Weebly vs BigCommerce: A Comprehensive Comparison of Pricing, Features, Pros, and ConsTable of ContentsIntroductionPricing and FeesCore FeaturesMarketing Tools and AnalyticsAI CapabilitiesIntegrations and AppsEase of Use and Customer SupportFinal VerdictFAQIntroductionIn the evolving landscape of ecommerce, choosing the right platform can make or break your business. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or managing an enterprise-level storefront, the choice between Weebly and BigCommerce could significantly impact your growth trajectory. This article provides an in-depth comparison of Weebly and BigCommerce, scrutinizing their pricing, features, pros and cons to guide you in making an informed decision for your business.Pricing and FeesOne of the fundamental aspects to consider when selecting an ecommerce platform is the cost. Both Weebly and BigCommerce offer distinct pricing models targeted at different business scales.Weebly PricingWeebly is known for its free forever plan, allowing users to create a basic store without upfront costs. The paid plans start at around $10 per month and go up to $26 per month. These tiers offer varying features with the higher-end plans offering support for a custom domain, unlimited storage, advanced ecommerce insights, and abandoned cart emails. The affordability of Weebly makes it an appealing option for startups and small businesses.BigCommerce PricingConversely, BigCommerce doesn’t offer a free plan, but you can trial it for 15 days before committing. Paid plans range from $39 per month for the Standard plan to $399 per month for the Pro plan. There's also an enterprise-level option with custom pricing based on specific business needs. Although more expensive, BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees on any plan, and offers extensive features like omnichannel selling and advanced inventory management tools.Core FeaturesThe capabilities of an ecommerce platform are crucial to meeting business needs and driving growth. Here's how Weebly and BigCommerce compare in terms of core features.Website Building and DesignBoth Weebly and BigCommerce offer robust design tools with hundreds of templates tailored to different industries:Weebly: Known for its user-friendly, drag-and-drop editor, Weebly allows users to create websites easily without coding knowledge. It offers responsive, professional-looking templates suitable for various purposes, from portfolios to blogs.BigCommerce: While BigCommerce’s design tools have a steeper learning curve, they offer more customization options. The platform supports deep editing capabilities with access to CSS and HTML files, making it possible to create highly personalized storefronts.Ecommerce and Selling FeaturesSelling capabilities form the backbone of any ecommerce platform. Weebly and BigCommerce offer distinct features at various levels.Weebly: Provides essential ecommerce tools even on their free plan. Paid plans enhance functionality with support for unlimited products, inventory management, automatic tax calculations, and pick-up options. However, certain advanced features like abandoned cart emails require the highest-tier plan.BigCommerce: Offers a more comprehensive set of ecommerce tools out of the box. Features include discount transaction rates with PayPal, marketplace and social media integrations, point of sale solutions, real-time shipping quotes, and detailed product management. BigCommerce is ideal for businesses aiming for significant scalability and advanced ecommerce functionality.Marketing Tools and AnalyticsEffective marketing and insightful analytics are essential for driving sales and making informed business decisions.Weebly: Strong in content marketing with robust blogging features. It provides basic SEO tools, pop-up notifications, Instagram feeds, and lead capture forms. However, its analytics capabilities are less advanced than BigCommerce.BigCommerce: Excels in SEO and detailed analytics. The platform offers comprehensive tracking and reporting features, customizable dashboards, sales analytics, customer behavior insights, and allows deep dives into ecommerce metrics. This makes it a powerful tool for businesses focusing on data-driven growth strategies.AI CapabilitiesArtificial intelligence is reshaping ecommerce, offering new opportunities for automation and personalization.BigCommerce: Leading in AI implementation, BigCommerce provides an AI toolkit with features like content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. It continuously evolves by integrating more AI tools through partnerships, enhancing capabilities further.Weebly: Lacks native AI features but allows integration of third-party AI tools through its marketplace, offering limited AI capabilities compared to BigCommerce.Integrations and AppsIntegrations and apps expand the functionality of ecommerce platforms by connecting them to other essential business tools.BigCommerce: Offers an extensive app marketplace with over 850 apps covering areas like marketing, fulfillment, dropshipping, and analytics. The platform’s robust API options facilitate seamless integrations and automated workflows, making it a versatile choice for complex business needs.Weebly: Provides a decent selection of apps (around 100) in its App Center, sufficient for basic ecommerce operations. However, it falls short compared to BigCommerce in terms of the breadth and variety of available integrations.Ease of Use and Customer SupportUser experience and quality support can significantly influence platform usability and overall satisfaction.Weebly: Known for its intuitive interface, Weebly makes it easy for users to build and manage ecommerce sites with minimal learning curve. However, its support on free and lower-tier plans is limited to forum, chat, and email.BigCommerce: Although it requires more time to learn, BigCommerce offers exceptional customer support, including phone support on all plans. Its extensive educational resources, including guides, tutorials, and an active community, provide valuable assistance to users at every stage.Final VerdictChoosing between Weebly and BigCommerce hinges on your specific business needs and growth ambitions:Weebly: A great choice for small businesses and individuals looking for an affordable, user-friendly platform with essential ecommerce features.BigCommerce: Suited for larger businesses seeking scalability, advanced ecommerce functionalities, and robust integrations. Its comprehensive toolset supports significant growth and operational complexity.FAQ1. Which platform is more cost-effective for startups?Weebly is generally more cost-effective for startups due to its affordable pricing plans and free tier, making it ideal for small businesses on a budget.2. Can I scale my business on Weebly?While Weebly supports basic ecommerce functionalities, businesses with ambitious scaling plans might find BigCommerce’s advanced features and better integration options more suited for growth.3. Does BigCommerce support omnichannel selling?Yes, BigCommerce excels in omnichannel selling with integrations for marketplaces, social media platforms, and point of sale systems, making it a robust solution for extensive ecommerce operations.4. What are the AI capabilities of BigCommerce?BigCommerce offers a suite of AI tools called BigAI, which includes AI-driven content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations, aiding in automating and optimizing ecommerce processes.By understanding the core differences between Weebly and BigCommerce, you can select the platform that aligns best with your business objectives and growth plans.