: Known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Weebly requires no coding knowledge, making customization straightforward. It offers themes suitable for different types of websites, including portfolios and blogs.

: While the learning curve is steeper, BigCommerce provides more advanced customization options. Users can edit CSS and HTML, create global widgets, and develop unique product category sections. This makes it a better choice for those who need granular control over their website's appearance and functionality.

: Offers robust ecommerce features relative to its cost. Most plans support unlimited products, inventory management, and automatic tax calculations. Additional features like abandoned cart emails and PayPal integrations are available on higher-tier plans.

: Shines in its advanced ecommerce functionalities. It supports various payment systems, provides detailed product variants, custom fields, and real-time shipping quotes. BigCommerce allows multi-currency selling, marketplace, and social media integrations, making it ideal for omnichannel selling. Specialized B2B and wholesale options are also available.

: Offers solid blogging features for content marketing, customizable pop-ups, lead capture forms, and basic SEO tools. However, its SEO capabilities are more limited compared to BigCommerce. Weebly also supports abandoned cart emails and basic email marketing, though it lacks depth in analytics.

: Provides extensive marketing tools and superior reporting capabilities. Features include advanced SEO editing, deeper integration for email marketing campaigns, and comprehensive analytics dashboards. These tools allow tracking of inventory, sales, customer preferences, and more, providing valuable insights for growing businesses.

: Does not have native AI capabilities but allows integration of third-party AI tools through its marketplace. This can still provide some level of automation for businesses willing to explore external tools.

: Leads in AI integration with its "BigAI" toolkit. AI features include content generation, predictive analytics, personalized product recommendations, and AI-powered search functionalities. These advanced AI tools can significantly enhance user experience and business efficiency.

: Provides a decent selection of around 100 apps through its "App Center," covering various ecommerce needs like marketing, shipping, and fulfillment.

: Offers a more extensive range with over 850 apps. These are organized into collections for easier navigation, and the platform supports open API options for custom integrations. This makes BigCommerce more flexible and scalable in terms of adding new capabilities.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Introduction
Weebly vs BigCommerce: An Overview
Pricing and Fees
Core Features Comparison
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Final Verdict
FAQ

Introduction

Choosing the right ecommerce platform can significantly impact your online business's success. Among the myriad of options available, Weebly and BigCommerce stand out as two popular choices, each catering to different market needs. Whether you're a small entrepreneur looking for an affordable solution or a larger company requiring advanced features, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms is crucial.

In this comprehensive analysis, we will delve deep into the pricing, features, pros, and cons of Weebly and BigCommerce. By the end, you'll have a clear idea of which platform best suits your business needs.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: An Overview

Weebly is known for its user-friendly interface and budget-friendly pricing, making it ideal for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. It offers a range of decent ecommerce tools, design flexibility, and impressive blogging capabilities. However, it may not provide the scalability and versatility required as your business grows.

On the other hand, BigCommerce is a powerhouse designed for larger companies looking to scale their online presence. With advanced inventory management tools, AI capabilities, and omnichannel selling options, BigCommerce caters to businesses aiming for expansive growth and complex ecommerce needs.

Pricing and Fees

Weebly

Weebly is lauded for its affordability, featuring a "free forever" plan that includes basic ecommerce functionalities such as a shopping basket and the ability to sell unlimited items. The paid plans vary from approximately $10 to $26 per month:

Personal Plan (Approx. $10/month): Supports custom domains and offers unlimited storage.
Professional Plan (Approx. $15/month): Adds more advanced features but still suitable for small businesses.
Performance Plan (Approx. $26/month): Includes abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce insights.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Its pricing ranges from $39 to $399 per month:

Standard Plan ($39/month): Includes essential ecommerce features and no transaction fees.
Plus Plan ($79/month): Adds more advanced features suitable for growing businesses.
Pro Plan ($399/month): Designed for large businesses with high sales volumes and more complex needs.
Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Tailored for very large enterprises requiring bespoke solutions.

Although BigCommerce's plans are generally pricier than Weebly's, they offer more sophisticated and comprehensive ecommerce capabilities. However, sales limits on lower-tier plans might be a downside for rapidly growing businesses.

