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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.
Key Features: Mailchimp vs Brevo
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Clean, intuitive, especially for beginners | Relatively easy but can feel complex for new users |
| Email Editor | Drag-and-drop editor, user-friendly | Drag-and-drop editor, requires some getting used to |
| Email Templates & Design | Wide variety of pre-designed templates, customizable | Customizable templates but fewer options than Mailchimp, greater design flexibility for SMS campaigns |
| Automation Features | User-friendly, pre-built templates for common workflows | Highly customizable workflows based on user actions, excels in automation |
| Audience Segmentation | Segments based on purchase behavior, engagement, and demographics | Advanced real-time segmentation based on customer behavior |
| Deliverability | Good reputation, industry-standard tools | Strong deliverability, real-time monitoring, dedicated IP options |
| Customer Support | Email support for free users, live chat & phone support for higher-tier plans, extensive knowledge base | Excellent support on free plan, email support, live chat on paid plans, extensive help center |
| Integrations | 250+ integrations with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce | Fewer integrations but covers popular platforms like WordPress, Magento, robust API for custom integrations |
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.
Via Mailchimp
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.
Via Mailchimp
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’s deliverability rate changed from 67.7% in Jan 2023 to 88.3% in Jan 2024. 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.
Via Brevo
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 is a compelling choice for small businesses looking for an email marketing and CRM solution that balances affordability, scalability, and a robust feature set. Its focus on providing valuable services at a lower cost, combined with its ease of use and effective customer support, makes it especially suited for small businesses that are looking to grow their audiences and improve customer engagement without breaking the bank. Choosing Brevo could be a strategic decision for small business owners aiming to make an impactful mark in their markets while keeping operational costs manageable.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Brevo or vice versa?
Switching from Mailchimp to Brevo or vice versa is entirely feasible, but it requires some manual effort. You will need to export and import your contact lists, rebuild your email templates and automations, and reconnect any integrations. While the platforms offer similar capabilities, each has its strengths and unique features that may require some adjustments during the transition. Proper planning and attention to detail will help ensure a smooth migration process.
Is SMS marketing important for email campaigns?
SMS marketing can be a powerful complement to email campaigns, significantly enhancing overall marketing efforts by providing an additional, direct communication channel to reach customers. Unlike email, which may get lost in crowded inboxes, SMS has a higher open rate and immediate visibility, making it especially effective for time-sensitive promotions, flash sales, or urgent notifications. Integrating SMS with email marketing allows businesses to engage customers more effectively by reinforcing the message across multiple platforms.
Which platform is better for eCommerce businesses?
Both Mailchimp and Brevo offer strong eCommerce integrations, but Mailchimp may have the edge due to its broader compatibility with major platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. These integrations allow for seamless syncing of customer data, abandoned cart recovery, and personalized product recommendations. While Brevo offers similar features, its pricing model may be more cost-effective, especially for smaller businesses. However, Mailchimp’s extensive eCommerce integrations and tools make it a top choice for many eCommerce businesses.
Which is better for automation: Mailchimp or Brevo?
Brevo (Sendinblue) generally offers more advanced automation features, including multi-step workflows and detailed customer targeting, even on lower-tier plans. This makes it a better option for businesses needing complex automation without higher costs. In contrast, Mailchimp’s advanced automation tools, like Customer Journeys, are typically available only on higher-priced plans, limiting access for budget-conscious users. For advanced users seeking detailed automation, Brevo stands out as the more flexible choice.
What are the pricing differences between Mailchimp and Brevo?
Mailchimp charges based on the number of contacts, making it more expensive for businesses with large lists, regardless of email frequency. In contrast, Brevo charges based on the number of emails sent, not contacts, offering more flexibility and affordability for businesses with large contact lists but lower email volume. Brevo also allows unlimited contacts on all plans, making it a cost-effective choice for businesses that need to store many contacts but don’t send frequent campaigns.
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.The platform also provides predictive analytics, helping businesses forecast trends and optimize future campaigns. 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 excels in design and customization with over 100 templates and advanced features like A/B testing, custom HTML support, and a drag-and-drop editor for greater flexibility. It’s ideal for users seeking more sophisticated designs. Brevo, on the other hand, offers a simpler approach with fewer templates but still supports drag-and-drop editing, making it easier for those who prioritize simplicity over extensive customization. Overall, Mailchimp is the better choice for users needing advanced design options.
Can both platforms integrate with third-party apps?
Yes, both Mailchimp and Brevo offer integrations with a wide range of third-party applications. Mailchimp supports integration with popular tools like Shopify, WordPress, and social media platforms. It also has a robust API for more customized integrations. Brevo supports integrations with platforms like WooCommerce, Zapier, and various CRMs, making it flexible for businesses that need third-party connections for email, SMS, or CRM purposes.
Which platform is better for advanced users?
Mailchimp is generally the better choice for advanced users, thanks to its extensive features, including detailed analytics, A/B testing, eCommerce integration, and advanced automation. It’s suited for those who need to leverage data for campaign optimization and create complex workflows. Brevo, on the other hand, is better for users who need a simpler, more streamlined solution with fewer complexities.
