Mailchimp vs Brevo: Free Plans and Pricing Compared
Pick Brevo if you have a large list but send only now and then, because its plans are sized by how many emails you send, and its free plan allows up to 300 emails a day. Pick Mailchimp if your list is under 250 contacts and you want to start free, or you want a one-month trial of its top plan, and you are fine with pricing that rises as your contact count grows.
Both are hosted email marketing platforms with a free plan and paid tiers. The biggest practical difference is what you pay for: Mailchimp counts contacts, Brevo counts emails.
Mailchimp vs Brevo at a glance
| Mailchimp | Brevo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Essentials from $13, Standard from $20, Premium from $350 a month (first-12-month offer prices on 6 November 2026) | Starter from $9, Standard from $18, Professional from $499 a month; Enterprise custom |
| Free plan | Yes: 250 contacts, 500 sends a month, 250 a day, 1 seat | Yes: up to 300 emails a day, no credit card needed |
| Platforms | Web (hosted) | Web (hosted) |
| Open source | No | No |
| What sets the price | Number of contacts | Number of emails a month |
| Transactional email | Paid add-on (formerly Mandrill) | Included from Starter |
| Best for | Small lists that grow slowly | Large lists, occasional senders and tight budgets |
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or Brevo?
Usually Brevo, and the gap grows with your list. Brevo lists Starter at $9 a month for "from 5,000 emails per month," Standard at $18 and Professional at $499. Paying yearly takes 10% off.
Mailchimp prices each plan by how many contacts you store. Its pricing page shows a contact selector, and plans set your monthly send limit as a multiple of your contacts: 10 times for Essentials, 12 times for Standard and 15 times for Premium. Mailchimp also says overage charges apply on paid plans if you go over your contact or send limit.
The model matters more than the headline price. If you keep 20,000 contacts but email them twice a month, Mailchimp bills you for all 20,000 contacts, while Brevo bills you for the emails you send. If your list is tiny and you email often, the difference shrinks.
What did we check ourselves?
On 6 November 2026, with 500 contacts selected, Mailchimp's pricing page showed Essentials at $13, Standard at $20 and Premium at $350 a month "for 12 months," each labelled "Save 50%." The line for the price after those 12 months ("Then, starts at") showed no figure. So the prices you see are an introductory offer, and you should check the renewal price before committing.
The same day, Brevo's pricing page listed its plans in US dollars as Starter $9, Standard $18 and Professional $499 a month, and its FAQ said a new account gets the Free plan and can send "up to 300 emails per day" once Brevo approves the account for sending.
Which free plan is better?
Brevo's, if you need volume. Its free plan allows up to 300 emails a day and needs no credit card. Mailchimp's free plan is capped at 250 contacts, 500 sends a month and 250 sends a day, with one seat and one audience. Over a 30-day month, Brevo's daily cap adds up to as many as 9,000 emails, against Mailchimp's 500. When you hit a limit on Mailchimp Free, sending pauses rather than charging you.
Mailchimp Free is enough for a small newsletter under 250 subscribers. Past that, you either pay Mailchimp or move to Brevo's free plan.
Mailchimp also offers a one-month free trial of Premium for qualified new customers.
Can I send transactional emails like receipts and password resets?
Yes, on both, but they are packaged differently. Brevo's Starter plan includes the ability to "send email and transactional messages." On Mailchimp, transactional email (formerly called Mandrill) is listed among the add-on fees, separate from the marketing plan price.
If your app or store needs to send receipts and you also want newsletters, Brevo keeps both on one plan. On Mailchimp, budget for the transactional add-on on top of your marketing plan, and check its price in your account before you connect a store.
Who is behind Mailchimp and Brevo?
Mailchimp is part of Intuit, and its site names itself "Intuit Mailchimp." Brevo was previously called Sendinblue. Neither is open source, and both run entirely in the browser, so there is nothing to install or host.
Which should you choose?
- You have fewer than 250 subscribers and send a simple newsletter: Mailchimp Free.
- You have a large list but send rarely: Brevo, which prices by emails sent.
- You want the most free sending: Brevo, at up to 300 emails a day.
- You need receipts and newsletters from one plan: Brevo Starter.
- You want to try a top-tier plan before paying: Mailchimp's one-month Premium trial, if you qualify.
FAQ
Is Brevo free?
Yes. Brevo has a free plan with no credit card needed that can send up to 300 emails a day once your account is approved.
How many contacts does Mailchimp's free plan allow?
250 contacts, with up to 500 sends a month and 250 a day.
Why is Mailchimp's price showing "for 12 months"?
On 6 November 2026, Mailchimp's paid prices were a 50% off offer for the first 12 months. The page did not show the price after that, so check it at checkout.
Was Brevo called Sendinblue?
Yes. Brevo's own press room announced that "Sendinblue is now Brevo," as the company grew from email marketing into a wider CRM suite.