Core Features Comparison

Website Building and Design

Both Weebly and BigCommerce offer a variety of templates designed to create visually appealing, responsive, and professional websites.

Weebly: Known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Weebly requires no coding knowledge, making customization straightforward. It offers themes suitable for different types of websites, including portfolios and blogs.
BigCommerce: While the learning curve is steeper, BigCommerce provides more advanced customization options. Users can edit CSS and HTML, create global widgets, and develop unique product category sections. This makes it a better choice for those who need granular control over their website's appearance and functionality.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

When it comes to ecommerce capabilities, both platforms have their strengths:

Weebly: Offers robust ecommerce features relative to its cost. Most plans support unlimited products, inventory management, and automatic tax calculations. Additional features like abandoned cart emails and PayPal integrations are available on higher-tier plans.
BigCommerce: Shines in its advanced ecommerce functionalities. It supports various payment systems, provides detailed product variants, custom fields, and real-time shipping quotes. BigCommerce allows multi-currency selling, marketplace, and social media integrations, making it ideal for omnichannel selling. Specialized B2B and wholesale options are also available.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Marketing and analytics are critical for driving sales and understanding customer behavior.

Weebly: Offers solid blogging features for content marketing, customizable pop-ups, lead capture forms, and basic SEO tools. However, its SEO capabilities are more limited compared to BigCommerce. Weebly also supports abandoned cart emails and basic email marketing, though it lacks depth in analytics.
BigCommerce: Provides extensive marketing tools and superior reporting capabilities. Features include advanced SEO editing, deeper integration for email marketing campaigns, and comprehensive analytics dashboards. These tools allow tracking of inventory, sales, customer preferences, and more, providing valuable insights for growing businesses.

AI Capabilities

Weebly: Does not have native AI capabilities but allows integration of third-party AI tools through its marketplace. This can still provide some level of automation for businesses willing to explore external tools.
BigCommerce: Leads in AI integration with its "BigAI" toolkit. AI features include content generation, predictive analytics, personalized product recommendations, and AI-powered search functionalities. These advanced AI tools can significantly enhance user experience and business efficiency.

Integrations and Apps

Access to third-party apps can extend the functionality of your ecommerce platform.

Weebly: Provides a decent selection of around 100 apps through its "App Center," covering various ecommerce needs like marketing, shipping, and fulfillment.
BigCommerce: Offers a more extensive range with over 850 apps. These are organized into collections for easier navigation, and the platform supports open API options for custom integrations. This makes BigCommerce more flexible and scalable in terms of adding new capabilities.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Ease of Use

Weebly: Praised for its ease of use, Weebly's simple drag-and-drop interface means you can start building your website quickly without technical expertise.
BigCommerce: While more powerful, BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve. However, its increasing use of AI tools is making the platform more user-friendly.

Customer Support

Weebly: Offers 24/7 support but with limitations on the free and personal plans, which restrict support to forums, chat, and email.
BigCommerce: Provides comprehensive support across all plans, including chat, email, and phone support. The platform also boasts an active online community and a wealth of in-depth resources.

Final Verdict

Your choice between Weebly and BigCommerce should align with your business size and growth ambitions.

Weebly: Best suited for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs who need basic ecommerce functionality and a user-friendly interface at an affordable price.
BigCommerce: Ideal for larger businesses or those planning to scale rapidly, offering advanced features, AI integration, and extensive customization options, albeit at a higher cost.

FAQ

What is the primary difference between Weebly and BigCommerce?

Weebly is geared towards small businesses and solo entrepreneurs, while BigCommerce is designed for larger, growing companies needing advanced ecommerce features.

Which platform offers better pricing options for startups?

Weebly is more affordable with its "free forever" plan and low-cost paid options, making it suitable for startups on a tight budget.

Can I migrate my store from Weebly to BigCommerce as my business grows?

Yes, migrating from Weebly to BigCommerce is possible and often necessary for businesses outgrowing Weebly's capabilities. Ensure you plan for data migration and potential downtime during the transition.

Which platform offers superior customer support?

BigCommerce generally provides more robust customer support across all plans, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone support.

Are there any transaction fees for using these platforms?

BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plan, whereas Weebly's transaction fees are dependent on the chosen plan.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

Introduction

Weebly vs BigCommerce: An Overview