Email Marketing · Review · 2026
Brevo Review 2026: Features, Pricing, Pros, Cons & Alternatives
💸 Best Volume-Based Email Pricing📅 Last updated: April 29, 2026
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) review covering email, SMS, and CRM features, pricing, G2/Capterra scores, pros, cons, and the best alternatives in 2026.
TL;DR
Brevo's biggest differentiator is its pricing model: you pay for emails sent, not contacts stored. This makes it dramatically cheaper than Mailchimp for businesses with large lists that send infrequently. It also includes SMS marketing, transactional email, a lightweight CRM, and chat — all in one platform. The free plan is genuinely useful with unlimited contacts. Weaker on design templates than Mailchimp or Klaviyo.
Brevo at a Glance
| Product | Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) |
| Category | Email Marketing / CRM / SMS |
| Best For | Businesses with large lists and volume-based email needs |
| G2 Score | 4.5 / 5.0 (2,700+ reviews) |
| Capterra Score | 4.5 / 5.0 (2,000+ reviews) |
| Free Plan | Yes — unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day |
| Starter Plan | $25/month (20,000 emails/month) |
| Business Plan | $65/month (20,000 emails/month + automation) |
| Pricing Model | Based on emails sent, NOT contacts stored |
| SMS Marketing | Yes — native SMS campaigns |
| Official Website | brevo.com |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✓Volume-based pricing — cheaper than Mailchimp for large lists
- ✓Unlimited contacts on all plans
- ✓Native SMS marketing included
- ✓Built-in transactional email (SMTP) and chat
- ✓Lightweight CRM bundled in
- ✓Generous free plan — useful for small senders
Cons
- ✗Fewer design templates than Mailchimp or Klaviyo
- ✗Automation only on Business plan ($65+/month)
- ✗Reporting less detailed than ActiveCampaign
- ✗Free plan limited to 300 emails/day (9,000/month)
- ✗Customer support can be slow on Starter plan
Best Brevo Alternatives
| Alternative | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | More templates, better ecommerce integrations | Free / $13/mo |
| MailerLite | Cheapest option with good features | Free / $10/mo |
| ActiveCampaign | Strongest automation and CRM integration | $15/mo |
| Klaviyo | Best for ecommerce email and SMS | Free / $20/mo |
| Constant Contact | Better for event marketing and nonprofits | $12/mo |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Brevo (Sendinblue)?
A: Brevo is an all-in-one email marketing, SMS, and CRM platform. It uniquely charges based on emails sent rather than contacts stored, making it cost-effective for large lists.
Q: How much does Brevo cost?
A: Free (300 emails/day, unlimited contacts), Starter ($25/month for 20,000 emails), Business ($65/month for automation), Enterprise (custom).
Q: Is Brevo free?
A: Yes. Brevo's free plan includes unlimited contacts and 300 emails per day (9,000/month). No credit card required.
Q: Is Brevo better than Mailchimp?
A: Brevo is cheaper for large lists because it prices by email volume, not contacts. Mailchimp has more design templates and integrations. Choose Brevo if you have 10,000+ contacts but send infrequently.
Q: Does Brevo include SMS marketing?
A: Yes. Brevo natively supports SMS campaigns in addition to email — a key feature that Mailchimp doesn't include on lower plans.