Brevo (Sendinblue) vs Mailchimp
Brevo (Sendinblue) and Mailchimp are both popular choices in the all-in-one marketing platform space. Mailchimp has been around since 2001, giving it a 11-year head start over Brevo (Sendinblue) (founded 2012). Brevo (Sendinblue) starts at $9/mo versus $13/mo for Mailchimp. Both offer free plans to get started. Both tools work well for small businesses and ecommerce.
Quick Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) wins on price, deliverability, rating.
Mailchimp 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.
Mailchimp
Turn emails into revenue
Mailchimp is the most widely recognized email marketing platform, used by millions of businesses worldwide. Acquired by Intuit in 2021, it offers a full suite of marketing tools but has become increasingly expensive compared to alternatives.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Brevo (Sendinblue) | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2012 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 60 | 100 |
| Integrations | 60 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 96.5% | 96% |
| 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
Mailchimp: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Most recognized brand in email marketing
- +Excellent drag-and-drop editor
- +300+ integrations with third-party tools
- +Strong analytics and reporting
- +Good for beginners with guided setup
Cons
- −Free plan severely limited (500 contacts, 1,000 sends)
- −Premium plan is expensive ($350/mo)
- −Charges for unsubscribed contacts
- −Affiliate marketing restricted
- −Deliverability has declined in recent years
The Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to Mailchimp's 4.3/5. The gap comes mainly from support (4.6 vs 4) and value for money (4.7 vs 4.4). On deliverability, Brevo (Sendinblue) reports 96.5% compared to 96% for Mailchimp — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Brevo (Sendinblue) | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 96.5% | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 60 | 300 |
| 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're a transactional email
- + You're a developers
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a nonprofits
- + Most recognized brand in email marketing