Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing, Features, Pros, and Cons

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Quick Verdict
  3. Weebly: Pros and Cons
  4. BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
  5. Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees
  6. Core Features Comparison
  7. Conclusion
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is a pivotal decision for any business, as it can significantly influence your growth and customer satisfaction. When it comes to Weebly and BigCommerce, both have their unique strengths that cater to different types of users. Whether you are a small business owner seeking a user-friendly platform or a larger enterprise aiming to scale up, understanding the nuances of these options is essential.

If this topic has piqued your interest, you're in the right place. This blog post aims to provide an exhaustive comparison between Weebly and BigCommerce, offering insights into their pricing, features, and overall effectiveness. By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of which platform suits your business needs best.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Quick Verdict

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick summary:

  • Weebly is best for smaller businesses or solo entrepreneurs who need an affordable and user-friendly website builder with decent ecommerce capabilities.
  • BigCommerce is more suitable for larger companies looking for advanced inventory management tools, robust AI features, and powerful omnichannel selling options.

Weebly: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Affordable pricing with a free plan option.
  • User-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
  • Excellent blogging features.
  • Flexible design and template options.

Cons

  • Limited scalability.
  • Lacks advanced ecommerce features.
  • Basic SEO capabilities compared to competitors.
  • Restricted payment options unless on higher-tier plans.

BigCommerce: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Advanced ecommerce functionalities.
  • No transaction fees on any plans.
  • Extensive integration options.
  • Strong SEO and marketing tools.
  • Powerful AI capabilities.

Cons

  • Higher starting cost.
  • Steeper learning curve.
  • Sales limits on lower-tier plans.
  • Customization requires more technical knowledge.

Weebly vs BigCommerce: Pricing and Fees

Pricing is one of the most significant differentiators between Weebly and BigCommerce.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers a range of pricing plans:

  • Free Plan with a shopping basket and unlimited items.
  • Personal Plan at $10 per month, including support for a custom domain and unlimited storage.
  • Professional Plan at $12 per month, adding features like site search and password protection.
  • Performance Plan at $26 per month, including abandoned cart emails and advanced ecommerce analytics.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce doesn’t offer a free plan but provides a 15-day trial. Paid plans include:

  • Standard Plan at $39 per month, suitable for beginners.
  • Plus Plan at $79 per month, offering customer segmentation and abandoned cart recovery.
  • Pro Plan at $399 per month, ideal for higher-volume businesses with advanced features.
  • Customized Enterprise Plans for large-scale businesses with specific needs.

Summary

While Weebly provides a budget-friendly entry point, BigCommerce offers more advanced features that justify its higher cost, making it better suited for growing businesses.

Core Features Comparison

Website Building and Design

Weebly

Weebly is renowned for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it accessible for users without coding skills. It offers a variety of templates suitable for various types of websites, not just ecommerce stores.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce excels in ecommerce-oriented themes. Although its editor is less intuitive than Weebly's, it offers extensive customization options, including access to HTML and CSS for a more refined design.

Ecommerce and Selling Features

Weebly

Weebly’s ecommerce capabilities are fairly robust for its price point. Most plans include:

  • Support for unlimited products.
  • Inventory management tools.
  • Automatic tax calculation.
  • In-store pickup options.

However, premium features like abandoned cart emails and the ability to accept PayPal payments are restricted to higher-tier plans.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive suite of ecommerce tools:

  • Discounted transaction rates through a PayPal partnership.
  • Extensive payment system integrations.
  • Advanced inventory management.
  • Omnichannel selling through marketplaces and social media.
  • Real-time shipping quotes.
  • Multi-currency selling options.

These features make BigCommerce a strong contender for businesses aiming to scale their operations.

Marketing Tools and Analytics

Weebly

Weebly offers solid blogging functionalities and some basic marketing tools like pop-ups and lead capture forms. Its SEO capabilities are somewhat limited, but it provides essential features for basic optimization.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce stands out in this department with robust SEO features, comprehensive analytics, and advanced marketing tools. You can:

  • Edit SEO settings extensively.
  • Track detailed metrics like customer preferences.
  • Utilize AI for personalized recommendations and predictive analytics.

AI Capabilities

Weebly

Weebly does not offer built-in AI features but allows for third-party AI tool integrations through its marketplace.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is ahead in AI utilization. Its BigAI toolkit includes:

  • AI content generation.
  • Predictive analytics.
  • Personalized product recommendations.

The platform is continually expanding its AI capabilities, making it a forward-thinking choice.

Integrations and Apps

Weebly

Weebly’s App Center includes around 100 integrations for various functionalities, from marketing to social media management.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers more than 850 apps, making it a more versatile platform. The apps are well-organized into collections, such as “Shipping Essentials,” facilitating easy navigation and selection.

Ease of Use and Customer Support

Weebly

Weebly’s simplicity and user-friendly interface make it a go-to choice for beginners. Its customer support, while comprehensive, is more limited on free and lower-tier plans.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers more extensive customer support, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone support on all plans. The platform also boasts a rich repository of educational resources and a supportive online community.

Conclusion

Selecting between Weebly and BigCommerce fundamentally depends on your business’s size and growth objectives.

  • Choose Weebly if you're a small business or entrepreneur in need of a budget-friendly, easy-to-use platform with decent ecommerce features.
  • Opt for BigCommerce if your business is large or rapidly growing, requiring advanced ecommerce capabilities, extensive integrations, and robust AI tools.

Both platforms offer distinct advantages, and your choice should align with your specific needs and future scalability plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BigCommerce suitable for small businesses?

While BigCommerce offers advanced features that are ideal for larger businesses and those looking to scale, small businesses can also benefit from its robust tools, though they may find Weebly more budget-friendly and user-friendly.

Can I switch from Weebly to BigCommerce if my business grows?

Yes, migrating from Weebly to BigCommerce is possible and may be necessary as your business scale and requires more advanced ecommerce features and integrations.

Which platform offers better customer support?

BigCommerce offers more comprehensive customer support, including 24/7 chat, email, and phone assistance across all plans, while Weebly’s support is somewhat limited, especially on lower-tier plans.

How do the AI capabilities differ between Weebly and BigCommerce?

BigCommerce offers a wider array of AI features, including predictive analytics and personalized product recommendations through its BigAI toolkit. Weebly lacks native AI features but supports third-party AI tool integrations.

By evaluating your needs against these features and considerations, you can make a well-informed decision about whether Weebly or BigCommerce is the better platform for your ecommerce business.

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