Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: An Overview
- Pricing and Fees
- Website Building and Design
- Ecommerce and Selling Features
- Marketing Tools and Analytics
- AI Capabilities
- Integrations and Apps
- Ease of Use and Customer Support
- Final Verdict
- FAQs
Introduction
Selecting the right ecommerce platform can be a daunting task, given the plethora of options available. Weebly and BigCommerce are two popular choices, each catering to different business needs and scale. This blog post aims to provide a comprehensive comparison between Weebly and BigCommerce, focusing on their pricing, features, and overall suitability for various business types. By the end of this post, you'll have a clearer understanding of which platform aligns best with your ecommerce goals.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: An Overview
In essence, both Weebly and BigCommerce serve as robust tools for building ecommerce websites but cater to different market segments. BigCommerce shines with its advanced tools suitable for larger businesses eyeing significant growth. In contrast, Weebly is more user-friendly and budget-friendly, making it ideal for smaller businesses or solo entrepreneurs.
Pricing and Fees
One of the most glaring distinctions between Weebly and BigCommerce lies in their pricing strategies.
Weebly Pricing
Weebly stands out for its affordability, offering a "free forever" plan that includes a shopping basket and unlimited items. Its paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month:
- Personal Plan: $10/month, supports a custom domain and unlimited storage.
- Professional Plan: $12/month, offers additional ecommerce tools.
- Performance Plan: $26/month, includes abandoned cart emails and advanced insights.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce, on the other hand, doesn't offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Its pricing starts at $39 per month, scaling up to $399 per month, with a custom pricing option for enterprise solutions:
- Standard Plan: $39/month, includes basic ecommerce features with a $50k annual sales limit.
- Plus Plan: $79/month, offers more advanced features and a higher sales limit.
- Pro Plan: $399/month, geared towards scaling businesses with extensive needs.
While BigCommerce is more expensive, it provides more sophisticated tools for businesses aiming for significant growth. Unlike Weebly, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.
Website Building and Design
Weebly
Weebly simplifies the website-building process with its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, requiring no coding knowledge. It offers a variety of templates that are responsive and can adapt to various industries. This makes it an excellent option for those who want to get their site up and running quickly and with minimal fuss.
BigCommerce
In contrast, BigCommerce offers a more extensive range of themes fine-tuned for ecommerce stores. While its editor has a steeper learning curve, it provides greater freedom for granular customization with access to CSS and HTML files. This flexibility allows for a more tailored user experience but requires a bit more technical know-how.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly
Weebly offers a good array of ecommerce features, especially considering its lower price point. These include unlimited products, inventory management, automatic tax calculation, and various delivery options. However, its payment options are somewhat limited unless you opt for the higher-priced plans.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce excels in its ecommerce capabilities, partnering with PayPal for discounted transaction rates and integrating numerous payment systems. It offers comprehensive inventory management, marketplace and social media integrations, and omnichannel selling options. Additionally, it supports advanced features like real-time shipping quotes, multi-currency selling, and specialized plans for B2B and wholesale businesses.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Weebly
Weebly offers a robust blogging feature, making it suitable for content marketing. Additional tools include pop-up notifications, customizable Instagram feeds, and basic SEO capabilities. However, it falls short in more advanced marketing and SEO functionalities compared to BigCommerce.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides a broader range of marketing and analytics tools. These include extensive SEO customization, advanced email marketing integrations, and detailed analytics dashboards. These features allow businesses to implement more sophisticated marketing strategies and deeply analyze performance metrics.
AI Capabilities
Weebly
Currently, Weebly lacks native AI capabilities. However, users can integrate third-party AI tools through its marketplace.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is leading in the AI ecommerce space with its "BigAI" toolkit, offering AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. These capabilities can significantly enhance the user experience and operational efficiency.
Integrations and Apps
Weebly
Weebly offers around 100 apps in its App Center, providing essential integrations for various business operations.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce, however, surpasses Weebly with over 850 apps, covering a wide range of functionalities from point of sale management to marketing and analytics. Its open API options allow businesses to create automated workflows, ensuring a seamless operational experience.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Weebly
Weebly takes the lead in ease of use with its intuitive interface, making it a preferred choice for beginners. It offers essential support via forums, chat, and email on free and personal plans.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce, although slightly more complex, excels in customer support. It provides 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans, along with in-depth resources, an active online community, and abundant tutorial videos.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce ultimately boils down to your business needs:
- Weebly: Best for smaller businesses or solo entrepreneurs looking for an easy-to-use, cost-effective solution. It provides all the necessary tools for running a basic ecommerce store without overwhelming the user.
- BigCommerce: Ideal for larger businesses aiming for significant growth. It offers advanced ecommerce capabilities, extensive integrations, and superior customer support, albeit at a higher cost.
FAQs
1. Can Weebly handle a large volume of transactions? Weebly can manage a decent amount of transactions, but it is primarily designed for smaller businesses. For high-volume sales, BigCommerce is more suitable.
2. Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees? No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.
3. Is Weebly suitable for beginners? Yes, Weebly is highly user-friendly and ideal for beginners without technical knowledge.
4. Can I switch from Weebly to BigCommerce as my business grows? Yes, businesses can migrate from Weebly to BigCommerce as they scale, although this process may require some technical assistance.
5. Which platform offers better SEO tools? BigCommerce provides more advanced SEO tools compared to Weebly.
In summary, both Weebly and BigCommerce offer unique advantages depending on your business scale and needs. By understanding these differences, you can make a more informed decision that aligns with your ecommerce goals.
