Package tracking is something we all do these days. You order something from somewhere, and it shows up eventually. Some folks order more things than others, and that necessitates a need for a package tracker. Package tracking apps help you track your packages from various shippers in a single, handy UI. It’s right up there with other excellent Android tools and utilities. A good one should have a wide range of compatibility with shippers and a clean UI. Here are the best package tracking apps for both Android and iOS.
The best package tracking apps
17Track
A worldwide option with tons of carrier support and slick features.
What we like:
- It works all around the world with support for over 900 carriers.
- Reasonably clean UI that works as intended.
- Support for brands like Amazon, Walmart, Wish, and eBay.
- A very reasonable free option.
What we don’t like:
- Shipping updates can occasionally be slow to sync.
- It can be a bit finicky unless you enter shipping information manually.
17Track is easily one of the best package tracking apps. It not only works with both Android and iOS, but it also works with worldwide shipments. The massive list of 900 carriers is more than most of its competitors, and the free version allows you to track up to 40 concurrent packages. You can archive any package to free up the quota to add more. That should be enough for most consumer-level users. There are subscriptions available if you need even more than that.
In terms of usability, everything is as it should be. The UI is easy to learn, and you get push notifications when your packages have updates. We noticed some delays in updates, though. You can, for example, see updates faster on USPS’ website than you can on the app some of the time. Even so, it still updates reasonably quickly, and most people don’t seem to have any issues with it. It’s a good all-around option for productivity.
AfterShip
A comprehensive package tracking app with support for over 700 carriers, along with some nice features.
What we like:
- Support for over 700 carriers worldwide.
- Auto-detection features make adding new packages less stressful.
- Push notifications for every step of the package delivery process.
- Easy to set up and easy to use.
What we don’t like:
- Notifications can get a little annoying when tracking a lot of packages.
- It detects shipping information from emails, which is neat, but it also requires full access to your emails.
AfterShip is one of the most popular mobile package tracking apps. It has a suite of auto-detection features. For example, it can detect the carrier from the tracking number or automatically add packages based on tracking data from your email. That does require you to give the app email access, which may irk some privacy-conscious folks. The feature is optional, but the app does bother you about it a bit.
Otherwise, it works as advertised. You put in the tracking information and watch your package make its way to you. We didn’t have any issues with our test package, although we didn’t really push the app to its limits. It’s also free with no advertising, which is a nice touch.
Circuit Package Tracker
A reasonably competent app that does the heavy lifting well enough for most.
What we like:
- A decent list of supported carriers should be more than good enough for US users.
- The free version includes unlimited package tracking.
- A clean UI that is easy to use and looks good.
- A simpler experience overall for folks who need every bell and whistle.
What we don’t like:
- It might be too simple for power users.
- Some folks have reported issues with updates and tracking numbers not working.
Circuit Package Tracker is a decent option in this space. It omits many of the bells and whistles of other apps to focus on a simpler, less complicated experience. Of course, that means that it’s not nearly as detailed as some other apps. That’s a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you’re looking for. In any case, it didn’t have any issues tracking our test package. It has a decent list of supported carriers, so most people should be in pretty good hands with this one.
We didn’t experience the issues during our testing. However, there are reports from some users that the app is slow to update package information when there is an update to report. Additionally, others have said that it takes a couple of tries to get tracking numbers to work sometimes. It’s a free app, so we’re giving it a pass since it does seem to work the vast majority of the time, but it is something to keep in mind.
Deliveries by Junecloud
An iOS-only option that works exceptionally well.
- Pricing: Free / $0.99 per month / $4.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store)
What we like:
- Simple and to-the-point UI should work for just about everyone.
- Every feature works quite well.
- Support for big companies like Amazon and Apple.
- Syncing with iCloud lets, you track packages on iOS and macOS.
What we don’t like:
- Fewer carriers than most competitors. It seems to be aimed at a US audience.
- It recently moved from a single payment app to a subscription, which has angered some long-time users.
- No Android version.
Deliveries is an app that focuses on simplicity. It doesn’t support a massive list of carriers like some of its competitors. However, it makes up for it with a simple UI, good features, and good performance. Adding deliveries is quite easy, and features like the map view work rather well. Even notifications work to spec. There is also support for macOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and direct integration with iMessage.
Of course, an Apple-focused product like this means that there is no Android version, so this is one of those recommendations we can only give to our iOS readers. Additionally, this used to be a premium app. However, it switched to a subscription service a bit ago, which angered some long-time users. It uses iCloud to sync, which is free for iOS users, so it’s a bit of a curiosity. In any case, it’s still good, and at least the yearly subscription is cheap.
Gmail
Gmail isn’t the most advanced package tracker, but packaging tracking integration can remove the need for another app.
What we like:
- Lets you track packages directly from your email inbox.
- Removes the need for a whole other app in some instances.
- Slick UI looks nice and feels snazzy.
- Works on both iOS and Android.
What we don’t like:
- It’s not a dedicated package tracker, so you miss out on some features from a separate app.
- Doesn’t scale well if you track a lot of packages.
Gmail launched a packing tracking feature during the waning months of 2022. It’s pretty simple. You receive an email with your delivery information, and the app automatically turns it into a shipping card for you to view. From there, you can click the links in the email to find more information. It’s a nice feature to have, especially if you ship more packages than the average person, but maybe you don’t need a whole separate app to track them.
There are some downsides to it, though. It doesn’t scale up well. Folks who use services like this for business probably need something more robust. Thus, this option fits in a weird niche where you may want better package tracking than average, but don’t need those extra features. We think Google will improve this feature over time, so it may get even better.
