Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
3. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features
4. Ease of Use and Customer Support
5. Conclusion
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Introduction

The world of ecommerce is vast and varied, filled with a multitude of platforms vying for the attention of merchants looking to build and expand their online businesses. Two such platforms, Weebly and BigCommerce, cater to different segments of the ecommerce market, each offering unique features and benefits. This blog post dives deep into the comparison of Weebly vs. BigCommerce, providing insights into their pricing, features, pros and cons, and helping you decide which platform is best suited for your business needs.

Whether you're a small business owner seeking an affordable and easy-to-use solution, or a larger enterprise aiming for advanced functionalities and scalability, understanding the strengths and limitations of these platforms is crucial. By the end of this post, you will have a clearer picture of which platform aligns best with your business goals and requirements.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

Pricing is a critical factor for many businesses when choosing an ecommerce platform. Let's break down the cost structures of Weebly and BigCommerce to see how they compare.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly is renowned for its budget-friendly pricing model. Here's a look at their plans:

• Free Plan: Weebly's "free forever" plan includes a shopping basket and allows you to list unlimited items. However, this plan comes with Weebly branding, and to access more professional features, you'll need to upgrade.
• Paid Plans: These 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 offers additional ecommerce tools.
  • Performance Plan ($26/month): The most comprehensive, includes abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce insights.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not offer a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial. Pricing starts higher and scales with more advanced features:

• Standard Plan ($39/month): Offers omnichannel and international selling tools but limits annual sales to $50k.
• Plus Plan ($79/month): Provides additional features like customer groups and segmentations.
• Pro Plan ($299/month): For businesses needing advanced functionalities with a higher sales threshold.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large businesses with extensive needs.

While BigCommerce is more expensive, it does not charge transaction fees and includes more robust features, especially for scaling businesses.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Core Features

Both platforms come equipped with numerous tools designed to help businesses thrive online. However, their core features cater to different levels of complexity and business sizes.

Website Building and Design

• Weebly:

  • Offers an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, making it extremely user-friendly for those without technical skills.
  • Provides a variety of templates, suitable for blogs, portfolios, and small ecommerce sites.
  • Customization is straightforward but somewhat limited compared to more advanced platforms.

• BigCommerce:

  • While it has a steeper learning curve, it provides greater flexibility in customization with access to CSS and HTML.
  • Comes with themes optimized for ecommerce, ensuring a professional and responsive design tailored to various industries.
  • AI-powered tools to assist in website design, though still requiring some technical know-how for advanced customization.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

• Weebly:

  • Robust for its price, supporting unlimited products, inventory management, and automatic tax calculation.
  • Requires a paid plan to sell both physical and digital goods.
  • Performance plan includes advanced features like abandoned cart emails.
  • Limited payment options unless upgraded to the highest plan.

• BigCommerce:

  • Offers comprehensive ecommerce features, suitable for scaling businesses.
  • Supports diverse payment gateways with discounted PayPal transaction rates.
  • Includes omnichannel integrations, real-time shipping quotes, and detailed product variants.
  • Tailored plans for B2B and wholesale operations, allowing for highly specialized ecommerce management.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Marketing capabilities and analytics play a vital role in driving ecommerce success.

• Weebly:

  • Strong blogging tools for content marketing.
  • Basic SEO tools and integrations with popular marketing apps.
  • Limited analytics compared to more advanced platforms.

• BigCommerce:

  • Advanced SEO capabilities, allowing extensive customization for higher search rankings.
  • Rich analytics and reporting features, with customizable dashboards and in-depth data tracking.
  • Built-in marketing tools, including blog integration, social media connections, and gift card creation.

AI Capabilities

AI is increasingly becoming a key differentiator in ecommerce platforms.

• Weebly:

  • No native AI features, but can integrate third-party AI tools through the marketplace.

• BigCommerce:

  • Leading the AI charge with its “BigAI” toolkit.
  • Includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, and personalized recommendations.
  • Continuously expanding AI functionalities through partnerships and integrations.

Integrations and Apps

Integration options can significantly enhance a platform’s functionality.

• Weebly:

  • Offers around 100 apps in its App Center, catering to core ecommerce functions.
  • Basic integration capabilities.

• BigCommerce:

  • Provides over 850 apps, ranging from point-of-sale systems to dropshipping services.
  • Well-organized app marketplace, making it easy to find essential tools.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Usability and accessible support are crucial for any business.

• Weebly:

  • Extremely easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and minimal learning curve.
  • 24/7 support available but limited on free and lower-tier plans.

• BigCommerce:

  • More complex, but provides extensive learning resources, including tutorials, guides, and community forums.
  • Better customer support with chat, email, and phone support available on all plans.

Conclusion

When choosing between Weebly and BigCommerce, it's essential to consider your business's particular needs and goals.

• Weebly is ideal for small businesses or individuals looking for an affordable and easy-to-use platform with essential ecommerce capabilities.
• BigCommerce is better suited for larger businesses seeking advanced features, scalability, and a robust set of tools to manage and grow their online presence.

Both platforms have their strengths and can serve different kinds of businesses effectively. Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you prioritize ease of use and low cost or advanced functionalities and scalability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which platform is better for a small business, Weebly or BigCommerce?

For small businesses or individuals who need a straightforward and affordable solution, Weebly is generally the better choice. It provides essential ecommerce tools and an intuitive interface at a lower cost.

Can I try these platforms for free?

Weebly offers a "free forever" plan with limited features. BigCommerce does not have a free plan but provides a 15-day free trial to explore its features before committing to a paid plan.

What are the key advantages of BigCommerce over Weebly?

BigCommerce offers advanced ecommerce capabilities, including extensive SEO tools, robust analytics, more customization options, AI features, and better scalability with no transaction fees across all plans, making it ideal for larger or growing businesses.

Is it easy to switch from Weebly to BigCommerce if my business grows?

While migrating from one platform to another can be complex, it is certainly possible with proper planning. BigCommerce provides extensive support and resources to assist with migration, ensuring minimal disruption to your business operations.

Do both platforms support omnichannel selling?

Yes, both platforms offer omnichannel selling capabilities, but BigCommerce has more comprehensive tools and integrations for managing sales across multiple channels, including marketplaces and social media.

By understanding these detailed comparisons, you will be better positioned to choose the ecommerce platform that aligns perfectly with your business aspirations.

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