Brevo vs Mailchimp

Brevo vs Mailchimp

When selecting an email marketing platform for your business, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and Mailchimp are two prominent names that often top the list. Both provide powerful tools to manage contacts, design campaigns, and analyze results, but they cater to slightly different needs and budgets. Understanding their core strengths and operational models is key to determining which service is the right fit for your marketing strategy and growth goals. Your choice will ultimately hinge on what you value more: a generous free plan or a pricing structure that scales with your audience size.

Pricing and Plan Structures

The most significant difference lies in their pricing philosophy. Mailchimp is well-known for its robust free plan, which is ideal for beginners or very small lists, though its paid plans can become expensive as your subscriber count grows. Brevo takes a different approach, offering a free plan that is often more generous in terms of the number of contacts you can have, but it primarily charges based on the volume of emails you send per day. This can make Brevo a more cost-effective solution for businesses with large lists that do not send emails frequently, while Mailchimp’s model may suit those who email their entire list often.

Feature Focus and Core Strengths

While both platforms offer email marketing, their additional features reveal different specialties. Mailchimp has evolved into an all-in-one marketing platform with strong branding and advanced creative tools, including a website builder and a comprehensive social media post scheduler. Brevo, in contrast, positions itself as a holistic customer relationship platform. Its strength lies in powerful SMS marketing, live chat, and CRM features that are built directly into its core, making it exceptionally strong for businesses focused on sales automation and multi-channel communication beyond just email.

Ease of Use and Automation

For user experience, Mailchimp is often praised for its intuitive and visually guided interface, which makes it easy for newcomers to build attractive emails and simple automations. Brevo’s interface is functional and powerful, but it can have a steeper learning curve, especially when leveraging its advanced CRM and transactional email capabilities. However, for complex automation workflows that involve triggers from chats, texts, and emails, Brevo provides a more integrated and potent environment. Your final decision should balance your need for an easy-to-use creative suite with the demand for sophisticated, multi-channel automation.