Choosing the right email marketing platform in 2025 is no longer a simple decision. After working hands-on with Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and Mailchimp for more than a decade—across SaaS products, ecommerce brands, service businesses, and affiliate projects—I can confidently say this:
👉 Both tools are powerful, but they serve very different types of businesses.
This comparison is not based on feature lists copied from sales pages. It’s based on real usage, client campaigns, deliverability testing, pricing realities, and long-term scalability.
If you’re confused between Brevo and Mailchimp, this guide will help you make a clear, profitable decision.
Quick Verdict (For Busy Readers)
- Choose Brevo if you want affordable pricing, advanced automation, CRM features, transactional emails, and scalability for long-term growth.
- Choose Mailchimp if you want beginner-friendly email marketing with strong branding tools and simple campaigns—without complex automation needs.
Now let’s break everything down in detail.
Overview: Brevo vs Mailchimp
| Feature | Brevo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 (France) | 2001 (USA) |
| Core Focus | Email + CRM + Automation | Email Marketing + Branding |
| Free Plan | Yes (300 emails/day) | Yes (500 contacts) |
| Pricing Model | Pay per emails sent | Pay per contacts |
| Automation | Advanced | Basic–Intermediate |
| CRM | Built-in | Limited |
| Transactional Emails | Included | Limited / Paid |
| Best For | SMBs, SaaS, ecommerce | Beginners, small lists |
1. Pricing Comparison (The Biggest Difference)
Brevo Pricing (2025)
Brevo’s pricing is based on emails sent, not contacts stored. This is a huge advantage if you maintain large lists.
- Free: 300 emails/day
- Starter: From ~$25/month (20,000 emails)
- Business: From ~$65/month
- Enterprise: Custom
✔ Unlimited contacts
✔ Automation included
✔ Transactional emails available
Real-world insight:
I’ve managed lists with 100,000+ contacts on Brevo without paying extra just for storing subscribers.
Mailchimp Pricing (2025)
Mailchimp charges based on number of contacts, even if you don’t email them regularly.
- Free: Up to 500 contacts
- Essentials: Starts around $13/month
- Standard: ~$20/month
- Premium: $350+/month for large lists
❌ You pay for inactive subscribers
❌ Automation locked behind higher plans
Real-world insight:
Mailchimp becomes very expensive very fast as your list grows.
Pricing Verdict
🏆 Winner: Brevo
Especially for growing businesses, Brevo offers far better value.
2. Ease of Use & Interface
Mailchimp: Beginner-Friendly
Mailchimp has one of the cleanest dashboards in email marketing.
Pros:
- Easy drag-and-drop editor
- Simple navigation
- Great for first-time users
Cons:
- Advanced features feel hidden
- Less flexibility for power users
Brevo: Professional & Scalable
Brevo’s interface is slightly more complex but far more powerful.
Pros:
- Logical workflow-based design
- Automation-first approach
- Clean campaign builder
Cons:
- Slight learning curve for beginners
My experience:
Beginners prefer Mailchimp initially, but advanced users quickly outgrow it and switch to Brevo.
3. Email Automation & Workflows
This is where the gap becomes obvious.
Brevo Automation (Advanced)
Brevo offers visual workflow automation even on lower plans:
- Welcome series
- Lead nurturing
- Abandoned cart emails
- Behavior-based triggers
- Transactional + marketing automation combined
You can trigger emails based on:
- Page visits
- Email opens/clicks
- Purchase activity
- Contact attributes
Mailchimp Automation (Limited)
Mailchimp automation is suitable for:
- Basic welcome emails
- Simple follow-ups
- Date-based triggers
Advanced automation requires higher-priced plans.
Automation Verdict
🏆 Winner: Brevo
If automation matters to your business, Brevo wins by a wide margin.
4. CRM & Contact Management
Brevo CRM (Built-In & Free)
Brevo includes a real CRM system, not just a contact list.
Features:
- Contact pipelines
- Lead scoring
- Notes & tasks
- Sales tracking
- Deal stages
This makes Brevo suitable for:
- SaaS companies
- Agencies
- Service-based businesses
Mailchimp CRM (Basic)
Mailchimp offers:
- Contact profiles
- Basic tagging
But it’s not a true CRM.
