Introduction
AfterShip has been somewhat of a trailblazer in the ecommerce world in terms of offering real-time order tracking abilities to customers.
The company opened as a startup in 2011 from Hong Kong with a small base of shipping carriers, but quickly shot to fame with their introduction of the package tracking API.
Today, this shipping platform has a presence in over 220 countries with a massive network of 900+ carriers. Although AfterShip is clearly among the best shipping software, it's always a good idea to check out other solutions to see if they fit better.
Some reasons why long-term AfterShip clients make the switch to other logistics solutions are - high pricing, manual order categorization, inadequate chat and customer support, etc.
Below, you will find some of the top AfterShip competitors along with their detailed reviews, price, features, pros, cons, etc. We've made the list based on categories like pricing, shipping cost and speed, delivery date estimation, guaranteed deliveries and some other important factors.
Top 10 Best AfterShip Competitors and Alternatives [2024 Updated List]
We are here with a list of the 10 best Aftership alternatives for ecommerce businesses worldwide. The following section will give you a quick view of the features and the pros and cons of each ecommerce shipping solution.
We'll close the discussion by revealing a few tips on how to find the best logistics software for your business.
1) ClickPost
ClickPost is one of the world’s most advanced shipping software to provides multi-carrier shipping solutions to ecommerce companies across the globe. ClickPost varied list of integrations includes 400+ shipping carriers and numerous WMS, storefronts, CRMs, and ERPs.
ClickPost uses push and pull API integrations to send real-time tracking updates to customers through a branded tracking page and communication channels like SMS, WhatsApp, and email.
Its recent addition to the feature list is the Estimated Delivery Date (EDD) widget for product and checkout pages to help customers accurately predict their order delivery dates.
The EDD feature, along with integrated tracking, makes ClickPost one of the best alternatives to AfterShip in providing exceptional post-purchase customer experiences.
ClickPost's carrier recommendation engine automatically allocates the best carriers for any shipment by evaluating key metrics like destination address, carrier performance, type of shipment, and more.
It can also handle returns through its excellent self-serve returns management portal, where customers can place return requests.
The portal also asks for customer feedback and product images to ensure the quality of return/exchange items. Want to know how ClickPost fares against AfterShip?
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A single unified dashboard for order management, AWB generation, and tracking.
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Shorter COD reconciliation periods for a steady cash flow.
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A hassle-free COD to Prepaid payment mode conversion after checkout.
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ClickPost Returns Plus to help Shopify merchants manage returns better.
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An intelligent NDR management workflow to auto-resolve shipping exceptions.
Pros: ClickPost Software offers the fastest carrier integrations and an easy-to-navigate platform for order management.
Cons: ClickPost is mostly suited for large and medium enterprises with higher-order volumes.
2) Shippo
Shippo was started in San Francisco, California, and provides shipping software solutions that automate certain aspects of the ecommerce shipping process using multicarrier integration.
It helps ecommerce businesses, storefronts, and marketplaces to integrate with multiple sales channels. It can help firms with packaging, delivery, reverse logistics, etc.
It also allows the printing of shipping labels in batches and can increase brand engagement through the branded tracking pages. Shippo renders its services in the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Australia.
It is one of the best alternatives to the AfterShip software, so if it comes down to AfterShip Vs. Shippo, which one should you choose? AfterShip is known for its excellent tracking features, while Shippo is known for its overall shipping optimization.
However, Aftership provides 900+ carrier integrations, leaving Shippo far behind. You can determine the more suitable software for your business only after carefully assessing your shipping needs.
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Integrations include 85+ carriers and storefronts.
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Enables live carrier rate comparisons from unified dashboard.
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Creates batch shipping labels for easier customs clearance.
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Displays ETA and pricing on product pages for users.
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Shares tracking updates with customers through email and SMS.
Pros: Shippo gives excellent solutions for cheap shipping rates.
Cons: Shippo may have hidden charges and offers limited customer support.
3) ShipStation
ShipStation operates largely in the US and works as shipping management platform with warehousing abilities.
ShipStation can also hasten the order fulfillment process by automating several parts of the shipping process, like product reports, data analytics, order management, and more.
