Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
  3. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
  4. Core Features Comparison
  5. Ease of Use and Customer Support
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs
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Introduction

In the digital age, choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial for business success. Whether you are a small business owner looking for an easy-to-use website builder or a large company aiming to scale, selecting the right tool can make all the difference. Two popular ecommerce platforms offering varying functionalities are Weebly and BigCommerce. Each brings unique features to the table, catering to different business needs. This article delves into a comprehensive comparison of Weebly and BigCommerce, outlining their pricing, features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Weebly: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform is exceptionally intuitive, featuring a drag-and-drop editor that requires no coding experience.
  • Affordability: Offers a "free forever" plan and affordable paid plans that cater to small businesses.
  • Integrated Blogging: Provides good blogging capabilities, making it easier for businesses to leverage content marketing.
  • Basic Ecommerce Tools: Adequate for small-scale operations, offering inventory management and basic selling features.

Cons

  • Scalability Issues: Limited features and capabilities may necessitate migration to a more versatile platform as the business grows.
  • Limited Payment Options: You must upgrade to higher-tier plans to unlock more payment gateways like PayPal.
  • SEO Limitations: Lacks advanced SEO tools, which can be a drawback for businesses focusing on organic traffic growth.

BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Advanced Features: Comes with sophisticated inventory management tools, omnichannel selling, and AI capabilities.
  • No Transaction Fees: Unlike many platforms, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, offering savings on sales.
  • Scalability: Ideal for larger businesses looking to expand, with features tailored for enterprise-level operations.
  • Omnichannel Selling: Supports sales across multiple platforms, including social media and marketplaces.

Cons

  • Higher Cost: Starter plans are more expensive than Weebly, starting at $39 per month.
  • Complexity: Has a steeper learning curve compared to Weebly, requiring a bit more time to master.
  • Sales Limits: Imposes annual sales limits on different plans, which may require plan upgrades as business grows.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

When comparing Weebly and BigCommerce, pricing becomes a significant factor for decision-making.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers a free plan that includes essential ecommerce tools and a shopping basket. The paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month:

  • Personal Plan ($10/month): Includes custom domain support and unlimited storage.
  • Professional Plan ($12/month): Adds more marketing tools.
  • Performance Plan ($26/month): Features abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce insights.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce doesn’t offer a free plan, but it provides a 15-day free trial. The paid plans start at $39 per month:

  • Standard Plan ($39/month): No transaction fees but includes a sales limit of $50k per year.
  • Plus Plan ($79/month): Increased annual sales limit and added features.
  • Pro Plan ($399/month): Offers advanced features and higher sales limits.
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large-scale businesses.

While BigCommerce generally offers more advanced features for each price tier, it is a more expensive option compared to Weebly.

Core Features Comparison

Website Building and Design

Both Weebly and BigCommerce offer robust website-building tools, but they cater to different user needs.

Weebly

  • Templates: Offers hundreds of templates suitable for various industries, focusing on small businesses and portfolios.
  • Customization: User-friendly drag-and-drop editor with no coding required.
  • Responsive Design: Themes are mobile-responsive and easy to set up.

BigCommerce

  • Templates: Provides a wide selection of ecommerce-centric templates.
  • Customization: More advanced, allowing for granular changes through CSS and HTML access.
  • AI Integration: Features AI-powered tools for ease of use, though it has a steeper learning curve.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly

  • Unlimited Products: Available across most paid plans.
  • Inventory Management: Basic tools for managing stock.
  • Payment Options: Limited unless you upgrade to higher-tier plans.
  • Delivery Options: Includes in-store pickup and basic shipping options.

BigCommerce

  • Inventory Management: Advanced tools for managing large inventories.
  • Omnichannel Selling: Seamless integration with social platforms and marketplaces.
  • Payment Options: Multiple gateways, with discounted PayPal rates.
  • Advanced Features: Includes real-time shipping quotes, cross-border selling, and more.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly

  • Content Marketing: Superior blogging capabilities.
  • SEO: Basic tools available.
  • Email Marketing: Limited, better with third-party integrations.
  • Analytics: Basic analytics with fewer customization options.

BigCommerce

  • Content Marketing: Less robust for blogging but strong in SEO.
  • SEO: Advanced capabilities to optimize for search engines.
  • Email Marketing: Comprehensive, especially with third-party integrations.
  • Analytics: Highly customizable with detailed reports.

Integrations and Apps

Weebly

  • App Center: Contains around 100 apps for additional functionality.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Basic, suitable for small businesses.

BigCommerce

  • App Marketplace: Extensive, with more than 850 applications.
  • Open API: Facilitates seamless integration with business systems like POS and ERP.

AI Capabilities

BigCommerce leads in AI integration with its "BigAI" toolkit featuring predictive analytics and personalized product recommendations. Weebly lacks native AI features but supports third-party AI tools through its marketplace.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly

  • Ease of Use: Known for its intuitive interface.
  • Support: Offers 24/7 support, but limited to email and chat on lower-tier plans.

BigCommerce

  • Ease of Use: More complex but comes with extensive tutorials and community support.
  • Support: Comprehensive 24/7 support on all plans, including phone support.

Conclusion

Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce comes down to your business needs and growth plans. Weebly is ideal for small businesses seeking simplicity and affordability. BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers advanced features suitable for larger enterprises aiming for scalability and more robust ecommerce capabilities.

FAQs

1. Is Weebly suitable for large businesses? Weebly is more suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. Larger businesses may find it limiting in terms of scalability and advanced features.

2. Does BigCommerce offer any free plans? No, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan, but it provides a 15-day free trial period.

3. Which platform is better for SEO? BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO tools, making it a better option for businesses focusing on organic search growth.

4. Can I use external apps with Weebly? Yes, Weebly's App Center allows for a variety of third-party integrations, although it has fewer options compared to BigCommerce.

5. Do both platforms offer 24/7 customer support? Both platforms claim to offer 24/7 support, but BigCommerce includes phone support on all plans, whereas Weebly’s support is more restricted depending on the plan.

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is a significant decision for your business. Evaluate your current needs and future goals to make the best choice between Weebly and BigCommerce.