CRM Verdict
🏆 Winner: Brevo
5. Email Deliverability (Very Important)
After years of testing campaigns on both platforms:
Brevo Deliverability
- Strong IP reputation
- Excellent transactional email delivery
- Better control over domain authentication
- Cleaner reporting
Mailchimp Deliverability
- Generally good
- More aggressive compliance enforcement
- Accounts can be restricted suddenly
Personal experience:
Brevo gives more transparency and control, especially for advanced senders.
6. Email Templates & Design
Mailchimp Design Strengths
- Beautiful templates
- Brand-focused layouts
- Built-in content studio
Great for:
- Newsletters
- Content creators
- Visual brands
Brevo Design Strengths
- Clean, conversion-focused templates
- Better HTML control
- Faster loading emails
Better for:
- Performance marketers
- Ecommerce
- B2B campaigns
Design Verdict
🏆 Tie (Depends on Use Case)
Mailchimp wins on visuals, Brevo wins on conversions.
7. Transactional Emails
Brevo (Major Advantage)
Brevo includes:
- Transactional emails (SMTP)
- Order confirmations
- Password resets
- API access
All under one platform.
Mailchimp
- Transactional emails require Mandrill add-on
- Extra cost
- Separate setup
Transactional Verdict
🏆 Winner: Brevo
8. Integrations & Ecosystem
Both platforms integrate with:
- WordPress
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- Zapier
- CRMs
- Payment tools
Mailchimp has more native integrations, but Brevo covers all major platforms.
9. Compliance, GDPR & Privacy
Brevo is EU-based and GDPR-first by design.
Advantages:
- Strong data privacy
- Clear consent tools
- Better compliance controls
Mailchimp is US-based and compliant, but GDPR tools are more limited.
10. Customer Support
Brevo Support
- Email support
- Live chat (paid plans)
- Extensive documentation
Mailchimp Support
- Limited support on free plans
- Live chat only on higher tiers
Who Should Choose Brevo in 2025?
Brevo is ideal for:
✔ Small & medium businesses
✔ SaaS companies
✔ Ecommerce stores
✔ Agencies
✔ Affiliate marketers
✔ Businesses needing automation + CRM
Who Should Choose Mailchimp in 2025?
Mailchimp is ideal for:
✔ Beginners
✔ Bloggers & creators
✔ Small newsletters
✔ Simple email campaigns
Final Verdict: Brevo vs Mailchimp (2025)
After 10+ years of real usage:
🏆 Brevo is the better long-term platform for most businesses in 2025.
Mailchimp is easier at the start, but Brevo:
- Scales better
- Costs less long-term
- Offers automation + CRM
- Supports serious business growth
My Honest Recommendation
If you are building a real business, not just sending newsletters—choose Brevo.
Common Questions:
1. Is Brevo better than Mailchimp for small businesses in 2025?
Yes, Brevo is generally better for small businesses in 2025 because it offers affordable pricing based on emails sent rather than contact count. It also includes advanced automation, CRM features, and transactional emails, which Mailchimp limits to higher-priced plans.
2. Which platform is cheaper: Brevo or Mailchimp?
Brevo is usually cheaper in the long run, especially for businesses with large email lists. Since Brevo charges per email volume instead of per subscriber, you don’t pay extra for inactive contacts, unlike Mailchimp.
3. Does Brevo have better automation than Mailchimp?
Yes. Brevo provides more advanced and flexible automation workflows, including behavior-based triggers, sales pipelines, and transactional automation. Mailchimp’s automation is more basic and requires higher-tier plans for similar functionality.
4. Can I migrate from Mailchimp to Brevo easily?
Yes, migrating from Mailchimp to Brevo is straightforward. You can export contacts, tags, and segments from Mailchimp and import them into Brevo. Brevo also provides migration guides and support to help ensure a smooth transition.
5. Which tool is better for email deliverability: Brevo or Mailchimp?
Both platforms offer strong deliverability, but Brevo gives users more control over domain authentication, sender reputation, and transactional emails. This makes Brevo a better choice for businesses sending high-volume or automated emails.