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Wix vs Weebly

You’ve got a new website to build. Several website builders clamor for your business. Two popular options happen to be Wix and Weebly.

Both have an extensive network of users. More than 40 million people use Weebly, while another 100 million people use Wix. Paid customers on premium plans for Wix have grown by 38% since 2012. Since Weebly is privately owned, they are not required to release their paid or premium statistics.

Here are some of the key points of comparison to determine which side of the Wix vs Weebly debate is right for your needs.

1. Template Designs

Wix offers users templates that are modern and responsive. Each design is built for immediate installation so that drag-and-drop features can allow you to build a website within minutes. Even their basic template designs create a professional look for your site. Just pick a design that works for you and you’re ready to go.

Weebly has been traditionally weak in terms of providing good templates. They are updating their designs to be responsive and modern, but some templates look like they’re straight out of 2005. Although their template designs may not be as favorable, there is one advantage that Weebly does have here: you can change your template and edit the HTML and CSS.

Once you choose a template on Wix, you’re stuck with it and cannot edit its look whatsoever. To change your look, you must start over.

2. Ease of Use

Wix offers users a drag-and-drop design that allows you to place any elements into any location within the site. This allows users to have complete freedom with their design, but it also creates a risk that there will not be structural consistency with the final product.

Weebly offers a drag-and-drop design, but one that isn’t as “open world” as Wix. You’re restricted to adding content to designated areas of the template. Inserting elements into the header on Weebly is in development, but Wix already offers it.

3. Customization

Outside of the drag-and-drop builder design, both Wix and Weebly provide users with options to customize the final look of the site. You get to be in control of the final basic elements, like the text font, titles, paragraph structures, sizing, and similar displays.

With Wix, you have several advanced controls over each element. Although the styling options are great, you don’t have the option to change them. You just change how they look. Updates to the customization options which are available occur on a monthly basis. You’re provided with unlimited pages, even on the free plans.

Weebly offers fewer stylization options for customization, but you’re not stuck with a design you don’t like either. The updates are fewer on this platform as well, often occurring just 1-3 times per year. Free plans are restricted to 5 pages. To receive unlimited pages, you must go with either their Business tier or the Pro tier.

4. Customer Support

Wix offers a support tool that can be accessed at every point during the building process. Just look for the green circle with a question mark on the page and click on it. You’ll be taken to their Help Center to receive specific instructions or a video that will take you through the issue you’re experiencing.

Wix also offers phone support for everyone, including those who are on their free plans. VIP customers have access to a dedicated support line.

Weebly offers a similar Help Center, but without the user-friendly access. A couple of extra steps are required. You’ll need to go into their support center, use the search box, and type in the term you’re needing some help with during your website build.

Weebly offers phone supports as well, but only to customers on their Business, Pro, or Performance plans.

5. Site Exportation

Wix does not allow you to export your website. There is no option for migration.

Weebly allows you to export your website or import it to a different host. If you decide to leave this builder, you can take your website with you. It’s a nice backup plan to have.

6. Pricing

Wix offers a plan that is always free. If you wish to have more bandwidth and storage, or you wish to connect your domain (or receive a free domain), then there are 5 paid plans that are available with this website builder.

  • Connect. This plan is $5 per month and it does not remove Wix branded advertising from your site.
  • Combo. This plan is $10 per month and intended for personal use.
  • Unlimited. This is the first plan that offers unlimited bandwidth and it is $14 per month.
  • E Commerce. This plan is $17 per month, features 20 GB of bandwidth, 20 GB of storage, and is the first plan available that offers an online store option.
  • VIP. For $25 per month, you receive the best that Wix can offer.

Hosting, unlimited pages, and hundreds of templates are included with each of these tiers.

Weebly offers a free plan for basic use as well. The free plan includes 500 MB of storage and gives you access to the drag-and-drop builder. There are 4 premium tiers that can be utilized as well.

  • Starter. For $8 per month, you can remove Weebly ads and have unlimited storage for your site. Analytics are collected for you as well.
  • Pro. For $12 per month, you add site searching, password protection, video backgrounds, and HD audio and video.
  • Business. For $25 per month, you receive all the perks of the previous plans and gain the option for membership registration.
  • Performance. For $38 per month, you receive free email marketing, real-time shipping rates, abandoned cart emails,

Weebly allows you to sell products on the starter plan. Up to 10 products are allowed and checkout occurs on their site. A 3% transaction fee is charged. Unlimited products and a zero-transaction fee occurs on the business plan.

7. Free Site Setup

Wix puts two advertisements onto your site, even when using the entry-level paid plan. The first advertisement stays on the right-hand corner of the site, even when a visitor scrolls through your content. The second advertisement is a footer bar that is present at all times as well.

Weebly takes an approach that is a little subtler. They offer a single advertisement that is larger, but placed on the footer of the site. That makes it more inviting to take advantage of the free service. If you do upgrade to a paid plan, you’re guaranteed to have the advertising removed.

In the Wix vs Weebly debate, there is no “right” or “wrong” from a general standpoint. There is only what is correct option for your needs. Use these comparison points to look at both builders and you’ll be able to make the right decision.

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