Honest take: Is Brevo worth the trade-offs?
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is genuinely affordable. Unlimited contacts, SMS included, transactional email included. For budget-conscious teams, that's hard to beat. Learn about email campaigns and best practices. The rebrand from Sendinblue in 2023 came with a broader product vision — CRM, marketing automation, WhatsApp — but the core email experience still feels like it's lagging behind more modern alternatives. The per-email pricing model that makes Brevo cheap for infrequent senders can actually become expensive for teams that email their lists regularly, and support response times on lower tiers remain a consistent complaint in user reviews.
But the interface feels like it's from 2015, support can be slow, and the per-email pricing adds up if you email frequently. Here's when alternatives make sense:
If you want better UX: MailerLite
MailerLite offers similar pricing with a much nicer interface. Landing pages, automation, and website builder included. No unlimited contacts, but for most teams, subscriber-based pricing works fine. See our pricing comparison. If you're exploring other budget-friendly options, check our guide to email marketing for small business.
If you run a SaaS: Sequenzy
Sequenzy is built for SaaS with AI content generation and Stripe integration. Modern interface, transactional + marketing together. More expensive than Brevo but better value for software companies. Check our guide to email tools for SaaS and learn about automated email sequences.
If you want familiarity: Mailchimp
Mailchimp is more expensive, but everyone knows how to use it. If training and familiarity matter, Mailchimp's premium might be worth it. See our Mailchimp comparison and our Mailchimp alternatives for the full picture.
If you want unlimited sends: SendX
SendX offers unlimited email sends at a flat rate based on subscriber count. At $59.99/month for 10k subscribers, it's a different pricing model than Brevo's per-email approach. If you email frequently and want predictable costs, SendX might work better. See our SendX alternatives guide for more options.
If you sell products online: Omnisend or Klaviyo
For e-commerce businesses, Brevo's generic features can't compete with purpose-built tools. Klaviyo dominates Shopify stores while Omnisend offers a more affordable entry point. Both include SMS, matching Brevo's multi-channel approach. See our e-commerce email guide for deeper comparisons.
If you prioritize deliverability: Postmark
Brevo mixes marketing and transactional on shared infrastructure. Postmark separates message streams for better inbox placement on critical emails. Worth considering if your transactional emails are landing in spam.
The pricing comparison
At 10,000 contacts:
Brevo: $25+/month (unlimited contacts, pay per email)
MailerLite: $50/month
Sequenzy: $19/month
SendX: $59.99/month (unlimited sends)
Loops: roughly $99/month
Mailchimp: $110-135/month
ActiveCampaign: $79/month
See our full pricing page for more options. Use our email subject line tester to optimize your campaigns on whichever platform you choose.
When Brevo is still the right choice
Stick with Brevo if:
Unlimited contacts is essential for your business
You need SMS marketing included
Budget is your primary concern
You can live with the dated interface
Brevo won EmailToolTester's "Best Value for Money" award for 2023, 2024, and 2025. For pure value, it's hard to beat. Check our email validator to ensure list quality, use our A/B test calculator to optimize your campaigns, and review our glossary of email marketing terms if you're new to the space.




















