Brevo (Sendinblue) vs Ghost
Brevo (Sendinblue) is a all-in-one marketing platform while Ghost is a newsletter platform. Brevo (Sendinblue) starts at $9/mo versus $18/mo for Ghost. Both offer free plans to get started. Brevo (Sendinblue) has the edge with marketing automation, A/B testing, landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) wins on price, deliverability, rating.
Ghost wins on integrations.
Best for most users: Brevo (Sendinblue) (small businesses).
Brevo (Sendinblue)
The most approachable CRM suite
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) stands out with its unique pricing model based on email volume rather than subscriber count. This makes it particularly attractive for businesses with large contact lists but moderate email frequency. It also includes CRM, SMS, and transactional email capabilities.
Ghost
Open-source publishing platform with built-in newsletters and memberships
Ghost is an independent, open-source publishing platform built for professional content creators who want full control over their audience and revenue. It combines a beautiful writing editor, built-in newsletters via Mailgun, and native membership/subscription billing with zero platform fees. Available as a free self-hosted solution or as managed Ghost(Pro) hosting starting at $18/month.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Brevo (Sendinblue) | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $18/mo |
| Free Plan | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | Self-hosted open-source version is completely free; no free tier on Ghost(Pro) |
| Founded | 2012 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 60 | 50 |
| Integrations | 60 | 1,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 96.5% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✕ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✕ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✓ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Brevo (Sendinblue): Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Unique pricing model based on emails sent, not contacts
- +Free plan allows unlimited contacts
- +Built-in SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat
- +Transactional email support
- +Strong API for developers
Cons
- −Free plan limited to 300 emails per day
- −Fewer email templates than competitors
- −Interface can feel cluttered
- −Automation is less intuitive than specialized tools
- −Some features feel underdeveloped
Ghost: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Completely open-source with self-hosting option at zero cost
- +Built-in membership and paid subscription system with 0% platform fees on revenue
- +Distraction-free professional editor optimized for long-form writing
- +Significantly faster page load times compared to WordPress, boosting SEO and reader engagement
- +Native newsletter delivery integrated directly into the publishing workflow
Cons
- −Newsletter emails are limited to Mailgun as the sending provider, which is no longer free
- −No plugin ecosystem or marketplace unlike WordPress — limited extensibility
- −Analytics are basic and only show the last 90 days on the dashboard
- −No drag-and-drop email builder or A/B testing for email campaigns
- −Starter plan limited to only 1 staff user and 1 newsletter with no paid subscription support
The Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to Ghost's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from support (4.6 vs 3.9) and ease of use (4.4 vs 3.9). On deliverability, Brevo (Sendinblue) reports 96.5% compared to 95% for Ghost — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Brevo (Sendinblue) | Ghost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $18/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 96.5% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 60 | 1000 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Brevo (Sendinblue) if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need marketing automation
- + You need built-in landing pages
Choose Ghost if…
- + You're a independent publishers and bloggers
- + You're a newsletter creators who want zero platform fees
- + Completely open-source with self-hosting option at zero cost