ShipStation is also popular because of the unbelievable discounts it provides when shipping with USPS, UPS and DHL.
Online merchants with huge B2B consignments can print upto 500 shipping labels for bulk shipping. Another great thing about ShipStation is its constant support during onboarding which makes the process easier even for newbie businesses.
Looking for other options? You can check out the 10 best ShipStation alternatives for your online store. Want a through comparison between AfterShip and ShipStation? Check out the Aftership Vs. ShipStation post now!
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Integrations include 70+ carriers and ecommerce marketplaces.
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Enables multi-channel inventory synchronization for simple stock appraisal.
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Allows business owners to track everything on the go with the Shippo mobile app.
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A branded tracking page increases cross-selling and upselling opportunities.
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Offers a shipping calculator to correctly estimate shipping costs.
Pros: Inventory management and stock appraisals are made easy with ShipStation.
Cons: ShipStation does not provide sufficient technical required for managing multiple glitches.
4) ParcelPerform
ParcelPerform is based in the United States and offers inventory management software that provides data management and order tracking solution to ecommerce businesses.
By working with ParcelPerform, online stores can reduce shipping costs, improve customer satisfaction, and increase overall productivity. With over 10 years of experience in the logistics industry, ParcelPerform or its alternatives can be a great partner for any ecommerce business looking to streamline its shipping process.
This AfterShip competitor is GDPR compliant and adheres to the highest levels of security regulations to keep customer data safe at all times.
ParcelPerform aims to boost customer lifetime value (CLV) and retention rates by reducing uncertainty in the post-purchase shipping process. Its uses data analytics to improve demand forecasting, reduce stockout and lower overall logistics costs.
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Integrations with 1045+ global carriers and shopping carts.
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Provides estimated time of arrival (ETA) and issues a new date in case of order delays.
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Allows brands to respond to customer queries faster with a customer service toolkit.
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An automated returns portal for seamless returns management.
Pros: Reduce WISMO calls through increased responsiveness with ParcelPerform.
Cons: Repeated glitches make ParcelPerform’s system tough to use.
5) Narvar
Narvar is an award-winning shipping software that operates in the US and helps online businesses improve the post-purchase customer experience. Narvar helps in the management of all your logistics needs.
They streamline the process of automation and tracking orders by making it simpler and more efficient. As a business owner, you can rely on Narvar to keep your customers happy by ensuring their orders arrive on time and in mint condition.
It initiates the order fulfillment process by generating the waybill, after which the order is picked, packed, and sent for delivery.
Additionally, it offers valuable insights into order trends so you can make better stocking decisions. If you're looking for an experienced and reliable partner for your ecommerce logistics needs, Narvar or its competitors can make an excellent alternative to AfterShip.
Features:
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Integration includes 350+ carriers, sales channels, and various ecommerce support partners.
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Narvar automated order tracking updates are sent to customers via email, SMS, and other channels, including a branded tracking page.
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Narvar’s returns portal enables requests and exchange rules to be customized to automate the process.
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Narvar provides a service that enables orders to be picked up by customers from Concierge stations.
Pros: Narvar allows you to customize various features, like the returns portal.
Cons: Order tracking notifications with Narvar are not received in real-time.
6) WeSupplyLabs
Philadelphia-based business WeSupplyLabs helps an online business manage its shipping operations with the help of automation and actionable insights. WeSupplyLabs provides clients with the latest supply chain research, best practices, and technology solutions.
Its team of experts can help you optimize your fulfillment process and reduce cost-to-serve. It mainly focuses on optimizing the post-shipping experience by providing live order tracking data and reliable predictive delivery dates for enhanced post-purchase customer experience.
If WeSupplyLabs cannot add value to your shipping operations, then WesupplyLabs alternatives surely will!
Some features that make WeSupplyLabs a worthy AfterShip alternative are its provision for in-store and curbside pickups, failed delivery management and flexible return policies.
It offers free integrations with ecommerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, and shipping tools like Easypost, Zapier, etc. It also provides 24/7 customer support with Shopify live chat apps like Gorgias, and marketing automation with Klaviyo.
Features:
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Real-time shipment visibility to proactively deal with order delays.
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Sends tracking updates from 1000+ carriers to customers automatically.
