Both are popular free email marketing options — but their free tiers work very differently. Mailchimp limits by contacts; Brevo limits by sends. If you have a large list but send infrequently, Brevo wins on price. If you're just starting with a small list, Mailchimp's UX may feel easier.
Option A
The world's most popular email marketing platform
Option B
Email, SMS, and chat marketing — formerly Sendinblue
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan — Contact Limit | 500 contacts | ✓Unlimited contacts |
| Free Plan — Send Limit | 1,000 sends/month | ≈300 emails/day (9,000/month) |
| Ease of Use | ✓Excellent — best drag-and-drop editor | Good — slightly less polished |
| SMS Marketing | Not included | ✓Included |
| Transactional Email | Mandrill add-on (separate cost) | ✓Included — no extra cost |
| Automation | Limited on free/Essentials | ≈Basic on free, better on Business |
| Pricing at Scale | By contacts — gets expensive | ✓By sends — friendlier for large lists |
Brevo wins for most small businesses comparing these two. Unlimited contacts on the free tier is a structural advantage. Mailchimp's free plan hits a wall fast — at 501 contacts, you're paying. Brevo lets you grow your list without penalty.
