The 8 Best parcelLab Alternatives For Returns Management In 2025

Are you searching for parcelLab alternatives to streamline your order shipping process and optimise your returns process?

The post-purchase experience platform (as they call themselves) offers a customisable self-service returns portal to initiate returns and exchanges.

Despite that, some retailers mention that the customer support of parcelLab has been unhelpful and slow to respond and that there are some tracking issues with the shipments.

We researched 30+ shipping and returns solutions, sifted through verified retailer reviews on G2, and talked to e-commerce leaders to create a list of the eight best parcelLab alternatives in 2025.

In this guide, we will cover each tool’s features, pricing, pros/cons, and use cases to help you make a more informed decision.

➡️ Disclaimer: This article will focus on the best parcelLab alternatives on the market for returns management for shoppers.

Before we start, let’s go over why retailers have been looking for an alternative to parcelLab in the first place. ⤵️

Why are merchants looking to switch from parcelLab?

#1: Poor customer service

The main issue that pops up when you start researching parcelLab is its poor customer service, which both smaller and larger enterprises are experiencing.

According to one enterprise user of the platform, it can take weeks or even months for a support ticket to be resolved.

‘’If a support ticket needs to be filed, it takes weeks, sometimes months, just to get a resolution, while you get asked repetitive information.’’ – G2 Review.

#2: Tracking issues with shipments

According to the various reviews on G2, users are reporting a variety of tracking issues with the platform, including:

• The shipment information is not being synchronised across their systems.
• Not being able to change or modify any information that is already in the system.
• Not being able to track with an address, which could help in case customers are making duplicate accounts and can track those orders.

‘’Sometimes we may find that shipment information is not synchronised across our systems, affecting customer support performance.’’ – G2 Review.

#3: The average time to implement is 3 months

Last but not least, a possible reason why merchants can look for another solution to parcelLab is its time to implementation, which currently stands at 3 months.

What are the factors to consider when choosing parcelLab alternatives?

When researching for parcelLab alternatives, we looked at the following criteria:

• Customer support and dedicated account management: If you have any questions about the tool, there should be support that responds quickly.
• Return options: As this is one of parcelLab’s existing weaknesses, we understand that a good range of return options will give your consumers more choices and allow your brand to retain revenue and offset costs, such as free return-to-store returns and paid returns.
• Shipment tracking capabilities: The returns system should give customers real-time updates on where the packages are.
• Depth of carriers: Returns platforms with a bigger range of carrier options would help you optimise your logistics operations, reduce expenses, and give you access to discounted rates.
• Pricing model: The returns solution’s pricing should align with your budget and expected rate of returns.
• Ease of use and set-up: We looked at G2 and Capterra reviews to see if retailers think of the platforms as easy to use and set up.

What are the 8 best parcelLab alternatives for returns management?

The best parcelLabl alternatives are ZigZag Global, Outvio, and ClickPost, with their superior global shipment tracking capabilities and account management.

Let’s now go over each one of these return providers: 👇

#1: ZigZag Global

ZigZag Global (that’s us) offers the best parcelLab alternative in 2025 for merchants of all sizes looking to optimise and automate their returns management on a worldwide scale.

Unlike parcelLab, ZigZag offers:

• Best-in-class key account management and customer support that will help you set up a custom returns portal and promptly answer questions.
• Our own carrier accounts, so you would not have to use your carrier account and pay premium prices for domestic and international carriers.
• A comprehensive range of international carrier integrations so you can scale your returns management internationally, instead of using multiple returns tools for different countries.
• Short software implementation time that can be as little as one hour with our pre-made cartridges for popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento.
• Advanced return analytics that will let you find out why shoppers return products in the first place and help you deal with return fraud.

Note: Even though ZigZag Global is our returns system, we’ll provide an unbiased perspective on why we offer the best parcelLab alternative on the market.

Our returns solution lets you build a custom returns portal and offers your consumers different return options that help you keep capital in the business and offset the costs of returns.

We also provide merchants with access to 220 localised warehouses and over 1,500 international carrier services, all across 170+ origin countries.

Let’s go over the features that SMEs and enterprises like SportsDirect, Ted Baker, Puma and Swarovski love about ZigZag Global. 👇

Customisable, Multi-Language Returns Portal

ZigZag Global offers a customisable returns portal that lets you change returns rules alongside white-labelling the portal to reflect your brand.

You can adapt various new return solutions (such as a gift card, exchange, or cash refund) depending on the customers’ reasons for returning.

For example, e-commerce leaders can customise the possible reasons for returns to be that the product was faulty, did not fit, or was unsuitable.

