Comparison
MoveSmarter vs QRoutes and Pax-QR
When local authorities evaluate home to school transport software, they are usually comparing two or three products. We think transparency helps everyone make a better decision, so here is a factual breakdown of pricing and functionality across the main options in the market.
Pricing is sourced from published G-Cloud listings and supplier websites. QRoutes and QPaths pricing from qroutes.co.uk (June 2026). Pax-QR pricing from the G-Cloud 14 service definition document. All prices exclude VAT.
Pricing
What does the same money buy?
To get broadly equivalent functionality to MoveSmarter's full bundle using Pax-QR and QRoutes, an authority would need to combine QRoutes Pro, QPaths walking assessment, Pax-QR core system, automated eligibility workflow and enhanced customer management. That comes to over £93,000 per year for 5 users before any additional users are added. For full automated network optimisation, QRoutes Vantage would be required instead of Pro, bringing the total to over £131,000 per year.
MoveSmarter already delivers proven savings: £500,000 in year one at Powys County Council, alongside significant reductions in administrative burden for PTU teams. Further functionality including automated routing, CO₂ reporting and safe walking route management is rolling out over the next year, all included within the existing licence at no extra cost.
MoveSmarter
full PTU workflow in one platform
£43,000
per year, exc. VAT
Planner + Entitlement Workflow + App bundle.
Unlimited users. Includes application forms, eligibility workflows, appeals, card management, safeguarding reports, live vehicle location, operator portal, and bilingual Welsh and English support.
Planner + Entitlement Workflow only (without the App): £38,000 per year
Pax-QR + QRoutes Pro + QPaths
assembled from multiple vendors
£93,400
per year, exc. VAT
QRoutes Pro (£28,700) + QPaths (£14,700) + Pax-QR core system (£32,000) + plus various modules as outlined in the feature comparison below
Based on 5 users. Pax-QR core rises to £35,750 for 6-10 users, £39,500 for 11-15 users and so on. QRoutes and QPaths additional users at £700 per user.
Does not include bilingual support, safeguarding reports, live vehicle location, operator portal, or TfW integration.
Pax-QR + QRoutes Vantage + QPaths
assembled from multiple vendors with full automated network optimisation
£131,700
per year, exc. VAT
QRoutes Vantage (£67,000) + QPaths (£14,700) + Pax-QR core system (£32,000) + plus various modules as outlined in the feature comparison below.
Based on 5 users. Pax-QR core rises to £35,750 for 6-10 users, £39,500 for 11-15 users and so on. QRoutes and QPaths additional users at £700 per user.
Does not include bilingual support, safeguarding reports, live vehicle location, operator portal, or TfW integration.
Detail
Feature comparison
Note: All features marked 2027 or Q4 2026 are on the MoveSmarter roadmap and will be included in the existing licence at no extra cost when released.
| Feature | MoveSmarter | QRoutes Pro + QPaths | Pax-QR + QRoutes + QPaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workflow and case management | |||
| Application forms and parent portal integration | ✓ | Add-on £5,000/yr | |
| Automated eligibility assessment | ✓ | Add-on £8,000/yr (covers both eligibility and appeals) and requires QPaths | |
| Appeals workflows | ✓ | Add-on £8,000/yr (covers both eligibility and appeals) | |
| Statutory walking distances and catchment support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SEND support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admissions Data Import | ✓ | Add-on £5,000/yr | |
| Next academic year route planning | ✓ | ||
| Monitoring dashboards | ✓ | Limited | |
| Route planning and network management | |||
| Map-based route planning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suggest best route for a learner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Partial network optimisation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full automated network optimisation | 2027 | Vantage £67,000/yr instead of Pro at £28,700/yr | Vantage £67,000/yr instead of Pro at £28,700/yr |
| CO₂ and cost reporting | 2027 | ||
| Franchised / public service integration | 2027 | ||
| Safe walking route management | 2027 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Future network changes planning | 2027 | ||
| GTFS export | ✓ | ||
| Loading lists for operators | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contracted vs allocated capacity reporting | ✓ | Limited | |
| Vehicle management | 2027 | ✓ | |
| Safeguarding and real-time | |||
| Learner card management and printing | ✓ | Add-on £5,000/yr | |
| Card scanning app (NFC and QR) | ✓ (requires MoveSmarter App on dedicated services) | ||
| Live vehicle location | ✓ | ||
| Safeguarding reports | ✓ | ||
| DBS status tracking for crew | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TfW one-card integration (Wales) | Q4 2026 | ||
| Operators and integrations | |||
| Operator portal | ✓ | ||
| LA portal API | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bilingual Welsh and English | ✓ | ||
| Unlimited users included | ✓ | 5 included, £700/user | 5 included, £750/user |
Five years. One council. £500,000 saved.
MoveSmarter has been operating successfully with Powys County Council for five years. The platform is proven, actively developed, and ready to support other local authorities looking to achieve the same cost savings and PTU team process support efficiencies that Powys has experienced.