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. Integrations and Apps
  5. Ease of Use and Customer Support
  6. Final Verdict
  7. FAQ

Introduction

In the dynamic world of ecommerce, choosing the right platform to build and manage your online store is critical. With so many options available, it can be a daunting task to pick the perfect solution tailored to your business needs. Among the numerous platforms, Weebly and BigCommerce stand out due to their unique offerings and capabilities. Whether you're a small business owner looking for a simple and affordable solution or a large company seeking advanced features and scalability, understanding the distinctions between Weebly and BigCommerce is essential.

In this comprehensive blog post, we aim to provide a detailed comparison of Weebly and BigCommerce. We will delve into their pricing structures, features, pros, and cons, helping you make an informed decision for your ecommerce venture. By the end of this article, you'll have a clear understanding of which platform suits your specific requirements and how each can contribute to the success of your online business.

So, if you're grappling with the decision of picking between Weebly and BigCommerce, sit tight as we unravel everything you need to know about these two major players in the ecommerce arena.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

One of the most pivotal factors in choosing an ecommerce platform is the cost. Here's how Weebly and BigCommerce stack up:

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers a "free forever" plan that includes a shopping basket and unlimited item listing. For added functionalities, its paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month:

  • Personal Plan ($10/month): Supports a custom domain and unlimited storage.
  • Professional Plan: Enhanced features for growing businesses.
  • Performance Plan ($26/month): Advanced ecommerce insights and abandoned cart emails.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce, on the other hand, doesn't offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Its paid plans range as follows:

  • Standard Plan ($39/month): Basic ecommerce features with a $50k annual sales limit.
  • Plus Plan and Pro Plan (up to $399/month): Advanced features with higher sales limits.
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing tailored to large businesses.

BigCommerce does not impose transaction fees, but its plans are generally more expensive than Weebly.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features

Understanding the core features that each platform offers will help in aligning them with your business needs.

Website Building and Design

Weebly:

  • User-friendly drag-and-drop website editor.
  • A variety of responsive, professional templates suitable for blogs and portfolios.
  • No coding required for customization.

BigCommerce:

  • More complex editor with a steeper learning curve.
  • Hundreds of ecommerce-focused templates.
  • Extensive customization options using CSS and HTML.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly:

  • Unlimited product support.
  • Basic inventory management and automatic tax calculation.
  • Requires a paid plan for digital goods and advanced ecommerce features.
  • Strong integrated shopping cart and customer experience tools.

BigCommerce:

  • Superior inventory management capabilities.
  • Integration with multiple payment systems, including PayPal with discount transaction rates.
  • Extensive omnichannel and international selling tools.
  • Custom product pages, detailed product variants, and specialist plans for B2B and wholesale enterprises.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly:

  • Good blogging capabilities and essential marketing tools.
  • Limited SEO functionalities.
  • Basic analytics and reporting functions.

BigCommerce:

  • Extensive SEO editing capabilities.
  • Advanced reporting and customizable dashboards.
  • Comprehensive marketing tools, including AI-powered features.

AI Capabilities

Weebly:

  • Limited native AI capabilities.
  • Can integrate third-party AI tools via the Weebly marketplace.

BigCommerce:

  • Leading in AI integration with "BigAI" toolkit.
  • Predictive analytics and personalized recommendations.
  • Continued expansion of AI capabilities with partner integrations.

Integrations and Apps

Weebly:

  • Offers about 100 apps through its “App Center.”
  • Basic integration options for tools and services.

BigCommerce:

  • Over 850 apps available, categorized into collections for easy navigation.
  • Open API options for creating automated workflows and connecting business applications.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly:

  • Extremely user-friendly and ideal for beginners.
  • Limited customer support on free and personal plans, with access mainly to forum, chat, and email support.

BigCommerce:

  • Requires a bit of a learning curve but offers robust capabilities.
  • Comprehensive support, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans.
  • Abundant learning resources and an active community forum.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, the choice between Weebly and BigCommerce depends largely on your business size and requirements.

  • Weebly is suitable for small businesses or individuals seeking an affordable and user-friendly platform with essential ecommerce features.
  • BigCommerce is ideal for larger businesses that need advanced ecommerce functionalities, scalability, and robust AI capabilities.

By carefully considering your business needs and the features of each platform, you can select the one that best aligns with your goals and allows your online store to thrive.

FAQ

1. Is there a free plan available for BigCommerce?

No, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan, but it does provide a 15-day free trial for users to explore the platform.

2. Can I use my custom domain with Weebly’s free plan?

No, custom domains are only available with Weebly’s paid plans.

3. Which platform is more suitable for beginners?

Weebly is the better choice for beginners due to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and user-friendly design tools.

4. Does BigCommerce have transaction fees on its plans?

No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.

5. Can I sell digital goods on Weebly?

Yes, but you need to be on a paid plan to sell both physical and digital goods.

6. Which platform offers better customer support?

BigCommerce offers more comprehensive customer support, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans.

By considering these FAQs and the detailed comparison above, you can better decide which platform, Weebly or BigCommerce, is the right fit for your ecommerce needs.