Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Weebly vs BigCommerce: Summary of Pros and Cons
- Pricing and Fees
- Core Features Comparison
- Marketing Tools and Analytics
- AI Capabilities and Integrations
- Ease of Use and Customer Support
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Introduction
Building an online store is a pivotal decision for any business looking to harness the power of ecommerce. With numerous website builders and ecommerce platforms available, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. Two popular choices are Weebly and BigCommerce. While they both offer valuable tools for creating and managing online stores, they cater to different needs and business sizes. This post will provide an in-depth comparison of Weebly and BigCommerce, helping you determine which platform suits your business best.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the pros, cons, pricing, features, and overall usability of Weebly and BigCommerce. So, whether you’re a small business owner looking for an affordable, user-friendly solution, or a larger business aiming for scalability and advanced features, we’ve got you covered.
Weebly vs BigCommerce: Summary of Pros and Cons
Weebly Pros and Cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface, easy for beginners
- Affordable pricing with a "free forever" plan
- Unlimited items on all plans
- Decent ecommerce tools and design options
- Excellent blogging capabilities
Cons:
- Limited scalability compared to BigCommerce
- Less advanced ecommerce features
- Additional costs for certain necessary features on higher-priced plans
BigCommerce Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Advanced inventory management tools
- State-of-the-art AI capabilities
- Omnichannel selling options
- No transaction fees
- Excellent customer support on all plans
Cons:
- Higher pricing starting from $39 per month
- Steeper learning curve
- Limits on annual sales volume per plan
Pricing and Fees
Pricing is often a critical factor when choosing an ecommerce platform. Weebly offers a range of affordable plans, including a "free forever" plan, while BigCommerce provides more advanced features at a higher cost.
Weebly Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes a shopping cart and allows you to sell unlimited items. However, it comes with Weebly branding and a subdomain.
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Paid Plans: Range from $10 to $26 per month.
- Personal Plan ($10/month): Includes support for a custom domain and unlimited storage.
- Professional Plan ($15/month): Removes Weebly ads and includes site stats and a free domain.
- Performance Plan ($26/month): Adds abandoned cart emails, advanced ecommerce insights, and an array of marketing tools.
BigCommerce Pricing
- Trial Period: Free for 15 days.
- Standard Plan ($39/month): Basic ecommerce features with no transaction fees but limits annual sales to $50k.
- Plus Plan ($79/month): Adds customer segmentation and advanced marketing tools with a $180k sales limit.
- Pro Plan ($299/month): More advanced features with a $400k sales limit (additional fees apply for exceeding this limit).
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for businesses with specific needs and higher sales volumes.
Pricing Summary
Weebly presents a more cost-effective solution for small businesses or those just starting out. In contrast, BigCommerce offers plans better suited for growing businesses or those requiring extensive features and scalability.
Core Features Comparison
While both Weebly and BigCommerce provide robust tools for building and managing online stores, their features cater to different business needs.
Website Building and Design
Weebly
Weebly is known for its beginner-friendly drag-and-drop website builder. It offers:
- A range of responsive templates for various industries.
- Easy customization without requiring coding skills.
- Basic ecommerce functionality that suits small to medium businesses.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce, though more complex, offers:
- A wide variety of responsive ecommerce-specific templates.
- Advanced customization options, including access to CSS and HTML.
- AI-powered design tools that enhance user experience and store functionality.
- More sophisticated tools tailored for businesses looking to scale up.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly
- Supports unlimited products on all paid plans.
- Inventory management tools and automatic tax calculations.
- Integrated shopping cart with features like filtered search.
- Abandoned cart emails and digital product sales on higher-priced plans.
- Limited to PayPal payments on higher-tier plans.
BigCommerce
- No transaction fees on any plan.
- Integration with multiple payment systems, including PayPal.
- Advanced inventory management and omnichannel selling tools.
- Marketplace integrations, social media selling, and real-time shipping quotes.
- Comprehensive product management with detailed variants, custom fields, and unique shipping rules.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Weebly
- Offers basic content marketing tools, including an excellent blogging feature.
- Customizable Instagram feeds, pop-up notifications, and lead capture forms.
- Limited SEO capabilities.
- Basic analytics and email marketing tools, with advanced options in higher plans.
BigCommerce
- Superior SEO tools for higher search engine rankings.
- Advanced marketing tools, including abandoned cart emails, vouchers, gift cards, and product reviews.
- Comprehensive analytics with customizable dashboards.
- Integration capability with third-party apps for advanced marketing campaigns.
AI Capabilities and Integrations
AI Capabilities
Weebly
- Lacks native AI capabilities, but third-party AI integrations are available through the Weebly marketplace.
BigCommerce
- Advanced AI toolkit (BigAI) for content generation, predictive analytics, personalized product recommendations, and AI-powered search.
- Continually expanding AI features through partnerships.
Integrations and Apps
Weebly
- Decent number of apps within its App Center, about 100 options.
BigCommerce
- Over 850 apps for various business needs, including marketing, dropshipping, fulfillment, and analytics.
- User-friendly app organization into collections for ease of navigation.
- Open API for creating automated workflows and connecting business apps.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Ease of Use
Weebly
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Less of a learning curve, ideal for beginners.
BigCommerce
- More complex interface, though AI tools have improved usability.
- Suitable for users who need advanced features.
Customer Support
Weebly
- 24/7 support limited to forum, chat, and email on the free and personal plans.
BigCommerce
- Comprehensive customer support with chat, email, and phone support on all plans.
- Extensive learning resources, including tutorials, guides, FAQs, and an active online community.
Conclusion
Choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce ultimately depends on your business needs and growth aspirations. If you run a small store and prioritize ease of use and affordability, Weebly is an excellent choice. However, if you’re looking for a platform that offers advanced ecommerce features, scalability, and comprehensive support, BigCommerce is the way to go.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the main differences between Weebly and BigCommerce?
Weebly is more user-friendly and cost-effective, suitable for small businesses or beginners. BigCommerce offers advanced features, better scalability, and is ideal for larger businesses looking to grow significantly.
Can I integrate other tools with Weebly and BigCommerce?
Yes, both platforms offer integrations with various third-party tools. BigCommerce has a more extensive app marketplace with over 850 apps, while Weebly has about 100 apps available.
Which platform offers better customer support?
BigCommerce provides more comprehensive customer support, including chat, email, and phone support on all plans. Weebly offers 24/7 support but is limited to forums, chat, and email on lower-tier plans.
Are there any transaction fees on Weebly and BigCommerce?
BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans. Weebly’s transaction fees depend on the plan, but higher-tier plans offer more features without additional transaction costs.
Which platform is better for SEO?
BigCommerce has more advanced SEO tools, allowing for more extensive optimization options. Weebly has basic SEO capabilities that may be sufficient for smaller websites.
By thoroughly understanding the benefits and limitations of both platforms, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and requirements.
