Square and Weebly are two popular e-commerce solutions that help businesses set up and manage their online stores. Square offers a range of e-commerce tools that integrate with its point-of-sale system, including online ordering and delivery management.
Weebly, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive e-commerce platform that includes features like inventory management and shipping integration.
Both Square and Weebly offer customizable templates and drag-and-drop builders to make it easy for businesses to create a professional-looking online store.
Square's e-commerce solution is geared towards businesses that already use its point-of-sale system, while Weebly's platform is more geared towards businesses that need a comprehensive e-commerce solution.
Pricing
Pricing can be a major factor when choosing between Square and Weebly.
Weebly's pricing plans start at $13 per month, which is the cost of the Essentials plan.
With this plan, you'll need to pay extra to connect a custom domain, which can be a hassle if you're trying to establish a professional online presence.
However, if you upgrade to the Professional plan for $16 per month or the Performance plan for $29 per month, you'll get a free custom domain with your Weebly subscription.
Overall, Weebly's pricing plans can be a bit confusing, but it's worth considering if you want a free custom domain with your subscription.
E-commerce Features
Weebly shines when it comes to e-commerce, offering a robust set of features that make it easy to sell online.
The Free package only allows in-store pickup, but upgrading to a Personal or Professional package opens up the opportunity to ship orders and sell digital goods.
One of the standout features of Weebly's e-commerce functionality is the shopping cart feature, which allows customers to easily add and remove items from their cart.
Weebly's e-commerce features include unlimited item listings, item badges and options, quick shop capabilities, inventory management, automatic tax calculator, coupons, Square gift cards, and in-store pickup.
Upgrading to the Performance package unlocks additional features, including the ability to accept PayPal payments and feature customer reviews.
Weebly's e-commerce features also include abandoned cart follow-up emails, which can help increase sales and keep customers engaged.
Here are the e-commerce features included in Weebly's packages:
- Shopping cart feature
- Unlimited number of item listings
- Item badges and options
- Quick shop capabilities
- Inventory management
- Automatic tax calculator
- Coupons
- Square gift cards
- In-store pickup option
Content Creation
Weebly allows you to easily write and post blog entries on your site using the intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
While it's not as customizable as WordPress, Weebly's editor is still very user-friendly and gets the job done.
You won't have access to Yoast, but there are built-in settings for things like meta keywords and RSS feed capabilities.
Weebly also offers the ability to download some "apps", which are the equivalent of WordPress' plug-ins, although they're not as prolific in number.
As far as performance goes, it will depend on your hosting provider, and you should choose one that's better than Weebly in terms of performance for optimal results.
Performance and Security
Weebly excels in performance and security, with security features included in all its packages and hosting services. This means its performance is measurable and reliable.
Weebly websites come with free SSL certificates and DDoS mitigation included, which encrypts and protects customer purchases.
Weebly-hosted websites load quickly, with an average load time of 1.4 seconds, under Google's recommended threshold of 1.8 seconds for first contentful paint.
This respectable load time is a testament to Weebly's efficient hosting services.
You may get either a faster or slower load time with WordPress depending on your chosen host and website optimization.
Mobile and Expansion
The Weebly mobile app has been on a steady decline since Square bought out the company, and it can be buggy at times. Sometimes you'll be asked to switch between the Square app and the Weebly app as you attempt edits.
Using the Weebly app can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to make changes on the go. However, the best way to get a good user experience for Weebly web design is on a PC.
Square is serious about expanding its international footprint, and the Weebly acquisition could help accelerate this process. The company is currently operating in just four markets outside the U.S.
International Expansion
Square is serious about building a global small-business ecosystem, and its acquisition of Weebly is a significant step in that direction.
The Weebly acquisition has the double-benefit of boosting Square's e-commerce presence and accelerating its international expansion efforts.
Square currently operates in just four markets - Japan, Canada, Australia, and the U.K., but with almost 40% of Weebly's paid subscribers outside of the U.S., this acquisition could certainly help accelerate Square's expansion into other high-potential markets.
Global credit card transaction volume is expected to grow 54% by 2020, and by 2025, worldwide card payment volume is expected to reach as high as $55 trillion annually.
If Square were able to capture just a 2% share of this amount, that would represent more than 15 times its current annualized payment volume.
International expansion is an enormous opportunity for Square, and this acquisition could help accelerate the process.
Mobile App
The Weebly mobile app has been on a steady decline since Square bought out the company. It can be buggy at times, and integrating with eCommerce for Square can lead to a confusing experience with multiple apps to switch between.
Weebly's app was once a great option, but it's no longer the best choice for a seamless user experience. The best way to get a good experience with Weebly web design in 2024 is on a PC.
If you're considering using Weebly, it's worth noting that it may be taken off the market or have support discontinued after July 2025. This makes it a less-than-ideal choice for new users.
Addresses Biggest Concern
Square's acquisition of Weebly is a game-changer for the company's e-commerce capabilities. Weebly's website-building platform allows small businesses to create professional-looking websites and online stores easily.
One of Square's biggest concerns was its reliance on brick-and-mortar retail, but Weebly gives it a big boost in the e-commerce side of retail. With 625,000 paying subscribers and little overlap with Square's current merchant base, this creates tremendous opportunity to cross-sell Square's other services.
According to Alyssa Henry, Square's seller lead, "Omnichannel commerce is our top focus area in 2018." This means that Square and Weebly are working together to provide a cohesive solution for businesses to build their online presence.
Square CEO Jack Dorsey said it best - "Square and Weebly share a passion for empowering and celebrating entrepreneurs." This partnership is a win-win for both companies and their customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Square with Weebly?
Yes, you can use Square with Weebly, but you'll need to create a Square account to access product updates and benefits. This will also enhance your account security with a separate login.
Are Square and Weebly the same company?
No, Square and Weebly are not the same company, but they have merged, resulting in Square taking over Weebly's operations and branding. Learn more about the changes to your account and what it means for you.
Is Weebly being phased out?
Weebly will continue to be supported through July 2025, but it's recommended to consider alternative options like Square's website builder for e-commerce services.
Why did Square buy Weebly?
Square acquired Weebly to provide sellers with a unified platform to manage their business across multiple sales channels, enabling seamless customer interactions from discovery to returns. This acquisition combines Square's in-person payment solutions with Weebly's e-commerce capabilities.
Sources
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/website-builders/weebly-vs-wordpress/
- https://www.weebly.com/blog/square-powers-online-payments
- https://www.interactivecalculator.com/square-calculator-builder
- https://www.investors.com/news/technology/square-buys-weebly/
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/04/27/square-is-acquiring-weebly-heres-why-its-a-big-dea.aspx
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