Routeware vs Trash Flow
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
Routeware
Waste and recycling collection software for private haulers and municipalities: routing, dispatch, in-cab tools, billing and resident engagement
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Best team size
- 25-1000
- Free trial
- None listed
Trash Flow
Modular billing, routing and container software for trash haulers, installed on Windows, from Ivy Computer
- Starting price
- No monthly plan (see pricing note)
- Best team size
- 1-200
- Free trial
- 90 days
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on Routeware and Trash Flow differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Price transparency: Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan). Routeware does not, so you need a quote from Routeware to compare them.
- → Free trial: Trash Flow offers a 90-day free trial. Our data records no free trial for Routeware.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: Routeware: samsara, geotab, esri, worldpay.
- → Features listed for one tool only: Routeware: fleet management, customer portal, crm; Trash Flow: route planning, container tracking, online invoicing.
Quick verdict
Routeware: Private waste haulers and city or county solid waste departments that need route optimization, dispatch, in-cab driver tools, billing and customer or resident self-service across a collection fleet.
Trash Flow: Residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo.
Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Routeware quotes only.
Routeware lists more integrations in our data (5 vs 0).
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick Routeware if…
- → Your situation matches Routeware's target profile: Private waste haulers and city or county solid waste departments that need route optimization, dispatch, in-cab driver tools, billing and customer or resident self-service across a collection fleet
- → Integrations matter: Routeware lists 5 integrations in our data, against 0 for Trash Flow
Pick Trash Flow if…
- → Your situation matches Trash Flow's target profile: Residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo
- → You want to try before buying: Trash Flow offers a 90-day free trial; our data records none for Routeware
- → You want to budget before asking for a quote: Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Routeware quotes only
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | Routeware | Trash Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Custom quote: quote | Base + Billing + Advanced Billing with Container Tracking ($3,600) |
| Tier 2 | - | Base + Billing + Advanced Billing with Routing and Container Tracking ($4,150) |
| Tier 3 | - | TipTicket landfill package with Trash Flow Plus and 1 scale house ($3,950) |
Routeware publishes no price, so ask for a written quote for your team size. Trash Flow publishes module or per-project prices rather than a monthly plan (listed in its full review), so compare the total over the period you expect to use it.
Pros & cons
Routeware
- + Founded in 2000
- − No published pricing (custom quote based on fleet size, services and needs)
- − The product line spans several brands (Elements, SmartCity, ReCollect and older products), so scope the quote carefully
- − Built for collection fleets and public agencies, not small rental-only or junk removal businesses
- − No free trial in our data (Trash Flow offers 90 days)
- − No published price: you need a quote
Trash Flow
- + Publishes its prices; Routeware quotes only
- + 90-day free trial
- − Installed Windows software rather than a browser app
- − Mapping, route optimization, the TeleRoute truck app and the cloud database are separate monthly add-ons
- − No standalone core license price is published
- − Ongoing support costs a percentage of your system total
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for Routeware only
- + fleet management
- + customer portal
- + crm
- + vehicle tracking
Listed for both
- ✓ route optimization
- ✓ dispatching
- ✓ driver app
- ✓ automated billing
- ✓ payment processing
- ✓ reporting
Listed for Trash Flow only
- + route planning
- + container tracking
- + online invoicing
- + customer management
- + scale house management
Integrations
Listed for Routeware only
- + samsara
- + geotab
- + esri
- + worldpay
- + mytruckscales
Listed for both
None in common in our data
Listed for Trash Flow only
None
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | Routeware fit | Trash Flow fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste & Junk Removal | 10 / 10 | 10 / 10 | Tie |
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Routeware or Trash Flow?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. Routeware is best for private waste haulers and city or county solid waste departments that need route optimization, dispatch, in-cab driver tools, billing and customer or resident self-service across a collection fleet. Trash Flow is best for residential, commercial and roll-off trash haulers, plus landfills and transfer stations, that want Windows software they buy in modules and can test with a free 90-day demo. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is Routeware cheaper than Trash Flow?
Trash Flow publishes its prices (module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan); Routeware quotes only, so ask Routeware for a written quote at your team size before comparing.
Can Routeware and Trash Flow integrate with QuickBooks?
Our entry for Routeware lists no QuickBooks integration. Our entry for Trash Flow lists no QuickBooks integration. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do Routeware or Trash Flow offer a free trial?
Routeware: no free trial in our data. Trash Flow: a 90-day free trial.
Can I move from Routeware to Trash Flow (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
Routeware vs Trash Flow: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts Routeware's best team size at 25-1000 and Trash Flow's at 1-200. Routeware's entry price is no published price (quote only); Trash Flow's is module or per-project prices (no monthly plan). Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check Routeware and Trash Flow against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.