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Provides a branded tracking page and a branded returns portal.
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Arms support teams with live order information to efficiently handle customer queries.
Pros: WeSupplyLabs helps improve customer experience through post-purchase branded experience.
Cons: Carrier integrations with WeSupplyLabs can be very slow.
7) Easyship
Easyship provides a shipping platform that enables online sellers to get the best shipping rates for their packages. Its main focus lies in improving customer outreach and order management.
It is a simple and easy-to-use platform where businesses can manage their shipping with ease, reducing the time and effort it takes to get orders to the customers.
Easyship has a team of logistics experts who are always at hand to help you every step of the way. The shipping platform is well known for providing the cheapest international shipping rates when delivering via USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
The Aftership Vs. Easyship debate is an ongoing one. We can say that both of these shipping platforms can work extraordinarily well for you, depending on what your specific requirements are.
Features:
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Integrations include 250+ global carriers, storefronts, marketplaces, and other platforms.
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Easyship conducts a comparison of various shipping rates to enable cost-effective carrier selection.
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Dynamic checkout rates are offered to improve customer checkout conversion rates.
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Easyship offers a unified platform to create, manage, and track orders, as well as print shipping labels.
Pros: Easyship is easy to integrate with, and the dashboard is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Cons: Easyship has numerous technical limitations for larger order volumes.
8) Project44
Project44, earlier known as, Convey, is a US-based shipping management software that improves ecommerce customer experience using integrations and predictive analysis.
It can help reduce operational costs by providing in-depth analytics on shipping performance and any areas of business you need information on through customer feedback and delivery data.
Project44 and its competitors are great AfterShip alternatives because they can predict delivery issues and alert customers accordingly. It can improve brand impressions through its white-labeled tracking page and branded post-purchase experience.
One of the best features of Project44 is its flexible workflow which allows businesses to scale up rapidly without spending too much on physical infrastructure.
This feature also helps to keep customers constantly in the know and reduces anxiety around order fulfillment. Its use of ML can effectively predict delivery issues by considering route maps, carrier performance, etc., and offers entrepreneurs the chance to communicate with customers before a delay happens.
Features:
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Intelligent risk assessment notifies businesses of any disruption in the supply chain.
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Issues automatic bulk alerts to numerous customers at once for a simpler post-purchase experience.
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Collects customer feedback on every tracking page.
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Improves last-mile delivery logistics with shipping insights and visibility.
Pros: Project44 has high response times to customer enquiries.
Cons: Offers limited services related to shipping exception management and brand promotion.
9) Stamps
Stamps.com is a UK-based postage service company that helps small businesses, online retailers, and large firms print postages for their orders from the comfort of their homes or offices.
Through their partnership with USPS, Stamps also offers comprehensive warehouse management services to online stores.
Store owners can completely systematize the shipping process by customizing APIs, ERP management tools, and WMS accessories. It is one of the top Aftership competitors and is a leading provider of logistics services and postal services.
Similar to other discounted shipping platforms on the list, like Easyship and Shipstation, Stamps also offers cheap shipping rates with UPS and USPS. It is a super affordable alternative to AfterShip with almost the same services.
Brands using Stamps can import their order data from other websites and shopping carts like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, etc. They can print multiple shipping or return labels at once and even get shipping insurance for up to 40% of their total consignment value.
Features:
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Arranges customizable warehousing solutions for every individual business.
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Provides excellent discounts (up to 86% for domestic and international packages) on USPS and UPS shipping.
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The Online Reporting Dashboard enables customers to track their orders in real time.
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Offers a simple workflow for easier shipping. Also handles bulk orders.
Pros: Stamps has a free trial that allows businesses to test out its services.
Cons: Customer service can seem patchy at times.
10) Shiprocket
Shiprocket is an ecommerce shipping and logistics software solution that helps businesses of all sizes ship their products quickly and efficiently.
Its competitive pricing allows businesses to save money while providing the best order fulfillment services to their customers.
It delivers to over 29000 pin codes in India and 220+ countries globally. It provides shipping insurance on all domestic as well as cross-border shipments. If you want to simplify and optimize shipping operations, Shiprocket or its competitors can help.
