Brevo vs Mailchimp
Brevo vs Mailchimp: Which Should You Choose?
Compare pricing, free plans, strengths, limitations, and practical use cases. The goal is not to name one universal winner, but to show which tool fits different workflows better.
Choose based on how you work
Choose Brevo if…
Choose Brevo if you want an affordable all-in-one platform for email marketing, automation, transactional messaging, SMS, and basic CRM without managing several separate tools.
View Brevo details →Choose Mailchimp if…
Choose Mailchimp if you want a familiar email marketing platform with a broad integration ecosystem and straightforward campaign tools.
View Mailchimp details →Brevo vs Mailchimp comparison
| Compare | Brevo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $13/mo Essentials |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Best for | Email, SMS, marketing automation, transactional messaging, and lightweight CRM in one platform. | Email marketing, newsletters, audience management, and basic automation. |
| Key strength | Combines email marketing, automation, transactional email, SMS, and CRM in one affordable platform. | Well-known all-in-one email marketing platform with many integrations. |
| Main limitation | Some advanced marketing and reporting features require higher-tier plans. | Pricing can rise quickly as your contact list grows. |
| Last checked | Sep 2026 | Oct 2026 |
Where each tool stands out
Brevo
Key strength: Combines email marketing, automation, transactional email, SMS, and CRM in one affordable platform.
Main limitation: Some advanced marketing and reporting features require higher-tier plans.
Mailchimp
Key strength: Well-known all-in-one email marketing platform with many integrations.
Main limitation: Pricing can rise quickly as your contact list grows.
What can you use them for?
Brevo
- Email campaigns
- Marketing automation
- Transactional email
- SMS marketing
- Lead and contact management
Mailchimp
- Email campaigns
- Audience management
- Marketing automation
- Signup forms
- Ecommerce email
Trade-offs to consider
Brevo
What we like
- Free plan available
- Combines email, SMS, automation, and CRM
- Affordable starting price
- Useful transactional email features
- Good fit for small businesses
What to consider
- Advanced reporting requires higher tiers
- Daily sending limit on the free plan
- CRM is less specialized than dedicated sales CRM platforms
Mailchimp
What we like
- Easy campaign builder
- Large integration ecosystem
- Good templates and forms
- Useful audience management
- Ecommerce marketing features
What to consider
- Costs increase as contacts grow
- Automation can be less flexible than specialist tools
- Some useful features require higher plans
Who should choose each tool?
Brevo
Choose it if: Choose Brevo if you want an affordable all-in-one platform for email marketing, automation, transactional messaging, SMS, and basic CRM without managing several separate tools.
Skip it if: Skip Brevo if you need a highly specialized enterprise CRM, very advanced analytics, or complex marketing orchestration that requires a larger marketing suite.
Mailchimp
Choose it if: Choose Mailchimp if you want a familiar email marketing platform with a broad integration ecosystem and straightforward campaign tools.
Skip it if: Skip Mailchimp if low long-term cost or highly advanced automation is your top priority.
Compare any two tools
Use the interactive comparison tool for combinations that do not have a permanent guide yet.