Weebly vs BigCommerce: Comprehensive Comparison for 2023Table of ContentsIntroductionPricing and FeesCore FeaturesEase of Use and Customer SupportFinal VerdictFAQIntroductionNavigating the myriad of eCommerce platforms available today can be daunting, especially when you are setting up your first online store or looking to upgrade to a more robust solution. Weebly and BigCommerce are two popular choices, each catering to different needs and business sizes. This detailed comparison aims to help you determine which platform best suits your unique requirements.In this post, we'll explore the core similarities and differences between Weebly and BigCommerce, delving into aspects such as pricing, features, ease of use, and customer support. Whether you run a small online boutique or a large enterprise, understanding these nuances can guide you to an informed decision, setting the stage for sustainable eCommerce growth.Pricing and FeesWeeblyWeebly is renowned for its budget-friendly approach, offering a free forever plan that includes basic eCommerce capabilities like a shopping cart feature and support for unlimited items. Here’s a quick overview of its paid plans:Personal Plan: $10/month - Includes support for a custom domain and unlimited storage.Professional Plan: $12/month - Adds more bespoke eCommerce tools.Performance Plan: $26/month - Includes advanced features like abandoned cart emails and in-depth eCommerce insights.Weebly stands out due to its affordability, making it an attractive option for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs on a tighter budget.BigCommerceConversely, BigCommerce is designed for businesses aiming to scale rapidly. While it doesn't offer a free plan, it does feature a 15-day free trial. Here are the standard pricing tiers:Standard Plan: $39/month - Basic features with an annual sales cap of $50k.Plus Plan: $79/month - Higher sales limits and additional features.Pro Plan: $399/month - For high-volume sellers with advanced requirements.Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale operations.BigCommerce does not levy transaction fees on any plan, but its higher cost is a consideration, especially for startups or small businesses.Core FeaturesWebsite Building and DesignBoth platforms provide robust website building capabilities, featuring hundreds of responsive templates. Weebly: Known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Weebly is beginner-friendly and offers various themes suitable for different website types, from blogs to portfolios to small eCommerce stores.BigCommerce: While offering a steeper learning curve, BigCommerce templates are fine-tuned for eCommerce, granting users the flexibility to make detailed customizations. Advanced users will appreciate the ability to tweak HTML and CSS files.Ecommerce and Selling FeaturesWeebly: Designed for smaller scales, Weebly provides ecommerce essentials like inventory management, tax calculations, and delivery options. However, enhanced features like PayPal payments and abandoned cart emails are limited to higher-tier plans.BigCommerce: Ideal for scaling, BigCommerce excels with features like multi-channel selling, advanced inventory management, discounts on transactions through PayPal, and integration with point-of-sale systems. It supports diverse sales methods including B2B and wholesale.Marketing Tools and AnalyticsWeebly: It shines in content marketing with its superior blogging feature but falls short on SEO customization. Weebly offers basic promotional tools and metrics, but comprehensive data analysis is limited.BigCommerce: Superior in SEO features, BigCommerce also provides robust marketing tools like advanced discounting, detailed product ratings and reviews, and extensive analytics. Its customizable dashboards offer deeper insights into sales and customer behaviors.AI CapabilitiesWeebly: Lacks native AI features but does support third-party AI integrations through its marketplace.BigCommerce: Emerges as a leader with its BigAI toolkit that includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized product recommendations. Its evolving AI strategy and partnerships continue to enhance platform functionalities.Integrations and AppsWeebly: Provides a decent range of around 100 apps within its App Center, catering to basic needs.BigCommerce: Offers over 850 apps, covering a wide range of functionalities from marketing to dropshipping, and includes robust API options for custom integrations and workflows.Ease of Use and Customer SupportWeebly: Wins in ease of use, specifically aimed at individuals or small businesses with limited technical skills. Its customer support offers email, chat, and forum support, with 24/7 availability only on the higher plans.BigCommerce: Although more complex to master, BigCommerce provides extensive support resources, including detailed guides, tutorials, and an active online community. It offers comprehensive 24/7 support across all plans, including phone support.Final VerdictDeciding between Weebly and BigCommerce boils down to your business size and growth ambitions:Weebly: Best suited for smaller businesses or solo entrepreneurs seeking a user-friendly and affordable solution. It covers all the basic needs but might require an upgrade as your business grows.BigCommerce: Ideal for larger businesses looking to scale. It offers extensive features, advanced analytics, and superior integration capabilities, albeit at a higher cost.Both platforms have distinct strengths tailored to specific business needs. Assess your current requirements and future growth plans when making your choice.FAQWhich platform is more cost-effective?For small businesses or individual sellers, Weebly is more cost-effective with its budget-friendly plans. BigCommerce is pricier but offers more comprehensive features suited for larger operations.Can I start with Weebly and switch to BigCommerce later?Yes, businesses can start with Weebly and migrate to BigCommerce as they scale. However, anticipate potential complexities and costs involved in the migration process.Which platform offers better customer support?BigCommerce provides more comprehensive support, including 24/7 phone assistance across all plans. Weebly’s support is robust but limited on the lower-tier plans.How do the AI capabilities of Weebly and BigCommerce compare?BigCommerce is at the forefront with its BigAI toolkit, which includes AI content generation and personalized product recommendations. Weebly lacks native AI features but supports third-party AI tools.Are there significant differences in the marketing tools offered?Yes, BigCommerce offers more advanced marketing tools, superior SEO capabilities, and detailed analytics compared to Weebly. Weebly excels in content marketing, particularly blogging.Which platform is easier to use for beginners?Weebly is more beginner-friendly with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and straightforward navigation, ideal for those with limited technical skills.