Brevo vs ActiveCampaign: which fits your business in 2026?
Pay-per-send and unlimited contacts against contact-based pricing with deeper automation — which email stack fits your funnel.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Our verdicts are based on the data shown.
Pricing verified 2026-06-12 · updated 2026-07-19→ Run the full cost calculator for your exact volume
Quick answer
At ~10,000 ops/mo, Brevo costs about $9/mo vs $150/mo for ActiveCampaign (entry verified tiers; see assumptions).
Best overall value score: Brevo (4.6/5). Easiest to start: Brevo (4.3/5 ease).
Editor's pick
BBrevo — Pay for emails sent, not contacts stored. Score 4.2/5, free plan available.
Cost at 1k / 10k / 50k
| Volume / mo | BBrevo | AActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$15/mo · Starter |
| 10,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$150/mo · Starter (scaled) Extrapolated from 1,000 ops @ $15/mo |
| 50,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$750/mo · Starter (scaled) Extrapolated from 1,000 ops @ $15/mo |
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud. Prices verified from vendor pages in our pricing index.
3-year TCO (at 10,000/mo)
| BBrevo | AActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (est.) | $9 | $150 |
| 3-year total | $324 | $5,400 |
Brevo saves about $5,076 over 3 years at this volume (list price only).
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
At a glance
| BBrevo | AActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.25/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $15/mo |
| Pricing basis | per month, 5,000 emails (unlimited contacts) | per month, 1,000 contacts, billed annually |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Trial | 0 days | 14 days |
| Integrations | 150+ | 900+ |
| Best for | Businesses with big contact lists that send few emails - pricing by volume, not list size | Small businesses that need deep automation workflows and sales follow-up in one tool |
| Try Brevo → | ActiveCampaign review → |
Winner by use case
- Tightest budget: Brevo — entry plan is $6/mo cheaper ($72/year at entry tier).
- Fastest to learn: Brevo (4.3/5 ease of use).
- Most capability: ActiveCampaign (4.7/5 feature depth).
- Best value overall: Brevo (4.6/5 value score).
Feature matrix
| BBrevo | AActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✕ |
| Trial days | 0 | 14 |
| AI features | 3 | 4 |
| Integrations | 150+ | 900+ |
| Ease of use | 4.3/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Feature depth | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Value for money | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Support | 3.9/5 | 4.2/5 |
What would YOU pay?
Entry-tier estimate; full version in the cost calculator.
Pricing, side by side
Strengths and weaknesses
BBrevo
- Unlimited contacts on every plan including free
- WhatsApp campaigns native - rare among rivals
- Generous free plan (300 emails/day)
- Transactional API included
- Daily send cap on free plan
- Automation limited below Business plan
- Email editor less flexible than competitors
- Brand awareness lower since Sendinblue rename
AActiveCampaign
- Best-in-class automation depth for the price
- CRM included - no separate sales tool needed
- Excellent deliverability track record
- 900+ integrations
- Learning curve steeper than simple newsletter tools
- No free plan
- Price climbs fast as contact list grows
- Reporting UI feels dated
Our verdict
Same category, opposite pricing philosophies. Brevo (ex-Sendinblue) charges primarily by emails sent with unlimited contacts. ActiveCampaign charges by contacts stored and wins on automation depth and CRM handoff.
Pricing models, not feature lists
- Brevo Starter ($9/mo) includes 5,000 emails/month and unlimited contacts. Free plan: 300 emails/day. Native SMS and WhatsApp are rare at this price.
- ActiveCampaign Starter ($15/mo) is listed at 1,000 contacts (billed annually in our index). Automation and CRM depth climb on Plus/Pro — and so does the bill as the list grows.
The cost table above treats volume as contacts. Brevo stays flat on list size (send volume is a separate meter). ActiveCampaign scales from the verified 1,000-contact tier when your list is larger — that linear scale is an estimate until you hit vendor checkout.
When Brevo wins
Large, quiet lists. Selective sending. Markets where WhatsApp/SMS sit next to email. Teams that want a real free tier before paying. See also Brevo vs Mailchimp.
When ActiveCampaign wins
Automated follow-up is the revenue engine: lead scoring, site tracking, branching automations, sales CRM in the same product. If sequences convert pipeline, the higher contact-based fee is the engine — not a badge.
Hidden costs and limits
- Brevo: automation depth opens fully on Business; free plan has a daily send cap.
- ActiveCampaign: no free plan; price climbs with contacts; steeper learning curve.
- Both: deliverability and list hygiene matter more than the logo on the invoice.
When to choose neither
Newsletter-only with a tiny list → simpler tools or native ESP. All-in-one course/funnel builders → Systeme.io vs GetResponse.
Choose Brevo if contacts are many and sends are selective, or WhatsApp/SMS matter. Choose ActiveCampaign if automation + CRM depth is how you convert — model contacts in the email cost calculator.
Pricing sources
- Brevo pricing — verified 2026-06-12
- ActiveCampaign pricing — verified 2026-06-12
FAQ
Is Brevo cheaper than ActiveCampaign?
Yes. Brevo starts at $9/mo versus $15/mo for ActiveCampaign (per month, 5,000 emails (unlimited contacts)). Over a year that is a $72 difference at entry tier.
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No. ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day trial instead. Brevo does have a free plan, which makes it easier to test long-term before paying.
Which is easier to use, Brevo or ActiveCampaign?
Based on our scoring, Brevo is easier to get started with (ease-of-use 4.3/5 vs 3.8/5).
Which has more features, Brevo or ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign scores higher on feature depth (4.7/5). Key differentiators: Visual automation builder with 900+ recipes; Built-in sales CRM with deal pipelines; Site and event tracking.
What is the 3-year TCO of Brevo vs ActiveCampaign?
At ~10,000 units/mo on verified tiers, Brevo is about $324 over 3 years ($9/mo) versus ActiveCampaign at $5,400 ($150/mo). Brevo saves roughly $5,076 across 3 years before add-ons. Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
Full reviews: Brevo review · ActiveCampaign review
Related comparisons
Run the numbers: cost calculator · pricing index