Introduction

In today's digital age, choosing the right ecommerce platform is critical for businesses aiming to thrive online. With a plethora of options available, it can be daunting to determine which one meets your specific needs. Two popular choices that often come up in these discussions are Weebly and BigCommerce. Each platform offers unique benefits and drawbacks, catering to different types of businesses. This comprehensive analysis aims to break down the key features, pricing structures, and overall usability of Weebly and BigCommerce to help you make an informed decision.

Weebly vs. BigCommerce: Which is Best for You?

The ultimate choice between Weebly and BigCommerce hinges on what you need from an ecommerce platform. Generally, BigCommerce is more suited for larger enterprises seeking advanced tools for scalability. It includes sophisticated inventory management, omnichannel selling options, and AI capabilities. Conversely, Weebly appeals to smaller businesses due to its user-friendly interface and affordability. However, it lacks the extensive features found in BigCommerce, which may necessitate a switch as your business grows.

Weebly vs. BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

One of the most significant distinctions between Weebly and BigCommerce is their pricing. Weebly offers a "free forever" plan that supports selling unlimited items and includes a shopping cart. Their paid plans range from approximately $10 to $26 per month, with features scaling up with the price, such as custom domains, unlimited storage, and advanced ecommerce insights.

In contrast, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day trial. Paid plans start at $39 per month and go up to $399 per month, with an enterprise option available for custom pricing. Notably, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plans, although pricing is generally higher than Weebly. Each BigCommerce plan has a cap on annual sales volume, starting from $50k per year on the Standard plan.

Core Features and Capabilities

Website Building and Design

Both Weebly and BigCommerce offer a range of templates, emphasizing responsiveness and professionalism. However, while Weebly's drag-and-drop editor is highly intuitive and user-friendly, BigCommerce provides more granular control over customization. This includes access to HTML and CSS files, global widgets, and tailored product category sections. Thus, BigCommerce excels if your priority is fine-tuning your site's appearance and functionality.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly shines with its basic ecommerce tools, which include support for unlimited products, inventory management, automatic tax calculations, and diverse delivery options. However, you must subscribe to a paid plan to sell both physical and digital goods. On the high-end plan, you get features like abandoned cart emails.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, stands out with its comprehensive ecommerce capabilities. Benefits include discounted transaction rates through a PayPal partnership, robust inventory management, omnichannel and international selling tools, and advanced payment system integrations. With BigCommerce, you can also handle real-time shipping quotes, product reviews, and multi-currency selling, supported by more detailed product options and custom fields.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly offers effective blogging and content marketing features along with pop-up notifications, Instagram feeds, and lead capture forms. However, its SEO features are relatively limited. Conversely, BigCommerce provides deeper editing capabilities focused on SEO, customizable dashboards for tracking metrics, and a broader suite of marketing tools like vouchers, gift cards, and email marketing integrations.

AI Capabilities

AI is increasingly essential in ecommerce, and BigCommerce leads in this area with its comprehensive "BigAI" toolkit. This includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. BigCommerce also supports AI-powered searches and plans to introduce more AI integrations. Weebly, however, lacks native AI features but allows third-party AI tool integrations via its marketplace.

Integrations and Apps

Both platforms offer substantial integration options, though BigCommerce has the edge with over 850 apps compared to Weebly's 100. BigCommerce organizes its apps into easily navigable collections and provides open API options for creating automated workflows. Weebly offers essential apps for ecommerce, but its range is more limited compared to BigCommerce.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly is known for its ease of use, making it accessible for those who are not tech-savvy. BigCommerce has made strides to enhance its user experience but still presents a steeper learning curve. When it comes to customer support, BigCommerce takes the lead with comprehensive resources, including in-depth tutorials, an active online community, and 24/7 support across all plans. Weebly also offers 24/7 support but limits chat and email support to its premium plans.

Final Verdict

Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce is ultimately about assessing your business needs. Weebly is ideal for smaller, simpler stores that prioritize ease of use and affordability. Conversely, BigCommerce is well-suited for larger enterprises requiring more advanced features, scalability, and comprehensive support.

By analyzing your long-term business goals and current needs, you can make an informed decision that supports your business growth trajectory effectively.

FAQ

Which platform is better for a small business?

Weebly is generally better for small businesses due to its affordability and ease of use.

Does BigCommerce offer a free plan?

No, but BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial.

Can I use AI features with Weebly?

Weebly does not have native AI features but supports third-party AI tool integrations.

Which platform has better SEO capabilities?

BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO capabilities compared to Weebly.

How do the customer support options compare?

BigCommerce offers more comprehensive support, including phone, chat, and email support on all plans. Weebly offers similar support features but limits some to higher-tier plans.

Can I sell digital products on both platforms?

Yes, but Weebly requires a paid plan to sell both physical and digital products, while BigCommerce supports this across all plans.

Weebly vs. BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

Introduction

Weebly vs. BigCommerce: Which is Best for You?

Weebly vs. BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees