Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros, and Cons ComparedTable of ContentsIntroductionWeebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and FeesWebsite Building and DesignEcommerce and Selling FeaturesMarketing Tools and AnalyticsAI CapabilitiesIntegrations and AppsEase of Use and Customer SupportWeebly vs BigCommerce: Final VerdictFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)IntroductionChoosing the right ecommerce platform can be a daunting task, especially with numerous options available in the market. Each platform offers unique functionalities and features tailored to different business needs. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for an easy setup or an established business seeking advanced tools for growth, the comparison of Weebly vs BigCommerce can be pivotal in making an informed decision.Both Weebly and BigCommerce are powerful in their own ways and cater to different market segments. Weebly, known for its user-friendly design, is an excellent choice for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. On the other hand, BigCommerce serves larger enterprises aiming for scalability with its robust ecommerce capabilities. This blog post will dive deep into the comparison between Weebly and BigCommerce to help you determine which platform aligns best with your business goals.Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and FeesOne of the most significant differences between Weebly and BigCommerce is their pricing structures. Weebly offers a “free forever” plan that includes access to a shopping cart and unlimited item listings. The paid plans for Weebly range from around $10 to $26 per month. With the personal plan, you get custom domain support and unlimited storage, while the performance plan includes advanced ecommerce insights and abandoned cart emails.BigCommerce, however, does not offer a free tier but does provide a 15-day trial. The paid plans start from $39 per month for the Standard plan and can go up to $399 per month for the Pro plan. Payment options for the enterprise-level plan are customized based on specific requirements. Notably, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, making it an attractive option for businesses with higher sales volumes, though each plan has a sales cap, such as $50k annually on the Standard plan.While Weebly is a more cost-effective solution for small businesses, BigCommerce offers greater scalability and value for larger businesses that need advanced ecommerce functionalities.Website Building and DesignBoth Weebly and BigCommerce provide a range of templates and design options, but their approach and usability differ significantly.Weebly: Simplicity and Ease of UseWeebly shines with its intuitive drag-and-drop website editor, allowing even those without coding knowledge to design attractive websites. It offers hundreds of responsive themes catering to various industries, from blogs to online portfolios. Customization is straightforward, making it ideal for small businesses and individuals looking to set up an online store quickly and efficiently.BigCommerce: Advanced Design CapabilitiesBigCommerce also offers a variety of templates, with a focus on ecommerce-specific designs. Although the platform has a steeper learning curve compared to Weebly, it provides greater freedom for customization. Advanced users can modify CSS and HTML directly, create global widgets, and tailor product category sections to their needs. This flexibility makes BigCommerce a preferable choice for businesses that require extensive customization and a professional look tailored to ecommerce.Ecommerce and Selling FeaturesWhen it comes to ecommerce functionality, both platforms offer robust tools, but their depth and sophistication vary.Weebly: Robust BasicsWeebly provides solid ecommerce capabilities at an affordable price. The platform supports unlimited product listings, inventory management, automatic tax calculations, and various delivery options including in-store pickup. However, certain advanced features like abandoned cart emails and the ability to sell both physical and digital goods require subscribing to higher-tier plans. Moreover, to accept PayPal payments, you need to upgrade to the performance plan.BigCommerce: Advanced Ecommerce ToolsBigCommerce stands out with its comprehensive suite of ecommerce tools. It integrates with PayPal for discounted transaction rates and supports various other payment gateways. The platform offers powerful inventory management, real-time shipping quotes, product ratings, and multi-currency selling capabilities across all plans. Additional features like detailed product variants, unique shipping rules, and marketplace integrations (social media and POS solutions) provide a strong foundation for businesses looking for extensive ecommerce functionalities.Marketing Tools and AnalyticsMarketing is crucial for ecommerce success, and both Weebly and BigCommerce offer various tools to help businesses promote and track their products.Weebly: Focused on Content MarketingWeebly provides excellent blogging features, pop-up notifications, customizable Instagram feeds, and lead capture forms which are great for content marketing. However, from an SEO perspective, it’s somewhat limited. Both Weebly and BigCommerce facilitate product promotions through vouchers, gift cards, and abandoned cart emails, although for complex email marketing campaigns, integrations with external tools are recommended.BigCommerce: Comprehensive Analytics and SEOBigCommerce allows deeper customization for SEO, improving your website’s rank in search engines. It offers in-depth reporting and analytics, enabling businesses to create customized dashboards, track inventory and sales, and monitor customer preferences. These comprehensive tools give BigCommerce an edge for businesses aiming for data-driven decision-making.AI CapabilitiesWeebly: Limited But IntegrativeWeebly lacks native AI features but supports third-party AI tool integration through its marketplace.BigCommerce: Leading in AIBigCommerce, on the other hand, is making significant strides with its “BigAI” toolkit. This toolkit includes AI content generation, predictive analytics, personalized product recommendations, and AI-powered search functionalities, enhancing the customer shopping experience.Integrations and AppsBoth platforms offer app integrations, but BigCommerce provides a wider selection.Weebly: Streamlined App CenterWeebly’s App Center offers about 100 apps focused on essential functionalities like marketing, inventory management, and couriers.BigCommerce: Extensive and SpecializedBigCommerce’s app store houses over 850 applications, categorized into collections like “Shipping Essentials”, making it easier to find what you need. Additionally, BigCommerce’s open API allows for seamless workflow automation across business operations.Ease of Use and Customer SupportWeebly: User-Friendly ExperienceWeebly’s design is user-centric, making it incredibly easy for beginners to use. Its drag-and-drop editor simplifies website creation and management, which can be a significant advantage for small businesses.BigCommerce: Expertise in SupportWhile it has a steeper learning curve, BigCommerce excels in customer support. It offers comprehensive resources, including tutorials, guides, an online community, and video instructions. Moreover, BigCommerce’s 24/7 support is more robust, providing chat, email, and phone support across all plans, while Weebly offers limited support on its free and personal tiers.Weebly vs BigCommerce: Final VerdictDeciding between Weebly and BigCommerce depends on your business model and growth aspirations. Weebly is ideal for smaller stores that prioritize ease-of-use and cost efficiency. Conversely, BigCommerce is the better choice for businesses seeking advanced ecommerce capabilities, scalability, and superior support. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)What is the main difference between Weebly and BigCommerce?Weebly is user-friendly and budget-friendly, ideal for small businesses with basic needs. BigCommerce offers advanced features and scalability, suitable for larger businesses.Does Weebly offer a free plan?Yes, Weebly offers a “free forever” plan with basic ecommerce features, while BigCommerce only offers a 15-day free trial.Which platform is better for SEO?BigCommerce provides more extensive SEO tools and customization options compared to Weebly.Can I integrate AI tools with Weebly and BigCommerce?Weebly allows integration of third-party AI tools through its marketplace, while BigCommerce has built-in AI capabilities through its “BigAI” toolkit.Which platform offers better customer support?BigCommerce offers more comprehensive 24/7 support, including phone support on all plans, whereas Weebly offers restricted support on its lower-tier plans.By understanding your business needs and priorities, you can make the most informed choice between Weebly and BigCommerce, ensuring that your ecommerce platform grows alongside your business.