Table of Contents
Introduction
When it comes to building an online store, choosing the right platform can be a game-changer for your business. Whether you're a small start-up with limited resources or a large enterprise aiming to scale rapidly, the right ecommerce platform can help you thrive in a competitive online marketplace. Two major contenders in the ecommerce platform landscape are Weebly and BigCommerce. This blog post aims to offer a detailed comparison of Weebly vs BigCommerce, focusing on key aspects such as pricing, features, pros, and cons, to help you make an informed decision.
By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how these platforms stack up against each other in terms of user experience, ecommerce capabilities, and overall value. Let's dive in.
Pricing and Fees
Weebly Pricing
Weebly is renowned for its affordability, particularly appealing to small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans:
- Free Plan: Offers basic features including a shopping cart and the ability to sell unlimited items.
- Personal Plan: Starting at around $10/month, it includes a custom domain and unlimited storage.
- Professional Plan: Around $12/month, it adds more advanced ecommerce tools and site statistics.
- Performance Plan: Approximately $26/month, includes abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce insights.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce, on the other hand, positions itself as a more advanced platform, and this is reflected in its pricing:
- Standard Plan: $39/month, with basic selling tools and no transaction fees.
- Plus Plan: $79/month, includes advanced customer segmentation and abandoned cart saver.
- Pro Plan: $299/month, offers extensive marketing features and a higher sales cap.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing based on specific needs, suitable for large businesses with high-volume sales and complex requirements.
BigCommerce does not have a free plan but offers a 15-day trial to test out its features.
Verdict: Weebly is more budget-friendly, while BigCommerce provides a higher level of features suitable for larger and scaling businesses.
Core Features
Website Building and Design
Weebly
Weebly offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, making it simple for anyone to build a website without prior coding knowledge. It provides a wide range of templates suited for various types of websites, including ecommerce stores, blogs, and portfolios.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce also provides a variety of templates, focusing more on ecommerce-specific designs. The platform allows for more extensive customization through access to HTML and CSS, providing seasoned developers the tools they need to tailor their online store. However, the learning curve is steeper compared to Weebly.
Verdict: For ease of use, Weebly takes the lead, but if you need advanced design capabilities, BigCommerce is a better option.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly
While affordable, Weebly offers robust features for small to medium-sized online stores:
- Unlimited products
- Inventory management
- In-store pickup delivery options
- Automatic tax calculation
- Abandoned cart emails (Performance plan only)
However, limitations exist, such as requiring a paid plan to sell both physical and digital goods and lacking PayPal integration unless on the Performance plan.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce excels with its extensive ecommerce tools:
- Payment gateways integration including PayPal with discounted rates
- Advanced inventory management
- Omnichannel and international selling
- Real-time shipping quotes
- Product ratings and reviews
- Detailed product variants and custom fields
Moreover, BigCommerce supports both B2C and B2B sales, making it an adaptable platform for various business models.
Verdict: From an ecommerce capability standpoint, BigCommerce outshines Weebly with its advanced features and scalability options.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Weebly
Weebly offers basic yet effective marketing tools:
- Integrated blogging platform
- Pop-up notifications
- Customizable Instagram feeds
- Lead capture forms
- Basic SEO tools
- Abandoned cart emails
Its analytics capabilities are sufficient for small businesses but lack depth compared to more robust solutions.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides comprehensive marketing tools:
- Advanced SEO features
- Vouchers and gift cards
- Detailed customer analytics
- Customizable dashboards
- Market and social media integrations
BigCommerce's analytics tools allow businesses to dive deep into metrics, track repeat customers, and capture intricate data insights, invaluable for a data-driven approach.
Verdict: BigCommerce offers more advanced marketing tools and better analytics capabilities compared to Weebly.
AI Capabilities
Weebly
Weebly doesn't offer native AI tools but allows integration with third-party AI tools through its marketplace.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce leads with its "BigAI" toolkit, which includes:
- AI content generation
- Predictive analytics
- Personalized product recommendations
- AI-powered search
Its evolving AI strategy hints at even more future capabilities, making BigCommerce a forward-thinking choice.
Verdict: BigCommerce's native AI capabilities provide a significant advantage over Weebly.
Integrations and Apps
Weebly
Weebly's App Center offers around 100 apps that cover various categories but might be limiting for businesses requiring extensive integrations.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce offers an extensive marketplace with over 850 apps. It also organizes apps in collections for easier navigation and provides open API options for automating workflows.
Verdict: BigCommerce offers a wider and more versatile range of integrations and apps compared to Weebly.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Weebly
Weebly stands out with its intuitive, beginner-friendly interface and drag-and-drop builder.
Customer support includes:
- 24/7 support (limited to forums, chat, and email on lower-tier plans)
- Extensive tutorials and guides
BigCommerce
While more complex, BigCommerce has become more user-friendly, especially with the integration of AI tools.
Customer support includes:
- 24/7 support through chat, email, and phone
- Comprehensive online community and video tutorials.
Verdict: For ease of use, Weebly has the upper hand, but BigCommerce excels in offering more advanced support options.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce ultimately comes down to the requirements of your business:
- Weebly: Ideal for small businesses or individual entrepreneurs looking for an easy-to-use and affordable platform.
- BigCommerce: Best suited for medium to large businesses that need advanced ecommerce features, scalability, and robust customer support.
FAQ
Which platform has better ecommerce features?
BigCommerce offers more advanced ecommerce features than Weebly, including payment integrations, detailed inventory management, and omnichannel capabilities.
Is Weebly easier to use than BigCommerce?
Yes, Weebly's drag-and-drop interface is designed to be user-friendly, making it easier for beginners to set up their online store.
Does BigCommerce offer better customer support?
BigCommerce provides more comprehensive support options, including 24/7 phone support on all plans.
Can I use AI tools with Weebly?
Weebly does not offer native AI tools but allows third-party AI integrations through its marketplace.
Which platform is more affordable?
Weebly is generally more affordable, offering a free plan and lower-cost paid plans compared to BigCommerce.
Both platforms have their unique strengths and can cater to different types of businesses. By carefully evaluating your business needs and future growth plans, you can select the platform that best suits your online venture.
