Brevo vs. Mailchimp: Detailed Review

When it comes to email marketing, two popular names that frequently pop up are Brevo and Mailchimp. Both platforms offer a robust suite of tools designed to help businesses grow through effective email marketing campaigns. However, choosing between the two can be challenging, especially if you’re not entirely sure which one aligns best with your business goals, ideas, and experience level. In this review, we’ll break down the key differences, pros, and cons of Brevo and Mailchimp, helping you make an informed decision.

Overview of Brevo and Mailchimp

Brevo is an all-in-one digital marketing platform that excels in email marketing, SMS marketing, and automation. It is known for its affordability, especially for businesses that send a high volume of emails. Brevo is designed with a focus on transactional emails, making it a great option for e-commerce businesses.

Mailchimp is a well-established name in email marketing, offering a user-friendly platform with powerful automation and analytics tools. It’s particularly favored by small businesses, freelancers, and startups due to its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, including landing pages, social media ads, and more.

Key Features Comparison

Feature	Brevo	Mailchimp
Email Marketing	Advanced email marketing with SMS capabilities.	Comprehensive email marketing with automation tools.
Automation	Strong automation features, easy to set up workflows.	More complex but feature-rich automation tools.
Pricing	Affordable, based on emails sent.	Pricing based on the number of contacts.
Transactional Emails	Included in all plans, strong focus.	Available only on higher-tier plans.
Ease of Use	User-friendly but less polished than Mailchimp.	Highly intuitive with a sleek interface.
Templates	Over 60 templates, customizable.	100+ templates, drag-and-drop editor.
Integration	Integrates with 50+ apps, strong API.	Integrates with 200+ apps, including e-commerce platforms.
Customer Support	Email and chat support on all plans, phone support on premium.	Email and chat support, phone support only on Premium plan.
Reporting & Analytics	Good reporting features, basic A/B testing.	Advanced analytics, detailed A/B testing options.
SMS Marketing	Available, part of its multi-channel marketing strategy.	Not available.

Pricing Comparison

Plan	Brevo	Mailchimp
Free Plan	Yes, up to 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts.	Yes, up to 2,000 contacts.
Entry-Level Plan	Lite Plan: Starting at $25/month.	Essentials Plan: Starting at $11/month.
Mid-Tier Plan	Premium Plan: Starting at $65/month.	Standard Plan: Starting at $17/month.
High-Tier Plan	Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing.	Premium Plan: Starting at $299/month.

Pros and Cons

Brevo

Pros:

Affordable Pricing: Pricing based on emails sent rather than contact lists, making it cost-effective for high-volume senders.
Transactional Emails: Excellent for businesses that need to send transactional emails, with features included in all plans.
SMS Marketing: Offers SMS marketing, providing a multi-channel communication strategy.
Simple Automation: Easy to set up automation workflows, suitable for small to medium-sized businesses.

Cons:

Limited Integrations: Compared to Mailchimp, it has fewer integrations, which could be limiting for some businesses.
Basic Design Interface: The email design tools are functional but not as polished as Mailchimp’s.
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, it may require some initial learning, especially for users new to email marketing.

Mailchimp

Pros:

User-Friendly Interface: Highly intuitive, ideal for beginners with a drag-and-drop email builder.
Comprehensive Analytics: Advanced reporting tools that provide detailed insights and A/B testing.
Extensive Integrations: Integrates with over 200 apps, making it versatile for various business needs.
Free Plan: Generous free plan with up to 2,000 contacts, great for startups and small businesses.

Cons:

Expensive for Large Lists: Pricing is based on the number of contacts, which can get costly as your list grows.
Limited Automation on Free Plan: Many automation features are locked behind paid plans.
Transactional Emails: Not available on lower-tier plans, which can be a drawback for e-commerce businesses.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between Brevo and Mailchimp depends on your specific business needs, goals, and budget.

Choose Brevo if:

You’re on a tight budget and need a cost-effective solution for sending a large volume of emails.
You need transactional emails included in your plan.
You’re looking for multi-channel marketing with SMS capabilities.

Choose Mailchimp if:

You prefer an intuitive, easy-to-use platform with a sleek interface.
You need advanced analytics and A/B testing to refine your marketing strategies.
You require extensive integrations with various apps and e-commerce platforms.

FAQs

Q: Which platform is better for e-commerce?

A: If transactional emails are crucial, Brevo is better due to its inclusive approach. However, if you’re looking for a broader range of integrations, including e-commerce platforms, Mailchimp might be more suitable.

Q: Is SMS marketing important?

A: If SMS marketing is part of your strategy, Brevo offers this feature. Mailchimp does not provide SMS marketing capabilities, so if this is important, Brevo is the clear winner.

Q: Which platform offers better value for small businesses?

A: For small businesses with a limited budget and large email lists, Brevo provides better value due to its pricing model. Mailchimp is great for businesses needing advanced features and don’t mind paying a bit more.

Q: Can I switch platforms later?

A: Yes, both platforms allow you to export your contact lists, but it’s always easier to start with the platform that best fits your needs to avoid the hassle of migrating later.

Conclusion

In the Brevo vs. Mailchimp debate, the best choice depends on your business needs. Brevo is ideal for businesses focused on cost-effective, high-volume email campaigns, particularly if transactional emails and SMS marketing are important. Mailchimp, on the other hand, shines with its user-friendly interface, extensive integrations, and advanced analytics, making it suitable for businesses that want a comprehensive marketing tool and are willing to invest a bit more.

Evaluate your goals, assess the features that matter most to you, and choose the platform that aligns with your business strategy. Both tools offer free plans, so consider giving them a try to see which one feels right for you.