Overview

Mailchimp and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) are both popular email marketing platforms, but their pricing models differ fundamentally. Mailchimp charges per contact, while Brevo charges per email sent with unlimited contacts. This difference can lead to dramatically different costs.

Your choice depends largely on your list size, email frequency, and which pricing model works better for your business.

The Pricing Difference

At 10,000 contacts, Mailchimp costs $100/month regardless of how often you email. Brevo's $25/month Starter plan includes 20,000 emails - enough to email your entire list twice monthly.

For businesses with large lists who email weekly or less, Brevo can cost 75% less than Mailchimp. For businesses emailing daily, Brevo's per-email costs add up and the gap narrows.

Feature Comparison

Mailchimp has a more polished interface and better email templates. The drag-and-drop builder feels more refined, and design options are more extensive.

Brevo includes more channels - SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat are built-in. It also includes transactional email in the platform, while Mailchimp requires the separate Mandrill product.

SMS and Multichannel

Brevo treats SMS as a first-class feature with campaigns, automation, and reasonable pricing. WhatsApp marketing is also available. Mailchimp's SMS is an add-on that feels less integrated.

For businesses wanting email + SMS + chat in one platform, Brevo is the more comprehensive choice.

Transactional Email

Brevo handles transactional and marketing email together. You can send password resets, order confirmations, and marketing campaigns from the same platform.

Mailchimp separates these into Mailchimp (marketing) and Mandrill (transactional), requiring separate setup and pricing.

When Each Platform Shines

Choose Mailchimp when: You prioritize design quality and UX. You email your list frequently (daily or near-daily). You want social ads integration and the best templates.

Choose Brevo when: You have a large list but email less frequently. You need SMS, WhatsApp, or live chat. You want transactional and marketing email together.

For SaaS Companies

Neither platform is specifically designed for SaaS. Brevo's unified transactional/marketing email is useful, but it lacks subscription-specific automation. SaaS companies should consider Sequenzy for Stripe integration and subscription-aware features.