Mailchimp vs Sendinblue: Essential Showdown

Mailchimp vs Sendinblue: The ultimate beginner’s guide to choosing the right email marketing platform for your small business. Find out which tool offers the best features, pricing, and ease of use for your needs.

Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel like a big decision, especially when you’re just starting out. Two names that often pop up are Mailchimp and Sendinblue (now Brevo). They both promise to help you connect with your audience, but they do it in slightly different ways. It’s easy to get lost in all the features and pricing plans. But don’t worry! We’re here to break down Mailchimp vs Sendinblue, making it super clear which one is the perfect fit for your business goals.

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is probably the most well-known name in email marketing, especially for small businesses and beginners. It started out as a simple way to send newsletters and has grown into a comprehensive marketing platform. Think of it as your all-in-one creative hub for building an online presence. It’s celebrated for its user-friendly interface and a wide range of templates, making it easy to create beautiful emails even if you have zero design experience. Mailchimp helps you manage your contact lists, send marketing campaigns, and even build landing pages and social media ads.

What is Sendinblue (Brevo)?

Sendinblue, recently rebranded to Brevo, is a powerful and versatile marketing platform that goes beyond just email. While it excels at email marketing, it also offers a suite of tools designed to manage your entire customer relationship. This includes SMS marketing, a chat feature for your website, a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, and even Facebook ads. Brevo is often praised for its generous free plan and its robust automation capabilities, making it a strong contender for businesses looking for a more integrated approach to customer communication.

Key Differences at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at how Mailchimp and Sendinblue (Brevo) stack up against each other in some key areas:

• Mailchimp: Known for its ease of use, creative tools, and a large ecosystem of integrations. Great for visual branding and straightforward email campaigns.
• Sendinblue (Brevo): Offers a broader range of marketing channels (email, SMS, chat) and a more integrated CRM. Strong on automation and often more affordable for higher contact volumes.

Features Comparison: Mailchimp vs Sendinblue (Brevo)

Let’s dive deeper into the features that matter most for your email marketing efforts. We’ll compare them across key categories to see which tool might serve your business best.

Feature	Mailchimp	Sendinblue (Brevo)
Email Marketing	User-friendly editor, extensive templates, list segmentation, A/B testing.	Drag-and-drop editor, responsive templates, advanced segmentation, A/B testing.
Automation	Welcome series, abandoned cart, birthday emails, custom workflows (more advanced on paid plans).	Robust marketing automation builder, welcome emails, lead nurturing, transaction emails, SMS automation.
Landing Pages	Yes, with custom branding and integrations.	Yes, with templates and lead capture forms.
SMS Marketing	Available on higher-tier plans, can be expensive.	Integrated, competitive pricing, can be combined with email campaigns.
CRM	Basic contact management.	Integrated CRM for managing customer relationships, sales pipelines.
Website Chat	No.	Yes, integrated live chat feature.
Integrations	Extensive, including Shopify, WordPress, Google Analytics, Zapier, etc.	Good range of integrations, including WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, but fewer than Mailchimp overall.
Reporting & Analytics	Detailed campaign reports, audience insights.	Comprehensive campaign reports, real-time statistics, deliverability tracking.
Deliverability	Generally good, but can vary. Mailchimp’s sender reputation is a factor.	Strong focus on deliverability, dedicated infrastructure. Known for good inbox placement.

When it comes to the core function of sending emails, both platforms offer excellent drag-and-drop editors and a good selection of templates. Mailchimp shines with its visual appeal and ease of use for beginners, making it simple to create eye-catching newsletters. Sendinblue (Brevo), on the other hand, provides a more powerful automation engine right from the start, allowing for more complex customer journeys. Its integrated SMS marketing and CRM also give it an edge if you’re looking to manage multiple communication channels from one place.

Pricing Comparison: Mailchimp vs Sendinblue (Brevo)

Understanding pricing is crucial for small businesses. Both Mailchimp and Sendinblue (Brevo) offer free plans, but their paid plans differ significantly based on features and contact limits.

