Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Pricing and Fees
- Website Building and Design
- Ecommerce and Selling Features
- Marketing Tools and Analytics
- AI Capabilities
- Integrations and Apps
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Final Verdict
Introduction
In today’s digital age, choosing the right platform to build and grow your ecommerce business can seem daunting. With an array of options available, Weebly and BigCommerce stand out as two prominent choices. While each platform caters to different needs, the decision ultimately boils down to what you require for your unique business model. This blog post aims to thoroughly compare and contrast Weebly and BigCommerce, delving into crucial areas such as pricing, features, usability, and customer support.
This comprehensive guide will ensure that by the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform aligns better with your business goals. Now, let’s dive in and explore the ins and outs of Weebly and BigCommerce.
Pricing and Fees
When it comes to pricing, the differences between Weebly and BigCommerce are quite stark. Weebly is known for its affordability and offers a “free forever” plan, which is excellent for startups and businesses on a tight budget. The paid plans range from $10 to $26 per month, providing support for custom domains, unlimited storage, and advanced ecommerce insights, depending on the tier.
In contrast, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan but allows users to trial the platform for 15 days at no cost. After that, the pricing starts at $39 per month for the Standard plan and can go up to $399 per month for the Pro plan, with an enterprise option available at custom pricing.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Free forever plan, paid plans starting at $10/month.
- BigCommerce: No free plan, 15-day trial, paid plans starting at $39/month.
- BigCommerce offers more extensive features but at a higher price point.
Website Building and Design
Both Weebly and BigCommerce provide a range of customizable templates. Weebly offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it extremely user-friendly, especially for those without technical expertise. This simplicity is appealing to small businesses and individuals looking for a straightforward way to create their online presence.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, has an extensive array of themes aimed specifically at ecommerce. While its editor also supports drag-and-drop functionalities, it provides additional freedom for advanced users to manipulate CSS and HTML files. This makes BigCommerce more suitable for those seeking to customize their stores further.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, less suitable for extensive customizations.
- BigCommerce: Offers more customizable options, better suited for advanced users and larger stores.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
Weebly is quite robust in terms of basic ecommerce functionalities, offering support for unlimited products, inventory management tools, and automatic tax calculation. However, some essential features such as accepting PayPal payments and abandoned cart emails are only available on higher-tier plans.
BigCommerce excels in this area with a wide range of advanced ecommerce functionalities. From discount transaction rates with PayPal to omnichannel selling and integration capabilities with various Point of Sale (POS) systems, BigCommerce stands out as a comprehensive solution for larger businesses. Additionally, all plans offer multi-currency selling, real-time shipping quotes, and customizable product pages.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Suitable for basic ecommerce needs, premium features locked in higher-tier plans.
- BigCommerce: Superior ecommerce functionalities, no additional transaction fees, and advanced inventory and sales tools.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
When it comes to marketing and SEO tools, BigCommerce has a clear edge. Its platform allows for extensive SEO customization, enabling businesses to optimize their sites more effectively for search engines. Furthermore, BigCommerce offers advanced reporting tools, allowing you to track sales, inventory, customer behavior, and more.
Weebly provides solid marketing tools such as pop-up notifications, customizable Instagram feeds, and lead capture forms. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of depth in analytics and SEO customization as BigCommerce.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Good for basic marketing, lacks advanced SEO and analytics.
- BigCommerce: Advanced SEO tools, extensive analytics, better for comprehensive marketing strategies.
AI Capabilities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) features can significantly enhance an ecommerce platform’s capabilities. BigCommerce is emerging as a leader in this domain, with its “BigAI” toolkit offering solutions for AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. This not only improves customer experience but also boosts operational efficiency.
Weebly does not inherently offer AI capabilities but allows for third-party AI tool integration through its marketplace. This flexibility can be beneficial, although it doesn’t match up to the native AI functionalities provided by BigCommerce.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Integrates third-party AI tools.
- BigCommerce: Robust native AI features, enhancing both user experience and business efficiency.
Integrations and Apps
The capacity to integrate various applications can expand a platform’s functionality significantly. BigCommerce boasts a vast selection of over 850 apps, organized into categories like marketing, dropshipping, and fulfillment, making it easier for users to find what they need.
Weebly's App Center, while competent, offers around 100 apps. This smaller selection can be limiting for businesses requiring a diverse range of integrations.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Around 100 apps in its marketplace.
- BigCommerce: Over 850 apps, broader range of functionalities available.
Ease of Use
Weebly is designed for simplicity. Its user-friendly interface ensures that even individuals with no technical background can create a functional online store quickly. The intuitive drag-and-drop editor minimizes the learning curve, allowing users to focus on running their business rather than navigating complicated tools.
BigCommerce, although more feature-rich, has historically had a steeper learning curve. However, with the integration of AI tools and continuous updates, the platform is becoming more user-friendly. Still, it remains better suited for users who can invest time in learning the system to utilize its full potential.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: Highly intuitive, ideal for beginners or small businesses.
- BigCommerce: More complex but offers more advanced tools for those willing to invest time in learning.
Customer Support
Customer support is crucial for any ecommerce business, and both platforms offer robust options. Weebly provides 24/7 support through forums, chat, and email on all plans, with phone support available on its higher-tier plans.
BigCommerce excels in customer support, providing 24/7 multi-channel support, including phone, email, and chat, on all plans. BigCommerce also boasts a rich online community and extensive learning resources.
Key Takeaways
- Weebly: 24/7 support on higher-tier plans, more limited on free and personal plans.
- BigCommerce: Comprehensive 24/7 support on all plans, extensive online community and resources.
Final Verdict
The decision between Weebly and BigCommerce largely depends on the scale and needs of your business. Weebly shines for small businesses and personal ventures due to its ease of use and affordable pricing. It’s an excellent starting point, providing all the basic tools required to run a simple online store.
Conversely, BigCommerce is tailored for scaling businesses that require extensive ecommerce functionalities, advanced customization, and robust marketing tools. It’s a more powerful, albeit costlier, platform suited for businesses with more complex needs.
FAQs
Q: Which platform is better for a beginner? A: Weebly is better for beginners due to its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and simplicity.
Q: Can I scale my business on Weebly? A: Weebly is great for starting out, but you might need to switch to a more robust platform like BigCommerce as your business grows.
Q: Does BigCommerce offer a free trial? A: Yes, BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial, after which you need to choose a paid plan.
Q: Which platform offers better customer support? A: BigCommerce offers more comprehensive 24/7 support across all plans, including phone support which is not available on Weebly’s lower-tier plans.
Q: Are there transaction fees on BigCommerce? A: No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.
