Brevo vs Mailchimp: Budget Email Marketing Compared 2026
Compare Brevo (Sendinblue) and Mailchimp for email marketing. Features, pricing, ease of use, and which platform offers better value.
Overview
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and Mailchimp are both popular choices for small business email marketing. Both offer affordable options and solid feature sets, but with different pricing models and strengths.
For advanced AI features and revenue tracking, Sequenzy is a modern alternative worth considering.
| Feature | Brevo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per email | Per contact |
| Free Tier | 300 emails/day | 500 contacts |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | Yes |
| Live Chat | Yes | No |
| Ease of Use | Good | Excellent |
| Templates | Good | 100+ |
| Automation | Moderate | Moderate |
| Transactional Email | Included | Add-on |
Key Differences
Pricing Model
Brevo charges based on emails sent, not contacts stored. This is great for large lists with infrequent sends, but expensive if you email often.
Mailchimp charges based on contact count. Better for frequent senders, but you pay for inactive contacts sitting in your list.
Feature Breadth
Brevo includes more channels in one platform: email, SMS, chat, and CRM. The individual features are not as polished, but the value is good.
Mailchimp focuses on doing email marketing well. Templates, automation, and analytics are all solid. Other features feel secondary.
Ease of Use
Mailchimp wins on user experience. The interface is cleaner, more intuitive, and better documented. Most users are productive immediately.
Brevo is usable but less polished. Some features feel hidden, and the learning curve is steeper than Mailchimp.
Pricing Comparison
| Monthly Emails | Brevo | Mailchimp (at 2,500 contacts) |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | $25/mo | $45/mo |
| 20,000 | $25/mo | $45/mo |
| 40,000 | $35/mo | $75/mo |
| 100,000 | $69/mo | $100/mo+ |
Pros and Cons
Brevo
Pros
- + Good for large lists
- + SMS and chat included
- + Transactional email included
- + Unlimited contacts on paid plans
- + CRM features
Cons
- - Less intuitive interface
- - Fewer templates
- - Deliverability concerns
- - Features spread thin
Mailchimp
Pros
- + Excellent ease of use
- + Great template library
- + Better brand recognition
- + Strong integrations
- + Better documentation
Cons
- - More expensive at scale
- - Pay for inactive contacts
- - Limited SMS features
- - Transactional is separate
Who Should Choose What
Choose Brevo if:
- You have a large list but send infrequently
- You need SMS and chat in one platform
- Transactional email is important
- Budget is your primary concern
- You want CRM features included
Choose Mailchimp if:
- Ease of use is a priority
- You want great templates
- You send frequently to your list
- Brand recognition matters to you
- You prefer polished user experience
Consider Sequenzy if:
- You want AI-powered features
- Revenue attribution matters
- You need advanced automation
The Bottom Line
Both Brevo and Mailchimp are solid budget options for email marketing. Brevo offers better value for large lists with infrequent sends and includes more features. Mailchimp offers a better user experience and stronger templates.
Choose based on your sending patterns and priorities. Neither is a wrong choice for small business email marketing.
Looking for more comparisons?
Check out our full ranking of 15+ marketing email tools.
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