Software · head to head
Backbone PLM vs Returnly
Backbone PLM
Software
Product Lifecycle Management solution for fashion brands
- From
- €150/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Backbone PLM bamboo Rose states Backbone is now part of Bamboo Rose TotalPLM and that Backbone PLM remains supported for existing customers only, with TotalPLM as the flagship, and publishes no pricing for either; Returnly returnly, owned by Affirm, shut down as of October 1, 2023; Affirm partnered with Loop Returns to migrate merchants off the platform, per Loop's own transition FAQ (which quotes Affirm's statement).
- They diverge on capability: Backbone PLM covers Product data management, Returnly covers In-browser returns.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Backbone PLM and Returnly actually diverge.
| Attribute | Backbone PLM | Returnly |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €150/month | $200/month |
| Founded | 2010 | 2014 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Backbone PLM
- Product data management
- Workflow management
- Collaboration
- Reporting
- CAD systems
- ERP
- User roles
Only in Returnly
- In-browser returns
- Instant refunds
- Analytics
- Integration
- Shopify
- Magento
- Authentication
Both cover
- Encryption
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- English language support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Backbone PLM
- Product lifecycle managementnot Returnly
Returnly
- Returns managementnot Backbone PLM
- Customer experiencenot Backbone PLM
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Backbone PLM
- Bamboo Rose states Backbone is now part of Bamboo Rose TotalPLM and that Backbone PLM remains supported for existing customers only, with TotalPLM as the flagship, and publishes no pricing for either
Returnly
- Returnly, owned by Affirm, shut down as of October 1, 2023; Affirm partnered with Loop Returns to migrate merchants off the platform, per Loop's own transition FAQ (which quotes Affirm's statement).
Pricing, plan by plan
Backbone PLM
€150/month- Starter$150/month
- Basic PLM
- Limited users
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Full PLM
- Unlimited users
- Integrations
Returnly
$200/month- Essential$200/month
- In-browser returns
- Basic analytics
- Professional$400/month
- All features
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Backbone PLM if
- You need product data management.
- You also want workflow management.
Questions people ask
- Is Backbone PLM or Returnly better?
- Neither clearly leads. Backbone PLM starts at €150/month and Returnly at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Backbone PLM or Returnly?
- Backbone PLM starts at €150/month and Returnly at $200/month.
- Does Backbone PLM or Returnly run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Backbone PLM best used for?
- Backbone PLM is most often used for product lifecycle management. Of those, product lifecycle management is not what Returnly is typically brought in for.
- What can Backbone PLM do that Returnly cannot?
- Backbone PLM covers Product data management, Workflow management, Collaboration, Reporting. Returnly covers In-browser returns, Instant refunds, Analytics, Integration. Both handle Encryption, Cloud deployment, Web support, English language support.