Freedom251 › Route Optimization Software
Kardinal
What Kardinal is
Kardinal provides a route optimization API for developers and their agents. It builds plans around constraints such as time windows, vehicle capacity, route balancing, pickups and deliveries, driver breaks, and predictive traffic. When a delivery is late, an order is cancelled, or an urgent stop comes in, the API can revise the plan without starting over. Re-optimizations within a 24-hour window are free, and pricing is based on unique stops optimized rather than vehicles or API requests.
The free tier includes 1,000 stops, all constraints, and Python and JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs. Paid prepaid packs range from 2,000 stops for €99, paid once to 250,000 stops for €2,999, paid once. Kardinal also offers an MCP server, agentic documentation, and typed schemas for agents. Its engine is written in Rust and is described by the company as deterministic. The API and web product is used across several delivery and field service sectors. Kardinal was founded in 2015 and lists its office in Paris, France.
Who it suits
Kardinal suits developers and organizations planning routes around operational constraints or changing delivery conditions. Its described industries include parcel delivery, waste collection, cold-chain delivery, field services, bulky goods, long-distance transport, and retail last-mile operations.
What it does well
- Replans routes as delivery conditions change
- Re-optimizations within 24 hours are free
- Free tier includes 1,000 stops and all constraints
- Python and JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs are included
What to know first
- Prepaid packs have fixed stop quantities
- Enterprise pricing requires arrangement
Limits
The Free plan includes 1,000 stops, is billed one-time, and does not renew. Paid prepaid packs range from 2,000 to 250,000 stops; enterprise arrangements are offered for millions of stops or sequencing and appointment scheduling needs.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | One-time; not renewed · 1,000 stops · full product · all constraints · no credit card | Free |
| 10,000-stop pack | Prepaid pack · 10,000 stops · €0.030 / stop | €299, paid once |
| 250,000-stop pack | Prepaid pack · 250,000 stops · €0.012 / stop | €2,999, paid once |
| 2,000-stop pack | Prepaid pack · 2,000 stops · €0.050 / stop | €99, paid once |
| 50,000-stop pack | Prepaid pack · 50,000 stops · €0.020 / stop | €999, paid once |
| Enterprise | Volume pricing and managed options by arrangement · For millions of stops or sequencing and appointment scheduling | On request |
As kardinal.ai lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://kardinal.ai/.
- Choose the API or web platform.
- Start with the Free plan for 1,000 stops without a credit card.
- Use the included Python or JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs if building with the API.
- Choose a prepaid stop pack if you need more than the free allocation.
Verdict
Kardinal provides route planning with a broad set of stated constraints and a way to revise plans when conditions change. The free tier includes 1,000 stops, while prepaid packs are priced in EUR.
Questions
Is Kardinal free?
Yes. The Free plan costs nothing and includes 1,000 stops, the full product, and all constraints. It is billed one-time, does not renew, and requires no credit card.
How are paid plans priced?
Paid options are prepaid stop packs: 2,000 stops for €99, paid once, 10,000 for €299, paid once, 50,000 for €999, paid once, and 250,000 for €2,999, paid once.
Which platforms does Kardinal support?
Kardinal is available through API and web.
What route constraints can it handle?
Its engine models time windows, vehicle capacity, route balancing, pickup and delivery, driver breaks, and predictive traffic.
Does Kardinal support developers building with agents?
Yes. It offers an MCP server, agentic documentation, typed schemas for agents, and Python and JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs in the free tier.
What is Kardinal's engine like?
Kardinal says its optimization engine is written in Rust and deterministic, so the same input produces the same solution every time.
Facts from Kardinal's own pages
- Account location
- Kardinal lists its office at 25 place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Agent support
- The product offers an MCP server, agentic documentation, and typed schemas for agents. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Constraints
- The engine models constraints including time windows, vehicle capacity, route balancing, pickup and delivery, driver breaks, and predictive traffic. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Engine
- Kardinal says its proprietary optimization engine is written in Rust and controlled from the algorithm to the API. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Founded
- Kardinal says it was founded in Paris in 2015. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- 25 place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France · kardinal.ai, 28 Sept 2026
- Industries
- Kardinal describes use across parcel, waste collection, cold-chain delivery, field services, bulky goods, long-distance transport, and retail last-mile operations. · developers.kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Pricing basis
- Pricing is per unique stop optimized rather than per vehicle or API request, and re-optimizations within a 24-hour window are free. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Kardinal provides a route optimization API for developers and their agents. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Reproducibility
- Kardinal says the engine is deterministic: the same input produces the same solution every time. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Route updates
- The API can update a route plan as conditions change, including late deliveries, cancelled orders, and urgent stops, without restarting from scratch. · developers.kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- SDKs
- The free tier includes Python and JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The pricing page directs customers with very large volumes or sequencing and appointment-scheduling needs to contact the team. · kardinal.ai, 9 Oct 2026
Where Kardinal stands on Freedom251
- Route Optimization Software#9 of 30