Brands looking for AfterShip alternatives will find many beneficial offerings from Shiprocket, like omnichannel fulfillment, same-day or next-day delivery, and extensive warehouse management services.
It is a good B2B and cargo shipping option for ecommerce companies because of its cost-effective costs. It integrates with 25+ shipping carriers and various other sales channels. Shiprocket operates on a pay-as-you-go model.
Features:
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NDR feature anticipates order delays and manages customer grievances.
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Boosts business operations with a COD (Cash on Delivery) remittance cycle of 2 working days.
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Connects brands to the biggest ecommerce platforms and tools like Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, and Magento.
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Provides pricing plans for small, medium and enterprises grade businesses.
Pros: Shiprocket does not require any minimum number of orders and offers Cash on Delivery (COD).
Cons: Shiprocket is not equipped to handle many orders and can often lead to shipping delays.
How to Select the Best AfterShip Alternative and Competitor for Your Business?
1) Areas Served Or Serviceability
The first step to finding the best Aftership alternative is determining whether the SaaS platform works in the required locations and can manage your order volume.
Some companies or shipping software are better able to handle bulk orders, while others have weight restrictions on delivery.
Similarly, some Aftership alternatives may not deliver to or accept returns from areas your targeted audience is located in. Therefore, it's important to figure out whether the parcel management software you choose has the tools to help you scale up ultimately.
2) Shipment Tracking
As an ecommerce business, it is critical that you know where your parcels and packages are in real time.
This allows you to stay current on where they are when they will be delivered, and how long the delivery process will take. In addition, real-time tracking allows businesses to make better shipping decisions based on what is happening with their parcels.
For example, if there is a delay in transit, you can decide to send a replacement order instead of waiting for the original package.
3) Price Of The Shipping Software
As an ecommerce company, it is important to get the order to your customer as soon as possible at an affordable rate.
That's why it's important to partner with an AfterShip competitor that can offer you the best price possible. To find out the best deals, always compare the services offered by a logistics platform against the individual carrier pricing.
You must also critically analyze how many of those services are valuable for your online store before deciding. Pricing is key because the goal of any online business is to stay profitable.
For starters, software that provides a free trial or has affordable pricing plans is are good option. You can also get platforms with flat shipping rates based on the weight of your order.
4) Use Of Logistics Technology And Inventory Management
If ecommerce businesses want to be successful and thrive in the current global market, they must make use of advanced logistics technology. By doing so, they can manage their inventory, packages, and shipments more accurately and optimize their delivery processes.
Using advanced logistics technology can help ecommerce businesses save time and money while improving customer satisfaction. Look for features like route mapping or route optimization, GPS-tracking, AI and ML-driven software, and automation.
5) Availability Of Customer Care
If you're an ecommerce business, it's important to remember that your customers are the lifeblood of your company. Without them, you'd have no one to sell to! For customers to keep coming back, providing excellent customer support is essential.
This means responding quickly and effectively to inquiries, addressing problems or complaints immediately, and going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Therefore, when looking for AfterShip alternatives, prioritize one that offers excellent customer service. It can help you significantly reduce WISMO calls.
6) Delivery Methods
Consumers today expect fast and convenient delivery, whether they're ordering a new shirt or groceries. But what are the best delivery options for ecommerce businesses?
That answer lies in the kind of business you are and the delivery service your customers expect. Food and grocery delivery businesses demand scheduled delivery, hyperlocal delivery, and 1-hour delivery services from their logistics providers.
Others may not be in urgent need of such expedited services. However, faster delivery is always better.
Hence, enquiring about delivery methods and options is extremely important when choosing a delivery management service like AfterShip. Do keep in mind that some of these specialized services can cost extra.
You may also want to simplify product returns for your customers and yourself using a returns management platforms like ClickPost, Aftership, or WeSupplyLabs.
7) Modes Of Payment
Similar to shipping modes, it's important to offer customers various payment options too. This allows them to choose the one that is most convenient for them, for example, debit/credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, PayPal, Stripe, RazorPay, etc. Different modes of payment also have different pricing and benefits for businesses.
It's important to weigh the pros and cons of each before deciding which ones to offer your customers.
