Brevo vs Mailchimp: Cheaper Doesn’t Mean Worse?
Finding the right email marketing platform isn’t just a minor decision — it can dramatically affect how well you connect with your audience, build relationships, and ultimately grow your business.
I’ve spent years testing different tools, and the right one makes all the difference whether you’re shooting out newsletters, running promotions, or setting up automated sequences.
Two platforms I get asked about constantly are Brevo (which used to be called Sendinblue) and Mailchimp.
They’re both popular, but for different reasons. Brevo has made a name for itself by being budget-friendly and straightforward — perfect if you’re a small business owner or just getting your feet wet with email marketing.
Mailchimp, on the other hand, is the powerhouse with advanced automation, tons of integrations, and analytics that actually tell you something useful — making it ideal for businesses ready to get more sophisticated with their campaigns.
I’m going to break down how these two platforms really compare across pricing (because who doesn’t care about that?), features, ease of use, and performance. By the end, you should have a much better idea which one fits your specific needs.
Brevo vs Mailchimp — Quick Comparison
Feature Overview
Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Mailchimp
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses, startups
Growing businesses, advanced email marketers
Pricing
Free plan + paid plans from $25/month
Free plan + paid plans from $13/month
Ease of Use
User-friendly interface, easy onboarding
Intuitive interface, but feature-rich dashboard
Value for Money
Affordable pricing with essential features
Powerful features, but pricing scales quickly
Strengths & Weaknesses Overview
Overall Strengths
Overall Weaknesses
Brevo
Affordable, easy to use, good for transactional emails, includes SMS marketing and email automation
Limited advanced features on lower-tier plans, basic reporting and analytics
Mailchimp
Advanced automation, segmentation, and integrations, rich reporting and analytics, multi-channel marketing
Pricing rises quickly with list size, some features are locked behind higher tiers
Brevo vs Mailchimp — Feature Comparison
Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Mailchimp
Email Campaigns
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Pre-designed email templates
- A/B testing for emails
- Customizable design options
- Advanced email editor
- Pre-built templates
- Dynamic content blocks
- Product recommendations
Automation
- Basic email automation workflows
- Trigger-based automation (e.g., welcome emails)
- Simple customer journeys
- Multi-step automation workflows
- Behavioral triggers
- Advanced goal tracking
- Conditional logic for campaigns
Landing Pages & Forms
- Built-in landing page builder
- Signup forms and popups
- Mobile-responsive design
- Drag-and-drop landing page builder
- Embedded forms and popups
- A/B testing for forms
- Lead magnet delivery
Segmentation & Personalization
- Tag-based segmentation
- Basic personalization with custom fields
- Behavioral segmentation
- Advanced segmentation based on engagement
- Dynamic content personalization
- Behavioral triggers and product recommendations
Reporting & Analytics
- Real-time email performance reports
- Open & click tracking
- Campaign and SMS performance analytics
- In-depth engagement reports
- Conversion tracking
- Email performance analytics
- A/B test reporting
Integrations
- 50+ integrations including WooCommerce, Shopify, Zapier
- API access for custom integrations
- SMS integration
- 300+ integrations including Shopify, Salesforce, Zapier
- Native CRM tool
- Social media & ecommerce integrations
Brevo: Affordable Simplicity
Brevo (which, remember, used to be called Sendinblue) is a fantastic option if you’re running a small to mid-sized business and need something cost-effective that doesn’t skimp on the essentials.
Their email tools are straightforward, the automation handles basic needs without overwhelming you, and — this is a big plus — they include SMS marketing features that many competitors charge extra for. It’s particularly good for transactional emails and simple marketing workflows.
The downside? Don’t expect cutting-edge segmentation, personalization, or analytics. Brevo keeps things simple, which is perfect for many businesses but might leave data-hungry marketers wanting more.
I’ve recommended Brevo to several clients who needed an affordable, easy-to-use platform without complex needs, and they’ve been thrilled with it.
Mailchimp: Powerful But Pricey
Mailchimp is built for businesses that are growing and need more sophisticated email marketing capabilities. Their automation is genuinely impressive — you can create complex, multi-step customer journeys that respond to specific behaviors.
The segmentation options let you target precisely the right audience with the right message, and it integrates with practically everything.
The reporting gives you actionable insights rather than just numbers, which helps optimize your campaigns over time. That said, all this power comes at a price — literally. Mailchimp’s costs increase substantially as your list grows, and many of the best features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
I usually recommend Mailchimp to clients who have outgrown simpler platforms and need more advanced capabilities to support their marketing strategy.
Brevo vs Mailchimp — Pricing Comparison
Subscriber Count
Brevo Pricing (Premium Plan)
Mailchimp Pricing (Standard Plan)
Key Differences
1,000
From $25/month
From $20/month
Brevo offers more affordable pricing; Mailchimp has advanced automation features.
2,500
From $39/month
From $39.50/month
Brevo includes unlimited contacts; Mailchimp supports deeper segmentation.
5,000
From $59/month
From $70/month
Brevo remains more cost-effective; Mailchimp offers more robust reporting.
10,000
From $79/month
From $100/month
Brevo better for simple campaigns; Mailchimp includes more advanced tools for customization.
25,000
From $169/month
From $230/month
Mailchimp’s pricing increases significantly with more advanced features and integrations.
What this Means for Your Budget
Brevo offers a more predictable, affordable pricing structure that won’t give you sticker shock as your list grows. If you’re a small business or startup watching every dollar (and who isn’t?), Brevo provides essential tools without breaking the bank.
