Reviewed 2026-10-14
Mailchimp vs Brevo
The core difference is the billing axis: Mailchimp charges mainly on stored contacts, Brevo charges mainly on emails sent.
Our take
Brevo
If you hold a large list but only mail part of it regularly, Brevo's send-based pricing is usually cheaper. Mailchimp still wins on template polish, brand familiarity and the breadth of its e-commerce integrations.
Side by side
Rows marked in colour show which option we think is ahead on that point.
| Criteria | Mailchimp | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary billing axis | Number of contacts stored | Number of emails sent |
| SMS and WhatsApp | Available as a separate product | Included in the same platform |
| Transactional email | Separate product with its own plan | Included on paid plans |
| Template library | Extensive, well-designed templates | Functional but a smaller selection |
| Learning curve | Very familiar to most marketers | Slightly denser interface |
Sources
These are the vendor pages we used when writing this comparison. Prices and plan limits change; confirm them before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Answers restate what this comparison records and link to the vendor pages it cites.
Does Mailchimp bill by contacts while Brevo bills by sends?
The billing axis is the main difference: our entries describe Mailchimp as scaling with contacts stored and Brevo as scaling with emails sent. A large, lightly-contacted list is cheaper to keep on send-based pricing. Compare the current tiers on the Mailchimp pricing page and the Brevo pricing page.
What is the difference between Mailchimp and Brevo?
The core difference is the billing axis: Mailchimp charges mainly on stored contacts, Brevo charges mainly on emails sent.
How do Mailchimp and Brevo compare on price?
Both are tiered, so the figure depends on your own volume. Our entries describe Mailchimp as: Free tier available; paid plans scale with contacts. And Brevo as: Free plan available; paid plans scale with sends. Compare the Mailchimp pricing page and the Brevo pricing page before you commit.
Which should I choose, Mailchimp or Brevo?
If you hold a large list but only mail part of it regularly, Brevo's send-based pricing is usually cheaper. Mailchimp still wins on template polish, brand familiarity and the breadth of its e-commerce integrations.
Where did the figures in this comparison come from?
This comparison is based on the vendor pages we read: Mailchimp pricing and Brevo pricing. Prices and plan limits change, so check them before you commit.
How do Mailchimp and Brevo compare on "Primary billing axis"?
Mailchimp: Number of contacts stored. Brevo: Number of emails sent.