The best package tracking apps for the holidays
This holiday season, there will be a lot of packages on people’s doorsteps.
While many of us are gearing up (or already starting) to shop for gifts online, we all need a better way to track packages heading to our front door.
There’s no shortage of apps available to help you track packages when you have a tracking number, but with so many options available, which one is the best?
We’ve made the decision easier by highlighting the best package tracking apps to keep tabs on your packages this holiday season. Simply download a package tracking app and enter your tracking number.
What is a Package Tracking App?
Rather than switching between shopping apps to track your packages or searching the web for tracking numbers, you can use tracking apps.
Installing a package tracking app on your smartphone allows you to view all your shipments from multiple sources in one place – no mixing apps on your iOS or Android device.
Package tracking apps offer a variety of features, but many share a few similarities which we’ll cover. Our favorite package tracking apps will automatically add new packages to your watchlist by linking to your Amazon account or by scanning your email for tracking numbers.
We’ve focused on tracking apps that are free or offer the majority of their features at no cost – just enter a tracking number to get started.
While all of these package tracking apps come highly recommended, be sure to check out the details of each to find the perfect option for your shopping habits.
Road: the best package tracking application
After hands-on testing with a host of package tracking apps for iOS and Android, we’ve selected Itinerary as our favorite. This excellent package tracking app is free and offers a visual map to see where your packages are in transit.
Route offers a beautiful and simplistic interface that’s easy to use and integrates well with several email services, including Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud. Route will automatically add the package if a tracking number is discovered in a received email.
Route also easily integrates with Amazon, allowing you to keep tabs on packages. Amazon has made it increasingly difficult to track packages with third-party apps, but solutions like Route use nifty tricks to enable the feature.
The Route app even includes built-in functionality to handle order issues. With just a few clicks, you can report packages stolen, damaged or lost in transit. Route is truly our favorite package tracking app this year for the holiday season.
Download for iOS Where android.
Package Tracking App Honorable Mentions
We’ve found our best package tracking app, Route, to provide an optimal experience that we think everyone will love. However, since opinions are just opinions, we’ve listed some honorable mentions for those looking for something different to track shipments.
Shop
The Shop the application has become more and more popular thanks to its tight integration with many independent online stores, thanks to the Shopify Platform. But, in addition to integrating with small stores, the Shop app can import packages directly from Amazon.
If Amazon or the independent online store you purchased from doesn’t work with the Shop app, you can have the app scan your emails for tracking numbers. The Shop app supports both Gmail and Outlook email accounts. (Sorry, iCloud fans, out of luck here.)
Opening the Shop app puts you straight into a shopping tab trying to show you the stores and items you want to buy, but navigating to your orders is just a click away. If you decide to purchase with the Shop app, you can even pay later with monthly installments.
Download for iOS Where android.
Deliveries
The Deliveries package tracker is the only paid app in our lineup, but at just $4.99 per year or 99 cents per month, it’s a worthy recommendation. If you choose to unsubscribe from the app at any time, you will be able to view package history, but you will not be able to add new deliveries.
Like the other apps we’ve recommended, Deliveries lets you track all your packages in one place. For automated tracking, you can configure any courier to forward tracking numbers to the app.
The deliveries you add will be synced across your devices using iCloud, so you can track your packages across multiple devices. We also love that Deliveries lets you add delivery dates to your calendar for easy tracking.
Oh, and the best part? The Deliveries package tracker does not try to sell you products when you open the app like all the other best package tracker apps on this list.
Download for iOS (not available for Android).
FedEx, Postal Service, UPS and DHL Tracking
Don’t care about seeing all your plans in one app? You can download individual apps for delivery couriers, such as FedEx, US Postal Service, UPS, and DHL.
While these apps don’t let you track everything, you usually have access to more advanced tracking information, such as rescheduling deliveries and adding shipping notes.
If you don’t have a tracking number, many official postal services will allow you to see incoming packages simply based on your address.
Here are delivery apps for some of the most popular courier services:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I see exactly where my package is?
Package tracking apps use tracking information provided by postal services, such as USPS or FedEx, to show location information. You usually won’t be able to see the location of your package in real time, but you will see approximate locations based on recent courier updates.
Can I track a package with an order number?
In most situations, you will not be able to track a package with an order number. However, if you have an order number, you may be able to contact the retailer of your shipment and obtain a package tracking number.
How do I track a package I ordered?
We recommend that you download and install a package tracking app on your Android or iOS device to track the packages you have ordered. Our favorite package tracking app is Itinerary.
Can Google track a package?
If you search Google with your tracking number, Google will provide you with your tracking information. However, we recommend using a package tracking app for a more organized approach.
Michael Archambault is a senior technology writer for The Penny Hoarder.
