There are several options on the market, each with its unique features and benefits. In this article, we’ll compare four leading post-purchase platforms: AfterShip, Narvar, WISMOlabs, and parcelLab.
Let’s get started.
Narvar overview
Narvar is an platform that enables brands to take control of their customers’ “after sale” journey, including order notifications, package tracking, as well as delivery, and returns. Narvar offers everything you’d expect from a post-purchase solution; it has customer communication tools, an order tracking page builder, returns management, and analytics.
Narvar has offices in San Mateo, CA, the UK, Germany, and India. Brands using the platform include Sonos, Lululemon, and Sephora.
Learn more by reading our guide on .
AfterShip overview
AfterShip is a post-purchase solution that provides shipment monitoring, branded tracking pages, return portals, and shipping management tools like label generation and rate calculators.
Brands like TOMS, Gymshark, and Aesop use the platform. The company has offices in several locations, including Singapore, Austin, Toronto, Barcelona, India, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
WISMOlabs overview
Founded in 2019, WISMOlabs provides post-purchase software for order tracking, delivery date predictions, customer communication, and data analytics.
That being said, the platform has yet to support returns, and it currently only operates in the United States, targeting small businesses. Some of its customers are Monoprice, Tecovas, Capezio, and Perdue.
parcelLab overview
parcelLab’s award-winning platform empowers brands to optimize every stage of the post-purchase journey with features like white labeled customer comms and brand portals, logistics reporting, and returns management.
parcelLab tracks shipping data from over 350 carriers and helps brands transform mundane touchpoints into unique and personalized moments of joy for consumers.
Used by hundreds of brands worldwide, some of parcelLab’s noteworthy customers include IKEA, Chico’s, H&M, and Yeti.
Narvar vs AfterShip
Narvar | AfterShip | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | High-touch; some users say the process can take up to 6 months | AfterShip presents a variety of onboarding options, from self-service to the availability of support teams, catering to different business plans and sizes. |
Customer communications | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each email; emails are sent from Narvar's domain | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; emails are sent from AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to white label this) |
Order tracking hubs | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each page; the page is hosted on Narvar's domain | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to remove this) |
Carrier integrations | Integrations with 300+ carriers | Supports over 1,000 carriers, potentially affecting the quality of the shipping data. |
Returns management | Returns portal is hosted on the brand’s domain | Per default pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (there is an option to remove this) |
Customer support | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | No public-facing pricing info | AfterShip's pricing includes Free ($0), Essentials ($9), Pro ($99), Premium ($199), Enterprise (custom pricing) plans. Some features come with extra fees. |
Narvar and AfterShip both provide features such as order notifications, branded tracking pages, and returns management. However, they cater to different segments of the market, with Narvar typically serving more established businesses and AfterShip being a fit for a variety of business sizes.
Consider the onboarding process: Narvar’s approach is high-touch and collaborative, while AfterShip provides flexible onboarding options that range from self-service for independence to support teams for additional assistance.
Therefore, Narvar might work well for those who need detailed setup for their systems. But if your process for filling orders is simple, AfterShip could be a good fit.
Narvar and AfterShip both offer customization capabilities to tailor assets like customer emails and branded order tracking pages. AfterShip also allows you to white label these assets.
The two solutions have similar customer support offerings, including customer success teams and an online knowledge base. In terms of pricing, Narvar doesn’t have any public-facing pricing information. AfterShip has its pricing packages listed on its website. However, it’s worth noting that AfterShip charges extra fees if you want to expand its feature sets in the public offering.
