Brevo Review 2025: Is It a Better Alternative to Mailchimp?

Introduction: The Email Marketing Landscape in 2025

In 2025, email marketing remains a critical component of digital strategy, delivering unmatched ROI and audience engagement across industries. However, as businesses demand more personalized, scalable, and budget-conscious solutions, the competitive field of email marketing platforms continues to evolve rapidly.

Two names consistently lead the conversation: Mailchimp, a long-established market leader, and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), a platform rapidly gaining traction for its affordability, versatility, and integrated communication features. This in-depth review aims to assess whether Brevo has matured into a viable and perhaps superior alternative to Mailchimp.

We’ll analyze the platforms across multiple dimensions: automation, list management, design flexibility, integrations, pricing, and more—backed by user feedback, expert analysis, and industry data. Our ultimate goal: help you determine if Brevo deserves to be your primary email marketing tool in 2025.

What is Brevo? A Brief Overview

Brevo is a cloud-based, all-in-one marketing platform designed to help businesses manage customer relationships across multiple channels—email, SMS, live chat, WhatsApp, and marketing automation. Originally launched in 2012 as Sendinblue and rebranded to Brevo in 2023, the platform emphasizes accessibility and scalability for small businesses and enterprises alike.

Brevo is especially favored for:

• Its transactional email capabilities
• Multi-channel campaign orchestration
• Transparent usage-based pricing
• A clean and intuitive user experience

With a growing customer base and regular feature enhancements, Brevo has positioned itself as a compelling solution for those seeking a balance of power, usability, and cost efficiency.

Mailchimp: The Incumbent Giant

Mailchimp, now part of Intuit, has become nearly synonymous with email marketing. Its platform has evolved far beyond newsletters to include CRM tools, landing page builders, and even e-commerce functionality.

Mailchimp’s major strengths include:

• Deep integrations with third-party software
• Advanced customer journey mapping
• A mature analytics ecosystem
• Strong brand recognition and trust

However, with growth has come complexity—especially in pricing and tier-based feature limitations, which many small business users find restrictive and expensive as their needs scale.

Feature Comparison: Brevo vs. Mailchimp

Email Marketing Automation

Both platforms offer automation tools that let marketers build sophisticated campaigns based on customer behavior.

• Brevo: Includes advanced automation capabilities even on mid-tier plans. Users can create multi-step workflows triggered by specific behaviors (e.g., clicks, page views, purchases). Dynamic content, conditional splits, and real-time contact scoring enhance personalization.
• Mailchimp: Offers a visually rich customer journey builder. While feature-rich, some key automation tools (e.g., multivariate testing, advanced branching) are locked behind premium plans.

Winner: Brevo, for delivering more flexible automation features without requiring costly upgrades.

List Management and Segmentation

Effective segmentation leads to higher engagement and better ROI.

• Brevo: Allows real-time segmentation using multiple filters including campaign engagement, demographic data, purchase history, and custom events. Lists are easier to organize with powerful filtering tools.
• Mailchimp: Offers tags, groups, and segments, but users often report confusion when managing overlapping criteria across large contact lists.

Winner: Brevo, for its intuitive and granular approach to segmentation.

Email Design and Templates

Your email’s appearance impacts its performance and brand perception.

• Brevo: Offers responsive templates and a drag-and-drop editor that balances simplicity and control. Users can also code custom HTML emails.
• Mailchimp: Provides beautiful, professionally designed templates but can be less flexible when adapting layouts to specific branding needs.

Verdict: Tie—Brevo wins on ease and flexibility, while Mailchimp shines in visual polish.

Integrations

Connecting with your existing tech stack is essential for operational efficiency.

• Brevo: Integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce, WordPress, Zapier, and others. Offers a public API and plugins for popular CMSs.
• Mailchimp: Boasts over 300+ native integrations, including QuickBooks, Squarespace, Eventbrite, and more.

Winner: Mailchimp, for its expansive and deep integration ecosystem.

SMS and Multi-Channel Marketing

• Brevo: Natively supports SMS, WhatsApp, and chat automation—all in one dashboard. It’s one of Brevo’s standout differentiators.
• Mailchimp: SMS marketing is available through integrations (e.g., Twilio) or via Intuit’s additional services but is less seamless.

Winner: Brevo, for offering fully integrated SMS without needing third-party services.

Analytics and Reporting

• Brevo: Includes email heatmaps, real-time open/click rates, conversion tracking, and performance benchmarking.
• Mailchimp: Offers richer e-commerce tracking, predictive analytics, and advanced A/B testing—but often on higher-tier plans.

Verdict: Slight edge to Mailchimp—though both platforms deliver core metrics reliably, Mailchimp’s predictive tools cater better to data-driven marketers.

Deliverability

Deliverability is crucial—and often underestimated—when choosing a platform.

• Brevo: Employs dedicated IPs, warm-up protocols, and list hygiene tools. Reputation monitoring is included in advanced plans.
• Mailchimp: Maintains robust sender reputation, but some users report increased spam filtering—especially when lists are not well-segmented.

Verdict: Draw, with both platforms scoring consistently above industry deliverability benchmarks.

Pricing Comparison: Which is More Affordable?

Brevo

• Free Plan: Up to 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts.
• Paid Plans: Scale based on monthly email volume (not contact size), with the Business Plan offering advanced tools starting at ~$65/month for 400,000 emails.

