Both Mailchimp and Brevo offer free plans, but they work very differently. Mailchimp caps you by contacts. Brevo caps you by daily sends but lets you store unlimited contacts. Which model works better depends entirely on the size and nature of your list.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $13/mo | $9/mo |
| Free plan contacts | 500 | Unlimited |
| Free plan sends | 1,000/mo | 9,000/mo |
| Pricing model | By contacts | By sends |
| SMS marketing | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Automation on free plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Transactional email | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Best for | Small lists, simple sends | Large lists, multi-channel |
Pricing model
Mailchimp charges by contacts: the more subscribers you have, the more you pay, even if you rarely email them. Brevo charges by sends: you can store as many contacts as you want and only pay when you actually send. For businesses with large lists they email infrequently, Brevo is significantly cheaper.
Free plan comparison
Mailchimp's free plan: up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/mo, limited features. Brevo's free plan: unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day (9,000/mo), no send time optimization. Brevo's free plan is more useful for most businesses with lists over a few hundred people.
Automation
Brevo's automation is more capable at lower price points. Mailchimp's automation on lower tiers is limited. Brevo includes multi-step automation on its free plan. For businesses that need automation without paying for it, Brevo wins.
Additional channels
Brevo includes SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat on paid plans. Mailchimp is email-only. If you want multi-channel marketing from a single platform, Brevo is the better fit.
Consider Mailchimp if...
- Your list is small (under 500) and you want the most beginner-friendly interface
- You prioritize template variety and design tools
- You need integrations with tools that are Mailchimp-specific
- You are a complete beginner and want the most documented platform
Choose Brevo if...
- You have a large list and want to pay by sends, not subscribers
- You want SMS and email under one plan
- You need transactional email alongside marketing email
- You want more automation capability at a lower price point
The bottom line
Brevo's pricing model is more favorable and its free plan is more generous. If you are starting fresh and comparing objectively, Brevo offers more for less. Mailchimp's main advantage is familiarity and its template ecosystem, which matters less the longer you are in the market.
Not sure which tool is right for you? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz. It asks six questions and recommends the right platform based on your needs and budget.