Get a feel of how ZigZag’s platform works in our guided demo: 👇

Single-Click Shopify Integration

Does your online shop operate on Shopify?

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

Here’s why Shopify merchants love our integration:

• One-click installation: Install the ZigZag plugin with a simple click to offer hassle-free returns to your shoppers.
• Save the sale with exchanges: Offer exchanges or refunds to gift cards instead of a full refund.
• Cut the costs of your returns: Save up to 57% in your return costs with our consolidation and efficient routing of e-commerce returns.

💡 Our consumer research on returns found that 57% of shoppers who are considering returning items would accept a gift card as a refund.

This return option lets you keep capital in the business while benefiting consumers with a quick gift card option they can use in your store.

International Returns To 170+ Countries With 1,500+ Carrier Services.

ZigZag Global is ideal for international returns, as we facilitate international returns in 170+ countries by connecting you with 1,500+ global carriers.

➡️ Our global returns portal can also accept multiple currencies & provides different language settings for international consumers, which is ideal for international brands.

Platforms like Loop Returns and parcelLab that do not facilitate international returns make global retailers use multiple return management solutions for the different countries.

Instead of using multiple return solutions for the USA, Europe, and other regions, you can use ZigZag Global as a global return logistics solution.

Comprehensive Range of Return Options For Consumers

Similar to parcelLab, the goal of our global returns solution is not only to manage your returns but to help you save time, money, and improve the loyalty of your consumers.

This is why ZigZag Global offers the following return options for your shoppers:

In-Store Returns

In-store returns are when your shoppers return the product to your store in person to save the costs of a paid return online.

You can implement free in-store returns to your physical locations to slash shipping costs, boost foot traffic to your store, and give shoppers more ways to get a refund.

💡 ZigZag Global also offers in-store drop-off kiosks that are hassle-free for your shoppers to use in your store.

Save the Sale with Live Exchanges

Live Exchanges is when a customer decides to swap their return with an alternative, thus saving the sale for the retailer.

You can also retain revenue with Return to Store Credit.

Return to Store Credit is when consumers get a refund in the form of a gift card to your online store, instead of a monetary refund to their bank account.

As shoppers are happy to accept store credit instead of a refund (since it’s usually of greater value), our team added the option of this return to our retailers’ portal so you can keep capital in the business.

➡️ Return to store credits allows you to increase and maintain the customer lifetime value (LTV).

Paid Returns

We found that 48% of customers are happy paying for returns, and there has been a 32% rise in paid returns since last year.

This is why we’ve started recommending that the retailers we work with implement paid returns in their stores.

That means asking shoppers to pay a small fee to return their products.

Here are a few reasons why retailers of all sizes have been offering paid returns:

• Returned costs are covered, so your organisation is not on the losing end.
• Customers can’t exploit the free returns policy to engage in wardrobing.
• Consumers are likely to make better buying decisions.

💡 You can check out our recent article on how merchants can deal with bracketing.

➡️ Interested in how much money ZigZag’s paid returns can save your organisation? Check out our ROI Calculator.

Here’s a scenario where you have 5,000 returns per month, and 20% of them are paid returns of £3.

That’ll save you a total of £3,000 per month.

Advanced Returns Analytics

Unlike parcelLab, our returns platform offers advanced reporting that tracks everything for our merchants to view and manage from one portal, such as:

• Comparing the popularity of refund solutions.
• Evaluating the most common reasons why consumers return products.
• Reviewing revenue generated from paid returns.
• Detecting suspicious return behaviour from customers.

➡️ Retailers who use ZigZag Global can reduce their returns in the long run after evaluating the common reasons why people return products.

Case Study: New Look Introduced Convenient Drop-Off Kiosks At Selected UK Shops With ZigZag

New Look partnered with ZigZag Global to battle its high return costs and to better understand why shoppers returned items.

With our enterprise returns management solution, New Look introduced free and paid return options, where the in-store returns were free of charge, and there was a charge of £2.50 for paid returns.

The retailer transformed its returns experience and has:

• Received a 20% decrease in return status queries when the improved tracking was implemented.
• Doubled their in-store returns via the combination of easy in-store returns and paid online returns.
• Increased their rating from 4.3/5 to 4.7/5 on Trustpilot.

ZigZag Pros & Cons

✅ 1,500+ global carriers to manage international returns.

✅ Advanced reporting and returns analytics to uncover why customers return products.

✅ Wide range of returning options for your customers, such as paid returns, return to store, and return to gift card.

✅ 500,000+ drop-off locations worldwide.

✅ Customisable returns portal with multiple currencies.

❌ Shipping back from the EU might take some time, according to a G2 review.

❌ Some retailers note that some of the carriers can be slower than others.

