Best Returns Management Software for Shopify Stores
Written byAyushi Tyagi
Reviewed byAnuj GoelQuick answer: The best returns management software for a Shopify store is an app that runs the whole return: the shopper’s request, your approval, the label, and the refund or exchange. QuickReturns is best for Shopify brands that want every feature from $19 a month. Loop and ReturnGO start at $340 and about $147, and warehouse systems such as Blue Yonder serve a different buyer.
You sell on Shopify, so the real choice is between Shopify’s own returns tools and a returns app, and then between apps. Enterprise returns systems are a separate purchase and get one paragraph below. For the process around the software, read our complete guide to Shopify returns management.
On this page
- What returns management software does for a Shopify store
- Returns management software for Shopify, compared
- QuickReturns: best returns management software for every feature from $19
- Five other returns management software options for Shopify
- How to choose returns management software
- Returns management software for UK, Australia and Canada stores
- Frequently asked questions
What returns management software does for a Shopify store
Returns management software, also sold as a returns management system, solution or platform, handles a return from the shopper’s request to the refund or exchange. Shopify covers the basics. According to Shopify Help’s self-serve returns page, customers request a return from their order status page, you approve or decline each request, and you can add exchange items and send return labels.
A returns app takes over where that work gets manual. It gives shoppers a branded portal, approves requests by rule, creates the return label, pays out store credit or a refund, and keeps the return reasons so you can see which products come back and why.
Enterprise and warehouse systems are a separate category. Blue Yonder, for example, describes its returns management as a “reverse supply chain” that covers warehouse and store returns. Tools like that suit retailers running their own returns centres, so this list leaves them out.
Returns management software for Shopify, compared
Every figure comes from the app’s Shopify App Store listing, or from Loop’s pricing page. Plans change, so confirm on the pricing page before you install. “Not published” means the vendor does not state the number.
| App | Starting paid plan | Fee per extra request | Held back on that plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickReturns | $19 a month, 60 requests | $0.40 | Nothing: every feature on every paid plan |
| AfterShip Returns | $19 a month, 20 returns | $0.50 | Advanced workflows, AI-powered exchanges, fraud prevention, warranty portal (Premium, about $119) |
| Return Prime | $19.99 a month, 60 requests | $0.49 | Fraud analytics (Thrive AI, $79.99); WMS integration, SLA management (Scale, $149.99) |
| EcoReturns | About $29 a month, 100 returns | $0.40 | Warehouse routing, API and webhooks (Scale AI, about $99) |
| ReturnGO | About $147 a month, 110 returns | $1.25 | Advanced automation, ERP integrations, API (Pro, about $297) |
| Loop | From $340 a month, up to 1,000 returns | Not published | Not published |
For ten apps with a cost-at-volume table, see our ten Shopify returns apps compared at 50, 200 and 500 returns.
QuickReturns: best returns management software for every feature from $19
QuickReturns is the best returns management software for Shopify brands that want every feature on the first paid plan. Growth costs $19 a month and includes 60 requests, extra requests cost $0.40, and 1,000+ brands use it.
Paid plans differ only by monthly volume. Boost is $49 for 300 requests and Scale is $99 for 500, with $0.30 and $0.20 per extra request, and Custom starts above 500. The Free plan covers 10 requests a month and stops at 10 until the next cycle or an upgrade.
Shoppers look up an order with the order number plus an email or phone number, pick one or more items, give a reason and upload photo or video proof when you require it. You approve each request by hand or with approval rules. A shopper can exchange for another size, and on paid plans for a different product. Refunds go to store credit, the original payment method or bank transfer, and a return fee can be applied and shown to the shopper.
Prepaid return labels are supported through Automatic Label Generation, Self Ship and Green Return, with carriers including UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, Royal Mail and Canada Post on the carrier integrations page.
You set it up yourself in about 30 minutes. Every plan, Free included, comes with an account manager, a 1:1 onboarding call and live chat support. The plans are on the pricing page.
Five other returns management software options for Shopify
AfterShip Returns & Exchanges
Essentials costs about $19 a month and includes 20 returns, then $0.50 per extra return. Advanced workflows, AI-powered exchanges, fraud prevention and the warranty portal start on Premium, which includes 100 returns for about $119 a month, then $1 per extra return. QuickReturns includes 60 requests on its $19 plan and holds no feature back.
EcoReturns
Smart Automation costs about $29 a month with 100 returns and $0.40 per extra return, the same extra fee as QuickReturns. Warehouse routing, unlimited automation rules, exchange payment collection, and API and webhook support start on Scale AI, at about $99 a month with 400 returns. On QuickReturns, API access and webhooks are on every paid plan.
