Overview

Mautic and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) both aim to make marketing automation accessible, but through different approaches. Mautic is open-source software you host yourself. Brevo is affordable SaaS with email, SMS, and CRM built in. See our detailed Brevo comparison for more alternatives.

The Multi-Channel Question

Brevo includes email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat in one platform. Mautic focuses on email and marketing automation, requiring plugins for other channels. If you need multi-channel marketing from day one, Brevo delivers without extra setup.

Cost Comparison

Brevo's Starter plan is $25/month for 20,000 emails with unlimited contacts. Mautic is "free" but requires hosting ($30-100+/month), email delivery service, and technical maintenance. For small businesses without technical staff, Brevo is often cheaper in total cost.

Automation Capabilities

Mautic has more sophisticated automation features, including advanced lead scoring and complex campaign logic. Brevo's automation is good for standard workflows but simpler. If you need enterprise-level marketing automation, Mautic has more depth.

Setup and Maintenance

Brevo takes minutes to set up. You verify your domain and start sending. Mautic requires server provisioning, PHP configuration, database setup, and email infrastructure. This is a significant difference in time-to-value.

For SaaS Companies

Neither platform has native Stripe integration. Brevo connects via Zapier; Mautic requires custom development. Sequenzy was built specifically for SaaS companies with Stripe integration and subscription-aware automation. Check our pricing page for comparison.

Infrastructure Ownership and Control

The most significant difference between Mautic and Brevo is who controls the email infrastructure. Mautic gives you complete ownership of your data and sending infrastructure. Brevo manages everything on your behalf.

Self-hosting provides data sovereignty, complete customization, and freedom from vendor pricing changes. Managed platforms provide convenience, managed deliverability, and professional support. Your choice depends on whether your team has the technical resources to manage infrastructure or prefers to focus entirely on marketing.

Deliverability and Sender Reputation

Email deliverability depends more on your sending practices than your platform choice. Proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication, clean subscriber lists, and consistent sending patterns matter more than which tool you use. Both Mautic and Brevo can achieve good deliverability when configured correctly.

That said, managed platforms typically handle deliverability infrastructure automatically, while self-hosted or API-based solutions require more manual attention. Use an email validator to clean your lists before sending, regardless of which platform you choose.

Migration Path and Switching Costs

If you are considering switching between Mautic and Brevo, plan for a transition period. Contact lists can be exported and imported via CSV, but automations, templates, and integrations will need to be rebuilt. Domain authentication records need to be updated, and your sender reputation may temporarily dip during the transition.

Budget at least two to four weeks for a full migration, including parallel running of both platforms to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Use the email warmup calculator to plan your sending ramp-up on the new platform and maintain deliverability throughout the transition.