parcelLab vs AfterShip
parcelLab | AfterShip | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | High-touch and collaborative; onboarding takes 2 weeks to 30 days max | AfterShip presents a variety of onboarding options, from self-service to the availability of support teams, catering to different business plans and sizes. |
Customer communications | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; emails are sent from the brand's domain | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; emails are sent from AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to white label this) |
Order tracking hubs | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to remove this) |
Carrier integrations | Direct API and easy integrations with 350+ carriers; shipping data is NOT scraped | Supports over 1,000 carriers, potentially affecting the quality of the shipping data. |
Returns management | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain | Per default pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (there is an option to remove this) |
Customer support | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | Bundled pricing with customizable offerings | AfterShip's pricing includes Free ($0), Essentials ($9), Pro ($99), Premium ($199), Enterprise (custom pricing) plans. Some features come with extra fees. |
Similar to the Narvar vs AfterShip comparison, parcelLab and AfterShip cater to different business needs.
parcelLab provides advanced, customizable tools and dedicated support for brands seeking a tailored experience. AfterShip, in contrast, accommodates a range of businesses with its flexible onboarding options, including both self-service and team-supported integration.
Regarding pricing, parcelLab offers bundles with a set number of offerings. These are:
Convert
- parcelLab Promise
Engage
- parcelLab Track & Communicate
- parcelLab Service
- parcelLab Campaign Manager
Retain
- parcelLab Returns
Platform
- parcelLab Insights
- parcelLab Connect
- parcelLab Security
As mentioned above, AfterShip uses a tier-based pricing model with three different plans. Just remember that additional costs will apply if you want to add team members or features to your AfterShip account.
Want to learn more? Dive deeper into the differences between .
parcelLab vs Narvar
parcelLab | Narvar | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | High-touch and collaborative; onboarding takes 2 weeks to 30 days max | High-touch; some users say the process can take up to 6 months |
Customer communications | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; emails are sent from the brand's domain | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each email; emails are sent from Narvar's domain |
Order tracking hubs | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each page; the page is hosted on Narvar's domain |
Carrier integrations | Direct API and easy integrations with 350+ carriers; shipping data is NOT scraped | Integrations with 300+ carriers |
Returns management | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain | Returns portal is hosted on the brand’s domain |
Customer support | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | Bundled pricing with customizable offerings | No public-facing pricing info |
parcelLab and Narvar have several similarities. For one, both post-purchase platforms are built with enterprises in mind. The two solutions also offer similar capabilities around customer communications, order portals, , analytics, and more.
That said, parcelLab has a speedier onboarding process, with most clients getting up and running in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, some merchants have reported a more lengthy onboarding procedure with Narvar (sometimes taking up to 6 months).
parcelLab also has a leg up when it comes to customization. While both programs enable brands to tailor the look and feel of their order portals and customer emails, only parcelLab has a fully white labeled solution.
Further reading: : Which is Right For You?
AfterShip vs WISMOlabs
WISMOlabs | AfterShip | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | Not enough data, though its website suggests a high-touch and collaborative process | AfterShip presents a variety of onboarding options, from self-service to the availability of support teams, catering to different business plans and sizes. |
Customer communications | Branded and customizable communications; unclear on whether or not customer comms are white labeled | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; emails are sent from AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to white label this) |
Order tracking hubs | Branded and customizable pages; no mention of white-labeled solutions on its website | Customizable to a certain extent, though there are specific parameters to follow; pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (though there may be an option to remove this) |
Carrier integrations | Integration with 200+ carriers | Supports over 1,000 carriers, potentially affecting the quality of the shipping data. |
Returns management | No specific info on its website | Per default pages are hosted on AfterShip’s domain (there is an option to remove this) |
Customer support | No specific info on its website | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | Starts at $99 per month | AfterShip's pricing includes Free ($0), Essentials ($9), Pro ($99), Premium ($199), Enterprise (custom pricing) plans. Some features come with extra fees. |
WISMOlabs caters to small to mid-sized eCommerce businesses, whereas AfterShip serves a wider range of eCommerce businesses. That said, WISMOlabs doesn’t have detailed documentation on its website, so it’s challenging to dig into its capabilities.
But here’s what we know: like AfterShip, WISMOlabs’ platform comes with branded tracking pages, customer notifications, and analytics.