Plan Type	Mailchimp	Sendinblue (Brevo)
Free Plan	Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, 1-user audience, basic automation, landing pages, signup forms.	Up to 300 emails/day (approx. 9,000/month), unlimited contacts, chat, transactional emails, CRM. (No daily sending limit on paid plans).
Paid Plans (Starting)	Essentials: Starts around $13/month for 500 contacts, 5,000 emails/month, more automation, A/B testing.	Starter: Starts around $25/month for 20,000 emails/month, no daily limit, no Brevo branding, advanced segmentation, landing pages.
Key Pricing Factor	Primarily based on the number of contacts in your audience.	Primarily based on the number of emails sent per month (with unlimited contacts).
Value Proposition	Good for smaller lists, ease of use, creative features.	Excellent value for larger lists or high email volumes, integrated CRM and SMS.

One of the biggest distinctions here is how they structure their pricing. Mailchimp’s pricing scales with the number of contacts you have. This can become expensive as your list grows. Sendinblue (Brevo), however, bases its pricing on the number of emails you send each month, regardless of how many contacts you have. This model can be much more cost-effective if you have a large contact list but send emails less frequently, or if you need to send a high volume of emails to a smaller list. Both offer free plans to get started, which is fantastic for testing the waters.

You can check out their official pricing pages for the most up-to-date details:

• Mailchimp Pricing
• Sendinblue (Brevo) Pricing

Ease of Use & Customer Support

When you’re starting, the last thing you want is a tool that’s complicated to learn. Mailchimp has long been lauded for its intuitive interface. Everything is laid out logically, and the drag-and-drop editor is very forgiving. If you’re a visual person and want to get campaigns out the door quickly without a steep learning curve, Mailchimp is hard to beat. They offer a knowledge base, email support, and live chat on higher-tier plans.

Sendinblue (Brevo) also offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor. While it might have a few more advanced features that take a little getting used to, the overall experience is still quite accessible for beginners. Their automation builder, while powerful, is designed to be visual and relatively easy to follow. Sendinblue (Brevo) provides email support, live chat, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Many users find their support to be responsive and helpful.

Pros & Cons of Mailchimp

Here’s a balanced look at what makes Mailchimp great and where it might fall short for some users:

Pros:

• Beginner-Friendly Interface: Extremely intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those with no prior experience.
• Creative Tools: Excellent template library and drag-and-drop editor for visually appealing emails.
• Extensive Integrations: Connects with a vast array of other business tools and platforms.
• Strong Brand Recognition: A trusted and widely used platform.
• Good for Visual Content: Great for businesses that rely heavily on imagery and design in their emails.

Cons:

• Can Get Expensive: Pricing based on contacts can become costly as your list grows.
• Limited Free Plan Features: The free plan has significant limitations on features and branding.
• Automation Less Robust on Lower Tiers: Advanced automation is primarily available on higher-priced plans.
• Deliverability Concerns: Some users have reported occasional deliverability issues, though this can be complex and depend on many factors.

Pros & Cons of Sendinblue (Brevo)

Now, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of Sendinblue (Brevo):

Pros:

• Generous Free Plan: Offers more daily emails and unlimited contacts on its free tier compared to Mailchimp’s free offering.
• Integrated Marketing Channels: Combines email, SMS, chat, and CRM in one platform.
• Powerful Automation: Robust marketing automation capabilities are accessible across plans.
• Cost-Effective for Larger Lists: Pricing based on email volume can be more economical for growing businesses.
• Strong Deliverability: Focuses on ensuring your emails reach the inbox.
• Transactional Emails: Excellent for sending order confirmations, shipping updates, etc.

Cons:

• Slightly Steeper Learning Curve (for some advanced features): While user-friendly, the breadth of features might take a bit longer to master than Mailchimp’s core email functions.
• Fewer Integrations than Mailchimp: While good, its integration library is not as extensive as Mailchimp’s.
• Template Variety: While functional, the template selection might not be as creatively diverse or visually polished as Mailchimp’s out-of-the-box.

User Reviews & Case Studies

Hearing from real users can provide invaluable insights. Many small business owners find Mailchimp to be their go-to due to its familiarity and ease of entry. On platforms like G2 and Capterra, users often praise Mailchimp’s “intuitive interface” and “great templates” for getting started quickly. However, some reviews mention that “as the business grew, the cost of Mailchimp became prohibitive,” and “advanced features felt locked behind higher tiers.”

Sendinblue (Brevo) receives consistent praise for its “all-in-one marketing approach” and “excellent value for money.” Users on Trustpilot and Reddit frequently highlight its “generous free plan” and “robust automation capabilities” as major advantages. Some users note that while the platform is powerful, “getting the most out of the advanced segmentation took some learning,” but that the “customer support was very helpful.”