Loop
Loop lists one paid plan, Returns, from $340 a month for up to 1,000 returns, with Shop Now, Instant Exchange, Bonus Credit and fraud prevention. It fits a high-volume brand that wants those features. Loop does not publish a fee for returns above 1,000, and its free Checkout+ plan is open only to merchants whose order and return volume qualifies. Moving over comes with migration help: see QuickReturns as a Loop alternative.
Return Prime
The Grow plan costs $19.99 a month with 60 requests and $0.49 per extra request. Fraud analytics and intelligent return fees start on Thrive AI at $79.99 for 180 requests and $0.79 per extra. WMS integration, SLA management and unlimited users start on Scale at $149.99. QuickReturns charges $0.40 per extra request on Growth. See QuickReturns as a Return Prime alternative.
ReturnGO
Premium costs about $147 a month with 110 returns and $1.25 per extra return, and supports 2 languages. Advanced automation, ERP integrations, unlimited languages and API access start on Pro, at about $297 a month with 300 returns and $0.90 per extra. The same 300 requests cost $49 a month on the QuickReturns Boost plan.
How to choose returns management software
Say a store gets 200 return requests a month. On published prices, the QuickReturns Boost plan covers that for $49, because it includes 300 requests. EcoReturns comes to $69 (Smart Automation at $29 plus 100 extra at $0.40), Return Prime to $88.59 (Grow at $19.99 plus 140 extra at $0.49), AfterShip to $109 (Essentials at $19 plus 180 extra at $0.50) and ReturnGO to $259.50 (Premium at $147 plus 90 extra at $1.25). Loop publishes no fee above its included returns, so it is left out. This is arithmetic on listed prices, not a quote from any vendor.
The price per request is one decision. The other is what sits behind the plan name. Four of the five apps above hold features back for a higher tier, so check what the next tier adds before you choose the starting plan, because the jump from a $19 plan to a $119 one is where the cost sits.
Then look at exchanges, since they decide whether a return becomes a refund. Ask whether a shopper can swap for another size or a different product, and whether you can pay out store credit instead of a refund. A free plan or trial lets you run a test return before you commit; the QuickReturns Free plan covers 10 requests a month.
Run returns, exchanges and store credit from one app. Start free with 10 requests a month.
Returns management software for UK, Australia and Canada stores
Shopify Help says return labels are available only for domestic orders within the United States or within Canada, and not for returns between the two. A store in the UK or Australia therefore gets its return labels from an app or from the carrier.
United Kingdom
UK government guidance on accepting returns says you must refund the customer within 14 days of receiving the item back. Approving by rule and refunding without delay keeps you inside that window. QuickReturns creates prepaid return labels with Royal Mail, Evri and DHL.
Australia
QuickReturns creates prepaid return labels with Australia Post, so an Australian store does not depend on Shopify’s own return labels.
Canada
Shopify return labels cover domestic orders within Canada, not returns between Canada and the United States. QuickReturns creates prepaid return labels with Canada Post.
Frequently asked questions
Returns management software handles a return from request to refund or exchange. For a Shopify store it adds a branded portal, approval rules, return labels, store credit and refunds, and a record of return reasons. It is also sold as a returns management system, solution or platform.
QuickReturns is the best returns management software for Shopify brands that want every feature on the first paid plan: $19 a month for 60 requests, then $0.40 per extra request. Loop and ReturnGO start higher, at $340 and about $147 a month. The table above compares all six apps.
The starting paid plans in this comparison run from $19 a month for QuickReturns and AfterShip to $340 a month for Loop. Most apps add a fee per extra return, between $0.40 and $1.25 on the entry plans. Prices come from each app’s listing, so confirm them on the pricing page.
Yes, for basic returns. Shopify lets customers request a return from their order status page, and you approve or decline each request, add exchange items and send return labels. An app is worth adding when you want rule-based approval, a branded portal and store credit.
Usually not for a Shopify store. Enterprise systems such as Blue Yonder’s cover warehouse and store returns across a reverse supply chain. A Shopify returns app covers the shopper request, approval, label and refund, which is the job most Shopify stores need done.
Sources: Shopify Help: self-serve returns · Shopify Help: return labels · GOV.UK: accepting returns and giving refunds · Blue Yonder returns management · AfterShip Returns & Exchanges · EcoReturns · Loop on the Shopify App Store · Loop pricing · Return Prime · ReturnGO. Plans change, so confirm prices on each app’s pricing page.
