Shopify Vs Weebly: Honest Review & Comparison

April 20, 2020
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Are you ready to learn about Shopify vs Weebly?

The most important investment any entrepreneur can make to build a fantastic store is the right tools.

In today’s digital space, making a name for oneself matters more in a crowded marketplace than just producing the correct goods or services; you want a store that grabs the audience’s attention and drives sales.

Today, aspiring entrepreneurs have everything going for them, with a wide array of options, including BigCommerce and WordPress.

This post will show two renowned eCommerce platforms, Shopify & WordPress.

Shopify and Weebly are designed to simplify building an online store from scratch.

These platforms are user-friendly for beginners, who can overcome a lack of coding knowledge by simply dragging and dropping an ideal website into existence.

With that out of the way, it’s vital to note that Shopify and Weebly differ significantly.

You can also check out Shopify vs WooCommerce: Who’s The Best?

An Overview: Shopify and Weebly

An Overview:

Shopify and Weebly are good choices if you’re looking for a user-friendly website builder for an online store.

Over the years, Weebly has earned a reputation as an affordable, user-friendly, and feature-rich eCommerce platform. Furthermore, Weebly’s pricing policy suggests it’s accessible to even smaller businesses.

Shopify is a comprehensive, scalable eCommerce platform for growing businesses, offering advanced sales, marketing, and SEO tools, albeit at a higher cost.

In contrast, Weebly is a simpler, more affordable website builder, suited for beginners and small businesses with basic online selling needs.

Shopify is the better choice for companies planning to scale with robust functionality. In contrast, Weebly excels for those who prioritize ease of use and a low initial cost for a small online presence.

Weebly offers everything from product filter searching and SEO support to free site design templates and a free plan.

Compared with Shopify, Weebly prioritizes user-friendliness.

On the other hand, Shopify is best known as the ultimate online website builder. It helps businesses stand out with solutions ranging from dropshipping and social media integration to certificates and free SSL certificates.

Compared with tools like Wix and Weebly, Shopify is among the most prominent eCommerce platforms.

It features numerous fantastic add-ons and customization tools to elevate your store to the next level.

Shopify offers dozens of payment methods, supports multiple languages, and provides access to email lists for marketing.

Ultimately, the decision between Shopify and Weebly comes down to what you want from your eCommerce store.

Both tools offer checkout tools, payment options, and shopping carts.

However, both differ significantly in terms of ease of use and customer support.

At the end of this comparison between Shopify and Weebly, you should be empowered to choose a winning tool for your e-commerce store after thoroughly scrutinizing everything from payment gateways to transaction fees.

Let’s roll.

Shopify vs. Weebly: Merits and Demerits

Sometimes, the easiest way to compare Shopify to Weebly is to draft a list of its strengths and weaknesses.

For this article, the following are the pros and cons of switching from Shopify to Weebly, based on reviews.

Shopify Merits

Countless themes: Shopify has no competition for customization, offering a vast array of articles, both free and paid.
Incredible eCommerce: Modern store owners have everything from Shopify to creating a valuable store.
Extensibility: Shopify offers numerous app extensions alongside various built-in tools.
Support: Shopify is always available to lend a helping hand via live chat, phone, and email whenever you need it.
Excellent community: The online forum has plenty of information on using Shopify to its full potential.

Shopify Demerits

Transaction fees: In the head-to-head between Shopify and Weebly, you’d incur charges with Shopify, while Weebly doesn’t charge transaction fees. However, with Shopify Payments, you can opt out of transaction fees.
Expenses: Overall, Shopify is more expensive to use than Weebly.

Shopify is a reliable online sales platform that helps individuals build eCommerce stores from scratch.

It encompasses all the concerns of running a business, including numerous add-ons and extensions.

On the other hand, a comparison of Shopify vs Weebly reveals that feature-set-wise, Weebly gets more limited, easy to set up, and a little less advanced.’

Weebly Merits

Great for newbies: You’ve never built a store before? It’s no-fuss. Weebly provides all the tools you need to get started in minutes.
Excellent pricing: You can get started with Weebly at a reduced cost.
Various templates: Though fewer than Shopify’s, Weebly’s themes and templates are modern and easy to use.

Weebly Demerits

Weebly has a limited number of advanced eCommerce tools. In the battle for advanced tools, Shopify needs to catch up.
Little customization: With Weebly’s editor, changing your online store can be a real pain.

Pricing

When shopping for the right tools, it’s nice to have the option that concentrates exclusively on the features of an eCommerce builder.

Because everything from HTML customization to the number of products to hosting access, a widget can tilt the scale of a company’s success.

However, like it or not, pricing is a critical factor in your decision.

Weebly Pricing

Weebly offers four different pricing options. Each paid plan includes a range of tools for selling items online. You can also sell an unlimited number of products and digital elements.

