Quick Summary
- Stream (formerly Go2Stream) and SmartRoutes are both designed for businesses that run their own delivery fleet across the UK and Ireland.
- Stream combines route planning with a strong fleet compliance toolkit, including walkaround checks, defect reporting, and vehicle inspection scheduling.
- SmartRoutes focuses on fast route planning, customer experience, and out of the box integrations with tools like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Mintsoft.
- SmartRoutes supports features such as recurring routes, automated scheduling, driver breaks, vehicle capacity optimisation, and bike friendly routing as standard parts of the planning workflow.
- When you look at effective per vehicle costs, SmartRoutes typically undercuts Stream’s routing plans while still including tracking, proof of delivery, and customer notifications.
Route planning software has come a long way in a short space of time. What used to take transport planners hours of manual work can now be completed in minutes, with the right platform doing the heavy lifting across route optimization, driver dispatch, proof of delivery, and customer notifications.
For businesses in the UK and Ireland managing their own delivery fleet, two names that frequently come up in the same conversation are Stream (formerly Go2Stream) and SmartRoutes. Both are built for UK and European operations, both cover the core delivery workflow, and both serve businesses running their own vehicles rather than outsourcing to couriers.
This guide breaks down exactly where each platform sits, how they compare on features and pricing, and which type of business is better suited to each.
What is Stream (Formerly Go2Stream)?
Stream, previously known as Go2Stream, is a UK-based Transport Management System (TMS) built for businesses that manage their own fleet of vehicles for deliveries and collections. The platform covers the full logistics workflow from route planning and optimization to driver dispatch, electronic proof of delivery, barcode tracking, and vehicle compliance.
What sets Stream apart from many delivery-focused platforms is the breadth of its compliance tools. Alongside standard route planning, Stream includes walkaround checks, defect reporting, and vehicle inspection scheduling features that are more commonly found in broader telematics suites. This makes it a strong fit for businesses that need to manage both delivery operations and fleet compliance in a single system.
SmartRoutes Route Planning Software
Streamline your entire delivery process, all from one platform
Stream's Core Features
Stream's current feature set covers:
- Route Planning and Optimization: single-click route optimization for deliveries and collections, with multi-depot support and resource scheduling
- Proof of Delivery (ePOD): GPS-stamped, photo-verified, signature-capture delivery confirmation in the driver mobile app
- Barcode Tracking: item-level track and trace from goods-in through to delivery
- Delivery Tracking and Notifications: real-time customer tracking links and automated email/SMS updates
- Logistics Monitoring: a 'control tower' view across drivers, vehicles, and orders on the day of delivery
- Walkaround Checks and Defect Reporting: paperless vehicle checks and defect capture with a full audit history
- Vehicle Inspection Scheduling: automated reminders for MOTs, services, and inspections
- Driver and Vehicle Management: centralized records for licences, skills, holiday, and vehicle types
- Turn GPS Navigation: commercial vehicle and HGV sat-nav app (available as an add-on at £9 per licence per month)
- Analytics: connect Stream data to your preferred BI tool for custom reporting dashboards
Who Stream is Built For
Stream works well for wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and 3PL providers managing their own fleet. Its compliance toolkit makes it particularly relevant for businesses running HGVs or other commercial vehicles where driver licence management and vehicle roadworthiness records matter as much as the delivery workflow itself.
SmartRoutes vs Stream: Feature Comparison
Both platforms cover the core delivery workflow, but there are clear differences in how they handle integrations, route planning flexibility, fleet management, and day to day operations.
Where SmartRoutes Has the Edge
Out of the box integrations
SmartRoutes connects directly to the tools many delivery teams already use. Out of the box integrations are available for platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Mintsoftr, along with an open API and webhooks for custom connections. This keeps your tech stack joined up without the need for ongoing custom development every time a new system is added.
Scheduling, recurring routes, and automation
You can schedule routes in advance, create recurring routes on fixed patterns, and automatically assign orders to drivers and vehicles based on territories, depots, or tags. This cuts planning time and helps keep regular customers on consistent, predictable runs.
Vehicle capacity, load balancing, and route costs
Capacity settings for weight, volume, and item count, combined with load balancing across the fleet, allow the routing engine to build realistic routes that keep vehicles well utilized. Analytics on route distance, stop counts, and time on the road give clear visibility on route costs, which supports better pricing and margin decisions.
Driver breaks and realistic plans
SmartRoutes supports driver working hours and breaks so that routes are planned around how your team actually works. You can set driver start and finish times, define break rules, and let the routing engine respect those limits when building routes. This improves compliance with working time rules and helps avoid routes that look good on a map but are not practical in the real world.
Flexible routing for mixed fleets, including bikes
Many delivery operations now use a mix of vans, cars, and bikes. SmartRoutes supports vehicle specific profiles and bike friendly routing, so planners can match the right vehicle to the right job and area. That flexibility is especially useful in urban areas where bikes or small vehicles can complete more stops in less time.
Delivery experience and communication
SmartRoutes focuses strongly on the end customer experience. Automated notifications, live tracking links, and clear proof of delivery give customers accurate information and reduce inbound queries to support teams. This steady flow of information helps keep first time delivery success high and makes it easier to resolve any issues that do arise.
Vehicle checks alongside routing
Drivers can complete vehicle checks in the app before they start a route, capture issues quickly, and keep a log of checks attached to each vehicle. This gives operations teams more confidence that vehicles are ready for the road without having to rely on separate paper forms or standalone tools.
