Wix or WordPress: What to Build Your Website With
September 2, 2023
Wix Prices: Worth it or Not for Your Own Website?
September 6, 2023So you have a great idea for an online shop, and now the next step is to build the website around it. However, as you start to look into it, you are faced with a dilemma. Which should you choose between Weebly vs.WordPress?
Both platforms have quite a long history. Weebly is easy to use, and you don't need to know how to code. The idea behind it is that you can use its drag and drop editor to create everything. It is also known for having an excellent support team.
In terms of customization, it is quite limited, and you will not be able to tweak it to the same extent as WordPress. It is free to create a website on Weebly; however, if you go for the paid version, you get more features. For example, you get access to eCommerce and useful marketing tools.
Even so, when we compare the paid version of Weebly vs. WordPress in terms of features, WordPress has a lot more going for it because it is so easily extended with thousands of different plugins.
WordPress is one of the most-used platforms for hosting websites, and it’s certainly not limited to blogs only. In fact, WordPress is behind more than 34% of all the websites on the Internet. Because it is an open source platform, you will have complete control over the design of your website.
Indeed, it has a more demanding learning curve as you need to know how to code if you have any uncommon or highly specific requirements. An option could also be to hire a developer to do it for you. WordPress is free, but you need to buy a good WordPress theme to look good. Our recommendation is Be Theme.
Weebly vs.WordPress: Configuration
Weebly
Even though you can edit the HTML & CSS on any Weebly website plan (free or paid), this is not an opensource website builder. So you will not be able to control any of the underlying technologies that are used to power the website itself.
As such, when you want to add tools that are non-Weebly to your site, you might be out of luck. This is because the server configuration and core functions have been locked from public access.
On the positive side, Weebly employs skilled engineers and developers to ensure that almost everything you might need for an online shop is already configured and available to use.
WordPress
With WordPress, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to how your site is configured and what kinds of tools and technologies you can extend it with. This is because you will have administrative control of the server that your website is hosted on.
In addition, you have complete control over the code behind your site (including themes and plugins). WordPress themes and plugins are highly configurable and can be tweaked to suit any need by editing the HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP.
When designing your site, you will discover many templates (known as themes) which you can use to start with and further refine. You can also get free themes, so that is already an advantage. And prices for the paid themes are around $30 or $60.
So as we can already see, Weebly vs. WordPress in terms of configuration presents some striking differences.
Weebly vs WordPress: Ease of use
Weebly
If we talk about the ease of use, Weebly is a lot easier for many users. This is because you simply need to create an account, and after that, choose the theme and features you want to use. Edits are done with a drag and drop system, so things move quite fast.
WordPress
WordPress vs. Weebly is a fascinating topic when it comes to user-friendliness. WordPress can be more challenging to use but that doesn’t mean it’s actually difficult. In fact, WordPress does a great job of keeping things simple while also providing fine-grained control.
Although it doesn't have any unified drag and drop system to build the site, most respectable themes come with dozens of theme options that let you fully customize your site without ever touching any code.
Weebly vs. WordPress: Pricing
If you are not sure which to choose between Weebly vs. WordPress, let's also have a look at their pricing model.
For online stores, Weebly has different plans that range from $12 to $38 per month, paid annually. These plans are:
- Pro Plan at $12per month
- BusinessPlan at $25per month>/li?
- Business Plus Plan at $38per month
On all three plans, you will get a free domain, shopping cart functionality, and the ability to accept payments through Square or another third-party payment processor.
In WordPress, things might be a bit more complicated. WordPress comes for free, but you still have to pay for stuff. First of all, you need to get your hosting, which usually starts around $5 per month but can be a fair bit higher if you opt for managed WordPress hosting.
If you choose a premium theme you can expect to spend about $35 to $60. Plugins can also cost anything from free to somewhat expensive, depending on what you want. If you don't know how to code, there is also the budget for the developer.
When it comes to payments that you can use on your website, if you're installing WooCommerce, you have access to a lot of payment gateways, so a Square integration like that from Weebly can be done easy and you'd still get much more on the side.
Weebly vs. WordPress in terms of pricing is very different, and as you can see, both have advantages and disadvantages.
SEO
Regarding SEO, we don't have any concrete evidence that one is better than the other so it's a good idea to avail yourself of the expertise of a reliable SEO blog in order to understand the likely SEO benefits of each. Both are equally good at this aspect, at least out of the box. Naturally, you need to use the right keywords and create good meta tags, because if you don’t, you won’t see good results either way.
In Weebly, you will have access to basic SEO tasks like customizing page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs. Heading tags (H1 – H6) are unfortunately limited, however. If you want to edit them, you will need an extra app from the Weebly store.
There are around six or fifteen themes in any category. None of Weebly's themes will be that amazing without a little customizing on your part, but they do get the job done. You can change the theme whenever you want without having to completely redesign your site.
Even though you can customize the design of your Weebly website, you can't change certain functions. So this might be a downside, depending on your needs.
So Weebly vs. WordPress certainly works quite differently regarding design. WordPress offers all the freedom to customize your site; however, to reap the benefits of this freedom you need to know a thing or two about Web programming.
If you don't know how to code, plugins are usually beneficial. There are more than 50,000 available free plugins in WordPress. So you have many options to find something that helps you.
E-commerce
Even though Weebly was not created for being a top e-commerce solution, it can still help. It is an excellent choice for both small and medium online shops. It supports payments via Square and other third-party payment processors.
