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Mailchimp vs Brevo
Email marketing is an essential strategy for businesses looking to connect with customers, grow their brand, and boost sales. Two of the most popular email marketing platforms are Mailchimp and Brevo. Both platforms offer a range of features designed to help businesses create, send, and track email campaigns effectively. However, they differ in key areas such as pricing, automation, and additional marketing tools. In this comparison, we’ll break down the pros, cons, and features of Mailchimp and Brevo to help you decide which one is the best fit for your business.
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp, launched in 2001, is one of the leading platforms in email marketing. It’s known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to create and manage email campaigns without technical knowledge. Over the years, Mailchimp has expanded its offerings to become a full-service marketing platform, including social media advertising, landing pages, and even basic CRM functionalities.
Key Features of Mailchimp
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Design emails with ease, without needing coding skills.
- Audience Segmentation: Target specific groups based on behavior, preferences, or demographics.
- Automation: Pre-built templates for automated workflows like welcome emails or cart abandonment.
- Analytics and Reporting: Track open rates, click rates, and ROI to gauge campaign effectiveness.
- E-commerce Integrations: Sync with platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to streamline email campaigns related to product recommendations, abandoned carts, and more.
What is Brevo (Sendinblue)?
Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, founded in 2012, is an all-in-one marketing platform that focuses not only on email marketing but also SMS campaigns, transactional emails, and marketing automation. It provides a well-rounded toolkit for businesses looking to automate their marketing and grow their audience through various channels.
Key Features of Brevo
- Email and SMS Campaigns: Send both emails and SMS messages to reach your audience via multiple channels.
- Marketing Automation: Create workflows for email automation, lead scoring, and more.
- Transactional Emails: Brevo excels in delivering transactional emails like order confirmations and password resets.
- CRM Integration: Built-in CRM features allow businesses to track customer interactions and manage relationships.
- Unlimited Contacts: Unlike Mailchimp, Brevo does not limit the number of contacts on its free plan.
Pricing Comparison: Mailchimp vs Brevo
| Plan | Sendinblue (Brevo) | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan |
$0/month – 300 emails/day – Unlimited contacts – Basic email features, drag-and-drop – Marketing automation (limited to 2,000 contacts) – SMS marketing – Transactional emails |
$0/month – 1,000 emails/month – 500 contacts – Basic email features, templates – Behavioral targeting – Mailchimp branding – No transactional emails (add-on) |
| Starter/Lite Plan |
$25/month for 20,000 emails (unlimited contacts) – All free features + A/B testing – Facebook ads, predictive sending |
$9.22/month for 500 contacts – All free features + Essentials plan – Removes Mailchimp branding |
| Business/Standard Plan |
$65/month for 60,000 emails (unlimited contacts) – Advanced statistics and reporting – Multi-user access – Phone and chat support |
$25/month for 500 contacts – Customer journey builder – More advanced segmentation – Predictive sending AI |
| Premium Plan |
Custom pricing (depending on usage) – Customizable for large-scale businesses – Dedicated account manager – Unlimited contacts |
$299/month for 10,000 contacts – Advanced segmentation, analytics – Priority support – Phone support |
| Transactional Emails | Included in all plans | Available as a paid add-on ($20 for 25,000 emails) |
Mailchimp Pricing
Mailchimp offers a free plan, which is ideal for small businesses just getting started. However, it limits you to 500 subscribers and 1,000 email sends per month. Paid plans start at $13 per month, with pricing scaling up based on the number of contacts and the features you need.
Brevo (Sendinblue) Pricing
Brevo’s free plan is more generous in some respects, offering unlimited contacts but capping email sends at 300 per day. Paid plans start at $25 per month, but instead of charging based on contacts, Brevo’s pricing is based on the number of emails you send, making it a better choice for businesses with large contact lists.
Which Platform Offers Better Value?
If your business has a smaller contact list but you send many emails, Brevo’s email-based pricing model can be more cost-effective. However, if you need extensive features and integrations, Mailchimp’s higher-tier plans might provide better value despite the higher cost.
User Interface and Ease of Use
Mailchimp’s User Experience
Mailchimp is well-known for its clean, intuitive interface, especially for beginners. Its drag-and-drop email editor makes it simple to create professional-looking emails, and the dashboard provides easy access to reports and key metrics.
Brevo’s User Experience
Brevo’s interface is also relatively easy to use, but it can feel a bit more complex for first-time users due to its wide range of features. While it offers a drag-and-drop editor like Mailchimp, it may take a bit more time to get accustomed to the platform, especially for users unfamiliar with multi-channel marketing.
Email Templates and Design Options
Mailchimp’s Templates
Mailchimp provides a wide variety of pre-designed templates that can be customized to match your brand. Their drag-and-drop email builder makes it easy to create eye-catching emails without needing any design or coding experience.
Brevo’s Templates
Brevo also offers customizable templates, but the selection is not as extensive as Mailchimp’s. However, it makes up for this by offering greater flexibility with its design tools, particularly if you want to integrate SMS campaigns into your workflow.
Automation Features: Mailchimp vs Brevo
Mailchimp’s Automation
Mailchimp’s automation tools are user-friendly and come with pre-built templates for common workflows like welcome series, cart abandonment, and customer re-engagement. However, advanced users may find the automation options somewhat limited compared to Brevo’s offerings.
