Mailchimp vs Brevo: Ultimate Showdown
If you’re trying to pick between Mailchimp and Brevo for your email marketing, you’re not alone. This guide breaks down their key differences in plain English, so you can choose the best fit for your business without the headache. Let’s find your perfect email partner!
Choosing the right email marketing platform can feel like navigating a maze. You’ve heard about Mailchimp, and maybe you’ve seen Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) pop up too. Both promise to help you connect with your audience, but how do they stack up? It’s easy to get lost in a sea of features and pricing plans. Don’t worry, though! This comparison is designed to cut through the confusion and give you a clear picture. We’ll explore what each tool offers, compare them feature by feature, and help you decide which one will be your business’s new best friend.
Contents
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is one of the most well-known names in email marketing. It started as a simple way for small businesses to send newsletters and has grown into a comprehensive marketing platform. Think of it as your all-in-one toolkit for email campaigns, social media posting, landing pages, and even basic CRM (Customer Relationship Management) features. It’s famous for its user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice for beginners and those who want to get started quickly.
What is Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)?
Brevo, previously known as Sendinblue, is a powerful marketing platform that offers more than just email. It combines email marketing with SMS marketing, chat, CRM, and marketing automation. Brevo is designed to help businesses manage customer relationships and communication across multiple channels. It’s often praised for its robust automation capabilities and its competitive pricing, especially for businesses that need to send a high volume of emails or want to leverage advanced features without a huge budget.
Key Differences at a Glance
To get a quick understanding of how Mailchimp and Brevo differ, here’s a snapshot:
- Mailchimp: Best known for ease of use, a wide range of integrations, and a strong focus on visual design for email campaigns.
- Brevo: Stands out with its all-in-one approach, including SMS marketing, advanced automation, and a more flexible pricing model, especially for higher email volumes.
Features Comparison
Let’s dive into the features that matter most for your email marketing efforts. Here’s a side-by-side look:
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|
| Email Marketing | Yes, robust drag-and-drop editor, templates, list management. | Yes, drag-and-drop editor, templates, list segmentation. |
| Marketing Automation | Available on paid plans, offers basic to advanced workflows. | Yes, powerful automation builder with triggers and conditions, available on paid plans. |
| SMS Marketing | Available as an add-on or on higher plans, can be costly. | Integrated directly into the platform, often more cost-effective. |
| CRM | Basic CRM features integrated, with more advanced capabilities on higher plans. | Integrated CRM for contact management and sales tracking. |
| Landing Pages | Yes, built-in landing page builder. | Yes, built-in landing page builder. |
| A/B Testing | Yes, available on paid plans. | Yes, available on paid plans. |
| Integrations | Extensive integrations with many popular apps and platforms. | Good range of integrations, growing steadily. |
| Deliverability | Generally good, but can vary. | Strong focus on deliverability, with features to help maintain sender reputation. |
| Reporting & Analytics | Detailed reports on campaign performance. | Comprehensive analytics and real-time reporting. |
Mailchimp excels in offering a user-friendly experience for creating visually appealing emails. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and it boasts a vast library of templates. For those who prioritize design and ease of use in their email creation, Mailchimp is a strong contender. Its automation features are good, allowing for welcome sequences, abandoned cart reminders, and more, but these are typically found on its paid plans.
Brevo offers a more unified platform. If you’re looking to combine email, SMS, and potentially chat for customer communication, Brevo makes it seamless. Its marketing automation is particularly powerful, allowing for complex customer journeys based on user behavior. This can be a significant advantage for businesses that want to nurture leads or provide personalized customer experiences at scale. Brevo’s integrated CRM also means you can manage your customer data all in one place.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is a crucial factor for any small business. Both Mailchimp and Brevo offer free plans, but their paid tiers differ significantly. It’s important to understand how they charge, as it can impact your budget as your list grows.
| Plan Level | Mailchimp Pricing (Approximate) | Brevo Pricing (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, basic features, Mailchimp branding. | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day (9,000/month), basic automation, Brevo branding. |
| Essentials/Starter | Starts around $13/month for 500 contacts, 1,500 emails/month, removes branding, A/B testing. | Starts around $25/month for 20,000 emails/month (unlimited contacts), advanced features, no daily sending limit. |
| Standard/Business | Around $20/month for 500 contacts, 6,000 emails/month, more advanced automation, send-time optimization. | Around $49/month for 40,000 emails/month (unlimited contacts), advanced automation, landing pages, SMS credits. |
| Premium/Agency | Higher tiers available with more contacts and advanced features. | Higher tiers available with more email volume and advanced features. |
Note: Pricing is subject to change and can vary based on the number of contacts and email volume. Always check the official websites for the most up-to-date information.