One big downside is that you can't let your customers log in for checkout, so they have to enter their payment details each time they purchase from you.
However, we should expect to see some changes as Square, an e-commerce company, bought Weebly recently.
WordPress needs to be extended with an e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce in order to be used as an online shop.
Once you’ve got an appropriate plugin set up, the sky is the limit and many features are available such as customer accounts and inventory management. Anything extra that you need can be created by a developer for hire and added to your online shop with ease.
There are also many e-commerce themes that you can choose. These themes support a significant number of industries so you’re bound to find one that suits your business.
Additionally, the modern trend of composable commerce has introduced a new way of approaching e-commerce development. Composable commerce allows businesses to build and adapt their e-commerce platforms by combining pre-built, modular components that can be easily integrated and customized according to specific needs.
Customer support
If we look at the support side of Weebly vs. WordPress, we can see that they both do quite a good job.
Weebly has full support for all of its customers. It does this by having a help center that can guide people together with 24/7 email support. So if you have any questions, they can help.
WordPress, on the other hand, doesn’t have any dedicated customer support department because it is free software. However, they do provide excellent documentation and a support forum where you can ask questions and receive answers from the community.
Volunteers moderate posts, so remember to be polite.Volunteers do what they can to help out new users. But there is never a guaranteed solution.
Weebly vs. WordPress: FAQs
Who should use Weebly?
This website builder is recommended for users that want to start their own website projects with the least fuss possible. A lot of small businesses use it because you don't have to invest much into it — it’s quick and easy to get started, and the cost is reasonable.
Who should use WordPress?
As it is open source, users who know the essentials of coding and want to build a unique site should consider WordPress. You can create all kinds of websites, but you will need to invest more time setting it up and maintaining it.
Can I switch between Weebly and WordPress?
The answer is yes; you can move the site from Weebly to WordPress. It's not a simple transfer, but it can be done. What you can't do is to do it the other way, meaning to move a WordPress site to Weebly.
Is WordPress or Weebly better overall?
It depends on the experience of the user and their technical background. If you do know how to code, then WordPress has more opportunities, whereas Weebly is better for newcomers.
FAQ on Weebly vs WordPress
Which is easier for beginners: Weebly or WordPress?
Oh man, I remember when I first dabbled in website building. So, Weebly is generally seen as more user-friendly for those just starting out. It's got a drag-and-drop interface that's pretty intuitive. WordPress, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve, but it offers more flexibility and customization. Think of it like this: Weebly is like riding a bike with training wheels, while WordPress is like a mountain bike ready for any terrain.
How's the pricing between Weebly and WordPress?
Alright, let's talk money. Weebly has both free and paid plans. The paid ones offer more features, obviously. WordPress is technically free, but you'll need to pay for hosting and might want some premium themes or plugins. So, while WordPress can start off cheaper, costs can add up depending on your needs. It's kinda like choosing between a buffet and à la carte dining.
Can I switch from Weebly to WordPress later on?
Absolutely! It's a bit like moving houses though. You can export your Weebly content and then import it into WordPress. There are even plugins and tools to help with the migration. But, just like moving, there might be some rearranging and tweaking needed to make everything feel "homey" again.
Which platform is better for SEO: Weebly or WordPress?
Ah, the age-old SEO debate. WordPress, with the right plugins (like Yoast SEO), offers more advanced SEO tools and flexibility. Weebly has built-in SEO tools, but they're a bit basic. If you're super serious about SEO, WordPress might be your jam. It's like comparing a Swiss Army knife to a regular pocket knife.
What about e-commerce? Weebly or WordPress?
E-commerce, huh? Weebly has its own integrated e-commerce platform, which is pretty neat for small to medium-sized shops. WordPress, with plugins like WooCommerce, can handle e-commerce too and offers more advanced features. It's a bit like choosing between a pop-up shop and a big retail store.
How customizable is Weebly compared to WordPress?
Customization? WordPress takes the cake. With thousands of themes and plugins, you can tweak it to your heart's content. Weebly offers customization too, but it's a bit limited compared to WordPress. Imagine WordPress as a blank canvas, while Weebly gives you a coloring book.
Is Weebly's hosting better than WordPress hosting?
Weebly's hosting is included in its package. It's simple and hassle-free. WordPress requires you to get your own hosting, but this means you can choose a host that fits your needs and budget. It's like the difference between renting a furnished apartment (Weebly) and buying a house and furnishing it yourself (WordPress).
Which has better customer support: Weebly or WordPress?
Weebly offers direct customer support since it's a paid service. WordPress, being open-source, relies on community forums and the support from your hosting provider. Both have their merits. It's kinda like asking if it's better to have a dedicated tutor or a study group.
Are there any major security differences between Weebly and WordPress?
Security-wise, Weebly manages security on its end, given its hosted nature. WordPress, being self-hosted, requires you to be more proactive with security, using plugins and regular updates. It's a bit like the difference between living in a gated community and a standalone house.
Which platform has more design options: Weebly or WordPress?
Design-wise, WordPress, hands down. With a vast array of themes, both free and premium, the sky's the limit. Weebly has design options too, but they're not as extensive. Think of WordPress as a massive wardrobe with endless outfits, while Weebly is a smaller, curated collection.
Ending thoughts on Weebly vs WordPress
In conclusion, choosing between Weebly vs. WordPress is largely a matter of personal skills and the intended usage of the site. Want to set up your specialty online shop in a flash? Then going with Weebly is a good idea. Otherwise, for more elaborate and custom sites, you should go with WordPress.
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