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When I first dipped my toes into email marketing, there was only one name on my mind: Mailchimp. Its reputation for simplicity was legendary. It was the perfect starting point.
Like me, most businesses pick Mailchimp. But then, growth happens. Your contact list expands. Suddenly, that friendly platform becomes incredibly expensive for the features you actually get.
This is the classic Mailchimp story. It’s the easy entry point. But platforms like Brevo now challenge that, offering more power for much less money.
So, the choice is tougher than ever. Do you pay a premium for simplicity, or do you opt for the powerful, budget-friendly alternative? Let’s find out.
A Tale of Two Marketing Platforms
Before we dive deep, let’s understand their core philosophies. Mailchimp and Brevo approach marketing automation from very different angles.
Meet Mailchimp: The Friendly Giant
Mailchimp is the undisputed champion of user-friendliness. Its entire platform is designed to be intuitive. It helps beginners feel confident and capable.
It started with email but now offers landing pages and social ads. Its goal is to provide a clean, simple, and reliable marketing experience.
Meet Brevo: The All-in-One Powerhouse
Brevo’s strategy is to offer more for less. It bundles a huge number of tools into one platform. We’re talking email, SMS, chat, and even a CRM.
It targets businesses that have outgrown basic tools. It provides the power of an enterprise suite at a price small businesses can actually afford.
Feature Face-Off: Who Does What Better?
A marketing platform is only as good as its features. Let’s compare Mailchimp and Brevo in the areas that matter most to a growing business.
1. Email Editor and Ease of Use
This is Mailchimp’s home turf. Its drag-and-drop email builder is polished, smooth, and a joy to use. The pre-made templates are modern and beautiful.
Brevo’s editor is perfectly functional and capable. However, it lacks the final layer of polish that makes Mailchimp feel so premium and effortless.
Winner: Mailchimp, for its best-in-class user experience.
2. Marketing Automation Capabilities
This is where the battle shifts dramatically. Mailchimp offers solid automation, but it gates its best features behind expensive plans.
Brevo, on the other hand, is far more generous. It provides advanced automation workflows, even on its more affordable tiers. The logic is more complex and powerful.
Winner: Brevo, for offering more advanced automation at a lower cost.
3. Segmentation and List Management
Both platforms offer good customer segmentation. You can create lists based on user behavior, demographics, and engagement with your campaigns.
However, Brevo’s integration with its own CRM gives it an edge. You can create more complex segments based on your entire sales and marketing funnel.
Winner: Brevo, for its deeper, CRM-integrated segmentation.
4. The All-in-One Promise
Mailchimp has expanded its feature set. But it still feels like an email platform with some add-ons. You’ll often need other tools to fill the gaps.
Brevo is a true all-in-one solution. It includes SMS marketing, live chat, a sales CRM, landing pages, and even WhatsApp campaigns in one place.
Winner: Brevo, by a landslide. The value here is undeniable.
The Deciding Factor: Pricing and Plans
For many businesses, this is the most important comparison. The pricing models for Mailchimp and Brevo are fundamentally different, and it impacts everything.
How Their Models Differ
Mailchimp’s pricing is primarily contact-based. You pay more as your list grows, regardless of how many emails you send. This can get expensive quickly.
Brevo’s pricing is primarily send-based. Its plans have generous or even unlimited contact storage. You pay for the volume of emails you send each month.
Head-to-Head Pricing Comparison
This table highlights the core differences in their value proposition. It shows where each platform chooses to focus its pricing strategy.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo |
| Pricing Model | Contact-based | Send-based |
| Free Plan | 500 contacts max | Unlimited contacts |
| Key Value | Simplicity & polish | More features per dollar |
What About the Free Plans?
Mailchimp’s free plan is very restrictive. It’s limited to 500 contacts and 500 sends per month. It’s really just a trial in disguise.
Brevo’s free plan is far more useful. It allows unlimited contacts with a daily sending cap of 300 emails. This is perfect for businesses just starting out.
Quick Summary: Pros and Cons
Let’s distill everything into a simple, scannable format. Here are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of each platform, based on user reviews and my own experience.
Mailchimp
| Pros | Cons |
| Incredibly easy to use | Expensive at scale |
| Polished interface & templates | Very limited free plan |
| Strong brand reputation | Fewer built-in features |
| Great for simple newsletters | Basic automation on low tiers |
Brevo
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent value for money | UI is less polished |
| True all-in-one platform | Can feel overwhelming |
| Generous free plan | Support can be slow |
| Advanced automation included | Weaker template selection |
The Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
The choice between Mailchimp and Brevo comes down to a single question: what do you value more? Is it a seamless user experience or a powerful, all-in-one feature set for a lower price?
You should choose Mailchimp if:
- You are an absolute beginner who prioritizes ease of use above all else.
- Your budget is flexible, and you are willing to pay for a premium experience.
- You only need a best-in-class tool for sending email newsletters.
- You find comprehensive platforms with many features to be overwhelming.
You should choose Brevo if:
- You are a budget-conscious small business or startup looking to scale.
- You want an all-in-one platform that includes a CRM and live chat.
- You need advanced automation and segmentation without a high price tag.
- You are comfortable with a slightly less polished interface to get more power.
For those just starting, Mailchimp is a safe and friendly choice. But for any business looking for serious growth, features, and long-term value, Brevo is now the smarter, more powerful option.
