battles / Returns
ReturnsWiz vs Rich Returns
ReturnsWiz ($49/mo/mo, vibe code 8/10) vs Rich Returns ($99/mo/mo, vibe code 7/10). ReturnsWiz is the easier one to rebuild yourself — here is what you lose either way.
Returns
$49/mo/mo
- MVP
- 3-5 days
- Full replacement
- 2-3 weeks, primarily spent configuring carrier API credentials and handling edge cases like partial restocks and store credit.
easier to rebuild
get the build prompt →Returns
$99/mo/mo
- MVP
- 1 week
- Full replacement
- 2-3 months due to carrier API integrations and edge-case return rules
price gap / year
$600/mo
running both / year
$1,776/mo
our call
Start with ReturnsWiz — highest vibe code, weakest moat.
ReturnsWiz
Returns apps sell basic workflow glue. A custom Next.js/Remix app on Vercel using the Shopify GraphQL API and EasyPost or Shippo APIs can handle 95% of standard return and label workflows with zero monthly SaaS fees.
you can rebuild
- Self-service customer return lookup via order number and email
- Automated return window and item eligibility rule checking
- Prepaid return shipping label PDF generation via carrier APIs
- QR code rendering for printerless carrier drop-offs
- Automatic restock and refund webhooks to Shopify Admin
what you lose
- Turnkey customer portal UI without maintaining code
- Built-in multi-carrier rate shopping out of the box
- Pre-negotiated carrier drop-off network access (e.g. Happy Returns)
- Turnkey international customs export documentation (CN22/CN23)
- Out-of-the-box return reason analytics and reporting charts
real moats
- Pre-negotiated shipping rates with national postal carriers
- Physical drop-off location infrastructure
- Turnkey customs and tax reporting for international cross-border returns
open source escape hatches
- MedusaJS MIT
- Saleor BSD-3-Clause
- ActiveAdmin Template MIT
Rich Returns
Rich Returns wraps Shopify Order APIs and shipping label APIs (like EasyPost or Shippo) in a simple customer UI. Building a custom return portal takes a week of development with modern AI tools.
you can rebuild
- Order lookup via Order ID and customer email
- Customer-facing item selection and return reason intake
- Automated PDF return shipping label generation via EasyPost or Shippo
- Configurable return policy rules (return window limits, excluded tags)
- Shopify draft order creation for product exchanges
what you lose
- Out-of-the-box pre-built connections to 50+ international shipping carriers
- Pre-negotiated carrier rates for merchants lacking direct accounts
- Visual drag-and-drop portal styling editor inside Shopify Admin
- Built-in multi-language translations for portal text
- Out-of-the-box analytics dashboard tracking defect reasons and return rates
real moats
- Pre-built network of carrier API integrations and logistics partner links
- Turnkey Shopify app embed requiring zero developer setup
- Pre-negotiated return shipping rates for small merchants
open source escape hatches
- MedusaJS MIT
- Saleor Core BSD-3-Clause
- Solidus BSD-3-Clause
Questions people ask
Which is easier to rebuild with AI, ReturnsWiz or Rich Returns?
ReturnsWiz. It scores 8/10 on vibe code with a moat of 1/10, so an AI-assisted MVP takes about 3-5 days and a full replacement about 2-3 weeks, primarily spent configuring carrier API credentials and handling edge cases like partial restocks and store credit..
Which one costs less, ReturnsWiz or Rich Returns?
ReturnsWiz at $49/mo/mo for a typical mid-market store. The gap between the two is about $600/mo a year.
What do I lose if I replace ReturnsWiz?
Turnkey customer portal UI without maintaining code Built-in multi-carrier rate shopping out of the box Pre-negotiated carrier drop-off network access (e.g. Happy Returns)
What do I lose if I replace Rich Returns?
Out-of-the-box pre-built connections to 50+ international shipping carriers Pre-negotiated carrier rates for merchants lacking direct accounts Visual drag-and-drop portal styling editor inside Shopify Admin
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