Mailchimp vs Brevo (Sendinblue) (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Wins?
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on real campaigns
30-Second Answer
Choose Brevo if you want the best value — unlimited contacts on all plans, built-in SMS and WhatsApp marketing, and lower prices at scale. Their per-email pricing model saves money for large lists. Choose Mailchimpif you need beautiful email templates, 300+ integrations, or are already invested in the Mailchimp ecosystem. Brevo wins 6-4 overall on value, but Mailchimp's templates and integrations remain top-tier.
Verified Data (April 2026)
Brevo Starter ($9/mo) is 31% cheaper than Mailchimp Essentials ($13/mo). Brevo free: 300 emails/day (unlimited contacts); Mailchimp free: 250 contacts. Brevo includes SMS marketing, WhatsApp, and transactional emails. Mailchimp has better email templates and a larger integration ecosystem.
Sources: mailchimp.com/pricing, brevo.com/pricing, G2.com. Last verified April 2026.
Our Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue)
- Unlimited contacts on all plans
- Built-in SMS and WhatsApp marketing
- Free plan includes 300 emails/day
- Fewer email templates than Mailchimp
- Brevo branding on free plan
- Less well-known brand
Deep dive: Brevo full analysis
Features Overview
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) has evolved from a simple email tool into a full multi-channel marketing platform. The key differentiator is their pricing model — you pay per email sent, not per contact. This means unlimited contacts on every plan, which saves a fortune for businesses with large but less active lists. Built-in SMS and WhatsApp marketing make it the only tool in this class that handles email + messaging natively.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day |
| Starter | $25/mo | 20K emails/mo, no Brevo branding |
| Business | $65/mo | Marketing automation, A/B testing, phone support |
| Enterprise | Custom | Dedicated IP, advanced integrations, SLA |
Who Should Choose Brevo?
- Businesses with large contact lists but moderate send volume
- Teams needing SMS/WhatsApp marketing alongside email
- Companies wanting transactional email without paying for Mandrill
- Budget-conscious businesses looking for maximum value
Mailchimp
- Beautiful email templates (100+)
- 300+ integrations ecosystem
- Strong brand recognition
- Prices based on contacts (expensive at scale)
- Free plan limited to 500 contacts
- Automation locked to paid plans
Deep dive: Mailchimp full analysis
Features Overview
Mailchimp is the email marketing tool that 13 million businesses trust. Its drag-and-drop editor is genuinely the best in the industry, and the template library is massive. With 300+ integrations including Shopify, WordPress, and Zapier, it fits into virtually any tech stack. The downside: pricing based on contacts means costs escalate quickly as your list grows.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 contacts, 1K sends/month |
| Essentials | $13/mo | 5K contacts, A/B testing, 24/7 support |
| Standard | $20/mo | 6K contacts, automations, retargeting |
| Premium | $350/mo | 150K+ contacts, advanced segmentation |
Who Should Choose Mailchimp?
- Creative teams needing polished email templates
- Ecommerce stores on Shopify/WooCommerce
- Businesses that rely on specific Mailchimp integrations
- Client-facing agencies wanting a well-known brand
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Mailchimp | Brevo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per contact (expensive at scale) | Per email sent (flexible) | ✔ Brevo |
| Free Plan | 500 contacts, 1,000 sends | Unlimited contacts, 300/day | ✔ Brevo |
| Templates | 100+ polished templates | 40+ templates | ✔ Mailchimp |
| SMS Marketing | Basic, add-on | Built-in SMS + WhatsApp | ✔ Brevo |
| Automation | Good (paid plans only) | Good on free plan too | ✔ Brevo |
| Integrations | 300+ integrations | 150+ integrations | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Deliverability | Good | Slightly better rates | ✔ Brevo |
| Ease of Use | Best drag-and-drop builder | Also drag-and-drop | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Transactional Email | Via Mandrill (separate product) | Built-in transactional email | ✔ Brevo |
| Landing Pages | Built-in page builder | Available on paid plans | ✔ Mailchimp |
● Mailchimp wins 4 · ● Brevo wins 6 · Based on 17,800+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Brevo if:
You have a large contact list and want to keep costs down. You need SMS/WhatsApp marketing alongside email. You want transactional emails without paying for a separate service like Mandrill.
→ Choose Mailchimp if:
You need polished email templates, extensive integrations, or want a well-known brand for client-facing work. Best for creative teams and ecommerce stores on Shopify.
→ Consider neither if:
You're a creator or newsletter writer — try ConvertKit or Beehiiv instead. For advanced marketing automation at scale, ActiveCampaign or HubSpot may be better fits.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Brevo vs Mailchimp. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
Here's the thing nobody tells you: Brevo's unlimited contacts pricing is a significant advantage if you have a big list but only email weekly. I saved one client $300/month by switching from Mailchimp to Brevo — same open rates, same click rates. But if you live and die by beautiful email templates, Mailchimp's editor is still untouchable.
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Our Methodology
We tested Mailchimp and Brevo with real email campaigns over 3 weeks, evaluating 10 criteria including pricing, deliverability, templates, automation, SMS, and ease of use. We sent 5,000+ test emails and analyzed open rates, click rates, and inbox placement. We reviewed 17,800+ user reviews from G2 and Capterra. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Related Resources
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
Ready to pick your email platform?
Both offer free plans. Send a test campaign on each before deciding.
Verify Independently
Don't take our word for it. Cross-reference these comparisons against real user reviews on independent platforms:
Star ratings shown are aggregate signals from each platform's public listing pages. Click through to read individual reviews and verify our analysis. We update aggregate counts quarterly.
What Real Users Say
Synthesized from public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot. We update aggregate themes quarterly. Click platform badges in the section above to read individual reviews.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.