| Sam Shipping Protection | Route | Navidium | Simply Shipping Protection | ShipAid | Seel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 4.9★ (107) | 4.0★ (377) | 4.7★ (396) | 4.6★ (131) | 4.8★ (25) | 4.9★ (296) |
| Who keeps the protection fee | Self-funded: you keep the fees | Not published | Self-funded: you keep the fees | Self-funded: you keep the fees | Self-funded: you keep the fees | Provider-funded: the app keeps the fees |
| Share of fees you keep | 100% | Not published | 100% | 100% (no revenue share stated) | 91% | Not published |
| App cost | Starter Free · Standard $9/month · Plus $29/month | Free to install; external charges via route.com/pricing | Free up to 50 orders/mo, then $29.99 (500), $49.99 (1,000), $99.99 (unlimited) per month | Free tier, then $4.99 (50 insured orders), $19.99 (200), $49.99 (500) per month | 9% of Shipping Guarantee Revenue earned using the app | Free to install |
| Built for Shopify | No |
The best Route alternative depends on who you want to keep the protection fee. Route is provider-funded: it handles claims and collects the fees your customers pay. Self-funded apps flip that model, so the fee becomes your revenue and you resolve claims yourself.
The table above shows the core facts for each app. All listing data below was checked on the Shopify App Store on October 5, 2026. Pricing changes often, so confirm on each listing before you install.
How does Route shipping protection work?
Route adds a protection option at checkout, and customers who choose it pay the fee with their order. Route’s App Store listing says it “covers lost, stolen, or damaged orders”, and its merchant help center explains that Route collects the protection premiums your customers paid through regular invoices. Route also describes contracted plans that can include revenue sharing.
Route is free to install, with pricing handled outside the App Store. Its listing launched in January 2019 and shows a 4.0★ rating from 377 reviews. It also bundles order tracking, returns and loyalty features.
Why do merchants look for Route alternatives?
Most switch for one of four reasons:
- They want the fee revenue. With a provider-funded app, the fee your customers pay goes to the provider. A self-funded app keeps it in your Shopify payouts.
- They want to own the claims experience. Self-funded apps let you decide each claim and keep the conversation under your brand.
- They want simpler costs. A flat monthly plan is easier to forecast than invoices tied to every protected order.
- They want a lighter app. If you only need protection, an all-in-one post-purchase suite can be more than you need.
If none of these matter to you and you never want to handle a claim, a provider-funded app like Route is a reasonable choice.
What should you look for in a Route alternative?
Use this checklist when you compare apps:
- Who keeps the fee, and whether there is a revenue share.
- Monthly cost at your volume, including order caps on each plan.
- Where the widget can appear: cart, cart drawer, checkout (Shopify Plus) and thank-you page.
- Pricing rules: flat fee, percentage, and price bands by order value.
- Claims tools: a customer-facing portal, evidence uploads, and one-click refunds or reships.
- Targeting: hide protection by country, cart value or product.
- Built for Shopify status and recent reviews.
Which Route alternatives let you keep the fee?
These five apps are self-funded. You collect the protection fee and pay for claims yourself.
Sam Shipping Protection
Sam Shipping Protection lets you keep 100% of protection fees with no revenue share. It is free for up to 50 protected orders a month, then $9/month for unlimited orders, or $29/month with the Shopify Plus checkout extension. It shows on cart, cart drawer, checkout (Plus) and thank-you page, with flat, percentage or price-band pricing and a self-serve claims portal. 4.9★ from 107 reviews, Built for Shopify. Sam is our app.
Navidium Shipping Protection
Navidium also lets you keep 100% of fees. It is free up to 50 orders a month, then $29.99 (up to 500 orders), $49.99 (up to 1,000) or $99.99 (unlimited, with the Shopify Plus checkout widget). It lists integrations with Recharge, Rebuy and Slide Cart. 4.7★ from 396 reviews, Built for Shopify.