The pricing scales reasonably, making it ideal for those who need reliable email marketing without all the advanced features.
Mailchimp starts cheaper for very small lists but gets expensive quickly as you grow. While you get a ton of advanced features for that price, the rapid increases can catch businesses off guard.
I’ve had clients switch platforms specifically because of Mailchimp’s pricing jumps between tiers. That said, if you need the advanced capabilities and have the budget, many businesses find the investment worthwhile for the additional power and flexibility.
Brevo vs Mailchimp — Free Plan Face-Off
Brevo Free Plan
Mailchimp Free Plan
Subscribers
Unlimited contacts
Up to 500 subscribers
Emails/Month
300 emails/day (9,000 emails/month)
1,000 emails/month
Automation
Basic automation (email triggers)
Single-step automation only
Landing Pages/Forms
Signup forms only
Unlimited landing pages & signup forms
Branding
Brevo branding on emails
Mailchimp branding on emails & pages
Which Free Plan Works Better?
Brevo’s free plan is surprisingly generous with unlimited contacts and up to 9,000 emails monthly. This makes it perfect for small businesses that need basic email marketing and simple automated triggers without spending a dime.
The daily sending limit of 300 emails means it’s not ideal for large blasts, but for regular communication with a growing list, it’s hard to beat.
Mailchimp restricts you to 500 subscribers but offers more marketing tools, including unlimited landing pages and forms. If you’re sending fewer emails but need those additional marketing features, Mailchimp’s free plan might work better.
I often recommend new clients start with Mailchimp’s free plan to learn the basics, then either upgrade or switch platforms once they’ve outgrown the subscriber limit.
Brevo vs Mailchimp — the Real Pros and Cons
Brevo
Mailchimp
- Won’t break the bank even at paid tiers
- Including SMS alongside email is genuinely useful
- Clean interface that doesn’t overwhelm beginners
- Their free tier is surprisingly generous
- Handles both marketing and transactional emails well
- You can actually get things done without constant upsells
- Automation capabilities are genuinely powerful
- Segmentation and reporting are impressively detailed
- Massive integration ecosystem (300+ and counting)
- Perfect for growing businesses with multi-channel needs
- Beginner-friendly UI with depth when you need it
- Template library is extensive and well-designed
- Advanced features often hidden behind higher plans
- No landing page builder on the free tier (annoying!)
- Analytics are pretty basic compared to competitors
- Integration options feel limited for complex tech stacks
- Pricing jumps can be steep when scaling up
- Segmentation tools lack sophistication
- Pricing structure feels designed to extract maximum dollars
- Free plan subscriber limit is painfully low
- Important features locked behind expensive tiers
- Can overwhelm new users with too many options
- That Mailchimp branding is everywhere on free plan
- Support quality varies dramatically by plan level
Consider Brevo if…
Brevo makes the most sense if you’re a small to mid-sized business looking for an affordable, straightforward email marketing platform. It’s particularly good if you want to combine email and SMS marketing in one tool without complex setup.
The simple interface and essential features make it perfect for those just starting with email marketing or those who want effective campaigns without a steep learning curve. I’ve found it works especially well for service businesses, local shops, and startups with tight marketing budgets.
Consider Mailchimp if…
Mailchimp is the better choice if your business is growing and you need more sophisticated marketing capabilities. If you’re running an ecommerce store, creating complex customer journeys, or need detailed analytics to optimize performance, Mailchimp provides the tools you need.
While it’s more expensive, the advanced automation, segmentation, and reporting capabilities can deliver significant ROI for businesses ready to leverage those features. Just be prepared for costs to increase as your subscriber list grows.
Brevo vs Mailchimp — What Real Users are Saying
Brevo consistently earns praise for how intuitive it is, especially from small business owners who don’t have dedicated marketing teams. I’ve set up several clients with Brevo, and they’re usually creating campaigns the same day without much guidance.
The simplicity comes at the cost of some advanced features, but the tradeoff makes sense for many users.
Mailchimp also has a user-friendly interface, but the sheer number of features can be overwhelming at first. While the basics are easy to grasp, it takes time to fully utilize the platform’s capabilities like advanced automation and customer journeys.
I usually plan for a longer onboarding period when setting clients up with Mailchimp, but they typically appreciate the additional power once they’re comfortable with the platform.
Most Brevo users report getting comfortable with the platform very quickly — often within a few hours of signing up. The focus on simplicity means there’s less to learn, which is perfect for busy small business owners or marketers who need quick results without a steep learning curve.
Mailchimp definitely requires more time investment to master. While creating basic campaigns is straightforward, taking advantage of the platform’s more advanced features like multi-step automation, segmentation, and detailed analytics requires dedicated learning time.
The payoff is worth it for businesses that need those capabilities, but expect to spend more time getting up to speed.
Brevo users consistently highlight three things: affordable pricing, ease of use, and the included SMS capabilities. The main complaints tend to focus on the limitations in advanced features and reporting tools, with some users wishing for more sophisticated segmentation options.
Mailchimp users love the powerful automation, design flexibility, and extensive integration options. However, that dismal Trustpilot score reveals significant customer frustrations, primarily around pricing increases, account issues, and technical support.
While many marketers appreciate what Mailchimp can do, the relationship seems to sour for some when costs escalate or problems arise.
In the end, your choice between these platforms should align with your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and budget. Both have their strengths, just for different types of users.
