Brevo vs Mailchimp — which is better for your list in 2026?
Which is better, Brevo or Mailchimp? Contact-based vs send-based pricing — the math flips with list shape and send frequency. Verified plans.
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 2026-07-20→ Run the full cost calculator for your exact volume
Quick answer
At ~10,000 ops/mo, Mailchimp costs about $0/mo vs $9/mo for Brevo (entry verified tiers; see assumptions).
Best overall value score: Brevo (4.6/5). Easiest to start: Mailchimp (4.6/5 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 | MMailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$0/mo · Free |
| 10,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$0/mo · Free |
| 50,000 | $9/mo · Starter List-size independent on verified tiers (pay-per-send or seats) |
$0/mo · Free |
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 | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (est.) | $9 | $0 |
| 3-year total | $324 | $0 |
Mailchimp saves about $324 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 | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.25/5 | 3.88/5 |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Pricing basis | per month, 5,000 emails (unlimited contacts) | per month, 500 contacts, billed monthly |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Trial | 0 days | 0 days |
| Integrations | 150+ | 300+ |
| Best for | Businesses with big contact lists that send few emails - pricing by volume, not list size | Beginners who want the most familiar brand and a quick start |
| Try Brevo → | Mailchimp review → |
Winner by use case
- Tightest budget: Brevo — entry plan is $4/mo cheaper ($48/year at entry tier).
- Fastest to learn: Mailchimp (4.6/5 ease of use).
- Most capability: Brevo (4.2/5 feature depth).
- Best value overall: Brevo (4.6/5 value score).
Feature matrix
| BBrevo | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trial days | 0 | 0 |
| AI features | 3 | 4 |
| Integrations | 150+ | 300+ |
| Ease of use | 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Feature depth | 4.2/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Value for money | 4.6/5 | 3.4/5 |
| Support | 3.9/5 | 3.6/5 |
What would YOU pay?
Entry-tier estimate; full version in the cost calculator.
Pricing, side by side
MMailchimp
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free / custom |
| Essentials | $13/mo |
| Standard | $20/mo |
Verified 2026-06-12 · Pricing source
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
MMailchimp
- Easiest onboarding in the category
- Huge template and integration ecosystem
- Strong brand trust with clients
- Good free entry point
- Charges for unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts
- Automation weaker than ActiveCampaign at same price
- Price rises sharply with list growth
- Support limited on lower tiers
Our verdict
Which is better, Brevo or Mailchimp? The deciding factor is a single question: is your contact list big but your send volume small?
Mailchimp prices by contacts stored. Brevo prices by emails sent, with unlimited contacts on every plan including free. A 20,000-contact list that receives one campaign a month costs serious money on Mailchimp and almost nothing on Brevo. Reverse the shape — small list, heavy sending — and Mailchimp's model can come out ahead.
Best for small businesses
Brevo wins when you have a large dormant list or send infrequently. Paying Mailchimp for contacts you never email is the most common waste we see. Mailchimp wins when you send weekly to a list under ~2,500 contacts and want the fastest path to polished campaigns without thinking about send credits.
Best for creators and ecommerce
Creators with a free lead magnet often accumulate contacts faster than they send — Brevo's unlimited contacts + pay-per-send model fits that shape. Ecommerce stores with frequent promos and abandoned-cart flows may hit Brevo's send limits faster; Mailchimp's contact model can be predictable if your list stays small relative to send volume.
Hidden costs and limits
- Mailchimp bills for unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts on paid plans — list hygiene directly affects your bill.
- Brevo daily send limits on lower tiers can block big launches; check the send cap before Black Friday.
- Both charge more as you scale; use the email cost calculator with your real list size before committing.
When to choose neither
If you only need transactional email (receipts, password resets), neither tool is the best fit — a dedicated transactional API (Postmark, Amazon SES) is cheaper. If you need advanced CRM pipelines, consider ActiveCampaign or HubSpot instead of forcing either tool to be your sales system.
Brevo also brings channels Mailchimp doesn't: native SMS and WhatsApp campaigns, plus a transactional email API that developers normally pay a separate service for. Mailchimp counters with a more polished campaign editor and a far larger template and integration ecosystem.
Choose Brevo if you have a large list, send selectively, or want WhatsApp/SMS in the same tool. Choose Mailchimp if you send frequently to a small list and value editor polish over channel breadth.
Pricing sources
- Brevo pricing — verified 2026-06-12
- Mailchimp pricing — verified 2026-06-12
Run your numbers in the email marketing cost calculator before signing up.
FAQ
Which is better, Brevo or Mailchimp?
It depends on list shape. Brevo is usually better when you store many contacts but send infrequently (pay-per-send, unlimited contacts). Mailchimp is often better for frequent sends to a smaller list when you want the polished campaign editor. Model your real list size in the email cost calculator before deciding — entry price alone lies.
Is Brevo cheaper than Mailchimp?
Yes. Brevo starts at $9/mo versus $13/mo for Mailchimp (per month, 5,000 emails (unlimited contacts)). Over a year that is a $48 difference at entry tier.
Which is easier to use, Brevo or Mailchimp?
Based on our scoring, Mailchimp is easier to get started with (ease-of-use 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5).
Which has more features, Brevo or Mailchimp?
Brevo scores higher on feature depth (4.2/5). Key differentiators: Volume-based pricing (unlimited contacts on all plans); Transactional email API included; SMS and WhatsApp campaigns.
What is the 3-year TCO of Brevo vs Mailchimp?
At ~10,000 units/mo on verified tiers, Brevo is about $324 over 3 years ($9/mo) versus Mailchimp at $0 ($0/mo). Mailchimp saves roughly $324 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 · Mailchimp review
Related comparisons
Run the numbers: cost calculator · pricing index