WISMOlabs’ pricing starts at $99 per month; according to its website, the solution “has a robust list of features that also includes a personalized marketing engine, a uniquely valuable feature that other post-purchase platforms do not offer.”
You can view AfterShip’s pricing in the sections above.
Narvar vs WISMOlabs
WISMOlabs | Narvar | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | Not enough data, though its website suggests a high-touch and collaborative process | High-touch; some users say the process can take up to 6 months |
Customer communications | Branded and customizable communications; unclear on whether or not customer comms are white labeled | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each email; emails are sent from Narvar's domain |
Order tracking hubs | Branded and customizable pages; no mention of white labeled solutions on its website | Not white labeled; mentions “Powered by Narvar” at the bottom of each page; the page is hosted on Narvar's domain |
Carrier integrations | Integration with 200+ carriers | Integrations with 300+ carriers |
Returns management | No specific info on its website | Returns portal is hosted on the brand’s domain |
Customer support | No specific info on its website | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | Starts at $99 per month | No public-facing pricing info |
Narvar and WISMOlabs differ in their target market, with Narvar catering to larger brands and WISMOlabs focusing on smaller online businesses.
Narvar also has a deeper and more advanced feature set. For instance, Narvar enables brands to set up pickup and drop off points across 200,00+ locations; meanwhile, WISMOlabs doesn’t provide much detail into its offline post-purchase capabilities. Narvar also has built-in returns capabilities, while WISMOlabs has no information on returns listed on its public-facing assets.
To that end, it’s reasonable to assume that Narvar’s pricing is higher than Wismolab’s $99 a month.
parcelLab vs WISMOlabs
WISMOlabs | parcelLab | |
---|---|---|
Onboarding | Not enough data, though its website suggests a high-touch and collaborative process | High-touch and collaborative; onboarding takes 2 weeks to 30 days max |
Customer communications | Branded and customizable communications; unclear on whether or not customer comms are white labeled | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; emails are sent from the brand's domain |
Order tracking hubs | Branded and customizable pages; no mention of white labeled solutions on its website | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain |
Carrier integrations | Integration with 200+ carriers | Direct API and easy integrations with 350+ carriers; shipping data is NOT scraped |
Returns management | No specific info on its website | Flexible, fully customizable, and 100% white labeled; pages are hosted on the brand's domain |
Customer support | No specific info on its website | Customer success team, online support hub, system status page |
Pricing | Starts at $99 per month | Bundled pricing with customizable offerings |
What’s the key difference between parcelLab and WISMOlabs? parcelLab is a high-end post-purchase solution built for major brands, whereas WISMOlabs caters to smaller online brands.
And while deep and detailed information on WISMOlabs’ capabilities are limited, it’s safe to assume that parcelLab offers more advanced capabilities to support complex post-purchase workflows.
Get an even more detailed comparison by reading our guide.
Narvar vs AfterShip vs WISMOlabs vs parcelLab
parcelLab | Narvar | AfterShip | WISMOlabs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ratings and review | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.62 average across G2, Capterra, Featured Customers, and SaaSworthy) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2 average across G2, Capterra, Featured Customers, and SaaSworthy) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2 average across G2, Capterra, Featured Customers, and SaaSworthy) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.98 average across G2, Capterra, and Featured Customers) |
Onboarding | parcelLab does most of the heavy lifting, with minimal action from the brand; you can get up and running 30 days or less | High-touch; some users say the process can take up to 6 months | AfterShip provides self-service and team support onboarding for various business sizes and plans. | Not enough data, though its website suggests a high-touch and collaborative process |
Email customization | ✔️ Can be customized based on your brand’s look and feel | ✔️ Can be customized based on your brand’s look and feel | ✔️ Can be customized based on your brand’s look and feel | ✔️ Can be customized based on your brand’s look and fee |
Email white label and branded domain | ✔️ Sent from the brand’s domain | ❌ Sent from Narvar’s domain | ✔️ White label and custom domain features may be available | ❓ Unclear; not enough info on its website |
Brand-hosted order tracking hubs | ✔️ No mention of parcelLab on the page | ❌ Says “powered by Narvar” at the bottom of the page | ✔️ Hosted and white label features may be available | ❓ Unclear; not enough info on its website |
Carrier integrations | 350+ | 300+ | Supports over 1,000 carriers, potentially affecting the quality of the shipping data. | 200+ |
Built-in returns management | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❓ |
Account or customer success manager | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❓ |
Online knowledge base | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❓ |
System status page | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Pricing | Bundled pricing with customizable offerings | No public-facing pricing info | AfterShip's pricing includes Free ($0), Essentials ($9), Pro ($99), Premium ($199), Enterprise (custom pricing) plans. Some features come with extra fees. | Starts at $99 per month |
Let’s start with parcelLab. Thanks to its strong focus on CX, parcelLab has positioned itself as a leading tech partner in the post-purchase landscape. Its fast and collaborative onboarding process allows brands to get up and running in record speed. Its white labeling capabilities also empower companies to provide a seamless and on-brand “after sale” experience.