Where Stream Has the Edge
Fleet compliance and walkaround checks
Stream is built with fleet compliance at its core. Walkaround checks, defect reporting, and vehicle inspection scheduling are part of the standard toolkit, giving transport managers a complete audit trail for every vehicle. Drivers complete checks in the mobile app, report defects with photos and notes, and office teams are notified so maintenance can be scheduled without delay.
Vehicle inspection scheduling and maintenance history
For fleets that need tight control over services, MOTs, and inspections, Stream includes automated reminders and a central record of all completed checks and maintenance events. This helps keep vehicles roadworthy, reduces the risk of missed inspections, and provides clear documentation if you ever need to evidence your processes.
HGV routing and heavy fleet focus
Stream is particularly strong for operations running HGVs and larger commercial vehicles. The platform supports truck aware routing, with an optional HGV navigation add on that takes vehicle weight, height, and length into account so drivers avoid unsuitable roads and low bridges.
Item level tracking and barcode workflows
For wholesalers, distributors, or retailers that need item level visibility, Stream supports barcode scanning across the delivery lifecycle. Items can be scanned on and off vehicles and tracked through to final delivery, creating a detailed history for each order or pallet. This provides strong traceability and helps identify where any loss or damage occurred in the journey.
Pricing: SmartRoutes vs Stream
Stream Pricing
Stream uses a subscription model priced per platform, with vehicles included in each plan. All pricing below is billed monthly.
Key notes on Stream pricing:
- The Check plan covers walkaround checks and compliance features only, route planning and optimization require the Starter plan or above
- Onboarding (implementation, support, and training) is chargeable and quoted separately
- HGV GPS Navigation is an optional add-on at £9 per licence per month
- SMS notifications are charged per text credit across all plans
- Stream’s Starter plan on a per vehicle basis, comes in at roughly £66 per vehicle per month
SmartRoutes Pricing
SmartRoutes operates on a per-vehicle, per-month model. All plans include unlimited drivers, and pricing below is billed monthly.
Key notes on SmartRoutes pricing:
- Lower route planning entry cost at just $26 compared to Streams £66 (per vehicle, per month)
- Priced per vehicle per month with unlimited drivers, so you only pay for active vehicles rather than individual users.
Which One is Right for Your Business?
Choose SmartRoutes if:
- You run a delivery operation of any size and need a full-featured, easy-to-use platform from day one
- Your business sells through Shopify, WooCommerce, or Mintsoft and wants seamless order-to-route automation
- You want transparent per-vehicle pricing with no hidden onboarding costs
- You need customer-facing tools like a live tracking portal, customer booking portal, or branded delivery notifications
Choose Stream if:
- Your business manages a commercial fleet and needs vehicle compliance tools (walkaround checks, defect reporting, MOT scheduling) alongside route planning
- You run HGVs and need route planning with vehicle weight and dimension restrictions
- You require item-level barcode tracking across your warehouse and delivery operation
- You already have development resource in-house to handle API-based integrations
SmartRoutes vs Stream: Choosing the Best Fit for Your Fleet
Both SmartRoutes and Stream are strong options for businesses that manage their own fleet and want more control over delivery operations, but they focus on different priorities. Stream leans toward fleets where compliance, walkaround checks, and HGV routing are central concerns, while SmartRoutes is built around fast route planning, customer experience, and tight connections to the systems you already use every day.
For most last mile and local delivery teams, SmartRoutes offers a lower effective cost per vehicle, a straightforward setup, and a modern toolset for planning, dispatching, and tracking every route from a single platform. If you want to see how it works in your own operation, you can start a 7 day free trial with no credit card required and test real routes, live tracking, proof of delivery, and customer notifications before committing to a paid plan.
FAQs
1. Is Go2Stream the same as Stream?
Yes. Go2Stream rebranded to Stream, but it is the same UK based transport management system. The product, website, and pricing now appear under the Stream name, although many businesses still search for it as Go2Stream.
2. How much does Stream cost per month?
Stream’s pricing starts from £40 per month for basic vehicle checks and compliance, with routing and proof of delivery available on higher plans. The Starter plan begins at £175 per month for three vehicles, and when you break it down that typically works out at around £66 or more per vehicle per month once additional vehicles are added.
3. How does SmartRoutes pricing work?
SmartRoutes uses per vehicle pricing with unlimited drivers on every plan. Core routing starts from around the mid £20s per vehicle per month when converted from the published dollar and euro prices, with higher tiers adding tracking, proof of delivery, notifications, analytics, and integrations. Overall this keeps the effective per vehicle cost below what many fleets would typically pay for a routing plan on Stream.
4. Does SmartRoutes integrate with Shopify and WooCommerce?
Yes. SmartRoutes has out of the box integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Mintsoft, and other tools, along with an open API and webhooks. Orders can flow directly from your store or order management system into SmartRoutes so routes are created automatically without manual file uploads.
5. Do both SmartRoutes and Stream offer vehicle checks?
Both platforms support vehicle checks, but they are positioned slightly differently. SmartRoutes includes in app vehicle checks so drivers can complete simple checks before they start a route, while Stream goes further into fleet compliance with walkaround checks, detailed defect reporting, and scheduled inspections across the fleet.
6. Can I try SmartRoutes before I switch from Stream?
Yes. You can start a SmartRoutes free trial and use your own vehicles, drivers, and orders to test routing, tracking, proof of delivery, and notifications. This gives you a clear view of how SmartRoutes would work in your operation before you make any long term decision.
If you enjoyed this blog, you might also be interested in:
Caroline Hassett
Caroline Hassett