Book a demo with ZigZag

#2: Outvio

Outvio offers an international returns management platform that helps retailers expand into new markets.

The platform is a solid alternative to parcelLab for global retailers looking to delight their international customers with a positive returns and exchanges experience.

Features

• You can create international return policies for different countries of operation.
• Multilingual and on-brand returns portal that provides customers with notifications.
• Automatically generate return labels and automate product exchanges for any product variant.

Pricing

Outvio offers 2 paid plans for their international returns:

• Grow: €125/month plus order processing fee, which lets you return products with 90+ couriers and access to smart returns and exchanges rules.
• Conquer: €250/month plus order processing fee, which adds fully branded notifications, advanced analytics, and the tool’s fully automated Shopify exchanges.

Pros and Cons

✅ Multilingual customisable returns portal.

✅ You can create international return policies.

✅ Smart returns and exchanges rules.

❌ Lack of return options that go beyond returns and refunds, which is why some retailers have been looking for Outvio alternatives to offset costs.

❌ Limited range of return courier services and drop-off locations in comparison to other global returns competitors like ZigZag Global.

#3: ClickPost

Unlike parcelLab, ClickPost is a shipping management software that offers retailers advanced returns automation and the ability to see why shoppers return products.

The returns platform is a good enough alternative to parcelLab for retailers looking to build a customisable returns portal with branded tracking and notifications.

Features

• Branded returns and exchanges: The self-service returns portal can be customised, and shoppers can choose from a variety of returns options.
• Real-time tracking for you and your customers to reduce WISMO calls.
• Exchanges: Offer exchanges with the same or different products to retain revenue in the business.
• The Shopify returns management portal can be set up in as little as 15 minutes.

Pricing

To access ClickPost’s returns management platform, you’d have to be on their ReturnsPro plan, which does not disclose its pricing.

Pros and Cons

✅ Good range of carriers with discounted rates.

✅ Single-view order management.

✅ Nice range of customisation options for returns tracking and notifications.

❌ Not as many return options to reduce costs as other ClickPost alternatives on the market.

❌ Analytics and reporting are not always valid, according to some platform users.

#4: ReturnGO

ReturnGO offers a sustainable returns management solution that focuses on helping you to offset return costs from returns while tackling waste.

The returns platform is a good alternative to parcelLab for enterprises that want to set up a streamlined and environmentally friendly return experience.

Features

• Exchanges: You can upsell customers as they are making a return to increase revenue.
• Send out branded order tracking notifications for any shipment to improve customer loyalty.
• Return automations, such as ‘’request approval’’ automation and ‘’mark as done’’.
• Get access to AI-powered insights on your returns to optimise your returns process.

Pricing

ReturnGO bases its pricing on a tiered pricing structure that includes features and an annual returns allowance.

There are 3 paid plans for merchants:

• Premium: Starts from $121/month for up to 2,000 annual returns and gives you access to variant and product exchanges, and branded email notifications.
• Pro: Starts from $297/month for up to 5,000 annual returns and adds white-labelling options, item validation features, and packaging slips.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, which adds an order tracking portal and notifications, advanced automations, and multi-store plans.

Pros and Cons

✅ Refunds, gift cards, and store credit return options.

✅ Customisable returns portal that can be set up with up to 5 languages.

✅ Advanced returns automations.

❌ Starting price may not be very small-business-friendly, which is not ideal for smaller businesses looking to switch from parcelLab.

❌ Premium and Pro plans support only Shopify, which is why retailers have been looking for ReturnGO alternatives.

#5: Narvar

Similar to parcelLab, Narvar offers a comprehensive post-purchase experience solution that lets your shoppers receive clear delivery expectations and track their returns.

The platform is a viable alternative to parcelLab for retailers looking to minimise their cost of returns with the platform’s smart routing.

Features

• Enable shoppers to choose how they want to return, as they can choose from home pick-up, store drop-offs, and other drop-off locations.
• Define reason-based fees for returns, such as ‘’no return shipping fee’’ for an incorrect item.
• Offset the cost of returns with Narvar’s smart routing of returned inventory.

Pricing

Narvar does not currently 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.

Pros and Cons

✅ Advanced return rules for faster value recovery.

✅ Narvar’s Network data lets you reduce fraudulent returns, which benefits larger retailers.

✅ Returns portal that can be customised to your brand.

❌ Fewer carrier integrations than other alternatives on the market.

❌ Similar to parcelLab, it takes 60-90 days for full implementation and integration of the Narvar software, which is why some merchants have been looking for Narvar alternatives.

#6: ShipStation

ShipStation offers a returns management solution that helps enterprises set up a branded returns portal to manage cross-channel returns.

