Returnly will discontinue its service by Oct 1st and terminate new subscriptions by Sep 1st. Make a smooth transition to AfterShip with 0 risk, and enjoy an exclusive offer! Learn more.

Returnly vs AfterShip Returns

Creating a fantastic eCommerce return and exchange experience is essential if retailers want to build long-term relationships and scale efficiently. This page dives into the differences between AfterShip Returns and Returnly, two popular online returns management solutions, and helps you choose the best platform for your business.

Overview

When looking for a powerful and user-friendly post-purchase solution with advanced features for operations and warehouse teams, AfterShip and Returnly are two of the best options in the market.

 Both companies provide different approaches to returns and exchanges, especially when comparing tech stack integration, automated workflows, exchange support, and pricing.

 This page will help you understand the differences between AfterShip and Returnly and help you choose the best-fit returns solution for growing your business.

compare returnly overview background image
compare returnly overview background image mobile

What does AfterShip Returns do?

AfterShip is an end-to-end, omnichannel solution that sparks loyalty and optimizes customer touchpoints to boost efficiency for global brands and retailers. Its solutions include shipment tracking, returns management, estimated delivery prediction, multi-carrier shipping, shipping protection, and carbon footprint accounting software. AfterShip users only need one suite for all their fulfillment needs. 

With a team of 450 people, with 66% comprised of engineers and product managers, AfterShip ensures that each solution is easy to use, reliable, and frequently gets new feature releases. AfterShip works with over 17,000 customers, including large retailers and Fortune 500 companies. As of March 2023, AfterShip Returns partners with over 4,000 paid customers to provide advanced returns and exchange capabilities.

 Being platform agnostic, AfterShip Returns connects to custom experiences, Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and more. AfterShip Returns plugs directly into an extensive partner ecosystem of over 23 carriers and 20 technology partners, such as Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Salesforce. Lastly, AfterShip provides in-depth API and webhook documentation for quick and easy connectivity.

An overview of AfterShip Returns

AfterShip Returns is a returns management software that uses automation to help eCommerce retailers deliver a positive returns and exchange experience, optimize return costs, and retain more revenue. 

AfterShip Returns provides retailers with branded returns page, incentivized exchanges, partial returns for bundles, store credits, in-store returns, rule-based automation, automated resolutions, label generation, drop-off, green returns, and an analytics dashboard.

 AfterShip Returns supports auto-label generation and package tracking for exchanges and new orders without additional connectors or apps. This means that brands on AfterShip can save on additional costs and time by using a single platform. AfterShip Returns allows brands to leverage 310,000+ drop-off locations worldwide, including label-free and box-less returns.

What does Returnly do?

Returnly is a returns management tool for eCommerce brands on Shopify and Shopify Plus. Although acquired in April 2021 by Affirm, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) company, Returnly continues to offer automated returns process management and exchanges. Returnly also provides essential tracking services for its exchanges and requires integration with EasyPost, a third-party broker to manage all shipping and label generation needs. 

Returnly employs less than 100 employees to manage the solution and roll out features. As of March 2023, Returnly supports over 1,800 paid customers.

 Currently, Returnly connects to only 9 carriers and can plug into over 40 integrations and solutions. Returnly can also be used via API with in-depth documentation.

An overview of Returnly

Returnly is a returns management platform that offers BNPL options for payment. It provides branded returns page, RMA-based email notifications, instant exchanges, exchange for anything, instant credit, keep-the-item green returns, international returns, and in-store returns.

 Returnly is a good fit for brands that want to issue instant refunds. Their add-on Instant Credit feature pays for refunds first and only charges business after receiving the returned item.

 Returnly relies on a third-party shipping broker, EasyPost, to generate labels for all returns via an API. EasyPost may require an additional account and implementation to be effective. Returnly also provides order tracking for exchanges and QR-code drop-off to USPS and FedEx locations.

Pricing comparison

To better understand the difference in cost between AfterShip Returns and Returnly, let's compare their pricing models and decide which is ideal for your business.

returnly price comparison v

AfterShip Returns

AfterShip Returns' pricing is transparent on their website and is flexible to business needs. It offers plans for businesses of different sizes, adjusting for the number of returns, carriers, routing rules, and routing zones.

 AfterShip Returns' pricing already includes features such as a branded returns page, email notifications, exchange solutions, and bonus credit — at no additional cost.

Returnly

Returnly splits their offering into their App and Premium Plans. They do not display their pricing information on their site and require visitors to contact their sales team to learn more, requiring more time to get basic information.

 Returnly may need customers to purchase its advanced features, like exchanges and in-store returns, on top of their Premium Plan to unlock the solutions' capabilities. Additionally, its BNPL Instant Credit feature may charge per transaction.

