Overview

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) distinguishes itself through pricing structure: unlimited contacts on all plans, with pricing based on email volume instead. This model eliminates the anxiety of list growth, add subscribers freely, pay only for what you send. For businesses with large lists and modest email frequency, the math works dramatically in their favor.

The platform bundles more than email marketing: transactional emails, SMS, CRM, live chat, and landing pages come included. This all-in-one approach means fewer subscriptions, fewer integrations, and one place to manage customer communication. European companies particularly appreciate Brevo's GDPR compliance and EU data storage.

The trade-off is polish. While Brevo covers many bases, individual features don't always match dedicated tools. The email builder works but isn't as refined as Mailchimp's. The automation is capable but not as deep as ActiveCampaign's. Brevo offers good-enough across many functions rather than best-in-class at one.

Features Deep-Dive

Unlimited Contacts Model

Brevo's pricing based on email volume rather than contacts creates unique economics. A business with 50,000 contacts sending monthly newsletters might pay $25/month versus $250+/month at contact-based competitors. The savings can be substantial.

The model suits certain patterns: large lists with infrequent sending, businesses growing contact lists ahead of email programs, and situations where contact growth shouldn't trigger cost spikes. High-volume senders might find contact-based pricing better.

Transactional Email

Brevo includes transactional email capability, order confirmations, password resets, shipping notifications, alongside marketing email. This eliminates separate services like SendGrid or Mailgun for many businesses.

The transactional and marketing infrastructure uses the same platform, simplifying delivery monitoring and issue resolution. One dashboard, one deliverability reputation to manage.

Multi-Channel Capabilities

Beyond email, Brevo offers SMS marketing, WhatsApp campaigns, live chat, and CRM, all integrated. Customer conversations across channels appear together. Automations can span channels: email triggers SMS, chat history informs email personalization.

For businesses wanting unified communication without assembling multiple tools, this integration provides genuine value.

Pricing Analysis

Brevo's free tier allows 300 emails daily (9,000 monthly) with unlimited contacts. Starter at $25/month increases to 20,000 monthly emails. Business at $65/month adds advanced automation and landing pages.

The unlimited contacts model changes math significantly. A 25,000-contact list costs $25/month on Brevo's Starter plan versus $150+/month at contact-based competitors, if you're sending fewer than 20,000 emails monthly.

High-volume senders should compare carefully. Sending to your entire list weekly might favor contact-based pricing instead.

Who Is This For?

Brevo works best for:

• Businesses with large lists but modest sending who benefit from volume pricing
• European companies wanting GDPR compliance and EU data storage
• Teams wanting all-in-one email, SMS, chat, and CRM
• Those needing transactional email alongside marketing
• Budget-conscious businesses looking for comprehensive features at lower cost

The platform excels when the unlimited contacts model matches your sending pattern.

Who Should NOT Use This

Brevo might not be the right choice if:

• You send frequently to full lists: Volume-based pricing may not favor you
• Email design excellence matters: Builder is functional but not premium
• Deep automation is required: ActiveCampaign goes further
• E-commerce is primary focus: Klaviyo offers better purchase automation
• You want the most polished experience: Individual features are good, not great

Bottom Line

Brevo's unlimited contacts model creates compelling value for businesses whose economics match. The all-in-one approach, email, SMS, chat, CRM, transactional, simplifies tool stacks. European companies appreciate the GDPR-conscious approach.

The trade-off is polish and depth. Brevo does many things well but few things best-in-class. For businesses wanting comprehensive features at reasonable cost, especially with large lists and moderate sending, Brevo delivers real value.

FAQ

Why did Sendinblue become Brevo?

The rebrand to Brevo in 2023 reflected the company's expansion beyond email to a broader CRM and communication platform. Features and service remain the same; only the name changed.

Is Brevo really unlimited contacts?

Yes, all plans include unlimited contacts. You pay based on email volume sent, not how many contacts you store. This makes Brevo economical for large lists with infrequent sending.

How does Brevo compare to Mailchimp?

Brevo offers unlimited contacts at lower prices for moderate senders. Mailchimp offers a more polished email builder and broader marketing features. Choose Brevo for value with large lists; choose Mailchimp for design quality and all-in-one marketing.

Does Brevo work for e-commerce?

Adequately but not excellently. Brevo integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce but lacks the deep purchase-behavior automation of Klaviyo or Drip. E-commerce businesses should evaluate whether Brevo's features suffice for their needs.

Is Brevo GDPR compliant?

Yes, Brevo is a French company with EU data centers and strong GDPR compliance. European businesses particularly appreciate this aspect. Data processing agreements and compliance documentation are readily available.