Simply Shipping Protection
Simply lists no revenue share and offers a free tier, then $4.99 (50 protected orders), $19.99 (200) or $49.99 (500) a month. It supports widgets on cart, side cart, checkout and post-purchase, and settles claims with refunds, reorders or credits. 4.6★ from 131 reviews, Built for Shopify.
ShipAid
ShipAid is free to install and charges 9% of the protection revenue earned through the app, so you keep 91%. It bundles free returns, exchanges and branded tracking. 4.8★ from 25 reviews, Built for Shopify.
OrderGuard
OrderGuard is a newer option, launched in January 2026. It is free for 100 protected orders a month, then $9.99 (500) or $29.99 (2,000). It includes a cart widget, checkout extension and claims portal. It had 1 review when we checked.
Which Route alternatives work like Route?
If you want someone else to handle claims, these apps are provider-funded, like Route.
- Seel Worry-Free Purchase is free to install. Its listing says “Seel pays associated refunds”, and it also offers returnable final-sale items. 4.9★ from 296 reviews, Built for Shopify.
- ShipInsure is free for merchants and covers orders from ship time until delivery. Its listing mentions flexible pricing and revenue-sharing options. 4.7★ from 66 reviews, Built for Shopify.
How much does each alternative cost at your order volume?
Here is the monthly app cost as listed, before any claims. ShipAid’s cost depends on your fee, so we assume an average protection fee of $3.
| Protected orders/month | Sam | Navidium | Simply | ShipAid (9%) | OrderGuard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $0 | $0 | $0–$4.99 | $13.50 | $0 |
| 500 | $9 | $29.99 | $49.99 | $135 | $9.99 |
| 1,000 | $9 | $49.99 | Not listed | $270 | $29.99 |
| 3,000 | $9 | $99.99 | Not listed | $810 | Not listed |
Each listing defines its order limits in its own way, for example all orders or protected orders only. “Not listed” means the App Store pricing does not show a plan for that volume. Simply’s free tier does not state an order limit, so we show both its free and 50-order prices. To see what you would earn after claims, use the shipping protection calculator or read our guide on how much to charge for shipping protection.
How do you switch from Route to a self-funded app?
Plan the switch so customers never see two offers:
- Pull your numbers. Export 90 days of orders and count lost, damaged and stolen claims. This sets your fee.
- Install the new app and set pricing, widget placement and your protection policy.
- Write your claim rules. Decide the time window, the evidence you need and how you resolve each case.
- Turn off the Route widget, then place a test order and file a test claim.
- Tell your support team. Orders placed before the switch stay with Route; new orders follow your new rules.
For a step-by-step version, see migrating from Route to a self-funded app. New to the model? Start with our shipping protection guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Route alternative for Shopify?
If you want to keep the protection fee, choose a self-funded app such as Sam, Navidium or Simply and compare their monthly cost at your order volume. If you never want to handle a claim, choose a provider-funded app such as Seel or ShipInsure.
Do Route alternatives let me keep the protection fee?
Self-funded alternatives do. Sam, Navidium and Simply state that you keep 100% of fees, OrderGuard lists no revenue share, and ShipAid charges 9% of the protection revenue earned through the app. Provider-funded apps keep the fee in exchange for paying claims.
Can I switch from Route without losing protection on existing orders?
Yes. Install the new app and set it up first, then turn off the Route widget. Orders placed while Route was active stay covered under Route. New orders follow your new app from the moment it goes live.
Is a self-funded shipping protection app risky?
You pay claims from the fees you collect, so the risk is pricing the fee below your claim costs. Check 90 days of lost, damaged and stolen orders before you set a price, and review fees against claims every month.
Sources
- Route on the Shopify App Store
- Route merchant help center: billing for Route Shipping Protection premiums
- Route merchant FAQs
- Navidium Shipping Protection on the Shopify App Store
- Simply Shipping Protection on the Shopify App Store
- ShipAid on the Shopify App Store
- OrderGuard on the Shopify App Store
- Seel Worry-Free Purchase on the Shopify App Store
- ShipInsure on the Shopify App Store
Part of our guide: Shipping protection →