Mailchimp
4.4 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
The best-known all-in-one email marketing platform, now with Intuit Assist generative AI baked into the editor.
Free tier · $13/mo Visit ↗
Brevo
Multichannel marketing platform (email, SMS, WhatsApp) priced by sends, not contacts — with Aura AI built in.
Quick answer
Brevo is best for small & midsize businesses. It offers a free tier, with paid plans from $9/mo. Its standout strength is volume-based pricing keeps large contact lists affordable; the main trade-off is entry tiers cap monthly sends, so high-volume senders upgrade fast. Top alternatives: Mailchimp and MailerLite.
Pricing
Free tier · $9/mo
Free tier
Yes
MaxAEO Score
4.4 /5
Pricing as of June 2026 and may change — verify on the vendor's site. · Data verified 2026-06-03
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | ~300 emails/day, unlimited contacts, AI content generation |
| Starter | $9/mo | From 5,000 emails/mo, no daily limit, basic reporting |
| Business | Volume-based | Automation, A/B testing, AI send-time & segmentation |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO/SAML, sub-accounts, dedicated IP, AI Data Analyst |
Verify pricing on the vendor's site (as of 2026-06-03).
Best for
Small & midsize businesses Solopreneurs starting on a free plan Multichannel marketers (email + SMS + WhatsApp) Teams wanting volume-based pricing
Why we recommend it
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) stands out by pricing on email volume instead of contact count, so businesses with large lists but moderate send frequency can keep costs low. It spans email, SMS, and WhatsApp with a light CRM, and layers in Aura AI for content generation, send-time optimization, segmentation, and a natural-language data analyst. The permanent free tier and $9 entry plan make it one of the most accessible multichannel platforms for SMBs.
Our take
Brevo's pricing-by-send-volume (rather than per contact) is the genuinely differentiating choice here — if you sit on a big list but email it occasionally, it's far cheaper than contact-based ESPs. The flip side showed up immediately in the limits: the free tier is ~300 emails/day and the $9 Starter is 5,000/month, so frequent senders climb tiers fast. Best read as the value-and-multichannel pick (email + SMS + WhatsApp) for SMBs who watch cost per send.
Key use cases
- Send email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns from one platform
- Generate email copy and subject lines with the AI content generator
- Automate send time per contact with AI optimization
- Build behavior-based segments with Aura AI
- Ask data questions in natural language with the AI Data Analyst
Integrations
Shopify WooCommerce WordPress Salesforce Magento Wix Stripe PayPal Google Analytics Zapier
Pros
- Volume-based pricing keeps large contact lists affordable
- True multichannel: email, SMS, and WhatsApp with a light CRM
- Aura AI covers content, send-time, segmentation, and analytics
Cons
- Entry tiers cap monthly sends, so high-volume senders upgrade fast
- Some AI and advanced features are reserved for higher tiers
What to compare
- Priced by email volume rather than contact count — store large lists cheaply
- Email, SMS, and WhatsApp plus a light CRM in one platform
- Entry send limits are tight, so heavy senders move up tiers quickly
Brevo alternatives
MailerLite
4.6 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
Simple, affordable email marketing for creators and small businesses, with an AI writing assistant and smart sending.
Free tier · $10/mo Visit ↗
ActiveCampaign
4.4 AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
Powerful marketing automation and a light CRM, with predictive sending and an AI automation builder.
$19/mo Visit ↗
Frequently asked questions
Is Brevo priced per contact or per email sent?
By email send volume, not contact count — so you can store large lists cheaply and pay for what you send. The free tier allows ~300 emails/day, and the $9/mo Starter removes the daily limit with 5,000 emails/month, so frequent senders move up tiers as volume grows.
What channels does Brevo support?
Brevo is multichannel: email, SMS, and WhatsApp from one platform, plus a light built-in CRM. Its Aura AI adds content generation, send-time optimization, and segmentation, with a natural-language data analyst on higher tiers.
How much does Brevo cost?
Brevo starts at $9/mo. A free tier is available to start.
Who is Brevo best for?
Brevo is best for Small & midsize businesses, Solopreneurs starting on a free plan, Multichannel marketers (email + SMS + WhatsApp). A typical use: send email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns from one platform.
What are the best Brevo alternatives?
Top Brevo alternatives include Mailchimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign — compare them on features, pricing, and best-fit use case.
Is Brevo worth it?
Volume-based pricing keeps large contact lists affordable, though entry tiers cap monthly sends, so high-volume senders upgrade fast. It is a strong fit for small & midsize businesses.
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