Upon upgrading to a higher-tier plan, you can create coupons for your eCommerce store.

The alternatives include a “free” basic-use solution; however, you only access it if you intend to launch a website and add store functionality later.

If that doesn’t cut it for you, you can try:

Pro: $9/ 9/month
Business: $18/month
Business Plus: $28/month

Undoubtedly, it’s pretty cheap to run an online store with Weebly.

What’s remarkable is that choosing an online store package gets you a free domain name, worth about $20, and $100 in Google Ads credit to kick off your marketing.

Selecting the Business Plus package provides access to email marketing, a valuable extra feature for those who want to track their leads.

Shopify Pricing

If you go for Shopify for your eCommerce platform, you’ll have three Shopify pricing options, and they include:

Basic Shopify: $29/month
Shopify: $79/month
Advanced Shopify: $299/month

Obviously, each Shopify package listed here involves a significant expense. However, the beauty lies in the fact that all the perks incorporate comprehensive functionalities to explore.

For instance, Shopify or Advanced Shopify offers gift cards as a sales strategy. You can’t tinker with the app center and tweak CSS when building the website.

Both Weebly and Shopify offer numerous benefits related to reliable web hosting. Although Shopify costs more, you’ll get more functionalities.

Weebly is indeed more affordable, but it offers fewer tools. The right option for you in this Shopify vs. Weebly debate depends on whether you want to look elsewhere for add-on functionality with Weebly or get everything in one place with Shopify.

Before it escapes my mind, Shopify offers a 90-day free trial to try out the software before you invest real money.

Sales Features: Shopify vs Weebly

As mentioned above, running a successful eCommerce takes more than just finding the cheapest eCommerce platform.

You want to ensure your eCommerce site has everything needed to succeed in your business plan, from a fantastic checkout experience to Google Analytics.

You ought to have an easy time setting everything up. That’s the beauty of Shopify and Weebly: their ease of use.

When compared, Weebly is the easiest to use, and it’s probably your go-to.

Weebly Features

With Weebly, you’ll find everything you need in one place to enhance and maintain your store.

Since Square acquired Weebly in 2018, its tools have undergone significant improvements. Weebly now offers fantastic niche-specific features, including inventory tracking and integrated shopping carts.

With Weebly, you can build your mobile website and gain access to flexible shipping options, a filtered product search, support for both physical and digital goods, coupon codes, inventory management tools, and more.

The built-in functionality tool enables website owners to ship products domestically and internationally, with real-time rates calculated dynamically based on the destination address, quantity, and weight.

Additionally, using features such as bulk import and export helps manage inventory and track the items you sell.

With a host of means to make website navigation more relaxed, Weebly’s most compelling features are. Visitors find what exactly they need with product badges and search. Further, other features include:
Customizable checkout pages with payments accepted via Square, Stripe, and PayPal.
Integrated Shopping carts and Automatic tax calculation
Featured customer reviews for social proof
Product search support and product badges
Gift card and coupon customization
End-to-end customer support
Inventory tracking
Real-time shipping tools

Weebly’s technology also includes robust email marketing, which is crucial for notifying customers about happenings on your website store, including special offers, updates, events, and news.

Thanks to the ever-evolving Weebly app store, you can add features like live chat and call-out boxes to your website.

Shopify Features

Shopify, conversely, has plenty to offer.

The Shopify e-commerce platform was designed to provide teams with everything they need to operate an e-commerce store hassle-free. With a robust storefront featuring over 70 professional themes, Shopify is a breeze to use.

With Shopify, you’ll browse through countless tools, from solutions that make customization and branding of an online store easy to HTML and CSS solutions.

Shopify orients your site toward mobile commerce, with built-in shopping carts; thus, people can browse your online store and make purchases on the go.

Also, you access your domain name or acquire (buy) one with Shopify and tap into the blogging platform, something you don’t get with Weebly.

Designing and running your online store is much simpler thanks to Shopify’s complete web-based website builder, which includes a drag-and-drop feature.

Shopify stands out from the crowd due to its numerous integration options and regular updates.

Consequently, you can enhance the functionality and performance of the online store.

There’s even an option to synchronize a Shopify account with Amazon, link it to Google Analytics, and explore other integrations.

Shopify’s newly introduced Augmented reality tool helps businesses stay ahead of the shopping process by letting customers view products from various angles.

