Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, positions itself as an affordable all-in-one marketing platform. With email marketing, SMS, CRM, and automation included even in lower tiers, it's an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses. This review examines whether Brevo delivers enough value to compete with more established platforms.
Brevo at a Glance
Aspect
Details
Formerly
Sendinblue (rebranded 2023)
Founded
2012
Headquarters
Paris, France
Best For
Small businesses, transactional + marketing
Starting Price
Free; Paid from $25/mo
Key Strength
Affordable multi-channel marketing
The Sendinblue to Brevo Transition
In May 2023, Sendinblue rebranded to Brevo, reflecting an expanded focus beyond email. The platform now includes:
Email marketing
SMS marketing
WhatsApp campaigns
Live chat
Chatbots
CRM
Marketing automation
Transactional email
This all-in-one approach at competitive prices is Brevo's primary value proposition.
Key Features Analysis
Email Marketing
Email Builder:
Drag-and-drop editor
Responsive templates
HTML editing
Dynamic content blocks
Product blocks for e-commerce
Template Library: Brevo offers 60+ templates across categories. While not as extensive as Mailchimp, they're professional and mobile-responsive.
Personalization:
Merge tags for basic personalization
Conditional content
Dynamic product recommendations (limited)
Send time optimization
Overall Quality: Email creation is straightforward if not exceptional. The editor works well for most needs but lacks the polish of premium platforms.
Marketing Automation
Workflow Builder:
Visual automation builder
Triggered workflows
Multi-step sequences
Conditional branching
Pre-Built Workflows:
Welcome series
Abandoned cart
Birthday emails
Anniversary emails
Re-engagement
Automation Capabilities: Brevo's automation is adequate for common use cases but less sophisticated than ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo. Complex multi-branch workflows can feel clunky.
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SMS Marketing
SMS is included in Brevo's platform (credits priced separately).
SMS Features:
Campaign SMS
Automated SMS
Two-way messaging
Link shortening
Personalization
Compliance tools
SMS Pricing: Pay-per-message pricing varies by country (US ~$0.013/SMS).
Transactional Email
Brevo's transactional email API is a genuine strength.
Transactional Features:
SMTP relay
REST API
Webhooks
Event tracking
Template management
Dedicated IP options
Use Cases:
Order confirmations
Password resets
Account notifications
Shipping updates
For businesses needing both marketing and transactional email, Brevo's unified platform offers real value.
CRM
Brevo includes basic CRM functionality.
CRM Features:
Contact management
Deal pipeline
Task management
Notes and activities
Contact attributes
CRM Quality: It's a basic CRM—useful for simple sales tracking but not a replacement for Salesforce, HubSpot, or Pipedrive.
Live Chat and Chatbots
Chat Features:
Website live chat widget
Chat automation/chatbots
Team inbox
Mobile app
This adds value for businesses wanting to consolidate tools, though dedicated chat platforms offer more.
Pricing Analysis
Brevo's pricing is based on email volume, not contacts—a significant difference from many competitors.
Free Plan
Unlimited contacts
300 emails/day
Brevo branding
Basic features
Starter ($25/month)
20,000 emails/month
No daily limit
Basic analytics
Email support
Business ($65/month)
20,000 emails/month
Marketing automation
A/B testing
Send time optimization
Advanced statistics
Phone support
Enterprise (Custom)
High volume
Advanced integrations
Dedicated account manager
Priority support
Custom solutions
Email Volume Pricing
Monthly Emails
Starter
Business
20,000
$25
$65
40,000
$35
$75
60,000
$49
$89
100,000
$69
$129
Value Analysis
Unlimited Contacts: Unlike Mailchimp or Klaviyo, Brevo doesn't charge for contacts—only email volume. For businesses with large lists and moderate sending frequency, this creates significant savings.
Volume-Based Pricing: If you email your list multiple times per week, costs rise. But for monthly newsletters or moderate sending, Brevo is very affordable.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent Value: For the price, Brevo includes an impressive feature set. Small businesses get email, SMS, automation, CRM, and chat affordably.
Unlimited Contacts: Pay for emails sent, not contacts stored. This benefits businesses with larger lists.
Transactional Email Included: Marketing and transactional in one platform simplifies operations and billing.
Multi-Channel: Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat in one place—genuine convenience.
GDPR-Friendly: European company with strong data protection practices, ideal for EU businesses.