The platform is an okay alternative to parcelLab for smaller teams looking for a simplistic platform with an affordable pricing model that helps them save money with pay-per-use return labels.

Features

• You can set up a branded returns portal that allows your consumers to seamlessly return products and request exchanges.
• It’s possible to send return labels with orders to speed up your returns process and manage returns centrally.
• Get access to label discounts to protect your returns budget.
• Create and process RMAs to reduce administrative tasks, provide visibility to your shoppers and prevent return fraud.

Pricing

ShipStation’s pricing is primarily based on shipments per month and offers 4 paid plans:

• Starter plan: $9.99/month for 50 shipments/month.
• Growth plan: $29.99/month for 1,000 shipments/month.
• Scale plan: $99.99/month for 7,500 shipments/month.
• High-volume plan: $399.99/month for unlimited shipments/month.

Pros and Cons

✅ Branded labels and tracking of returns.

✅ SME-friendly pricing with an affordable plan for Enterprises with unlimited shipments.

✅ It’s possible to send return labels with your orders, which is a good way of dealing with staging in e-commerce.

❌ Carrier rates are not as good as other ShipStation alternatives on the market, like ZigZag, which offers discounted rates with our carrier accounts.

❌ Does not support FedEx, according to G2 reviews.

#7: AfterShip

AfterShip, similar to parcelLab, offers a post-purchase experience tool for merchants that helps them set up rule-based returns automations.

The solution is a good parcelLab alternative for retailers looking for more customisation options and more rule-based return automations.

Features

• It’s possible to recapture revenue with product exchanges and offer partial refunds.
• Rule-based returns automations that can help you offset return costs and retain more revenue from shoppers.
• You can set up return eligibility rules, an analytics dashboard, and automated resolutions.
• Advanced return fraud management: You can set automated workflows to detect and prevent return fraud by analysing return frequency for some shoppers and weight discrepancies.

Pricing

AfterShip offers four monthly plans that are based on how many shipments per year your organisation is expecting.

There are 4 paid tiers:

• Essentials: Starts from $19/month for 720 returns per year and includes their integration with 1,200 carriers and a customisable returns portal.
• Pro: Starts from $49/month for 1,200 returns per year and adds automatic returns approval, refund to store credit, and general eligibility rules.
• Premium: Starts from $199/month for 2,400 returns per year and adds shipment status-triggered automations, exchange on store, and exchange for other items.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for 12,000+ returns per year, which gives you access to instant exchanges, returns API, and enterprise-grade security.

Pros and Cons

✅ Rule-based return automations with eligibility criteria.

✅ SME-friendly pricing that starts from as little as $19/month.

✅ Good range of carriers when compared to parcelLab.

❌ The analytics and data insights may not be as useful and powerful on lower tiers.

❌ Not as easy to set up and use, which is why some users have been looking for alternatives to AfterShip.

#8: ReBound

ReBound offers a returns management solution that lets retailers reduce the cost of returns with more efficient RMA management.

The platform is a good enough alternative to parcelLab for companies that are looking to reduce their cost of returns.

Features

• Omnichannel returns: You can handle the process of the entire returns flow for all sources of returns to your store.
• Best-in-class RMA management: It’s possible to offset your returns costs with ReBound’s smart returns routing.
• Easy-to-set-up Shopify integration: You can set up a customisable returns portal on Shopify with multiple returns options, such as home collection and drop-off services.

Pricing

ReBound does not publicly disclose its pricing, so you’d have to contact them to receive a quote and a product demo

Pros and Cons

✅ Order tracking with push notifications for customers.

✅ One-click Shopify integration that adds different return options.

✅ Efficient RMA management to reduce the cost of returns.

❌ Some shoppers have lost orders with their service, according to TrustPilot reviews.

❌ Fewer return options for end users than other ReBound alternatives on the market.

Next Steps: Offer More Return Options To Offset Costs & Battle Return Fraud With ZigZag Global

We went over the 8 best returns management platforms that are ideal alternatives to parcelLab and can help you minimise your cost of returns and improve your customers’ lifetime value.

Each of these returns solutions has its strengths, weaknesses, and pros & cons.

Built for retailers who operate locally and globally, ZigZag offers an all-in-one returns platform that is designed to take over any online store’s post-purchase experience.

If you’re an e-commerce leader or entrant looking for a returns management platform that offers:

• A customisable returns portal that can be personalised to your shoppers.
• Wide range of return options, such as paid returns, return to store credit, and return to gift card.
• Access to detailed analytics and reports on what drives shoppers to return products.

Book a demo with the experts

Then you can book a demo to learn more about ZigZag Global.