THE SIDE-BY-SIDE
Mailchimp vs Brevo: Which Is Better?
Compare Mailchimp and Brevo by workflow, features, pricing, and tradeoffs. A direct guide to choosing between them.
Mailchimp and Brevo both cover email marketing, but they price differently: Mailchimp charges by contact count (from $13/mo for 500 contacts), while Brevo charges by email volume (from $9/mo for 5,000 emails/month). Model both against your list size, contact management, and sending allowances.
The quick verdict
There is no universal winner. Brevo's entry paid tier costs less ($9/mo for 5,000 emails versus $13/mo for 500 Mailchimp contacts), but Mailchimp prices by contact count while Brevo prices by email volume, so the cheaper option depends on your list size and send cadence.
Mailchimp vs Brevo at a glance
| At a glance |  Mailchimp |  Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $13.00 / mo | $9.00 / mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of use | Campaign creation and audience tools together | Messaging and contact tools in one place |
| Features | Email campaigns, Audience segments, Customer journeys | Email campaigns, Marketing automation, Contact management |
| Starting price | From $13/mo for 500 contacts, billed monthly (Essentials) | From $9/mo for 5,000 emails/month, billed monthly (Starter; 10% off billed yearly) |
| Free plan | Free under 500 contacts: 1 seat, 1 audience, max 1,000 sends/mo (500/day) | Free forever: up to 300 emails/day plus transactional email with SMTP and API access |
| Best value | Standard from $20/mo adds 200 automation steps and generative AI; Premium from $350/mo | Standard $18/mo adds unlimited automation workflows and A/B testing; Professional from $499/mo |
| Collaboration | Audience-centered email campaigns | Messaging and contact workflows |
| Integrations | Check required connections with the vendor | Check required connections with the vendor |
| AI | Generative AI features and custom-coded templates from Standard | AI content generator from Starter; Aura AI segmentation on Professional |
| Templates | Evaluate templates for audience-centered email campaigns | Evaluate templates for messaging and contact workflows |
| Automation | Up to 4 flow steps on Essentials; up to 200 on Standard | Unlimited multi-step marketing automation workflows from Standard |
| Support | 24/7 email and chat support from Essentials; phone on Premium | Email support on Starter; phone support and deliverability specialist on Professional |
| Best for | Audience-centered email campaigns | Messaging and contact workflows |
Mailchimp overview
Mailchimp is a candidate for email marketing workflows. Build email campaigns and customer journeys around your audience.
Explore Mailchimp →Brevo overview
Brevo is a candidate for email marketing workflows. Email marketing, automation, and customer relationships in one toolkit.
Explore Brevo →Key differences
The way work is organized
Mailchimp and Brevo both cover email marketing, but packaging, contact management, and sending allowances deserve a side-by-side check.
The pricing model difference
Mailchimp tiers by contact count: Essentials starts at $13/month for 500 contacts, Standard at $20, and Premium at $350, with costs rising as your list grows. Brevo tiers by email volume: Starter starts at $9/month for 5,000 emails, Standard is $18, and Professional is $499 from 150,000 emails/month, with 10% off yearly billing. Low-volume senders with large lists often cost less on Brevo; contact-heavy accounts should model both before committing.
The tradeoff to test first
Mailchimp: Contact-based costs need modeling. Brevo: Sending limits need checking. A trial should make these differences visible before you commit.
Pricing comparison
Mailchimp plans
| Plan | Price | Billing | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.00 | free, for businesses with fewer than 500 contacts |
|
| Essentials | $13.00 | from $13/mo for 500 contacts, billed monthly (higher tiers cost more) |
|
| Standard | $20.00 | from $20/mo for 500 contacts, billed monthly (higher tiers cost more) |
|
| Premium | $350.00 | from $350/mo for 500 contacts, billed monthly (higher tiers cost more) |
|
Brevo plans
| Plan | Price | Billing | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.00 | free forever, no credit card needed |
|
| Starter | $9.00 | from $9/mo for 5,000 emails/month, billed monthly; 10% off billed yearly |
|
| Standard | $18.00 | from $18/mo, billed monthly; 10% off billed yearly |
|
| Professional | $499.00 | from $499/mo, billed monthly; 10% off billed yearly |
|
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Custom — confirm with vendor |
|
Pros and cons
Mailchimp
What works well
- Campaign creation and audience tools together
- Established email design workflows
Keep in mind
- Contact-based costs need modeling
- Automation limits vary between plans
Brevo
What works well
- Messaging and contact tools in one place
- A useful candidate for growing newsletters
Keep in mind
- Sending limits need checking
- Advanced features differ across packages
Which should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if…
Choose Mailchimp if its audience and campaign workflow matches how you organize marketing, starting from $13/month for 500 contacts on Essentials.
Choose Brevo if…
Choose Brevo if you want to evaluate messaging alongside contact management in a single toolkit, with paid plans from $9/month for 5,000 emails.
How to compare these tools fairly
Give each tool the same task and the same source material. Choose Mailchimp if its audience and campaign workflow matches how you organize marketing. Choose Brevo if you want to evaluate messaging alongside contact management in a single toolkit.
Pricing at a glance
Both have free plans. Mailchimp’s free tier covers businesses with fewer than 500 contacts (max 1,000 sends/month); its paid plans are billed monthly by contact count: Essentials from $13/month, Standard from $20/month, and Premium from $350/month at the 500-contact tier, with costs rising as your list grows. Brevo’s free plan sends up to 300 emails/day; its paid plans are billed by email volume: Starter from $9/month for 5,000 emails, Standard at $18/month, and Professional from $499/month, with 10% off yearly billing. Prices are US list prices; confirm regional pricing and taxes on each vendor’s site.
Record setup time, the steps needed to complete the task, and any workarounds. Include the person who will maintain the workspace in the final decision.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailchimp better than Brevo?
Mailchimp and Brevo both cover email marketing, but they price differently: Mailchimp by contact count, Brevo by email volume. Compare packaging, contact management, and sending allowances against your actual list size and send cadence.
Which option costs less?
At the smallest paid tiers, Brevo's Starter is $9/month for 5,000 emails/month and Mailchimp's Essentials is $13/month for 500 contacts (both billed monthly). Mailchimp Standard starts at $20/month and Premium at $350/month; Brevo Standard is $18/month and Professional starts at $499/month, with 10% off yearly billing on Brevo. The cheaper option depends on your list size versus send volume: Mailchimp charges per contact, Brevo per email sent, so model both against your actual usage.
Sources
- Mailchimp — official pricing ↗Accessed Sep 12, 2026
- Brevo — official pricing ↗Accessed Sep 12, 2026