Cons
Automation Limitations: While functional, automation lacks the sophistication of ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo.
Fewer Integrations: Integration library is smaller than Mailchimp or HubSpot.
Interface Polish: The user interface feels less refined than premium competitors.
Limited Advanced Features: Predictive analytics, advanced personalization, and sophisticated segmentation are limited.
Support Varies: Free and Starter tiers get slower support; phone support requires Business tier.
Who Should Use Brevo
Ideal Users
Budget-Conscious Small Businesses: Brevo offers genuine value for businesses watching expenses. If $100+/month for email marketing is prohibitive, Brevo delivers core functionality affordably.
Businesses Needing Transactional + Marketing: If you need order confirmations, password resets, AND marketing campaigns, Brevo handles both in one platform at one price.
European Businesses: Brevo's French origins and GDPR focus make it particularly suitable for EU companies.
Simple Marketing Needs: For newsletters, basic automation, and occasional campaigns, Brevo is sufficient without paying for advanced features you won't use.
Multi-Channel Consolidation: If you're paying separately for email, SMS, and chat tools, Brevo's bundled approach may save money.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
E-commerce Businesses: Klaviyo or Omnisend offer far superior e-commerce integration and automation.
Automation-Heavy Operations: For sophisticated workflows, ActiveCampaign is significantly more capable.
Enterprise Needs: Large organizations needing advanced features, integrations, and support should consider HubSpot or Salesforce.
Developers Prioritizing API: SendGrid or Mailgun offer better developer experience for API-first needs.
Brevo vs. Alternatives
Brevo vs. Mailchimp
Factor
Brevo
Mailchimp
Pricing Model
Email volume
Contact count
Free Tier
300/day unlimited contacts
500 contacts, 1K/mo
Automation
Basic
Moderate
Templates
60+
100+
Integrations
Fewer
More
Best For
Budget users
Ease of use
Choose Brevo for larger lists with moderate sending. Choose Mailchimp for ease of use and integrations.
Brevo vs. Mailerlite
Factor
Brevo
MailerLite
Pricing Model
Email volume
Contact count
Free Tier
300/day
1,000 contacts
Multi-Channel
Yes (SMS, chat)
Email focused
CRM
Included
Not included
Ease of Use
Good
Excellent
Choose Brevo for multi-channel and transactional needs. Choose MailerLite for simplest interface and pure email.
Brevo vs. ActiveCampaign
Factor
Brevo
ActiveCampaign
Automation
Basic
Advanced
CRM
Basic
Integrated
Price (10K contacts)
~$25-65/mo
~$139/mo
Learning Curve
Lower
Steeper
Choose Brevo for affordability and simpler needs. Choose ActiveCampaign for sophisticated automation.
Getting Started with Brevo
Setup Process
Create Account: Free signup, no credit card
Verify Domain: Add DNS records for authentication
Import Contacts: CSV or integrations
Create First Campaign: Use templates or custom
Set Up Automation: Start with welcome series
Quick Wins
Welcome Automation: Set up a basic welcome series for new subscribers.
Email Authentication: Configure SPF and DKIM immediately for deliverability.
Contact Import: Before importing, verify your list with email verification to start clean.
Segment Your List: Don't blast everyone. Create segments based on engagement and interests.
Start Simple: Begin with basic campaigns and automation. Add complexity as you learn.
Conclusion
Brevo offers remarkable value for budget-conscious businesses. The combination of email, SMS, CRM, and transactional email at its price point is genuinely competitive. For small businesses with straightforward needs, it's an excellent choice.
However, don't expect the polish and sophistication of premium platforms. E-commerce businesses, automation-focused marketers, and enterprises will find better solutions elsewhere.
Key Takeaways:
Best for Budget: Brevo's value proposition is price—it delivers a lot for the cost.
Volume-Based Pricing: Pay for emails sent, not contacts stored—great for large lists with moderate sending.
Multi-Channel Value: Email, SMS, chat, and transactional in one platform simplifies operations.
Automation Limitations: For sophisticated workflows, look to ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo.
Good Starting Point: Brevo works well for businesses starting email marketing who may upgrade later.
List Quality Matters: Maintain clean data with email verification for best deliverability.
For businesses wanting affordable email marketing without sacrificing core functionality, Brevo deserves serious consideration. Ensure your lists are clean with BillionVerify to maximize deliverability on Brevo's platform.