Brevo’s Automation
Brevo excels in automation, offering more flexibility and depth. You can create highly customized workflows based on user actions, website behavior, or purchase history. If marketing automation is a priority for your business, Brevo may be the better option.
Audience Segmentation and Personalization
Segmentation and personalization are critical to the success of any email marketing campaign. Both Mailchimp and Brevo offer robust segmentation options.
Mailchimp’s Segmentation
Mailchimp allows businesses to segment their audience based on a variety of factors, including purchase behavior, engagement levels, and demographics. The platform also offers advanced personalization options, allowing you to tailor emails to individual subscribers.
Brevo’s Segmentation
Brevo provides similar segmentation features but takes it a step further with more advanced automation options that allow for real-time segmentation based on customer behavior. This can help businesses deliver more targeted messages.
Deliverability and Email Performance
Deliverability is crucial to ensure your emails reach the inbox and don’t end up in the spam folder.
Mailchimp’s Deliverability
Mailchimp has a good reputation for email deliverability, with industry-standard tools to help ensure your messages make it to the inbox. The platform offers tips on optimizing content to improve deliverability rates.
Brevo’s Deliverability
Brevo also boasts strong deliverability rates, particularly for transactional emails. It offers real-time monitoring and dedicated IP options for larger businesses to maintain high deliverability.
Customer Support and Resources
Mailchimp’s Support
Mailchimp offers various support options depending on the plan. Free users get access to email support, while higher-tier plans include live chat and phone support. There is also a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials available.
Brevo’s Support
Brevo offers excellent support even on its free plan, including email support and an extensive help center. Paid plans come with additional support options, such as live chat. For businesses looking for more hands-on help, Brevo may provide a more reliable experience.
Integrations and Third-Party Tools
Mailchimp Integrations
Mailchimp integrates with over 250 tools, including e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, as well as CRM systems like Salesforce. This makes it easy to sync customer data and automate workflows across multiple platforms.
Brevo’s Integrations
Brevo offers fewer integrations compared to Mailchimp but still covers many popular platforms like WordPress, Magento, and PrestaShop. It also has a robust API for developers looking to create custom integrations.
SMS Marketing: A Key Difference
Brevo’s SMS Capabilities
One major area where Brevo stands out is its SMS marketing functionality. You can create and automate SMS campaigns alongside email marketing efforts, giving you a multi-channel approach to customer communication.
Mailchimp’s Approach to SMS Marketing
While Mailchimp offers some SMS marketing features, they are not as comprehensive as Brevo’s. If SMS marketing is an important part of your strategy, Brevo’s is the clear winner.
CRM Features Comparison
Mailchimp’s CRM Capabilities
Mailchimp offers basic CRM features to help businesses track customer data and interactions. However, its CRM functionalities are relatively limited compared to dedicated CRM platforms.
Brevo’s CRM Capabilities
Brevo includes a built-in CRM that allows businesses to manage contacts, track interactions, and nurture leads directly from the platform. This makes it a better choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing and CRM solution.
Who Should Choose Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is ideal for businesses that are primarily focused on email marketing and need a user-friendly platform with a wide range of templates, integrations, and analytics. It’s also a great choice for smaller businesses or those just starting with email marketing.
Who Should Choose Brevo?
Brevo is a better fit for businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing platform that combines email, SMS, and CRM functionalities. It’s particularly well-suited for companies that need advanced automation and have larger contact lists but want to keep costs low.
Conclusion
Both Mailchimp and Brevo are excellent email marketing platforms, but they cater to different business needs. Mailchimp is a great choice if you’re looking for ease of use, a wide range of integrations, and advanced reporting. On the other hand, Brevo is ideal if you want a comprehensive, cost-effective marketing solution that includes SMS marketing and powerful automation features.
FAQs
Which platform is better for small businesses?
Brevo offers more affordable pricing for larger lists, making it a great choice for small businesses with growing audiences.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Sendinblue or vice versa?
Yes, both platforms allow you to export and import contact lists and templates, though some manual setup may be required.
Is SMS marketing important for email campaigns?
SMS marketing can enhance email campaigns by providing another way to reach customers, especially for time-sensitive promotions.
Which platform is better for eCommerce businesses?
Both platforms offer excellent eCommerce integrations, but Mailchimp may have an edge due to its more extensive integration options with major eCommerce platforms.
Which is better for automation: Mailchimp or Brevo?
Brevo (Sendinblue) generally offers more advanced automation tools, even on lower-tier plans, whereas Mailchimp’s automation features, like Customer Journeys, are locked behind higher-priced tiers. For advanced users who need multi-step workflows and detailed customer targeting, Brevo comes out ahead.
What are the pricing differences between Mailchimp and Brevo?
Mailchimp charges based on the number of contacts you have, while Brevo charges based on the number of emails sent. Brevo allows for unlimited contacts on all plans, making it more affordable for businesses with large contact lists but low email frequency.
Does Mailchimp or Brevo offer better reporting and analytics?
Mailchimp offers more in-depth analytics with insights into eCommerce integration, revenue tracking, and detailed reporting, including geographical data and open rates. Brevo also has solid reporting, but Mailchimp’s more comprehensive analytics make it a slightly better choice for detailed insights.
Which platform is better for design and customization?
Mailchimp offers a wider selection of over 100 email templates, while Brevo focuses on simplicity with fewer design options. However, both platforms support drag-and-drop editors and customizable templates. For those needing more advanced designs, Mailchimp might be a better choice.
