Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
- Core Features
- Ease of Use and Customer Support
- Final Verdict
- FAQ Section
Introduction
In the digital age, establishing an online presence is essential for any business looking to expand its reach. Whether you're a small business owner or the head of a burgeoning enterprise, choosing the right ecommerce platform is a pivotal decision. Two popular contenders in the ecommerce space are Weebly and BigCommerce. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, tailored to different business needs. By delving into their pricing, features, and overall pros and cons, you can make a more informed choice for your business.
In this comprehensive blog post, we'll explore both platforms in depth and analyze how they stack up against each other. Whether you're looking for ease of use or advanced ecommerce functionalities, this comparison will cover all the essential aspects to help you decide which platform aligns best with your business goals.
Scope of the Article
- Pricing and Fees: A breakdown of the cost plans and what you get for your money.
- Core Features: A comparison of the main functionalities offered by both platforms.
- Ease of Use and Customer Support: Insights into user-friendliness and the quality of customer service.
- Final Verdict: Summary and recommendation based on various use-cases.
- FAQ Section: Addressing common questions to help clarify any lingering doubts.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
One of the first considerations when selecting an ecommerce platform is typically the cost. Here's a detailed comparison of the pricing models provided by Weebly and BigCommerce.
Weebly Pricing
Weebly is well-known for offering a "free forever" plan that lets you run a basic ecommerce store without any upfront costs. However, their paid plans, ranging from $10 to $26 per month, offer more advanced features.
- Free Plan: Includes a shopping basket and allows unlimited items.
- Personal Plan ($10/month): Supports custom domains and offers unlimited storage.
- Performance Plan ($26/month): Comes with advanced ecommerce insights and abandoned cart emails.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Their pricing starts at $39 per month and can go up to $399 per month, with a custom enterprise plan available for larger businesses.
- Standard Plan ($39/month): Basic ecommerce functionalities, limited to $50k in annual sales.
- Pro Plan ($399/month): Includes advanced tools suitable for high-volume sellers.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing based on specific business needs.
One notable advantage BigCommerce offers is that they do not charge any transaction fees on any plans, although their pricing is higher compared to Weebly.
Core Features
Both Weebly and BigCommerce target different customer bases and offer a variety of features to cater to their needs. Here's a deep dive into the core functionalities of both platforms.
Website Building and Design
When it comes to website design, both Weebly and BigCommerce offer a rich selection of templates to choose from. However, they serve different purposes:
- Weebly: User-friendly drag-and-drop editor, suitable for beginners. No coding knowledge required.
- BigCommerce: More powerful but with a steeper learning curve. Offers deeper customization options through CSS and HTML.
While Weebly is perfect for smaller businesses looking for ease of use, BigCommerce excels in offering advanced customization options suitable for larger enterprises.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly
- Inventory Management: Simplistic but effective for smaller inventories.
- Automatic Tax Calculation: Integrates with basic tax settings.
- Payment Systems: Limited in the free plan; PayPal integration available in the higher tier.
- Shopping Cart: Integrated but with limited advanced functionalities.
BigCommerce
- Inventory Management: Highly advanced, suitable for large inventories.
- Omnichannel Selling: Integration with social media and marketplaces for extended reach.
- Payment Systems: Multiple integrations including discounted PayPal rates.
- Real-time Shipping Quotes: Available across all plans.
BigCommerce clearly offers more in terms of advanced ecommerce capabilities, making it ideal for expanding businesses.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Both Weebly and BigCommerce offer robust marketing tools, but they vary in depth and complexity.
Weebly
- Blogging: Superior blogging tool for content marketing.
- SEO Tools: Limited customization options for optimization.
- Email Marketing: Basic features but can be integrated with third-party platforms.
BigCommerce
- Advanced SEO Customization: Better tools for higher ranking potential.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Included in most plans.
- Custom Reporting: Advanced analytics for deeper business insights.
BigCommerce stands out for businesses focusing on thorough SEO optimization and detailed analytics, whereas Weebly keeps it basic but functional.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
When it comes to usability, Weebly’s user-friendly interface makes it a go-to choice for beginners. Its drag-and-drop functionality allows users to set up their online stores without any technical expertise.
Conversely, BigCommerce, although feature-rich, comes with a steeper learning curve. The platform offers an abundance of customization options, which might be overwhelming for novice users but provides experienced users with the flexibility they need.
Customer Support
- Weebly: Offers chat and email support on the free plan and adds phone support on paid plans, though limited.
- BigCommerce: Provides 24/7 email, chat, and phone support from the get-go.
BigCommerce offers more comprehensive support options, making it a preferable choice for businesses that may require frequent assistance.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce boils down to your specific business needs:
- Weebly: Ideal for smaller businesses and beginners who prefer an intuitive and inexpensive platform.
- BigCommerce: Suited for larger businesses that require advanced customization options, powerful ecommerce tools, and have the resources to handle a steeper learning curve.
FAQ Section
1. Is there a free plan available on BigCommerce?
No, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial.
2. Can I use Weebly if I don’t have coding knowledge?
Absolutely. Weebly is designed to be user-friendly with its drag-and-drop interface, requiring no coding expertise.
3. Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
No, BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees on any of their plans.
4. Which platform is more suitable for SEO?
BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO customization options, making it a better choice for businesses focused on improving their search engine rankings.
5. What kind of customer support can I expect?
BigCommerce offers 24/7 email, chat, and phone support across all plans. Weebly offers chat and email support on its free and personal plans and adds phone support in higher tiers.
By understanding the strengths and limitations of both Weebly and BigCommerce, you can select the ecommerce platform that aligns best with your business strategy and scaling goals.