Mailchimp’s free plan is a good starting point, but it comes with significant limitations on contacts and daily sends. As your list grows, the cost can escalate quickly, especially if you need advanced features like robust automation or SMS marketing. Their pricing is primarily based on the number of contacts you have, which can be a drawback if you have a large, engaged list but don’t send frequently.
Brevo’s pricing model is generally more favorable for businesses that anticipate sending a higher volume of emails or have a large contact list. The free plan offers unlimited contacts, which is a huge advantage. Paid plans are often priced based on the number of emails sent rather than the number of contacts, making it more predictable and affordable for growing businesses. Their integrated SMS marketing is also typically more cost-effective than Mailchimp’s add-on options.
For a detailed breakdown of their current offerings, you can visit:
Ease of Use & Customer Support
When you’re starting out, simplicity is key. Both platforms aim to be user-friendly, but they have different strengths.
Mailchimp is widely praised for its intuitive interface. From signing up to sending your first campaign, the process is straightforward. The drag-and-drop editor is very visual, and the dashboard is clean and easy to navigate. For beginners, this makes it less intimidating. When it comes to customer support, Mailchimp offers email and live chat support on its paid plans, and a knowledge base is available to all users. However, some users report that getting timely support can sometimes be a challenge on lower-tier plans.
Brevo also offers a user-friendly interface, especially considering the breadth of features it provides. While its automation builder might have a slight learning curve for absolute beginners, it’s well-designed. The platform provides excellent documentation and tutorials. Brevo offers email support on all plans, including the free one, and live chat and phone support on higher tiers. Many users find Brevo’s support to be responsive and helpful.
Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
Here’s a balanced look at what Mailchimp does well and where it might fall short for some users:
Pros:
- Beginner-Friendly Interface: Very easy to learn and use, especially for creating visually appealing emails.
- Extensive Integrations: Connects with a vast number of third-party applications.
- Strong Design Tools: Excellent drag-and-drop editor and a wide variety of professional templates.
- Good for Visual Content: Ideal for businesses that rely heavily on images and design in their emails.
- Established Brand: A trusted name with a large user base and plenty of online resources.
Cons:
- Pricing Can Be Expensive: Costs can increase rapidly as your contact list grows.
- Limited Free Plan: Restrictions on contacts and emails can hinder growth.
- SMS Marketing Add-on: Can be costly and less integrated than Brevo’s offering.
- Automation on Paid Plans: Advanced automation features are not available on the free or lowest paid tiers.
Pros & Cons of Brevo
Brevo offers a compelling alternative with its own set of advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- Cost-Effective: Generally more affordable, especially for businesses with larger contact lists or high sending volumes.
- All-in-One Platform: Integrates email, SMS, chat, and CRM in one place.
- Powerful Automation: Robust automation builder for complex customer journeys.
- Generous Free Plan: Unlimited contacts and a good daily sending limit make it great for starting out.
- Good Deliverability Focus: Features designed to help maintain a good sender reputation.
Cons:
- Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Automation and CRM might take a bit more time to master compared to Mailchimp’s basics.
- Fewer Integrations: While growing, it doesn’t have quite as many third-party integrations as Mailchimp.
- Less Emphasis on Visual Design: Templates are good, but Mailchimp often has a slight edge in sheer design flexibility and polish.
- SMS Credits: While integrated, SMS marketing relies on purchasing credits.
User Reviews & Case Studies
Hearing from real users provides valuable insights. What do people actually say about using Mailchimp and Brevo day-to-day?
Mailchimp User Feedback:
Many users praise Mailchimp for its ease of use, making it ideal for those new to email marketing. Its visual editor and template library are frequently highlighted as major benefits. However, common complaints revolve around its pricing structure, which can become expensive as lists grow, and limitations on the free plan. Some users also mention that customer support can be slow or inaccessible on lower-tier plans.
- On G2, a common sentiment is: “Mailchimp is incredibly easy to use for beginners, and its design capabilities are top-notch. However, I found the pricing to be a bit steep as my list grew, and the automation features felt a bit basic without upgrading significantly.”
- Capterra reviews often mention: “Great for simple newsletters and getting started. Integrations are a lifesaver. But be prepared to pay more if you want to scale up your automation or reach more subscribers.”
