Mailchimp vs Brevo (Sendinblue) (2026)
Mailchimp beats Brevo (Sendinblue) for newsletters in 2026. Mailchimp scores 7/10 to Brevo (Sendinblue)'s 7/10. Mailchimp also has a free plan.
Mailchimp is the stronger choice for newsletters — it scores 7/10 vs 7/10 and wins on most recognized email marketing brand. Brevo (Sendinblue) is worth considering if excellent value with generous free plan is your top priority.
- +Most recognized email marketing brand
- +Easy drag-and-drop email builder
- +Massive integration ecosystem
- −Free plan very limited at 250 contacts
- −Gets expensive quickly as list grows
- −Automation features weaker than ActiveCampaign
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 $13/mo while Brevo (Sendinblue) comes in at $9/mo — 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: Mailchimp is our pick for newsletters — read on for why, and where Brevo (Sendinblue) wins instead.
Quick Verdict
| Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $9/mo |
| Best For | newsletters | ecommerce |
| Our Pick | ⭐ Winner |
About Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a email marketing and newsletter platforms tool known for email campaign builder with templates. It’s designed for newsletters and has built a strong reputation for most recognized email marketing brand.
Key features:
- Email campaign builder with templates
- Marketing automation workflows
- Audience segmentation and analytics
- Landing pages and signup forms
- Generative AI for content and subject lines
What makes it stand out: Most recognized email marketing brand. Easy drag-and-drop email builder
Where it falls short: Free plan very limited at 250 contacts. Gets expensive quickly as list grows
About Brevo (Sendinblue)
Brevo (Sendinblue) takes a different approach to email marketing and newsletter platforms. It’s built around email marketing campaigns and automation and is particularly well-suited for ecommerce.
Key features:
- Email marketing campaigns and automation
- SMS and WhatsApp marketing
- CRM and deal pipeline
- Transactional email API
- Landing pages and signup forms
What makes it stand out: Excellent value with generous free plan. Multi-channel: email, SMS, WhatsApp in one tool
Where it falls short: Email editor less polished than Mailchimp. Advanced automations require Business plan
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo (Sendinblue) |
|---|---|---|
| Email campaign builder with templates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Marketing automation workflows | ✅ | ✅ |
| Audience segmentation and analytics | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Landing pages and signup forms | ✅ | ✅ |
| Generative AI for content and subject lines | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Email marketing campaigns and automation | ✅ | ✅ |
The feature gap between these tools reflects their different design philosophies. Mailchimp prioritizes email campaign builder with templates, while Brevo (Sendinblue) goes deeper on email marketing campaigns and automation.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| Paid | Free: up to 250 contacts. Essentials: from $13/mo. Standard: from $20/mo. Premium: from $350/mo | Free: 300 emails/day. Starter: from $9/mo. Business: from $18/mo. Enterprise: custom |
Important pricing notes:
- All prices verified as of 2026-03-23. 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:
- ✅ Most recognized email marketing brand
- ✅ Easy drag-and-drop email builder
- ✅ Massive integration ecosystem
Cons:
- ❌ Free plan very limited at 250 contacts
- ❌ Gets expensive quickly as list grows
- ❌ Automation features weaker than ActiveCampaign
Brevo (Sendinblue) Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ Excellent value with generous free plan
- ✅ Multi-channel: email, SMS, WhatsApp in one tool
- ✅ Pricing based on emails sent, not contacts
Cons:
- ❌ Email editor less polished than Mailchimp
- ❌ Advanced automations require Business plan
- ❌ Brevo branding on free emails
Which One Should You Choose?
The right answer depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Best for newsletters: Mailchimp — Most recognized email marketing brand
Best for ecommerce: Brevo (Sendinblue) — Excellent value with generous free plan
Best for creators: Mailchimp — Easy drag-and-drop email builder
If you’re still on the fence: Mailchimp is the safer default. It scores 7/10 in our testing versus Brevo (Sendinblue)‘s 7/10, and most recognized email marketing brand.
Note: This is a non-affiliate link. We don’t earn commission on Mailchimp — our recommendation is based entirely on merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than Brevo (Sendinblue)? Mailchimp scores higher in our testing (7/10 vs 7/10). Mailchimp is the better choice for newsletters due to most recognized email marketing brand. However, Brevo (Sendinblue) is a stronger fit if excellent value with generous free plan.
What’s cheaper, Mailchimp or Brevo (Sendinblue)? Mailchimp starts at $13/mo, while Brevo (Sendinblue) starts at $9/mo. 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 — limited free access. 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 — limited free access.
Related Comparisons & Guides
- Mailchimp Full Review
- Mailchimp Pricing 2026
- Mailchimp Alternatives
- Mailchimp vs Beehiiv
- Mailchimp vs Kit (ConvertKit)
- Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
- Brevo (Sendinblue) Full Review
- Brevo (Sendinblue) Pricing
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