Brevo and Mailchimp are two leading email marketing tools. Both help businesses send emails, build customer lists, and manage campaigns. But they work in different ways. This article will compare them side by side. You will learn about their features, pricing, ease of use, and which type of user they fit best.
1. Overview of Brevo and Mailchimp
Brevo, previously known as Sendinblue, is an email marketing and automation platform. It also offers SMS marketing, live chat, and CRM features. Brevo focuses on communication across different channels.
Mailchimp is known for email marketing. It also includes tools for landing pages, social ads, and basic automation. It is very popular with small and medium businesses.
2. Ease of Use
Brevo:
- The dashboard is clean and simple.
- Setting up campaigns takes only a few clicks.
- You can create emails using a drag-and-drop builder.
- Menu items are well-labeled.
Mailchimp:
- Mailchimp has a modern design.
- It uses guided steps to create campaigns.
- The learning curve is a bit higher due to extra features.
- Beginners might need some time to understand the layout.
Winner: Brevo is slightly easier for new users. Mailchimp offers more tools but may seem crowded to beginners.
3. Email Design and Templates
Brevo:
- Offers fewer email templates than Mailchimp.
- The builder is simple and works fast.
- Templates are easy to edit and mobile-friendly.
Mailchimp:
- Offers a wide range of templates.
- You can filter templates by industry or purpose.
- It supports dynamic content and advanced layouts.
Winner: Mailchimp wins with more choices and better design options.
4. Automation Features
Brevo:
- Offers workflows based on user actions.
- You can send emails, SMS, or assign CRM tasks automatically.
- Supports automation for abandoned carts, welcome emails, and more.
- Easy to set up with visual workflows.
Mailchimp:
- Offers basic and advanced automation.
- Good for welcome series, birthday messages, and product follow-ups.
- Supports conditional paths based on user behavior.
- Includes pre-built journeys for faster setup.
Winner: Brevo offers more channels in automation. Mailchimp is better for email-only workflows with advanced filters.
5. Contact Management
Brevo:
- Unlimited contact storage on all plans.
- Lets you group contacts with custom attributes.
- Allows advanced segmentation.
Mailchimp:
- Charges based on the number of contacts.
- Supports tags, groups, and segments.
- Smart features like predicted demographics are available.
Winner: Brevo wins for offering unlimited contacts and strong list management for free.
6. Reporting and Analytics
Brevo:
- Shows open rates, click rates, and bounce rates.
- Heatmaps are available on higher plans.
- Basic real-time reports are included.
Mailchimp:
- Offers detailed campaign reports.
- Provides email insights like best send time and audience behavior.
- Supports integration with Google Analytics.
Winner: Mailchimp offers deeper insights, which is useful for data-driven users.
7. Integrations
Brevo:
- Works with popular platforms like Shopify, WordPress, and WooCommerce.
- Fewer native integrations than Mailchimp.
- Offers API access for custom connections.
Mailchimp:
- Integrates with hundreds of apps and services.
- Works well with e-commerce platforms.
- Includes built-in tools for social ads and surveys.
Winner: Mailchimp wins for having more ready-to-use integrations.
8. SMS and Multi-Channel Marketing
Brevo:
- Strong focus on SMS, WhatsApp, live chat, and push notifications.
- You can combine channels in automation workflows.
- One dashboard controls all channels.
Mailchimp:
- Focuses on email and some social channels.
- No built-in SMS features.
- Social posting and ads are available.
Winner: Brevo clearly leads in multi-channel marketing.
9. CRM Features
Brevo:
- Built-in CRM at no extra cost.
- You can track leads, assign tasks, and add notes.
- Works smoothly with email and automation features.
Mailchimp:
- Offers a basic CRM.
- Helps manage contacts and customer activity.
- Lacks sales pipeline and task features.
Winner: Brevo offers a stronger, more complete CRM system.
10. A/B Testing
Brevo:
- Allows testing subject lines, content, and send times.
- Limited options on the free plan.
Mailchimp:
- Offers more advanced A/B testing.
- Can test multiple versions of an email.
- Useful for testing call-to-actions, design, and more.
Winner: Mailchimp is better for users who want detailed A/B tests.
11. Pricing
Brevo:
- Free plan includes unlimited contacts and 300 emails/day.
- Starter plan starts around $25/month.
- SMS and advanced features cost extra.
- Pricing is based on the number of emails sent.
Mailchimp:
- Free plan includes 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month.
- Essentials plan starts at $13/month.
- Pricing increases with more contacts.
- Some tools are only on higher plans.
Winner: Brevo gives more value for free and low-cost plans.
12. Customer Support
Brevo:
- Offers email and chat support on all plans.
- Phone support is available on higher plans.
Mailchimp:
- Free plan users get only email support.
- Chat support starts on paid plans.
- Phone support is limited to premium users.
Winner: Brevo gives better support access across all plans.
13. Best for Different Users
Choose Brevo if:
- You need multi-channel marketing (SMS, WhatsApp).
- You want a free CRM.
- You send emails to many contacts.
- You run a small business or startup.
Choose Mailchimp if:
- You want advanced email features and analytics.
- You need strong integration options.
- You prefer ready-to-use templates.
- You manage a brand or do detailed email testing.
Final Verdict
Brevo and Mailchimp both offer strong tools. Brevo is better for users who want simple email marketing with multi-channel support and a built-in CRM. Mailchimp is better for users who focus mainly on email and need deep analytics and more design options.
If cost and contact limits matter to you, Brevo is the clear winner. If you need powerful tools and don’t mind paying more, Mailchimp may suit you better.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Brevo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ✅ Simple | ❌ Slightly complex |
| Email Templates | ❌ Fewer | ✅ Many choices |
| Automation | ✅ Multi-channel | ✅ Email-focused |
| Contact Limit | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ Paid tiers only |
| Reporting | ❌ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
| Integrations | ❌ Fewer | ✅ Wide range |
| SMS Support | ✅ Included | ❌ Not available |
| CRM | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Basic |
| A/B Testing | ❌ Basic | ✅ Strong |
| Pricing | ✅ Affordable | ❌ Costly for large lists |
| Support | ✅ More access | ❌ Limited on free plan |
In the end, choose the tool that fits your goals. Test both if you are not sure. Both offer free plans, so you can explore before you decide.