OneTracker
Another worldwide option with a clean UI, support for the biggest worldwide carriers, and more.
What we like:
- Includes all of the features, such as push notifications and automatic package tracking.
- The sync option lets you track your packages across multiple platforms.
- A clean UI that is easy to read for the most part.
- The built-in tutorial makes setup pretty easy.
What we don’t like:
- It’s a newer app, and the developer is still working on adding some features as well as implementing bug fixes.
- Delivery information can be slow to sync sometimes.
OneTracker launched in 2021, making it one of the newer apps on this list comparatively. It has most of the main features. That includes a map view, support for the biggest worldwide carriers, and push notifications. The UI has a tad too much white space for my tastes personally, but luckily it’s otherwise easy to read and manage. Adding stuff is fairly easy, and the app can automatically parse delivery information from emails like most competitors.
There isn’t a lot wrong with it aside from completeness. The developer is still adding features and fixing bugs, so it’s not quite as mature as some of its competitors just yet. Additionally, it does support over 80 carriers. That’s enough for most basic use, but others support hundreds of carriers, so it does lag behind a bit there. Otherwise, it’s a solid option in this space.
oRRs
An open-source alternative with a solid set of features.
What we like:
- An open-source option available through Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and Huawei AppGallery.
- A simple, clean UI that gets the job done without feeling too cluttered.
- Contains most of the features you’d find in competitors.
- Syncing and automatic email detection features work well.
What we don’t like:
- There are too many push notifications, which gets worse when you track more packages.
- Slower updates than some competitors.
- No iOS version.
oRRs is a popular package tracking option for Android users. It employs a simple UI that is easy to read without feeling too cluttered. Plus, I personally think brown is a very underrated color for an app. Anyway, adding packages is easy enough, and there’s an email detection option as well. You can sort deliveries by categories, see updates, and there is integration with Google Maps to see where your package is.
The only glaring concern is notifications. It does send you a fresh notification for each update, and you can’t configure push notifications to reduce the number. It’s a minor nitpick and doesn’t detract from the app’s usefulness. There is a pro version for a flat fee that adds some features as well. It doesn’t have the gargantuan list of supported carriers like some others, but it should be enough for decent worldwide support.
Parcel
Probably the best option for iOS and macOS users.
- Pricing: Free / $4.99 per month
- Platforms: iOS (App Store)
What we like:
- Crisp UI that is easy to read and easy to use.
- Surprisingly good integration with Amazon.
- Excellent integration with iOS, including support for widgets and Siri.
- Little quality of life touches, like only sending notifications between 8AM and 10PM.
What we don’t like:
- Text alerts from shippers are about 30-45 minutes faster on average, but this is a nitpick.
- Fairly limited free version.
- No Android version.
Parcel is an easy choice for a package tracker. It has excellent integration with Apple’s ecosystem with support for Siri, macOS, widgets, and Apple Watch. As per the norm, such tight integration means there is no Android version, which always makes us sad. The UI is very good, sync times are reasonable compared to many others, and the developer boasts support for over 300 carriers.
Our only gripe is that the free version is a bit underwhelming. You’re limited to only three packages, which renders it a demo rather than a tried and true free version. After all, if you only need to track three packages simultaneously, you don’t need something like this. Thus, we only recommend this one if you intend on going in on the subscription. Luckily, the subscription isn’t terribly pricy.
Parcels
An indie app that works cross-platform with good features.
- Pricing: Free / $0.99 per month / $4.49 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- Support for a wide range of national and regional carriers.
- Support for companies like Walmart, Amazon, Wish, and others.
- It has probably my favorite UI of the bunch, with cards that are super easy to read.
- The usual assortment of good features, like syncing, automatic detection, and direct integration with sites like eBay.
What we don’t like:
- The app is sometimes slow to update tracking details.
- While it is continuously improving, it could use a bit more polish.
Parcels is a good app from an independent developer. You get all the usual features like a map view, push notifications, and automatic detection from emails. We also like that you can log in to places like Amazon and eBay to get delivery information directly from the source. It’s a nice touch that some competitors don’t match. Besides that, the card-based UI is very clean, and we think it looks good on iOS and Android.
It does suffer a little bit in terms of bugs and slowness. Sometimes, packages are slow to update when new information is available. The developer is only one human, so supporting an app across two platforms is hard. There is no judgment here, but it does show that the attention is divided somewhat. The app works very well most of the time, but when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t.
Webapps like Postal Ninja
There are a variety of web app options that don’t require a separate download.
- Pricing: Free (usually)
- Platforms: Any platform with a web browser
What we like:
- Plenty of options Postal Ninja and Ship Rip.
- No need to download a separate app.
- You can usually add a website shortcut directly on your home screen.
- Web apps usually support tons of carriers.
What we don’t like:
- You lose the features you’d normally get from a dedicated app.
- Doesn’t scale well for business use.
Web apps aren’t usually an avenue we recommend people travel. However, there are some decent options in this space, including Postal Ninja and Ship Rip. You input your tracking number, and you’ll be able to track your package. Many apps in this space let you register with an account so you can track multiple packages at once, and it seems free most of the time.
It’s not a bad option if you need more than an average person. You can track a bunch of different packages this way from all around the world. Many websites are also localized into several different languages. The only real downside is that you lose some of the app-specific features like automatic tracking from email and direct account integration with sites like Amazon. In either case, you can pop one of these apps on your home screen as a shortcut and it’ll act like an app when you open it.
If we missed any great package tracking apps or games, tell us about them in the comments. You can also check our latest Android app and game lists here.
