What is Brevo?
Brevo is an email and SMS marketing platform with one pricing model that sets it apart from nearly everyone else: you pay by the number of emails you send, not the number of contacts you store. For businesses with large lists they email occasionally, that flips the usual cost equation in their favor.
The company rebranded from Sendinblue in 2023, it’s the same product, and plenty of people still search for the old name, so we mention it here. Beyond email, Brevo bundles SMS, WhatsApp, a built-in CRM, and transactional email and APIs, making it a quietly broad platform that appeals to budget-conscious marketers and developers alike.
Who is Brevo for?
Brevo is a strong fit if you are:
- A business with a large contact list you don’t email every single day.
- A multichannel marketer who wants email and SMS from one tool.
- A developer or small team that also needs transactional email and an API.
It’s a weaker pick if you send to a small list very frequently (the daily cap on free bites), or if you want the most polished templates and fastest support, Brevo trades some polish for value.
Hands-on testing
We loaded contacts, built a campaign, set up an automation, and tested the SMS feature to see how the pieces work together.
Pricing model in practice. This is the headline. Because billing tracks emails sent, a large list that gets a monthly newsletter costs far less here than on contact-priced rivals. We ran the numbers against a comparable Mailchimp tier and Brevo came out clearly cheaper for a big, low-frequency list.
Email and SMS. Composing a campaign was straightforward, if a little less refined than the slickest editors. The real differentiator is firing an SMS or WhatsApp message from the same automation as an email, handy for reminders and time-sensitive offers, though SMS credits are billed on top.
Free-plan ceiling. The 300-emails-per-day cap on the free plan is the catch. It’s fine for testing or a small list, but you’ll hit it fast if you send daily to any real audience.
The takeaway: Brevo wins decisively on value and multichannel reach, and gives up a little on polish and support speed.
Key features
- Pay-by-send pricing, billed on emails sent, not contacts stored.
- Email + SMS + WhatsApp, true multichannel messaging from one platform.
- Automation & CRM, capable workflow builder with a built-in contact CRM.
- Transactional email & API, developer-friendly sending for app notifications.
- Unlimited contacts, even on the free plan, you store as many as you like.
Ease of use
Brevo is reasonably easy to pick up. The dashboard is clear, campaign creation is logical, and the automation builder is approachable without being shallow. The templates and overall polish sit a notch below Mailchimp, and support response times lag on lower tiers, but day-to-day use is smooth enough that most users will be productive quickly.
Brevo vs other email marketing tools
Against Mailchimp, Brevo is far cheaper for large lists thanks to pay-by-send pricing and adds SMS, while Mailchimp is more polished and beginner-friendly. Against GetResponse, Brevo wins on multichannel value but GetResponse offers a broader suite with funnels and webinars. See our roundup of the best email marketing software for the full comparison.
Pricing note: email marketing pricing scales with your list size and changes often, > verify current plans on Brevo’s site before subscribing.
Is Brevo worth it?
If you have a large or growing list, send at a measured pace, or want email and SMS from one budget-friendly tool, Brevo is excellent value, the pay-by-send model alone can save serious money. If you send daily to a small list or want the most polished editor and fastest support, a more premium all-rounder may suit you better.
Pricing snapshot
Brevo pricing
Compare the main plans, what each one includes, and where the best value starts before you click through.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 / forever |
|
| Starter Most popular | $9 / month |
|
| Business | $18 / month |
|
| Enterprise | Custom |
|
Frequently asked questions
Is Brevo worth it in 2026?
For large or growing lists, yes, paying by emails sent rather than per contact keeps costs low, and built-in SMS is a bonus. If you send to a small list very frequently, the daily cap and pay-per-send model may suit you less.
Does Brevo have a free plan?
Yes, with unlimited contacts but a cap of 300 emails per day. It's a generous starting point if your sending volume is modest and predictable.
Why was Brevo called Sendinblue?
Brevo rebranded from Sendinblue in 2023. It's the same company and product; many users still search for Sendinblue, which is why we mention it here.
How much does Brevo cost?
There's a free plan, then Starter at $9/month and Business at $18/month, with Enterprise priced custom. Because it bills by emails sent, costs depend on send volume rather than contact count, check their site for current limits.
The bottom line on Brevo
Brevo's pay-by-email pricing makes it a standout value for large or growing lists, and the built-in SMS is a real bonus. The daily send cap on free and lighter polish hold it back.
- Best forEmail + SMS on a budget
- Starts atFree / $9/mo 0