Compare AfterShip and Returnly on G2.com

Reviews and ratings from verified customers can go a long way in helping you select the right post-purchase platform. Explore AfterShip and Returnly ratings from G2.com as of April 25, 2023 to help you make an informed decision.

compare reviews aftership

AfterShip

4.5

frame

129 AfterShip Reviews

four point five stars orange

Jan 27, 2023

“My amazing experience with AfterShip Returns”

like

“AfterShip Returns has helped me a lot in regaining my customers' intact trust. Previously I was struggling a lot in smoothening the return process for my family's online e-commerce business, but AfterShip Returns has helped me in executing it in the true sense. The best feature I liked about AfterShip Returns the most is the "Refund to store credit". It not only has provided an improvised customer experience but has also impacted our business in regaining from the loss.“

un like

“There is nothing to dislike about AfterShip Returns. It has been working impressively, and just hope it keeps on enhancing its existing services more and more in the upcoming days.“

four point five stars orange

Aug 18, 2022

“AfterShip Returns Center allows us to streamline our returns process“

like

“AfterShip Returns has the functionality to include photos with return requests and generates return labels or allows you to upload a different return label.“

un like

“The refunding process still has to take place outside of the returns center, so we have to use along side Shopify, it's not fully integrated“

returnly logo

Returnly

3.3

three point three stars grey

6 Returnly Reviews

four stars grey

Mar 15, 2019

“This is very robust return mangement software integrated with your eCommerce platform”

like

“I like Returnly because it allows customers to manage their returns online without involving a customer service component. It can be tailored to your needs.

It's a thought-through software that was developed considering multiple scenarios that customers can encounter during generation of return labels.“

un like

“I dislike the fact that I have to rely on thier support team to do any setup with Shipping carrier. And also it can be integrated with just one shipping carrier, and not multiple.“

four stars grey

Jun 02, 2021

“New Tool, Room for Improvement but Works Well”

like

“I like the easy flow that our customers move through when setting up a Return or Exchange. The visuals are beneficial for the customer to determine which order and/or item they want to return/exchange. I also love the idea of the Instant Credit option when setting up returns, as Instant Credit allows us to win back a customer.“

un like

“Every now and then it will be down for a bit and I must manually send tracking information to the customer, but very rarely. If this could improve, that would make it perfect!“

A quick company overview

Regardless of your company's size, you need a reliable and flexible solution. Discover how AfterShip and AfterShip Returns can support your post-purchase offering and how it stacks up against Loop Returns.

AfterShip

Returnly

Year founded

2012 (source)

2014 (source)

Number of employees

450 (source)

200+ (source)

Number of customers

17,000+ paid customers (source)

1,800+ client brands (source)

Number of carriers integrated

23 carriers (source)

9 Carriers via EasyPost (source)

Number of platforms supported

10+ eCommerce platforms (source)

2 platforms (source)

Number of drop-off locations

310,000+ global locations (source)

Unspecified, options available for FedEx and USPS locations (source)

Switching from Returnly to AfterShip Returns

AfterShip provides a dedicated Solutions Architect to help ensure a seamless transition from Returnly to AfterShip without data loss.

Step 1. Plan

Formulate a plan to build the post-purchase system you need. Think about your desired features and the integration with your current tool.

Step 2. Migrate

Move your data to AfterShip with the help of a Solutions Architect. You can include customer data, workflows, and reports.

Step 3. Test

Set up the system the way you want, then test, and preview the design before rolling it out. You can configure workflows, dashboards, and more.

Step 4. Scale

Once everything is running smoothly, you can duplicate your custom settings as needed to meet the demands of your growing business.

stars yellow

Recognized by customers for exceptional service

g momentum leader winter
g leader winter
g americas leader winter
g best results winter
g top  apac companies
capterra shortlist  v
getapp category leaders  v
software advice front runners  v
software advice best customer support

How AfterShip customers boost revenue and retention

  • marc nolan

    “This exchange feature took every problem away. It’s also saved a lot of revenue — saving us $125k in the last 90 days.”

    Read their journey >

    customer-section-phone
  • vector

    "With AfterShip Returns, what used to take our team upwards of 8 hours a week to do, now only takes us 1 hour."

    customer-section-phone
  • pelagic gear

    "Putting restrictions on specific items means we don't need to jump through hoops. We can identify our products through tags and fully control our returns, especially from a cost perspective."

    customer-section-phone
Background

Trusted by over 17,000 of the world’s biggest brands

Get started in only 30 minutes

Connect with our post-purchase experts to see how AfterShip can transform your customer journey.

Book a demo
Get started in only 30 minutes