Review: Parcels

Invariably when I order something online for my family, the first question is: “When will it get here?”

Tracking packages has always been a chore.

Sure, there are apps to track your packages, but I haven’t found one that will keep my scheduled deliveries synched between all of my Apple devices. That is, until I found Parcel…

Parcel is a delivery tracking app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and available on the iOS and Mac App Stores. Parcel currently supports 220 delivery services from around the world. Chances are really good that you’ll find your favorite carriers listed. And if your carrier isn’t listed, don’t fret. Ivan Pavlov, the developer, says he can add support for it.

With Parcel, you can quickly track all your postal shipments whether you’re at home or on the go. Simply set up an account, either via your iOS or Mac devices, and Parcel takes care of synching its data between them. Of course, you don’t need to install both the Mac and iOS apps if you don’t want to…

Parcel’s synching features work really well and are super handy. But I also like the fact that it can appear on the Mac as a menubar item, making it quick and easy to enter and track your shipments. The UI for both the iOS and Mac versions share a consistent look and feel – and looks great, too. Parcel lets you filter between Active Deliveries (i.e. Deliveries in progress) and Completed Deliveries, making searching a snap. You can also sort by Last Updated, Date Added, Estimated Delivery Date, and Name.

Parcel is available as a free app for both Mac and iOS platforms. With the free version, you can track up to three packages at a time. The free iOS version runs a small banner ad on the main screen. The free version is more than adequate for my needs.

To get push notifications, web access, an ad-free experience on iOS and the ability to track more than 3 shipments, you’ll want to spring the $1.99 annual subscription. In my opinion, that’s a very modest price to pay, particularly if you frequently track lots of packages.

To summarize: Parcel does a fantastic job of tracking your deliveries, all from one convenient location. The app is drop dead simple to use and the interface is slick. It seems to be updated regularly. Best of all, Parcel’s free to try out, so you really have nothing to lose.

Parcel earns 5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

Krishna July 22, 2014 Delivery tracking app for Mac, iOS, Mac, package tracking app, Parcel for Mac