Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign vs Brevo (Sendinblue)
These three represent different tiers of the all-in-one email marketing spectrum. Mailchimp is the easy on-ramp, ActiveCampaign is the automation powerhouse, and Brevo splits the difference with solid features and aggressive pricing that includes SMS and transactional email.
Quick Verdict
Best for most users: ActiveCampaign — email marketing automation with a built-in crm.
Mailchimp: Email and SMS marketing with automation for small businesses
ActiveCampaign: Email marketing automation with a built-in CRM
Brevo (Sendinblue): Email, SMS and CRM platform priced by email volume
Mailchimp
Email and SMS marketing with automation for small businesses
4.3/5 Free plan · from $13/mo
ActiveCampaign
Email marketing automation with a built-in CRM
4.3/5 From $15/mo billed annually
Brevo (Sendinblue)
Email, SMS and CRM platform priced by email volume
4.2/5 Free plan · from $9/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $15/mo billed annually | $9/mo |
| Free Plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month | No free plan | Up to 100,000 contacts, 300 emails/day |
| Founded | 2001 | 2003 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 100 | 250 | 60 |
| Integrations | 300 | 1,000 | 150 |
| Independent Inbox Test | No independent test | No independent test | No independent test |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No | Yes |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Verdict
| Criterion | Weight | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $13/mo | $15/mo billed annually | $9/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 3.9/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Rating | 25% | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 300 | 1000 | 150 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No | Yes |
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + Best for beginners
- + Best for nonprofits
- + Most recognized brand in email marketing
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- + Best for agencies
- + Best for b2b
- + Industry-leading automation builder
Choose Brevo (Sendinblue) if…
- + Best for transactional email
- + Best for developers
- + Priced by email volume, with generous contact storage on higher tiers
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 (250 contacts, 500 sends)
- − Premium plan is expensive ($350/mo)
- − Charges for unsubscribed contacts
- − Affiliate marketing restricted
- − Deliverability has declined in recent years
ActiveCampaign: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Industry-leading automation builder
- + Built-in CRM for sales teams
- + 1,000+ app integrations
- + Excellent deliverability
- + Powerful segmentation and contact scoring
Cons
- − No free plan available
- − Steep learning curve for beginners
- − Gets expensive with higher-tier features
- − Reporting could be more intuitive
- − Landing page builder is basic compared to dedicated tools
Brevo (Sendinblue): Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Priced by email volume, with generous contact storage on higher tiers
- + Free plan stores up to 100,000 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