EmailOctopus vs Sender vs Brevo (Sendinblue)
Startups and bootstrapped businesses looking for maximum value often discover these three as top budget contenders. EmailOctopus keeps things stripped-back and cheap, Sender packs surprising automation into its free tier, and Brevo adds SMS and transactional email to the mix without breaking the bank.
Quick Verdict
It's a close three-way race — your choice depends on your priorities.
EmailOctopus: Email marketing made easy
Sender: Affordable email and SMS marketing
Brevo (Sendinblue): The most approachable CRM suite
Feature Comparison
| Feature | EmailOctopus | Sender | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $10/mo | $9/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day |
| Founded | 2014 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 30 | 50 | 60 |
| Integrations | 45 | 50 | 60 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 97% | 96.5% |
| 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 | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
The Verdict
| Criterion | Weight | EmailOctopus | Sender | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $10/mo | $9/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 97% | 96.5% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 45 | 50 | 60 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + Best for bloggers
- + Best for solopreneurs
- + Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
Choose Sender if…
- + Extremely generous free plan (2,500 subs, 15,000 emails)
Choose Brevo (Sendinblue) if…
- + Only option with A/B testing
- + Only option with advanced analytics
- + Best for transactional email
- + Best for developers
EmailOctopus: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
- +Very affordable Pro plan
- +Simple and clean interface
- +Good deliverability using Amazon SES
- +Easy migration from other platforms
Cons
- −Limited feature set compared to competitors
- −No A/B testing
- −Small template library
- −Basic automation capabilities
- −No ecommerce features
Sender: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Extremely generous free plan (2,500 subs, 15,000 emails)
- +Built-in SMS marketing on all plans
- +Very affordable paid plans
- +Ecommerce integrations for abandoned cart
- +No credit card required for free plan
Cons
- −No A/B testing
- −No landing page builder
- −Smaller integration ecosystem
- −Less well-known brand
- −Limited advanced features
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