A great way to maintain flexible payment options is by offering a COD to Prepaid conversion feature like the one ClickPost provides. This allows customers to make the payment when they feel assured that their shipment is moving according to plan.
8) Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a valuable source of information for ecommerce businesses and logistics experts. By reading and analyzing customer reviews, you can gain insights into what customers like and don't like about a product or service.
This information can help you choose shipping management software to improve your business and keep your customers happy. If you come across mostly negative reviews around pricing, services, delivery accuracy, etc., then it's better to look for another AfterShip alternative for your business.
Conclusion
While there is a multitude of companies providing logistics services, there are only a few that provide high-end software-based shipping solutions. The AfterShip alternatives that eCommerce enterprises favor are ClickPost, Narvar, Shippo, WeSupplyLabs, and ParcelPerform.
Each of these companies uses various tech-enabled platforms to provide a different range of services.
These may enable you to choose more cost-effective shipping options, promote your brand during the post-purchase customer experience, or even optimize your end-to-end shipping operations.
We hope our detailed discussion about the top 10 AfterShip alternatives and competitors and how to choose the best one will help you find the perfect solution for yourself!
Want to know how ClickPost fares against AfterShip? The AfterShip Vs. ClickPost read can be a great starting point!
When Do Companies Need To Shift From AfterShip to ClickPost
1) Smart Carrier Allocation
Intelligent recommendation engine picks the best carriers based on performance, costs, and serviceability.
2) Track Orders in Real-Time
Dual API integrations work around the clock to ensure tracking updates are provided quickly and in real time.
3) Exceptions Management
An NDR management protocol auto-resolves failed deliveries, RTOs, and other shipping exceptions.
4) Constant Tech Support
You are never alone in problem-solving. Our support teams keep your platform running smoothly 24/7.
5) Best Returns Management
The customizable returns request portal measures all metrics, from exceptions and exchanges to pickups.
6) Competitive Pricing
Select the features you require most and only pay for services you use after customizing them to your preference.
FAQs
1) Which Are The Best AfterShip Competitors?
Answer: The best AfterShip alternatives for eCommerce businesses are ClickPost, Narvar, WeSupplyLabs, and ParcelPerform.
Each of these shipping platforms uses a variety of tech-enabled resources to offer a unique set of services.
While ClickPost and Narvar assist customers with their post-purchase experiences, WeSupplyLabs and ParcelPerform optimize their shipping operations.
2) What Is AfterShip?
Answer: AfterShip is a SaaS company headquartered in Hong Kong that provides a web-based software to enable fast and easy order tracking and order management.
Aftership is known for helping eCommerce companies track their packages efficiently, manage their inventory and orders from a single platform, and keep customers updated on the status of their orders.
3) Does AfterShip Offer Returns Management?
Answer: Yes, AfterShip's Return Center handles all return and exchange requests. Returns via Aftership can be tracked on the AfterShip Tracking Page. This page also shows the refund status.
Customers can either opt for money-back refunds where the amount is credited back to their bank accounts or save the sum as store credit for later use.
4) Why Do Online Stores Shift From AfterShip To Other Alternatives?
Answer: Most ecommerce businesses shift from Aftership to other alternatives because they find themselves looking to fine-tune their services and the post-purchase customer experience.
While Aftership provides an excellent package tracking service, more specialized services are required to deal with delivery and shipping exceptions, tech updates, and brand promotion.
An Objective Comparison Of AfterShip With Its Alternatives
Parameters | AfterShip | ClickPost | Shippo | ShipStation | WeSupplyLabs | ParcelPerform |
Branded Tracking Page | Advanced | Advanced | Intermediate | Basic | Basic | Intermediate |
Cross selling during tracking | Advanced | Advanced | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Basic |
Tracking updates to customers | Email, SMS, Facebook | SMS, WhatsApp, Email | Email, SMS | Email, SMS | Email, SMS, Webhooks | |
Returns Management | No | Advanced | No | Intermediate | Intermediate | No |
Shipping Delay Management | No | Advanced | No | No | No | No |
Integrated tracking dashboard | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Failed deliveries Management | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Provides shipping rates | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Delivery Date Prediction | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Multi-carrier integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Estimated Delivery Date | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |