Trying to figure out whether AfterShip or Narvar is the better returns management solution?
With AfterShip and Narvar leading the returns industry in the UK market, each offering unique features and capabilities, I understand that making the right decision is not easy at all.
In fact, the returns management provider you choose can make or break your customers’ return experience (and your bottom line too).
In this detailed comparison, I’ll break down the key capabilities, pricing, and implementation for each software to help you make an informed decision.
➡️ I’ll also introduce you to a third option that combines both tools’ strengths in its global returns management capabilities: ZigZag Global (that’s us).

AfterShip offers an international returns management solution that allows merchants to set up rule-based returns automations.
The tool offers a good range of global carriers with its printless, QR code drop-offs.
⚠️ A recurring challenge for retailers on AfterShip has been issues with its set up and usability.
A verified mid-market customer of the platform noted that the platform was not very straightforward for them to set up.

‘’Not always straightforward to set up, admin panel can be confusing, hard to find invoices for additional orders like monthly SMS bills.’’ – G2 Review.

Narvar comes with an all-in-one post-purchase customer experience solution that provides you with branded returns tracking and reason-based fees for returns.
The returns management software is ideal for merchants who are looking to offset the cost of returns with the platform’s smart routing.
⚠️ Despite this, some retailers are not happy with Narvar’s limited customisation options, which is why they’ve been looking for Narvar alternatives.


ZigZag Global (that’s us) offers the alternative to both AfterShip & Narvar for retailers looking to optimise and automate their returns process across the UK and 170+ other countries.
Our global returns solution lets you build a custom returns portal and offers your consumers different return options that help you keep revenue in the business and lower the costs of returns.
You can get a feel of how ZigZag’s platform works in our guided demo: 👇
💡 ZigZag Global also offers in-store drop-off kiosks that are hassle-free for your shoppers.

When compared to ZigZag Global and AfterShip, Narvar does not really stand out with its international returns management capabilities.

However, the returns provider is still capable of equipping you with:
⚠️ However, some users of the platform are not happy that Narvar is missing a carrier comparison section, which would have allowed their shoppers to compare the available options and prices.


ZigZag Global provides retailers with access to 220 localised warehouses and over 1,500 international carrier services, all of that across 170+ origin countries.
The ‘’Global’’ part of ZigZag Global is because our returns solution is ideal for international returns, as our platform facilitates international returns in 170+ countries by connecting you with 1,500+ global carriers.
Our returns portal is also capable of accepting multiple currencies and provides different language settings for international customers.
ZigZag has an in-house facility in Germany that provides control and innovation for our customers, reducing their international return costs by up to 30%.
➡️ Our tool also offers consumers 500,000+ drop-off locations across the world.

AfterShip Returns is a cloud-based returns management platform that integrates directly with Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, and custom e-commerce systems via its API.
Implementation is straightforward: most merchants can get up and running without developer support, especially if using a supported e-commerce platform.
➡️ Once installed, you’ll configure your return policies, approval workflows, return outcomes (refund, exchange, store credit), and portal branding inside the AfterShip admin.
You can also set up international routing rules, carrier accounts, and return locations to automate how returns are handled across regions.
What stood out to me about AfterShip is that they provide the same level of support on both their Essentials (affordable) price point and Enterprise, although signing up for hte silver and gold support plans will have with an additional fee.

⚠️ Despite this, some of AfterShip’s customers are not satisfied with its customer support experience.
This is especially true for small business owners (who are on the lower tiers of the pricing plans), as they do not seem very satisfied with how long it took them to resolve their issues.

‘’The Online Chat is unprofessional. I spent an hour waiting for an agent to resolve my issue. Three agents were switched during this 1 hour. Get a reply from them every 5 minutes. It's a waste of time.’’ – G2 Review.
A handful of users report that dialling in refunds-only functionality took 4–5 months for them, and exchanges another 6–7 months, for a total of roughly 1 year to fully utilise every Returns feature via the tool’s API.
Narvar’s tool, according to reviews, has been difficult to set up and takes a while to do so.
⚠️ If you’re connecting Narvar to ERP and/or OMS systems, 3PLs, or need a highly bespoke rules engine for tiered fees, fraud controls, or multi-destination routing, plan for 1–3 months of implementation time, depending on your internal IT bandwidth.

Our returns management solution can also be set up on Shopify with as little effort as a single click.

Apart from this, our platform can help your brand expand globally and add carriers with a 24-hour setup process.
➡️ If you’d rather embed the returns portal directly into your storefront (instead of linking out), that light front-end work (HTML/CSS/JS snippet) typically takes a developer a few hours.
After installation, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Onboarding Manager.
Retailers sticking to ZigZag’s standard return flows and carrier network often go fully live in 1–2 days, while those who want bespoke workflows or extensive QA may take up to 1 week.
AfterShip’s pricing is based on number of returns per month and starts at $11/month with $0.50 per extra return.
There are 4 paid plans to choose from with no freemium version of the solution:

Narvar does not disclose its pricing, so you’d have to contact them to receive a quote.
➡️ However, we’ve got the numbers: In our comprehensive Narvar pricing guide, we found how much the platform costs after consulting with insiders.
From what we were able to gather, Narvar calculates its pricing based on a few criteria, including (but not limited to):
The platform expects you to use your carrier accounts (e.g., Royal Mail account) so you can use its platform.
➡️ According to one of Narvar’s ex-users who spoke with our team, they were paying £49,000/year for 100,000 returns/year.
They also had to use their own carrier account since Narvar required them to be plugged in.
Another price number we have is from a smaller retailer who left a review on Capterra, claiming that they were required to pay $5,000 a year back in 2021.

ZigZag’s pricing is only disclosed for our Shopify solution, and is based on returns per month as well as the level of automations and customisation you’d require.
We’ve recently launched a free plan that you can get started with, which is ideal for start-up e-commerce stores.
Our tool has 4 pricing tiers for Shopify merchants:

💡 All of our Shopify pricing plans, except the Enterprise plan, come with a 14-day free trial.
Note: If your plan exceeds the returns limit, you’ll be charged $0.20 for each additional return.
Built for retailers who operate globally, ZigZag offers an all-in-one returns management platform that is designed to take over any online store’s post-purchase experience.
Regardless of whether you’re an e-commerce leader or an SME, our returns management platform offers:
Then you can book a demo to learn more about ZigZag Global.