Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Overview
  3. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
  4. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
  5. Weebly vs BigCommerce: The Core Features
  6. Ease of Use and Customer Support
  7. Final Verdict
  8. FAQ

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce, choosing the right platform to start or grow your online business is crucial. The decision-maker often boils down to two popular choices: Weebly and BigCommerce. Each platform has its unique strengths, tailored to different business requirements. Whether you are an entrepreneur launching a startup or a seasoned business looking to scale, understanding what each platform offers can be a game-changer.

This blog dives deep into the essential aspects of Weebly and BigCommerce, covering pricing, core features, pros and cons, and more, to help you make an informed decision. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of which platform aligns best with your business needs.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Overview

While both Weebly and BigCommerce offer ecommerce and website-building tools, they cater to different segments of businesses. BigCommerce is designed for businesses aiming for extensive scalability and advanced functionalities, making it ideal for larger enterprises. On the other hand, Weebly is known for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and is geared towards smaller businesses and solo entrepreneurs.

Quick Verdict

In summary:

  • Weebly: Best for small businesses needing an affordable, user-friendly platform.
  • BigCommerce: Best for larger businesses requiring robust tools and significant scalability.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Weebly Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
  • Affordable pricing plans, including a “free forever” plan
  • Effective blogging capabilities
  • Decent ecommerce tools for a smaller scale
  • Attractive design templates

Cons:

  • Limited scalability and advanced features
  • PayPal integration only on the more expensive plans
  • Fewer customization options compared to BigCommerce

BigCommerce Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Advanced inventory management tools
  • No transaction fees
  • Omnichannel selling and international selling capabilities
  • Powerful SEO capabilities
  • Ability to handle large-scale operations
  • Extensive app integrations

Cons:

  • Higher pricing plans with no free option
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Sales limits on lower-tier plans

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers several pricing tiers, making it accessible for small businesses:

  • Free Plan: Includes a shopping cart and supports unlimited items.
  • Paid Plans: Range from approximately $10 to $26 per month
    • Personal Plan: Custom domain support and unlimited storage.
    • Performance Plan: Advanced ecommerce insights and abandoned cart emails.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce’s plans are more expensive, reflecting its advanced features:

  • Standard Plan: $39 per month
  • Plus Plan: $79 per month
  • Pro Plan: $399 per month
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large-scale businesses

Unlike Weebly, BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees on any plan, but each plan has annual sales limits which can be a limitation for high-revenue stores on lower-tier plans.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: The Core Features

Website Building and Design

Weebly:

  • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop website editor
  • Wide range of responsive, professional-looking templates
  • Less customization required, suitable for non-coders

BigCommerce:

  • Advanced customization with access to CSS and HTML files
  • Hundreds of e-commerce-optimized themes
  • AI-powered tools for enhanced customization
  • Superior for ecommerce-specific designs

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly:

  • Robust ecommerce capabilities given its pricing tier
  • Manageable inventory tools, automatic tax calculation, delivery options
  • Integrated shopping cart, although some features are paywalled (like PayPal integration)

BigCommerce:

  • Superior inventory management
  • Integrated payment solutions with discounted transaction fees through PayPal.
  • Real-time shipping quotes, product ratings, and reviews.
  • Support for both physical and digital products
  • Omnichannel integrations for marketplace and social media sales.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly:

  • Stronger in blogging and basic marketing tools
  • Limited SEO functionalities compared to BigCommerce
  • Essential tools for popup notifications, lead capture, and social media feeds

BigCommerce:

  • Comprehensive SEO tools and capabilities
  • Advanced reporting features for tracking inventory, sales, and customer data
  • Integration with powerful third-party marketing tools for advanced email campaigns

AI Capabilities

Weebly:

  • Limited AI capabilities, mostly depends on third-party integrations
  • No native AI features for ecommerce optimization

BigCommerce:

  • Advanced AI features including AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized recommendations through "BigAI."
  • Continuous updates and integrations with third-party AI tools.

Integrations and Apps

Weebly:

  • Decent App Center with around 100 apps for various functions
  • Essential integrations for small businesses

BigCommerce:

  • Extensive app marketplace with over 850 integrations
  • Easier navigation with categorized collections
  • Open API options for customized workflows

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly:

  • Extremely user-friendly, best suited for beginners
  • Extensive tutorials and guides, with 24/7 support limited to forum, chat, and email on free and personal plans

BigCommerce:

  • More complex interface with a steeper learning curve
  • Comprehensive support resources, including a vibrant online community
  • 24/7 support available on all plans with chat, email, and phone support

Final Verdict

The decision between Weebly and BigCommerce largely depends on your business needs:

  • For Small Businesses: Weebly offers a more user-friendly and affordable solution, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It allows you to build an attractive online store with essential ecommerce functionalities without a steep learning curve.

  • For Scaling Businesses: BigCommerce stands out for its advanced functionalities, better scalability, and extensive integration options. It's ideal for businesses looking to scale and handle large volumes of sales with powerful inventory and marketing tools.

FAQ

Q1: Is there a free trial available for BigCommerce? Yes, BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial.

Q2: Can I integrate third-party payment gateways with Weebly? Yes, but PayPal integration requires a higher-tier plan.

Q3: Which platform offers better SEO functionalities? BigCommerce provides more advanced and customizable SEO tools compared to Weebly.

Q4: Does Weebly support digital product sales? Yes, but you need to use a paid plan to sell both physical and digital products.

Q5: Can I use custom code to personalize my store on Weebly? Weebly offers some customization options, but BigCommerce allows more granular control through CSS and HTML access.

For any business embarking on establishing or expanding its online presence, understanding the strengths and limitations of Weebly and BigCommerce is essential. This guide should help you navigate these waters and make a decision that aligns with your long-term business goals.