Brevo User Feedback:
Users often commend Brevo for its value for money and its comprehensive feature set, particularly the integrated SMS and automation capabilities. The ability to have unlimited contacts on the free plan is a significant plus for many small businesses. Some users note that while the interface is good, it might not be as immediately intuitive as Mailchimp for absolute beginners, especially when setting up complex automation workflows. Support is generally seen as responsive.
- A typical review on G2 might read: “Brevo is a fantastic all-in-one solution. The pricing is very competitive, and the automation is powerful. I love having SMS and email in one platform. It took a little time to learn the automation builder, but it’s very capable.”
- On Trustpilot, users often highlight: “Excellent platform for small businesses looking for affordability and features. The free plan is very generous. Customer support has been great whenever I’ve needed them.”
Case Study Example:
Scenario: A small e-commerce business selling handmade crafts needs to send order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional newsletters. They also want to automate abandoned cart recovery emails.
- Using Mailchimp: They might find it easy to set up a beautiful newsletter. However, the abandoned cart automation could be on a higher-tier plan. If their customer list grows quickly, they might face significant cost increases.
- Using Brevo: They can easily set up transactional emails and newsletters. The automation for abandoned carts is available on a more accessible paid plan, and the integrated CRM helps them track customer purchase history. The pricing based on email volume is more predictable as they scale up their sales.
This shows how the choice can depend on specific business needs and growth strategies.
Which One Should You Choose?
The “best” platform truly depends on your unique business needs, budget, and technical comfort level. Here’s a guide to help you decide:
Choose Mailchimp If:
- You are a complete beginner and want the absolute easiest interface to start with.
- Your primary focus is on visually stunning newsletters and you prioritize design flexibility.
- You already use many other apps and need a platform with the widest range of integrations.
- You have a small contact list and don’t anticipate rapid growth in the near future, or your budget allows for higher per-contact costs.
- You don’t need advanced automation or SMS marketing right away, or you’re willing to pay extra for these features.
Choose Brevo If:
- You want an all-in-one solution that includes email, SMS, chat, and CRM.
- You need powerful marketing automation to nurture leads or customers through complex journeys.
- You have a growing contact list or a high email sending volume, and you’re looking for more affordable and predictable pricing.
- SMS marketing is important for your communication strategy, and you want it integrated seamlessly and cost-effectively.
- You value robust features even if it means a slightly steeper learning curve for advanced functionalities.
FAQ Section
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan. However, it has limitations on the number of contacts (up to 500) and monthly emails (up to 1,000). It also includes Mailchimp branding on your emails.
Does Brevo support automation?
Yes, Brevo offers powerful marketing automation features. You can create automated workflows based on customer behavior, trigger emails, and build sophisticated customer journeys. These features are available on their paid plans.
Which is better for small businesses?
For small businesses just starting with email marketing and prioritizing ease of use and design, Mailchimp can be a great choice. However, for small businesses looking for more advanced features like automation and SMS at a more affordable price point, especially as they grow, Brevo is often the better long-term option.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Brevo?
Yes, you can switch from Mailchimp to Brevo. Most email marketing platforms allow you to export your contact list from one service and import it into another. You’ll also need to recreate your email templates and automation workflows in Brevo.
Is Brevo worth it for Shopify stores?
Brevo can be very worth it for Shopify stores, especially if you want to integrate email marketing with SMS and powerful automation for tasks like abandoned cart recovery. Its pricing structure often makes it more cost-effective than other platforms for e-commerce businesses that have a decent volume of transactions and customer interactions.
What are the main differences in their free plans?
Brevo’s free plan is generally more generous, offering unlimited contacts and a daily sending limit of 300 emails (9,000/month). Mailchimp’s free plan limits you to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month. Brevo also includes basic automation on its free plan, which Mailchimp reserves for paid plans.
Conclusion
When it comes down to Mailchimp vs. Brevo, both are capable email marketing platforms, but they cater to slightly different needs and priorities. Mailchimp shines with its user-friendly interface and design capabilities, making it a fantastic entry point for beginners focused on creating beautiful newsletters. Brevo, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive, all-in-one solution with powerful automation, integrated SMS, and a pricing model that often proves more economical for growing businesses or those with larger contact lists.
Here’s a quick recap to guide your decision:
- Choose Mailchimp if: You’re prioritizing extreme ease of use, visual design, and have a smaller list or budget that accommodates its contact-based pricing.
- Choose Brevo if: You’re looking for a powerful, integrated platform with robust automation and SMS capabilities, and you want a more scalable and affordable pricing structure as your business grows.
The best advice I can give you? Take advantage of their free plans or trials! Test out the interfaces, build a sample email, and see which platform feels more natural and supportive for your business goals. You’ve got this!