Mailchimp vs Brevo (Sendinblue) vs MailerLite
Small businesses on a budget often narrow their search to these three affordable all-rounders. Mailchimp is the household name, Brevo offers pay-by-email pricing and built-in SMS, and MailerLite consistently undercuts both on price while delivering a clean, no-bloat experience.
Quick Verdict
Best for most users: MailerLite — email marketing tools for growing businesses.
Mailchimp: Turn emails into revenue
Brevo (Sendinblue): The most approachable CRM suite
MailerLite: Email marketing tools for growing businesses
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $9/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | 1,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2001 | 2012 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 100 | 60 | 90 |
| Integrations | 300 | 60 | 140 |
| Deliverability Rate | 96% | 96.5% | 97% |
| 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 | Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $13/mo | $9/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 96% | 96.5% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 300 | 60 | 140 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + Best for nonprofits
- + Most recognized brand in email marketing
Choose Brevo (Sendinblue) if…
- + Lowest starting price ($9/mo)
- + Best for transactional email
- + Best for developers
Choose MailerLite if…
- + Best for bloggers
- + Best for freelancers
- + Excellent value for money — most affordable paid plans
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
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
MailerLite: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent value for money — most affordable paid plans
- +Clean, intuitive interface perfect for beginners
- +Built-in website and landing page builder
- +Sell digital products directly
- +Strong drag-and-drop email editor
Cons
- −Free plan limited to 1,000 subscribers
- −No SMS marketing
- −Fewer integrations than competitors
- −Strict approval process for new accounts
- −Limited automation compared to ActiveCampaign