Loop Returns vs AfterShip Returns

Finding the perfect return management software is essential for guaranteeing customer loyalty and retail success. This page compares two top-rated platforms that help enterprise retailers deliver ideal return experiences—Loop and AfterShip.

Overview

When looking for a powerful and user-friendly post-purchase solution with advanced features for operations and warehouse teams, AfterShip and Loop are two of the best options in the market. However, these two companies provide different approaches to returns and exchanges, especially when comparing built-in product capabilities, eCommerce and technology platforms supported, pricing models, and implementation time. This page will help you understand the differences between AfterShip and Loop, and help you choose the best-fit returns solution for growing your business.

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What does AfterShip 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. 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.

 Being platform agnostic, AfterShip connects to custom experiences, Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce, and more. AfterShip plugs directly into an extensive partner ecosystem of over 20 technology and 3PLs partners, such as Klaviyo, Gorgias, Yotpo, Shipbob, and more. Moreover, 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 works with more than 23 carriers, and supports auto-label generation without additional connectors or apps. The wide carrier network supports 310,000+ return drop-off locations worldwide, including box-less and label-free returns for US-based FedEx & Walgreen locations, and Happy Return Return Bars. By connecting to AfterShip Tracking, brands can send proactive tracking information for exchanges, and new orders without implementing an additional solution.

What does Loop do?

Loop is a returns and exchange platform that supports brands on Shopify & Shopify Plus. As of April 2023, it does not offer other in-house eCommerce solutions. That said, it integrates with other solution providers to address different touch points. Users may need to purchase these additional solutions and platforms to create a holistic post-purchase experience. Brands could face extra costs and lengthy implementations to consolidate data across systems.

 As of Apr 2023, Loop has a team of less than 200 people to manage its operations, from sales to development to marketing. Loop plugs into 30+ applications like Klaviyo and Gorgias.

An overview of Loop Returns

Loop Returns' main features include returns portals, exchanges, refunds, bundles, store credits, in-store returns, returns automation, label creation, drop-off, keep items, and an analytics dashboard. 
 Loop Returns will require users to purchase additional third-party integrations to unlock a more holistic post-purchase experience. For shipment management, fulfillment, and label printing, users will need an Easypost subscription. To deploy basic order shipment tracking, an active Malomo plan is needed. Brands may experience latency in data connectivity, additional costs, and longer implementation times. Loop Returns supports up to 9 carriers via integration with the required third-party shipping broker, EasyPost. It allows customers to leverage QR-code return drop-offs at any 5,000+ Happy Returns Return Bars or any FedEx or Walgreens location in the US.

Pricing comparison

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

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AfterShip Returns

AfterShip Returns' pricing is transparent, and has plans for businesses of different sizes, adjusting for the number of returns, carriers, routing rules, and routing zones. Plans are easy to find on the website, with clear breakdowns of which features are available on which plan.
 Each plan is billed monthly or discounted annually. And brands can start with self-service options or test the solution with its free trial.

Loop Returns

Loop Returns provides two pricing methods, flat-fee and usage-based, which may seem more complex. Flat-fee means customers pay a monthly price for what they need, allotting set amounts of annual returns. Usage-based means that Loop will charge for each return plus a lower monthly fee. Their site does not mention free or annual options at this time. Retailers must contact their sales team for a quote to get more accurate pricing, as there are no self-serve options. Additional add-ons may need to be purchased to fully unlock Loop Returns' capabilities.

Compare AfterShip and Loop Returns 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 Loop ratings from G2.com as of May 17, 2023 to help you make an informed decision.

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AfterShip

4.5

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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“

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Loop Returns

4.5

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5 Loop Reviews

four stars grey

Nov 18, 2022

“Pretty Good Returns/Exchanges Solution But Still Some Hiccups“

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“I love the automation of the software. Previously, everything we did was done manually, so to have it automated is a big help.“

un like

“I don't love some of the hiccups we've experienced over the two years we've used the product. We've had issues with exchange amounts because we offer products at sitewide discounts and promo-code options. Most recently, there was an issue where Loop was refunding more than what customers paid for products, it may have been solved, but we're not sure, and we don't know why that happened. Sometimes it's challenging to get ahold of our account manager or get problems solved.“

regular grey stars

Nov 3, 2022

“New Tool, Room for Improvement but Works Well”

like

“Loop is constantly releasing new features and improvements that allow us to expand and improve our post-purchase experience. We partnered with Loop when we were both small companies and have loved seeing Loop grow while we've grown as well. Their support team is always quick to respond, and we've loved the CSMs we've worked with!“

un like

“My biggest gripe with Loop is that we're not able to play with the data as much as I'd like. The analytics tab is often painfully slow, and sometimes the standard reports within Analytics and the standard reports you can download don't always cover the data I want to look at. It would be super helpful to be able to select the columns I'd like to export or have the option to create custom widgets within analytics.

 We are also under pretty intense pressure from our executive team to deliver an in-store return system, so we don't have to do so manually. Although things through Loop are great for the eComm side of things, we'd also love to provide that same experience through retail.“

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

Loop Returns

Year founded

2012 (source)

2017 (source)

Number of employees

450 (source)

105 (source)

Number of paid customers

17,000+ (source)

200-700 (source)

Number of carriers integrated

23 native carriers (source)

9 Carriers (source)

Number of eCommerce platforms supported

10+ platforms (source)

2 platforms - Shopify & Shopify Plus (source)

Live chat support

24/7 live chat (source)

None mentioned

Data Privacy & Security

SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR Compliance (source)

None mentioned

Switching from Loop Returns to AfterShip Returns

AfterShip provides a dedicated Solutions Architect to help ensure a seamless transition from Loop Returns 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.

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Recognized by customers for exceptional service

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g top  apac companies
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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 >

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  • vector

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

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  • 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."

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