Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Ease of Use and Customer Support
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial for online businesses, as it can significantly impact growth, operations, and customer satisfaction. When faced with the decision between Weebly and BigCommerce, businesses often find themselves comparing their features, pricing, and overall suitability. In this blog post, we will explore the key aspects of Weebly and BigCommerce, providing you with a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed choice tailored to your business needs.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
Weebly Pros and Cons
Pros:
- User-friendly Interface: Weebly is designed with beginner-friendly tools, making it easy to set up and manage an online store.
- Affordable Pricing: Weebly offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan, making it accessible for small businesses.
- Decent Ecommerce Tools: For its price, Weebly provides sufficient ecommerce capabilities, including inventory management and automatic tax calculations.
- Excellent Blogging Capabilities: Weebly is equipped with robust blogging features that complement its ecommerce functionalities.
Cons:
- Limited Scalability: Weebly may not provide the advanced features needed for larger businesses looking to scale.
- Limited Payment Options: You need to upgrade to higher-tier plans to access payment options like PayPal.
- Basic SEO Features: Weebly's SEO capabilities are somewhat limited compared to other platforms.
BigCommerce Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Advanced Ecommerce Features: BigCommerce provides state-of-the-art tools for inventory management, AI capabilities, and omnichannel selling.
- Scalability: Suitable for larger businesses, BigCommerce supports expansive growth with robust features.
- No Transaction Fees: Unlike some competitors, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, providing more value for money.
- Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics: Businesses can dive deeply into their data with customizable dashboards and detailed reports.
Cons:
- Higher Pricing: BigCommerce is more expensive than Weebly, with plans starting at $39 per month.
- Learning Curve: The platform has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features.
- Sales Limits: Each plan comes with limits on annual sales volumes, which could be restrictive for rapidly growing businesses.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
One of the most significant distinctions between Weebly and BigCommerce is their pricing structures.
Weebly
Weebly offers a "free forever" plan that includes a shopping cart and allows for the sale of unlimited items. Their paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month. The Personal plan includes support for a custom domain and unlimited storage, while the Performance plan offers abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce insights.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce does not provide a free plan, but it does offer a 15-day free trial. After that, their plans start at $39 per month for the Standard plan and go up to $399 per month for the Pro plan. BigCommerce also offers custom pricing for enterprise solutions. Although the platform is pricier, it includes features like omnichannel selling tools, international selling capabilities, and no transaction fees.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features
Website Building and Design
While both platforms offer a variety of templates and customization tools, they serve different needs.
Weebly: Designed for ease of use, Weebly's drag-and-drop website editor requires no coding knowledge, making it ideal for beginners. It provides templates suitable for various industries, including portfolios and blogs.
BigCommerce: Although BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve, it offers more customization options. Users can dive into CSS and HTML files, create global widgets, and design unique product category sections. This makes it better suited for ecommerce-focused websites.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly and BigCommerce differ significantly in their ecommerce capabilities.
Weebly: Offers robust ecommerce tools for its price range, including inventory management, automatic tax calculation, and delivery options. However, to sell both physical and digital goods and to access advanced features like abandoned cart emails, businesses need to opt for higher-tier plans.
BigCommerce: Partners with PayPal to offer discounted transaction rates and supports multiple payment systems. It excels in inventory management, marketplace, and social media integrations. BigCommerce also allows for detailed product variants, custom fields, and unique shipping and delivery rules, making it suitable for B2B and wholesale companies.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Weebly: Known for its strong blogging features, Weebly includes tools like pop-up notifications, Instagram feed integration, and lead capture forms. However, its SEO and analytics tools are less comprehensive compared to BigCommerce.
BigCommerce: Provides more in-depth SEO customization and advanced analytics. It supports robust email marketing, social media integrations, and detailed reporting, allowing businesses to track a wide range of metrics.
AI Capabilities
Weebly: Offers limited native AI capabilities. While third-party AI tools can be integrated via its marketplace, it lacks the extensive AI features found in more advanced platforms.
BigCommerce: Leads in AI integration with its "BigAI" toolkit. This includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Integrations and Apps
Weebly: Features an App Center with around 100 apps. These offer additional functionalities like marketing and analytics tools.
BigCommerce: Offers over 850 apps, organized into collections like "Shipping Essentials." It also supports open API options, enabling businesses to create automated workflows and integrate various business apps seamlessly.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Ease of Use and Customer Support
Ease of Use
Weebly: Takes the lead in simplicity and ease of use. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly tools make it accessible for beginners.
BigCommerce: Although improved with AI tools, it still presents a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features.
Customer Support
Weebly: Offers 24/7 support, though it is limited to forum, chat, and email support on basic plans.
BigCommerce: Provides more comprehensive support, including chat, email, and phone support on all plans. It also features extensive learning resources and a vibrant online community.
Conclusion
The choice between Weebly and BigCommerce hinges on your business needs.
Weebly is ideal for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs seeking an affordable, easy-to-use solution with decent ecommerce capabilities. However, its scalability and advanced features are limited.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, is perfect for larger businesses requiring comprehensive ecommerce tools, advanced AI capabilities, and scalability. Despite its higher cost and steeper learning curve, it offers exceptional value with robust features and extensive support.
FAQ
Q: Which platform is better for a small business?
A: Weebly is generally more suitable for small businesses due to its affordability and user-friendly design.
Q: Can I migrate from Weebly to BigCommerce?
A: Yes, you can migrate your store from Weebly to BigCommerce if your business outgrows Weebly's capabilities.
Q: Does BigCommerce offer a free plan?
A: No, BigCommerce does not have a free plan. However, it offers a 15-day free trial.
Q: Which platform has better customer support?
A: BigCommerce provides more comprehensive support, including phone support on all plans.
Q: Are there sales limits on BigCommerce plans?
A: Yes, each BigCommerce plan has annual sales limits, which could be restrictive for rapidly growing businesses.