Additional features include:

Tons of professional free and premium themes
Access to your domain name
Liaise with experts to build your website
Web-based site builder
Free SSL certificate for encryption
Automatic shipping carrier rates
Accept Mastercard, Visa, and a range of other credit cards
Flexible shipping rates
More than 100 payment gateways
Abandoned cart checkout recovery
Automated tax calculations
Dropshipping & fulfillment centers
Customer account and profile
Email marketing and templates
Google AdWords credits
SEO optimization
Gift-cards & discounts
Testimonials and product reviews
Inventory management
Social network integration
Unlimited products
Export/import

And the list goes on. Also, you’ll get access to everything from reports you can export to share with shareholders and team members to Google Analytics, dashboard analytics, and unlimited bandwidth for web hosting.

Overall, Weebly might become much more impressive with its sales features.

However, it can’t compete with Shopify’s extensive feature set.

Both Weebly and Shopify provide POS solutions for offline stores.

Whereas Weebly’s offline solutions are available via Square, you can buy Shopify’s POS hardware from the Shopify website.

Customization And Ease of Use: Shopify vs. Weebly

People must enjoy using a product for it to be considered successful in the digital space.

The remarkable thing is that most people have little to no issue with Weebly or Shopify.

However, as mentioned in this comparison, Weebly has devoted itself to providing a tremendously clear-cut experience.

Weebly Customization and Design

If you’re a newbie with zero coding knowledge, Weebly’s drag-and-drop functionality is for you.

Weebly lets you customize your entire web store and freely place elements wherever you choose.

There are numerous options for customizing color and typography, allowing you to ensure your website is unique.

Weebly is awash with professional-looking themes and expertly crafted designs tailored to your specific niche. Moreover, Weebly has a consistent and clear-cut interface; thus, starting from scratch is manageable.

Granted, Weebly isn’t flawless; you’ll find some hitches with customization and ease of use.

Although we have more themes available today than previously, you’ll still have fewer choices than you would from a competitor like Shopify.

Furthermore, with basic themes come issues ranging from limited shopper intuition and difficulty tracking down shipping info to locating the shopping cart in Weebly themes.

Despite the relative ease of use of Weebly’s website builder tools, the agencies lack keyboard shortcuts and the “undo” button (which would allow users to jump back through content), elements that could make life a little easier.

Shopify Customization and Design

For convenience, Shopify is akin to Weebly. On this platform, you won’t get a drag-and-drop builder functionality.

However, you’ll get clear-cut instructions throughout. You should have little to no trouble building your website.

Even without the drag-and-drop feature, people love the Shopify experience. You’ll have it easy to set up and customize your store.

Additionally, Shopify offers several keyboard shortcuts and undo buttons that help navigate backward through design changes.

Rest assured, your website will look different from the countless competitors online, thanks to Shopify’s dozens of great themes. Please note that some options are pretty expensive.

However, if you do opt for a premium service, it’s usually more cost-effective than hiring a professional to design your website.

Shopify isn’t so much a dedicated website builder; it’s more of an eCommerce tool, so it offers superior design options compared to Weebly.

You’ll have access to modern Shopify themes to explore, along with a host of clearly laid-out action buttons and industry-defined features.

eCommerce Support

We’ve examined the basic features of Weebly and Shopify, scrutinizing how each tool streamlines launching an online store.

In this section, we’ll address the eCommerce functionality you can expect.

Weebly eCommerce Features

Prima facie, Weebly is an upfront platform that helps sole entrepreneurs and small businesses get their websites up and running as soon as possible.

Though nowhere as comprehensive as Shopify’s selling features, Weebly still punches above its weight for its worth.

Integrated shopping carts capture your customers from the moment they view the product of choice through purchase completion.

Weebly provides access to vital tools that make sales easier, including coupon management and inventory tracking. Sadly, there is no functionality for abandoned cart recovery.

Weebly’s central selling point is that you can migrate a store you’ve already built on its platform by uploading CSV files. However, in terms of functionality, Weebly lags behind Shopify.

Much as Weebly integrates with Google Analytics, its reporting is as advanced as what you get with Shopify.

Overall, there are significant limits to what you can do with Weebly. It suits small businesses, not brands, during periods of growth.

Shopify eCommerce Features

Conversely, Shopify consistently stands out as the most feature-rich eCommerce platform, equipped with tools to help you sell items daily.

Shopify caters to both large and small businesses, offering numerous solutions that enhance functionality, including automated tax calculation and abandoned cart recovery.

With Shopify, you can accept payments from over 70 different payment methods, including PayPal and credit cards.

You can also receive money in foreign currencies, which is more than you would from Weebly.

Shopify pales Weebly in analytics.

To sell to your customers, you’ve got to have a grasp of them. Through your reporting, Shopify provides details that you won’t find with tools like Weebly. This way, you get what it takes for bigger stores to thrive and grow.

Shopify lets you sell on social networks like Facebook and Pinterest and integrates with your Instagram store. Moreover, you can invest in dropshipping with Shopify.

Other tools allow you to create multiple staff accounts, set up your blog, send discount codes, and generate more traffic.

