Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
  3. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features
  4. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Ease of Use and Customer Support
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQ
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Introduction

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is pivotal for the success of your online business. The platform you select will impact your store's functionality, customer experience, and overall scalability. In the world of ecommerce, Weebly and BigCommerce are two prominent names, each catering to different business needs.

Weebly is celebrated for its user-friendliness and affordability, making it a preferred choice for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. On the other hand, BigCommerce is renowned for its robust features, advanced capabilities, and scalability, ideal for larger companies with complex needs.

This blog post delves into a comprehensive comparison of Weebly and BigCommerce, exploring their pricing, features, pros and cons, and usability. By the end of this article, you'll have a clear understanding of which platform best suits your business requirements.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

One of the most significant differentiators between Weebly and BigCommerce is pricing.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers a "free forever" plan, which includes access to essential ecommerce features like a shopping basket and the ability to sell unlimited items. Paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month, providing additional capabilities such as custom domains, unlimited storage, and advanced ecommerce insights. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Free: Limited features but includes basic ecommerce capabilities.
  • Personal Plan ($10/month): Includes custom domain support and unlimited storage.
  • Professional Plan ($12/month): Adds features like site search, password protection, and performance insights.
  • Performance Plan ($26/month): Includes advanced ecommerce tools, abandoned cart emails, and comprehensive insights.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Its paid plans start from $39 per month and go up to $399 per month, with a custom-priced enterprise option for larger businesses. A significant advantage of BigCommerce is the absence of transaction fees across all plans. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Standard Plan ($39/month): Basic ecommerce features but limited to $50k in annual online sales.
  • Plus Plan ($105/month): Enhanced features with a higher sales limit.
  • Pro Plan ($399/month): Advanced capabilities with higher sales and comprehensive features.
  • Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing): Tailored for large businesses, with extensive feature sets and support.

Verdict: Weebly is more budget-friendly, making it suitable for small businesses or startups. In contrast, BigCommerce, while pricier, offers more advanced tools and better value for growing businesses with higher sales volumes and complex requirements.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features

Both Weebly and BigCommerce are equipped with robust ecommerce and website-building tools. However, they cater to slightly different market segments.

Website Building and Design

Weebly:

  • Offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for anyone to build a site without coding knowledge.
  • Provides a range of responsive themes suitable for various industries, including portfolios and blogs.
  • Limited customization capabilities compared to BigCommerce.

BigCommerce:

  • More sophisticated website design tools with a focus on ecommerce.
  • Allows deeper customization through CSS and HTML, offering more flexibility.
  • Includes AI-powered design suggestions and other advanced tools to enhance website appearance.

Verdict: For ease of use and simplicity, Weebly wins. However, for businesses looking for extensive customization and a professional edge, BigCommerce is a better choice.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly:

  • Suited for smaller stores with basic needs.
  • Supports unlimited products, inventory management, automatic tax calculation, and various delivery options.
  • Advanced ecommerce features like abandoned cart emails are only available on higher-tier plans.

BigCommerce:

  • Designed for scalability with advanced inventory management and product variant features.
  • No transaction fees on any plan.
  • Extensive payment gateway integrations, including discounted rates through PayPal.
  • Comprehensive omnichannel selling capabilities, including marketplace and social media integrations.
  • Real-time shipping quotes and multi-currency selling options.

Verdict: While Weebly provides ample features for small businesses, BigCommerce excels with its advanced ecommerce tools, making it ideal for larger, growth-oriented businesses.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly:

  • Basic blogging capabilities and some marketing tools like popup notifications and lead capture forms.
  • Limited SEO functionalities compared to BigCommerce.
  • Basic reporting and analytics.

BigCommerce:

  • Advanced SEO tools for better search engine visibility.
  • Extensive marketing integrations and customizable dashboards.
  • Superior analytics and reporting features that provide a deeper insight into customer behavior and sales.

Verdict: BigCommerce outperforms Weebly in marketing and analytics, providing more comprehensive tools crucial for business growth.

AI Capabilities

Weebly:

  • Lacks native AI capabilities but supports some third-party AI integrations through the Weebly marketplace.

BigCommerce:

  • Leading the way with BigAI toolkit, offering AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations.
  • Continuous development and integration of AI tools for enhanced functionality.

Verdict: BigCommerce stands out with its advanced AI capabilities, offering innovative solutions to improve business operations and customer experience.

Integrations and Apps

Weebly:

  • Features around 100 apps in its App Center for additional functionalities.

BigCommerce:

  • Boasts a wide range of over 850 integrations, including POS management, marketing, dropshipping, and analytics tools.
  • Organized app marketplace for easy navigation and selection.

Verdict: BigCommerce offers a broader range of integrations, providing more flexibility and scalability for growing businesses.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly:

  • Highly intuitive and user-friendly.
  • Suitable for beginners with minimal technical skills.
  • Limited support on free and personal plans, with only forum, chat, and email options.

BigCommerce:

  • Slightly steeper learning curve but improved over time with AI tools.
  • Exceptional customer support with 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans.
  • Extensive resources and community support.

Verdict: Weebly wins for ease of use, making it perfect for beginners. However, BigCommerce provides superior customer support and resources, essential for handling complex ecommerce operations.

Conclusion

Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce boils down to your business needs:

  • Weebly is ideal for small businesses, startups, or solo entrepreneurs looking for a cost-effective, simple-to-use platform with essential ecommerce functionalities.
  • BigCommerce suits larger, growing businesses needing advanced features, extensive customization, robust integrations, and comprehensive customer support.

By understanding the strengths and limitations of each platform, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.

FAQ

Q1: Can I switch from Weebly to BigCommerce as my business grows? A: Yes, it is possible to migrate from Weebly to BigCommerce, although it may require some technical assistance to ensure a smooth transition.

Q2: Does BigCommerce have any hidden fees? A: No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plan, but be mindful of the sales limits imposed on each plan.

Q3: Which platform is better for SEO? A: BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO tools and customization options, making it a better choice for enhancing search engine visibility.

Q4: Can I use my own domain with Weebly’s free plan? A: No, you need at least the Personal plan to use a custom domain with Weebly.

Q5: Which platform has better customer support? A: BigCommerce provides excellent customer support, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone assistance on all plans. Weebly’s customer support is more limited, especially on lower-tier plans.