning app and actual navigation app creates time-consuming workflow interruption

"it takes you from its app to bring up supporting (your regular GPS) app which is time consuming"

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