The only drawback of Shopify, which arises from selling features that portend risks, is that you might need more time to become overwhelmed by the number of tools available.

Shopify vs. Weebly

With excellent customer support, you can keep your business running smoothly. Regardless of how easy the platform may be, you may occasionally need extra assistance.

Compared to Shopify, Weebly offers limited customer support. Speaking to an assistant on the phone requires a higher-tier Weebly account. Additionally, obtaining responses to your questions involves effort.

Although Weebly isn’t as terrible, it’s not as comprehensive as you’d expect from most major providers.

Weebly may have limited customer support because it’s easy enough to use with little hindrance.

But either way, it’s a significant drawback.

Shopify’s customer support, on the other hand, offers an entirely different experience.

This platform offers live chat, email support, over-the-phone assistance, and access to Twitter. Assistance is available for all the plans, including Basic Shopify.

Having high-tier customer support is crucial, especially when starting with online vending products.

However, having plenty of customer support is helpful regardless of your business’s stage of growth.

Apps:

Apps and integrations are another area in which Shopify excels over Weebly.

Though Shopify is ahead of the competition in this area, Weebly offers a lot for a competitor of its size.

Weebly’s app center is more intuitive and immersive than Shopify’s, making it much faster to find the desired service.

You can expand your website by tapping a button. And because all the apps are integrated, you’ll not need coding knowledge to embed them on your site.

Some Weebly apps are premium, meaning you pay for them, but you’ll often find trial periods to get started.

Despite Weebly’s enhancements in the app world, Shopify’s app store remains a standout among the best in the business.

Thousands of apps, encompassing everything from accounting and tax management to social media integration, are available to expand your store’s functionality.

Shopify’s apps do not allow you to add new features to your store. You also receive assistance with automation, such as sending follow-up emails to clients who abandon their carts.

Shopify offers both paid and free apps, and this post recommends researching to ensure you invest in the tools that best suit your needs.

FQA

You may have some remaining questions about Weebly and Shopify. Don’t worry; this segment on FQA will help clarify that all-important choice.

Is Weebly better than Shopify?

Whereas Weebly isn’t as powerful as Shopify as an eCommerce platform, it’s much more newbie-friendly. Ultimately, the type of experience you seek determines whether to choose Shopify or Weebly.

Weebly emphasizes simplicity, whereas Shopify focuses more on being a robust eCommerce platform.

How Do They Compare?

In contrast to Shopify and Weebly, Squarespace is more of an eCommerce builder, specifically designed to support individuals in the creative industry. Squarespace works well if you’re looking for an attractive, design-focused website.

However, Weebly and Shopify have a superior selection of apps and eCommerce tools. Moreover, Squarespace provides zero free plans.

How Do They Compare?

Wix, Weebly & Shopify build websites and eCommerce tools designed to help newbies launch effective eCommerce stores.

Wix has a broader range of templates and designs than Weebly; however, it falls short of Shopify.

Weebly is well-suited for smaller sites, whereas Shopify and Wix are better suited for larger businesses.

Do Professionals Use Weebly?

Weebly is ideal for beginners who’ve never built a website and a terrific pick for professionals.

It comes with numerous additional features, including image galleries, eCommerce, and blogs, and allows you to use your own domain name.

However, in the battle between Shopify and Weebly, Weebly lags behind Shopify as a better choice for professionals.

Does Weebly Own Your Content?

The content you publish on Weebly does not maintain its ownership. But upon signing up with Weebly, you grant the company permission to host content you need online.

Weebly also performs the essential tasks required to host your content on the service, such as making copies, reformatting, and distributing it.

Which Is the Better Option?

With terrific third-party apps and built-in tools to explore, beating Shopify becomes inconceivable when it comes to finding a solution to grow your store.

From the vast array of Shopify themes to the extensive customization options for your website, Shopify makes it a breeze to design a store tailored to your needs.

You can also go the extra mile with your store by crafting a custom domain name that offers value for money on your products.

Shopify won’t force you to opt for a pro plan to access customer support and guidance; instead, you can get the help you need regardless of your subscription plan.

However, the pricing plans aren’t as affordable as Weebly’s. You get fair value for the functionality you receive.

Shopify is an eCommerce website builder for companies that envision exponential growth and evolution. But Weebly could be an alternative for small businesses.

If you’re a one-person band or business, Weebly should meet your functional needs without breaking your budget.

Additionally, given Weebly’s ease of use, it is recommended that you seek professional assistance.

Overall, Shopify might be a heavyweight in the eCommerce ring; Weebly also packs a punch with its pricing plans, making it a good fit for smaller businesses that do not want to break their budgets when starting a store.

Shopify vs. Weebly: Which One Is Right for You? Let us know in the comments.

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Shopify Vs Weebly: Honest Review & Comparison