Brevo vs Mailchimp 2026
The pricing model difference is everything here. Mailchimp charges per contact in your database; Brevo charges per email sent. For businesses with big lists and modest send frequency, Brevo can cut the bill by 80%.
Brevo vs Mailchimp Compared
| Dimension | Brevo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per email, unlimited contacts | Per contact, unlimited emails |
| Free plan | Unlimited contacts, 300/day | 500 contacts, 1,000/mo |
| Paid entry | ~$9/mo (5K emails) | ~$13/mo Essentials |
| Automation | Standard tier (~$18/mo) | Standard tier (~$20/mo) |
| SMS | Native + WhatsApp | Add-on, limited |
| CRM | Built-in free | Basic |
| Templates | Good | Excellent + AI |
| Integrations | ~100 | 300+ |
| Transactional | Free tier included | Extra cost |
The Pricing Math
Scenario A - 30,000 contacts, 2 sends/month: Brevo ~$40-50, Mailchimp ~$350+. Brevo saves ~$3,600/year.
Scenario B - 2,000 contacts, 8 sends/month: Brevo ~$20, Mailchimp ~$60-75. Still Brevo, smaller gap.
Scenario C - Daily sends to engaged list: Mailchimp's unlimited sends can converge or win on heavy senders. Most SMBs don't send daily.
Feature Differences
Multi-channel: Brevo includes SMS and WhatsApp campaigns natively; Mailchimp added SMS but it's limited and extra. For multi-channel, Brevo wins at SMB prices.
Templates/design: Mailchimp's library and AI design tools are clearly better. Brevo's templates are functional.
Ecosystem: Mailchimp's 300+ integrations, Shopify depth, and Meta ads sync are real moats. Brevo covers essentials plus Zapier.
Automation: Both gate behind Standard tiers. Mailchimp's Customer Journeys is more polished; Brevo's is solid but shallower.
Verdict
- Brevo if: list size outgrows budget, infrequent sends, need SMS/WhatsApp, want free CRM + transactional
- Mailchimp if: brand polish, deep integrations, e-commerce attribution, or the ecosystem justifies premium
For the majority of SMBs watching costs, Brevo delivers more value. Mailchimp's premium buys polish and ecosystem - worth it only if you're using them.
Deeper reads: Brevo review | Mailchimp review | Brevo alternatives