Case Study Example: A small e-commerce store selling handmade jewelry found that Mailchimp was great for sending weekly newsletters and announcing new products. However, they struggled to implement automated customer journeys like abandoned cart reminders without upgrading to a costly plan. After switching to Sendinblue (Brevo), they were able to set up a sophisticated automation sequence that significantly reduced lost sales, all within a more affordable budget. They also appreciated the ability to send targeted SMS messages to their VIP customers.

Which One Should You Choose?

The “better” tool really depends on your specific business needs, your budget, and your growth plans. Here’s a guide to help you decide:

• Choose Mailchimp if:
  • You are a complete beginner and prioritize the absolute easiest, most intuitive interface.
  • Your primary need is sending visually appealing newsletters and basic campaigns.
  • You have a smaller email list (under 1,000 contacts) and are comfortable with Mailchimp’s pricing structure as you grow.
  • You rely heavily on integrations with a wide variety of other apps.
  • You are a creative business or solopreneur who values design flexibility.
• Choose Sendinblue (Brevo) if:
  • You want an all-in-one marketing solution that includes email, SMS, chat, and CRM.
  • You plan to build a larger email list and want a more cost-effective solution as your list grows.
  • You need powerful marketing automation capabilities from the start, such as welcome series, lead nurturing, and transactional emails.
  • You want to send a high volume of emails without worrying about daily limits.
  • You are looking for strong deliverability and features like advanced segmentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is Mailchimp free?
A1: Mailchimp offers a free plan that allows you to have up to 500 contacts and send 1,000 emails per month. It’s a great way to start, but it has limitations on features and includes Mailchimp branding.

Q2: Does Sendinblue (Brevo) support automation?
A2: Yes, Sendinblue (Brevo) offers robust marketing automation features, including welcome series, abandoned cart emails, lead nurturing sequences, and more, even on its free plan (within sending limits).

Q3: Which is better for small businesses, Mailchimp or Sendinblue (Brevo)?
A3: For very small businesses or solopreneurs prioritizing simplicity and design, Mailchimp might be easier to start with. For small businesses looking for scalability, integrated marketing channels (SMS, chat, CRM), and cost-effectiveness as they grow, Sendinblue (Brevo) is often a better long-term choice.

Q4: Can I switch from Mailchimp to Sendinblue (Brevo)?
A4: Yes, you can switch. Most email marketing platforms allow you to export your contact list from one service and import it into another. You’ll need to recreate your email templates and automation workflows in the new platform.

Q5: Is Sendinblue (Brevo) worth it for Shopify stores?
A5: Yes, Sendinblue (Brevo) has a good integration with Shopify, allowing you to sync customer data and trigger marketing automation based on store activity, such as abandoned carts. Many Shopify store owners find its automation and affordability very beneficial.

Q6: How does deliverability compare between Mailchimp and Sendinblue (Brevo)?
A6: Both platforms aim for good deliverability. Sendinblue (Brevo) often emphasizes its robust infrastructure and dedicated efforts to ensure emails reach the inbox, which many users report positively on. Mailchimp’s deliverability is generally good, but like any platform, it can be influenced by your list hygiene and sending practices.

Q7: What are the main differences in their free plans?
A7: Mailchimp’s free plan is limited to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month. Sendinblue (Brevo)’s free plan allows unlimited contacts but caps sending at 300 emails per day (roughly 9,000 per month), which is significantly more generous for list building and initial campaign sending.

Conclusion: Making Your Choice

So, after this Mailchimp vs Sendinblue (Brevo) showdown, what’s the verdict? Both are excellent tools, but they cater to slightly different needs and priorities:

• Choose Mailchimp if you’re all about easy-to-use design tools, have a smaller list, and want a straightforward email marketing experience to start. It’s your friendly neighborhood digital marketing assistant, great for getting your message out visually.
• Choose Sendinblue (Brevo) if you’re looking for a more comprehensive marketing suite, value robust automation, and want a cost-effective solution that can grow with your business. It’s your all-in-one growth partner, ready to handle emails, SMS, chat, and customer relationships.

The best advice? Take advantage of their free plans! Sign up for both, play around with the interfaces, send a test email, and see which one feels most comfortable and intuitive for you. Your email marketing journey starts with making the right tool choice, and now you’re well-equipped to do just that. Happy marketing!