Narvar, on the other hand, stands out due to the breadth of its offerings. Its robust platform caters to retailers and healthcare companies alike, so it has the advantage of serving diverse industries. Additionally, Narvar recently acquired Lumi, a platform that connects direct-to-consumer brands with package and print suppliers. This means Narvar customers can also use the platform to purchase shipping supplies.
Regarding customer reviews, parcelLab has a higher star rating, clocking in at 4.6 compared to Narvar’s 4.2.
Moving on to AfterShip and WISMOlabs, these solutions are well-suited for businesses that require straightforward post-purchase capabilities. Both offer transparent pricing, simplifying the cost calculation before registration.
WISMOlabs doesn’t have a lot of detailed info on its website, but it looks like merchants using the platform are pretty happy with it. WISMOlabs has an average score of 4.98 across G2, Capterra, and FeaturedCustomers.com. AfterShip, on the other hand, has an average rating of 4.2 stars out of 5.
Bringing it all together: which is the best platform?
Choosing the right post-purchase platform can make all the difference in delivering exceptional customer experiences. After exploring the features, benefits, and target markets of four leading post-purchase platforms—AfterShip, Narvar, WISMOlabs, and parcelLab—it’s clear that each has its unique strengths and weaknesses.
When making a decision, consider your business’ size, post-purchase workflow complexity, and desired level of customer support. Ultimately, the right post-purchase platform for your business is the one that fits your needs and helps you craft customer journeys that drive business growth.
FAQ
Platforms with direct API carrier integrations typically have more accurate and up-to-date tracking information. We can’t speak for other companies, but at parcelLab, we have a direct integration with over 350 carriers, and this enables us to offer near real time order and package tracking.
The best way to increase the accuracy of your shipping updates is to partner with a tech provider that has direct integrations with your preferred carriers. So, when evaluating solutions, see to it that the software you choose can connect with your existing shipping partners.
We can’t speak for other post-purchase platforms. But at parcelLab, we can confidently say that we’re trusted by hundreds of leading brands, including H&M, Bose, Yeti, LIDL, Farfetch, Chico’s, and more. Check out our customer stories and see why top ecommerce companies choose parcelLab to power their post-purchase initiatives.
The process for handling lost packages will depend on the policies of each retailer. Generally speaking, these providers may help retailers and customers locate lost packages by surfacing available tracking data and communicating with carriers.
If the software has built-in returns management features (like parcelLab), retailers can streamline the refund process through the platform itself.
This may depend on the retailer’s specific returns policies. That said, Narvar, AfterShip, and parcelLab have returns management capabilities built into the platforms, so these solutions can help make the process easier for both retailers and consumers.
The solutions we compare in this guide all seem to be platform-agnostic, and they should work with leading ecommerce solutions like Shopify and Woocommerce.
The best way to determine which software will work best with your existing tech stack is to get in touch with each vendor and take a demo of their solution.