Returns are a standard part of running an e-commerce store, but without a clear process, they can quickly become a drag on your time, margins, and customer satisfaction.
E-commerce returns management software helps automate that process — from return initiation and courier label generation, to parcel tracking, refunds, and understanding why products are being returned.
Not every Australian business needs or is ready for a full-featured software platform to manage returns properly, but it’s worth knowing what your options are.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- How e-commerce returns software works (and where it fits)
- A comparison of top tools — based on pricing (as of July 2025), capabilities, and relevance for Aussie stores
- How Zappy helps you manage returns professionally — with no monthly fees
Try Zappy free or keep reading to explore your returns software options.
What is e-commerce returns management software?
E-commerce returns software helps businesses manage the full lifecycle of a return — from the moment a customer requests to send something back, through to refund, restock, or disposal.
While features vary between platforms, most returns software follows a similar workflow:
- Return request initiation: Customers start the return via a branded portal or link, select a reason, and choose a resolution — refund, exchange, or store credit.
- Label generation and reverse logistics: A return shipping label is automatically created and sent to the customer. Some systems select the best courier and method based on rules you define.
- Returns tracking: Returned parcels are tracked back to your business, giving visibility into delays, lost packages, or successful deliveries.
- Inspection and processing: Items are checked on arrival and handled based on policy — restocked, refurbished, or discarded.
- Refunds or replacements: Based on the return reason and condition, refunds or exchanges are issued either manually or automatically.
- Customer communication: Status updates like “return received” or “refund issued” are sent automatically to reduce support queries.
- Returns data and reporting: Platforms often collect return reasons, refund times, and product-level insights to help you improve logistics, listings, or product quality.
Returns software can be a powerful way to improve customer experience, reduce admin, and uncover what’s really driving returns.
But not every business needs every feature, and many Australian e-commerce sellers can implement an effective returns system without adding costly or complex software.
While Zappy isn’t a dedicated returns platform, it includes several of these key tools built into the shipping dashboard you’re already using.
You can:
- Include branded returns links with your parcels or emails
- Generate return shipping labels instantly
- Track outbound and return shipments from one place
- Manage refunds
That means you can offer a smooth, professional returns experience without the extra overhead.
Reviewing 5 popular e-commerce returns solutions for Australian businesses
All pricing and feature details below are correct as of July 2025, based on publicly available sources.
We’ve done our best to ensure this information is accurate, but always double-check directly with the provider before making a decision.
We’ve evaluated each platform based on four criteria:
- Pricing: Monthly cost, per-return fees, customer charges
- Order volume suitability: What kind of business the tool is designed for
- Distinct capabilities: Automation, reporting, branding, or integrations
- Australian relevance: Local courier support, platform integrations, and regional fit
Zappy isn’t a returns management platform. Although we provide some foundational features to facilitate returns processes, we’re not trying to compete with these tools.
We hope that helps us provide a fairly balanced view to help you compare what’s out there.
Loop
Loop is a well-known returns platform designed for mid-sized to enterprise Shopify brands, with a strong focus on exchange-first workflows that keep customers shopping.
It offers a polished returns portal, instant credit options, and branded communications — all tightly integrated with Shopify.
Importantly, Loop does support Australian merchants. It offers integrations with our domestic and international couriers like Australia Post and DHL, making it a more realistic option for AU-based stores than for those in New Zealand.
That said, Loop is still very much an enterprise-grade tool. Pricing starts at USD $155/month for the basic plan and rises to USD $272/month for more advanced automation.
It’s best suited to larger brands selling primarily through Shopify. If you’re running a smaller operation or using multiple platforms, Loop is likely more complex and expensive than you need.
Narvar
Narvar is a high-end post-purchase platform built for large, global retailers. It offers branded tracking, AI-powered notifications, returns and exchange workflows, and deep integrations with enterprise tools like ERPs and CRMs.
The platform is best suited to enterprise-scale operations, with many users managing hundreds of thousands of orders and needing full control over every post-purchase interaction.
For smaller Australian e-commerce sellers, Narvar will be overkill.
It doesn’t seem to offer native support for Australian couriers, so local integration requires workarounds via third-party logistics tools or internal dev teams.
Pricing is fully custom, and Narvar doesn’t provide pricing on its website. Recent review articles suggest that pricing starts at $30,000USD per year, though you’ll need to reach out to Narvar directly for an accurate quote.
parcelLab
parcelLab is a feature-rich post-purchase experience platform aimed at mid-sized to enterprise retailers.
It offers advanced capabilities like branded tracking, automated returns workflows, upsell logic, and integrations with major e-commerce, CRM, and ERP systems.
For Australian sellers, parcelLab is a more realistic option than some enterprise tools.
It integrates with carriers like Australia Post, DHL, UPS, and NZ Post, making it more viable than Narvar or Loop for those handling local and trans-Tasman fulfilment.
However, Capterra shows a starting cost of €2,400/month which puts parcelLab firmly in the enterprise bracket, and setup still requires technical onboarding.
It’s best suited to retailers already managing cross-border logistics and high order volumes who need to standardise the customer experience across multiple markets.
For smaller Australian sellers focused on reducing shipping cost and maintaining simplicity, the platform may offer more power than needed.
ReturnGO
ReturnGO is a returns automation platform tailored to modern Shopify and BigCommerce sellers, with expanding support for platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, Wix, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
For Australian e-commerce businesses, it offers native integration with Australia Post and DHL, as well as NZ Post — making it one of the more locally relevant tools in this space.
You can generate pay-on-scan return labels, track return shipments, and configure smart rules for refunds, exchanges, and store credit.
That said, ReturnGO does not currently integrate with common Aussie carriers like Sendle or CouriersPlease. If you use those services, label creation and tracking will need to be managed outside the platform or through a third-party aggregator.
As of July 2025:
- Pricing starts at USD $147/month for basic returns and exchanges
- More advanced “Pro” tier starts from USD $297/month
- A free trial is available
ReturnGO is a great fit for Shopify and BigCommerce sellers in Australia who want advanced returns logic, automation, and courier label generation.
Smaller brands or those relying on unsupported couriers may find it heavier than necessary.
Re:Do
Re:Do is a lightweight returns layer built around a checkout opt-in model: customers pay a small fee at checkout for “return protection.” If they opt in, they gain access to a branded self-service returns portal. If not, the return falls back to your standard manual process.
For Australian sellers, especially those on Shopify or BigCommerce, this model can be appealing — no monthly platform fees, minimal setup, and a more polished customer experience for those who opt in.
That said, there are a few important things to know:
- Platform integrations and local usage: While Re:Do is widely used in the US and supports Shopify and BigCommerce, we haven’t seen confirmed case studies for Australian merchants.
- Courier support: Carrier integrations include Australia Post, DHL, FedEx, and UPS.
- Automation: Re:Do does not handle refund processing, restocking, or inventory sync. You’ll still need to manage those parts through your e-commerce platform.
- Compliance: Australian Consumer Law guarantees refund rights for faulty or misrepresented goods — regardless of opt-in protection. Re:Do can’t replace your legal obligations, but it can streamline returns for customers who opt in.
For low-volume DTC brands that want to offer return protection without the cost or overhead of a full returns platform, Re:Do may be a useful layer to test.
But for larger operations, or those needing local carrier automation and more control, a full-featured platform may be a better fit.
Consider e-commerce returns software when you’ve outgrown manual returns handling
Still managing returns by hand? That may have worked early on, but as your store scales, the cracks start to show.
Here’s how to tell if you’ve outgrown manual returns:
- You’re constantly replying to refund emails or generating labels manually. It’s time-consuming and prone to error, especially as order volumes grow.
- Customers keep asking what to do — or worse, don’t return at all. That’s lost revenue, lost stock, and a frustrating experience for everyone.
- You don’t know why people return products. Without data, you can’t improve your listings, fit guides, or fulfilment processes.
- You’re selling across Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce — but returns are siloed. Without a central view, it’s hard to manage return rates or track items across systems.
- You want automation and efficiency — but can’t justify paying $300+ per month. Many returns tools are priced for high-volume stores and don’t scale well for small to mid-sized Australian sellers.
If that’s you, it’s worth looking at tools that offer a basic returns capability alongside your existing shipping setup, without adding another subscription.
How Zappy bridges the gap between manual returns handling and a dedicated returns platform
If you’re a growing e-commerce brand in Australia, returns are no longer something you can afford to handle ad hoc.
But that doesn’t mean you need to pay hundreds per month for software, or wrangle another standalone platform just to manage labels.
Zappy gives you core returns functionality built into the same system you already use for shipping.
- Manage returns from Shopify, WooCommerce, or eBay in a branded returns portal
- Print return shipping labels instantly, no manual setup required
- Use branded return links to reduce support load and build customer trust
- Control rules via your e-commerce platform
Best of all, Zappy is free to use. You only pay when you ship — whether that’s outbound or inbound.
Add a branded returns link to your orders with Zappy — no monthly fee, no hidden costs. Get started for free.
Answering your questions about using Zappy for returns
Does Zappy support international returns?
Zappy is designed primarily for domestic returns within New Zealand and Australia. You can generate return labels for all major domestic couriers — including StarTrack, TNT, Australia Post, and CouriersPlease — and send branded returns links to your customers.
International returns (e.g. a customer in the US returning a parcel to Australia) are not currently managed through the Zappy platform. However, you can handle these on a case-by-case basis using your courier account and manually updating your Zappy dashboard or e-commerce platform.
If international returns are critical to your business model, Zappy may not be a complete solution, though many users continue using Zappy for domestic fulfilment while managing international returns separately.
Do I need to use Shopify or TradeMe?
No, Zappy supports a wide range of platforms including:
- Shopify (with direct integration)
- eBay (via courier plugin or order import)
- WooCommerce
- Squarespace
- Custom setups (via CSV import, email, or API)
If your platform isn't directly supported, Zappy’s customer support team can often help configure a custom integration or workaround. You can also manually upload orders or generate return labels from the dashboard.
In short, Zappy is platform-agnostic — it works with most e-commerce setups as long as you have access to order details and a shipping address.
Is there a monthly cost?
No — Zappy is free to use.
There are:
- No subscription fees
- No setup costs
- No platform or user limits
You only pay for what you ship. That means:
- Courier shipping labels (outbound or return) are charged at Zappy’s pre-negotiated rates.
- You’ll receive one consolidated invoice for all courier services used.
This makes Zappy especially cost-effective for small and mid-sized businesses that want the benefits of a shipping and returns platform without committing to a monthly SaaS fee.
How to manage returns in e-commerce?
Managing returns effectively requires more than just generating a label. Here’s a general process followed by many Zappy customers:
1. Set a clear returns policy: define eligibility (time window, product conditions), refund/exchange rules, and whether customers or the business pays for return shipping.
2. Communicate proactively: include return instructions with every order confirmation or parcel.
3. Use branded return links: with Zappy, you can include a link for customers to access their return label and instructions directly.
4. Track returns centrally: Zappy shows when a parcel is picked up or delivered, helping you decide when to issue a refund.
5. Collect return reasons: if using a return form or Shopify app, collect reasons to understand why customers are returning items.
6. Restock inventory: once an item is returned, update your stock manually or via your e-commerce platform/WMS.
Zappy supports this process by consolidating courier activity, label creation, and branded comms — keeping things simple for both you and the customer.
How to reduce return rates in e-commerce?
Return rates are a natural part of e-commerce, especially in apparel, electronics, or gifting — but you can reduce them by addressing the causes:
1. Accurate product descriptions: use detailed specs, dimensions, and compatibility notes.
2. Clear visuals: include multiple angles, close-ups, and scale references in product photos.
3. Size and fit guides: especially important in fashion or homewares.
4. Customer reviews: highlight verified feedback and real-world use cases.
5. Packaging improvements: poor packaging can lead to damage, which increases returns. Zappy helps reduce this with smarter label routing and packaging suggestions.
6. Better delivery transparency: delays or confusion during shipping can lead to cancelled or refused orders. Zappy’s branded tracking helps set expectations and reduce complaints.
Collecting return reason data (which Zappy supports in basic form) is the first step to identifying what to fix.