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. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features
  5. Ease of Use and Customer Support
  6. Final Verdict
  7. FAQs

Introduction

Selecting the right eCommerce platform is a crucial decision for any online business. It influences everything from your operational efficiency to your overall sales performance. Two of the well-known platforms competing in this space are Weebly and BigCommerce. But which one should you choose? Should you go with Weebly, a user-friendly and affordable option for smaller businesses, or should you opt for BigCommerce, a more advanced platform perfect for larger companies aiming for scalability?

In this blog post, we will dive deep into the features, pricing, pros, and cons of Weebly and BigCommerce. By the end, you should have a clearer understanding of which platform suits your business needs the best.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Weebly Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface, ideal for beginners.
  • Affordable pricing with a free plan available.
  • Strong blogging capabilities.
  • Decent selection of eCommerce tools.

Cons:

  • Limited scalability options.
  • Fewer advanced features.
  • Requires a paid plan for selling digital goods and using advanced eCommerce insights.

BigCommerce Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Powerful eCommerce features tailored for larger businesses.
  • Advanced inventory management tools.
  • Omnichannel selling and international selling capabilities.
  • No transaction fees on any plan.
  • Strong customer support.

Cons:

  • Higher pricing compared to Weebly.
  • Steeper learning curve.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

One of the significant differences between Weebly and BigCommerce is the pricing model.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers a "free forever" plan that includes basic eCommerce features such as a shopping basket and the ability to sell unlimited items. The paid plans range from around $10 to $26 per month. The cheapest plan includes support for a custom domain and unlimited storage, while the most expensive plan offers advanced features like abandoned cart emails and advanced eCommerce insights.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not offer a free plan but allows for a 15-day trial. The paid plans range from $39 per month to $399 per month, with a custom pricing option available for enterprise solutions. One of the advantages of BigCommerce is that it does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans, although each plan has a sales limit. For example, the Standard plan restricts you to $50,000 in sales per year.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features

While both platforms serve as eCommerce and website building tools, they cater to different customer groups.

Website Building and Design

Both Weebly and BigCommerce provide a range of templates to choose from. Weebly is easier to use with an intuitive drag-and-drop website editor, perfect for users without coding knowledge. BigCommerce offers more advanced customization options but requires more technical know-how.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly offers robust eCommerce capabilities, including support for unlimited products, inventory management tools, and delivery options. However, to sell digital goods or access certain advanced features like abandoned cart emails, you need to opt for the higher-priced plans.

BigCommerce excels in eCommerce features with advanced inventory management capabilities, omnichannel selling options, and marketplace integrations. This makes it a more powerful platform for serious eCommerce businesses.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly has strong blogging features and basic marketing tools, such as customizable Instagram feeds and lead capture forms. However, it falls short in terms of SEO capabilities when compared to BigCommerce. BigCommerce offers more detailed reports and analytics, along with better SEO customization options.

AI Capabilities

BigCommerce is rapidly emerging as a leader in the AI eCommerce space with its "BigAI" toolkit, which includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. Weebly, meanwhile, does not offer native AI capabilities, though third-party tools can be integrated.

Integrations and Apps

While both platforms offer a variety of integrations and apps, BigCommerce has a more extensive selection, especially for tasks related to point-of-sale management, marketing, and analytics.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly Ease of Use

Weebly is significantly easier to use with its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and simpler interface. This makes it a great option for individuals or small businesses that prioritize ease of use.

BigCommerce Ease of Use

BigCommerce, while offering more features, has a steeper learning curve. However, it also comes with great customer support options, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans. This ensures that any technical complexities are well-supported.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, your choice between Weebly and BigCommerce should be guided by the specific needs of your business:

Choose Weebly if:

  • You're a small business or a solo entrepreneur looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform.
  • You need basic eCommerce features and put a high value on blogging capabilities.
  • Advanced inventory and SEO features are not critical to your operation.

Choose BigCommerce if:

  • You're a larger business looking for more advanced features and scalability.
  • You need intricate inventory management and omnichannel selling options.
  • AI capabilities and advanced analytics are crucial to your strategy.
  • You're prepared to invest in a higher-priced but more robust platform.

FAQs

Q: Does Weebly offer any free plans? A: Yes, Weebly provides a "free forever" plan which includes access to a shopping basket and the ability to sell unlimited items.

Q: Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees? A: No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.

Q: Can I use AI features on Weebly? A: Weebly does not come with native AI capabilities, but you can integrate third-party AI tools through their marketplace.

Q: Which platform is better for a large business? A: BigCommerce is better suited for larger businesses due to its advanced features, scalability options, and robust inventory management capabilities.

Q: How does support differ between Weebly and BigCommerce? A: Both platforms offer 24/7 support, but BigCommerce provides chat, email, and phone support on all plans, while Weebly's 24/7 support is limited on lower-tier plans.

In conclusion, both Weebly and BigCommerce offer compelling features suited for different types of businesses. Smaller enterprises will find Weebly’s simplicity and affordability appealing, while larger companies will benefit from BigCommerce’s robust capabilities, making it a better long-term investment.