Mailchimp

• Free Plan: 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month.
• Paid Plans: Priced by contact count, with higher tiers quickly escalating past $200/month for lists over 25,000 subscribers.

Example: A business with 50,000 contacts sending 400,000 emails/month:

• Brevo: ~$65/month
• Mailchimp: $300–$400/month depending on feature tier

Winner: Brevo, for its cost-efficient pricing model and generous email volumes.

User Experience: Interface and Ease of Use

• Brevo: Streamlined UI, minimal learning curve, with helpful onboarding tutorials and live chat support.
• Mailchimp: Modern interface but can feel cluttered. Some features are buried or difficult to access without prior experience.

Winner: Brevo, particularly for new users or small teams without dedicated marketing staff.

Reputation and User Sentiment

Trust Signals:

• Brevo: 4.5/5 stars on Gartner Peer Insights (104 reviews), praised for pricing, support, and SMS features.
• Mailchimp: 4.3/5 stars (1180 reviews), lauded for stability, brand trust, and integrations.

Reddit Consensus: On r/EmailMarketing, Brevo is praised as a Mailchimp “disruptor,” especially among bootstrapped businesses and agencies managing client campaigns.

Pros and Cons Recap

Brevo

Pros:

• Budget-friendly, especially for large send volumes
• Integrated SMS, WhatsApp, and chat
• Generous free plan and transactional email support
• Smooth learning curve and responsive support

Cons:

• Fewer niche integrations
• May lack advanced enterprise-grade tools
• Less brand familiarity

Mailchimp

Pros:

• Deep integration library
• Trusted legacy platform
• Robust analytics and e-commerce tools
• Established knowledge base and community

Cons:

• High costs at scale
• Steep price increases with larger lists
• Limited SMS integration

Use Cases: Who Should Choose Which?

Alternatives to Consider

If Brevo and Mailchimp don’t meet your specific needs, here are a few noteworthy contenders:

• MailerLite: Streamlined and affordable, ideal for solo creators.
• GetResponse: Includes webinar hosting, funnels, and conversion tools.
• ConvertKit: Tailored for creators and writers with email sequence tools.
• HubSpot: Ideal for businesses already using its CRM and looking to consolidate tools.

Expert Outlook: Where Email Marketing Is Headed

Industry thought leaders emphasize a shift toward omnichannel automation, AI personalization, and data privacy:

“Marketers in 2025 must orchestrate cross-channel campaigns that feel unified and personal. The platforms that make this effortless—without blowing the budget—will dominate.”
— Dr. Emily Carter, Senior Analyst, Forrester Research

Brevo’s value-centric approach and all-in-one communication suite reflect this trend, offering businesses an edge in customer engagement.

Final Verdict: Is Brevo Better than Mailchimp in 2025?

Yes—for many users.

If you’re a small to midsize business focused on maximizing value, Brevo is an excellent alternative. Its competitive pricing, built-in SMS tools, and user-friendliness make it hard to ignore.

But for users who need enterprise-grade features, specialized integrations, or want the assurance of a time-tested platform, Mailchimp remains a solid choice.

Try before you decide: Take advantage of the free tiers both platforms offer and explore which suits your workflows best.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Brevo and Mailchimp (2025)

Q: Is Brevo really cheaper than Mailchimp?

A: Yes—especially for businesses with large email lists. Brevo’s pricing is based on the number of emails sent, not the number of contacts, which makes it significantly more cost-effective than Mailchimp as your audience grows.

Q: Does Brevo offer a free plan?

A: Absolutely. Brevo’s free plan allows up to 300 emails per day to unlimited contacts, making it a great entry point for small businesses and startups testing email campaigns.

Q: Which platform is easier to use, Brevo or Mailchimp?

A: Most users report that Brevo has a more intuitive and beginner-friendly interface. Its drag-and-drop builder, onboarding guides, and simpler layout make it easier to get started than Mailchimp, especially for users without marketing experience.

Q: Does Brevo integrate with Shopify and WordPress?

A: Yes. Brevo offers native integrations with Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, and many more platforms. It also supports Zapier for extended automation across hundreds of apps.

Q: Can I use Brevo to send transactional emails (e.g., order confirmations)?

A: Yes. Unlike Mailchimp, Brevo includes transactional email capabilities as part of its marketing platform, making it ideal for e-commerce and SaaS applications.

Q: Which platform offers better customer support?

A: Reviews vary. Brevo is praised for responsive email and chat support, especially on paid plans. Mailchimp provides reliable support but may have longer response times depending on your plan tier.

Q: Are there limitations to Brevo’s free plan?

A: Yes. The free plan limits you to 300 emails per day and does not include some advanced features like A/B testing, dedicated IPs, or advanced reporting. However, it’s still generous compared to other providers’ free tiers.

Q: Does Brevo support A/B testing?

A: Yes. Brevo allows you to test subject lines, content, and send times to optimize campaign performance. A/B testing is available in higher-tier plans.

Q: Can I import my email list from another platform?

A: Definitely. Both Brevo and Mailchimp allow you to import contact lists via CSV, Excel files, or direct API integrations. Make sure your list complies with anti-spam and GDPR guidelines.

Q: Is Brevo a good choice for e-commerce stores?

A: Yes. With features like automated cart abandonment emails, SMS marketing, and integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, Brevo is well-suited for e-commerce businesses looking for omnichannel marketing tools at a reasonable price.

Brevo Review 2025: Is It a Better Alternative to Mailchimp?