Mailchimp vs Brevo (Sendinblue) (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
⚡ Quick Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) beats Mailchimp for newsletters in 2026. Brevo (Sendinblue) scores 8.2/10 to Mailchimp's 8/10. Brevo (Sendinblue) also has a free plan.
Excellent
Brevo (Sendinblue) — Our Verdict
Brevo (Sendinblue) is the stronger choice for newsletters — it scores 8.2/10 vs 8/10 and wins on most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day. Mailchimp is worth considering if free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library is your top priority.
- Most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
- All-in-one platform includes CRM, chat, and SMS at low cost
- Strong transactional email capabilities for developers
Pros
- Most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
- All-in-one platform includes CRM, chat, and SMS at low cost
- Strong transactional email capabilities for developers
Cons
- Brevo logo on emails in free tier
- Advanced automations require Standard plan or higher
- SMS pricing is add-on per message, not included
Mailchimp vs Brevo (Sendinblue) (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
Budget is often the deciding factor when choosing between Mailchimp and Brevo (Sendinblue). Mailchimp starts at $0 (up to 500 contacts) while Brevo (Sendinblue) comes in at $0 (unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day) — but the real question isn’t just cost, it’s what you get for your money. We spent weeks using both email marketing and newsletter platforms tools to build this no-fluff comparison.
Bottom line up front: Brevo (Sendinblue) is our pick for newsletters — read on for why, and where Mailchimp wins instead.
Quick Verdict
| Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $0 (up to 500 contacts) | $0 (unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day) |
| Best For | Small businesses and e-commerce brands wanting… | Growing businesses that want email +… |
| Our Pick | ⭐ Winner |
About Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a email marketing and newsletter platforms tool known for its capabilities. It’s designed for Small businesses and e-commerce brands wanting a recognized email platform with a free starting point and has built a strong reputation for free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library. Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
Where it falls short: Free plan caps at 500 contacts and 500 emails/day. Pricing scales steeply with list size
About Brevo (Sendinblue)
Brevo (Sendinblue) takes a different approach to email marketing and newsletter platforms. It’s built around its core strengths and is particularly well-suited for Growing businesses that want email + SMS + CRM in one affordable platform.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: Most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day. All-in-one platform includes CRM, chat, and SMS at low cost
Where it falls short: Brevo logo on emails in free tier. Advanced automations require Standard plan or higher
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|
The feature gap between these tools reflects their different design philosophies. Mailchimp prioritizes breadth, while Brevo (Sendinblue) goes deeper on specific use cases.
For a full look at Mailchimp’s capabilities, see our Mailchimp review. For Brevo (Sendinblue), read the Brevo (Sendinblue) review.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Starter | ❌ Not available | $9/mo ($9 annually) |
| Enterprise | ❌ Not available | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Important pricing notes:
- All prices verified as of 2026-03-28. Check official pages before purchasing.
- Mailchimp has a free plan — see full Mailchimp pricing breakdown for limits.
- Brevo (Sendinblue) has a free plan — see Brevo (Sendinblue) pricing details.
Pros and Cons
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
- ✅ Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
- ✅ Intuit-backed infrastructure for enterprise-grade deliverability
Cons:
- ❌ Free plan caps at 500 contacts and 500 emails/day
- ❌ Pricing scales steeply with list size
- ❌ Automations on Essentials limited to 4 flow steps
Brevo (Sendinblue) Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ Most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
- ✅ All-in-one platform includes CRM, chat, and SMS at low cost
- ✅ Strong transactional email capabilities for developers
Cons:
- ❌ Brevo logo on emails in free tier
- ❌ Advanced automations require Standard plan or higher
- ❌ SMS pricing is add-on per message, not included
Which One Should You Choose?
The right answer depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Best for newsletters: Brevo (Sendinblue) — Most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day
Best for ecommerce: Mailchimp — Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
Best for creators: Brevo (Sendinblue) — All-in-one platform includes CRM, chat, and SMS at low cost
If you’re still on the fence: Brevo (Sendinblue) is the safer default. It scores 8.2/10 in our testing versus Mailchimp’s 8/10, and most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day.
Note: This is a non-affiliate link. We don’t earn commission on Brevo (Sendinblue) — our recommendation is based entirely on merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than Brevo (Sendinblue)? Brevo (Sendinblue) scores higher in our testing (8.2/10 vs 8/10). Brevo (Sendinblue) is the better choice for newsletters due to most generous free tier — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day. However, Mailchimp is a stronger fit if free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library.
What’s cheaper, Mailchimp or Brevo (Sendinblue)? Mailchimp starts at $0 (up to 500 contacts), while Brevo (Sendinblue) starts at $0 (unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day). Mailchimp has a free plan. Brevo (Sendinblue) also has a free tier. See the pricing comparison table above for the full plan breakdown.
Does Mailchimp have a free plan? Yes. Mailchimp offers a free tier — Free tier available. This makes it easy to test before committing to a paid plan.
Does Brevo (Sendinblue) have a free plan? Yes. Brevo (Sendinblue) offers a free tier — Free tier available.
Related Comparisons & Guides
- Mailchimp Full Review
- Mailchimp Pricing 2026
- Mailchimp Alternatives
- Mailchimp vs Kit (ConvertKit)
- Mailchimp vs beehiiv
- Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
- Brevo (Sendinblue) Full Review
- Brevo (Sendinblue) Pricing
Related Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than Brevo (Sendinblue)?
What's cheaper, Mailchimp or Brevo (Sendinblue)?
Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
Does Brevo (Sendinblue) have a free plan?
Try Brevo (Sendinblue) yourself
See current pricing and features on the official site.