In-Depth Comparison
Mailchimp vs Brevo
In-depth comparison of Mailchimp and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) for B2B SaaS companies. We analyze features, pricing, deliverability, API quality, automation, and real-world use cases.
Last updated: 2026-03-15
Mailchimp
mailchimp.comTurn emails into revenue. Grow your business with email marketing and automation.
Ideal for: Small to mid-market businesses wanting an all-in-one marketing platform
Brevo
brevo.comThe all-in-one platform for email, SMS, chat, CRM, and marketing automation.
Ideal for: Budget-conscious businesses wanting email, SMS, CRM, and chat at an affordable price
TL;DR: Mailchimp vs Brevo
Mailchimp wins for brand recognition, template design, and broadest all-in-one marketing. Brevo wins for budget-conscious teams wanting email, CRM, chat, and SMS at a fraction of Mailchimp cost. Sequenzy is the strongest choice for SaaS lifecycle email with native billing integration. Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo was designed for SaaS-specific workflows like dunning, trial conversion, or billing-triggered automation.
The all-in-one marketing platform with the biggest brand name
The affordable all-in-one suite with CRM, chat, and SMS included
Purpose-built SaaS email with native billing integration
Editor's Note
Mailchimp and Brevo are both general-purpose marketing platforms. Neither was built for B2B SaaS lifecycle email. If billing-triggered automation (dunning, trial conversion, churn prevention) matters, Sequenzy (sequenzy.com) was designed for exactly that at a price between Brevo and Mailchimp.
Mailchimp vs Brevo vs Sequenzy: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Brand recognition and all-in-one marketing | Budget-friendly all-in-one with CRM | B2B SaaS lifecycle email with billing integration | Sequenzy |
| Starting Price | Free (500 contacts, 1K sends/mo) | Free (300 emails/day, unlimited contacts) | $19/mo for 15,000 emails | Brevo |
| Marketing Emails | Polished editor with 100+ templates | Good editor with 60+ templates | Campaign builder with SaaS templates | Mailchimp |
| Transactional Email | Mandrill add-on ($20/mo) | Built-in SMTP relay and API | Included with SaaS templates | Brevo |
| Automation | Basic customer journeys | Visual automation with recipes | Pre-built SaaS workflows | Sequenzy |
| Built-in CRM | Basic audience management | Free CRM with deal pipelines | No CRM (integrates with HubSpot) | Brevo |
| Live Chat | Not included | Included on all plans | Not included | Brevo |
| User Segmentation | Tag and behavior-based | Attribute and engagement-based | Subscription-aware segments | Sequenzy |
| Payment Integration | Stripe via Zapier | Stripe via Zapier | Native Stripe, Paddle, Chargebee, LemonSqueezy | Sequenzy |
| API Quality | Marketing API v3 (dated) | v3 REST API with multi-language SDKs | Clean REST API with SaaS endpoints | Sequenzy |
| Dunning Emails | Not designed for dunning | Not designed for dunning | Built-in, auto-triggered | Sequenzy |
| Dedicated IP | Add-on on Standard+ plans | Available on Business plan ($18/mo) | Available on Growth plan | Brevo |
Score Breakdown
Each category scored out of 10. Totals: Mailchimp 66/100, Brevo 72/100, Sequenzy 86/100.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Detailed feature analysis across every category that matters for B2B SaaS email.
📧 Email Campaigns
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop editor | 9/10 Polished editor with 100+ responsive templates | 8/10 Good editor with 60+ templates | 8/10 Visual editor with SaaS content blocks |
| Campaign scheduling | 8/10 Schedule with send-time optimization | 8/10 ML-based send-time optimization | 8/10 Plan-based optimization |
| A/B testing | 7/10 Subject, content, send time testing | 7/10 Subject and content split testing | 7/10 Subject and send-time testing |
| Newsletter support | 9/10 Best newsletter tools with RSS-to-email | 8/10 Good newsletter workflow with forms | 7/10 Product update newsletters |
| Template library | 9/10 100+ professionally designed templates | 8/10 60+ responsive templates | 9/10 SaaS lifecycle templates |
⚙️ Automation & Workflows
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | 6/10 Customer Journey builder, limited branching | 7/10 Visual builder with pre-built recipes | 9/10 Visual builder with SaaS templates |
| Event-based triggers | 5/10 Basic signup and purchase triggers | 6/10 Triggers from attributes and engagement | 10/10 Billing events from Stripe/Paddle |
| Drip sequences | 6/10 Basic drip with limited branching | 7/10 Drip campaigns with time delays | 9/10 Pre-built SaaS lifecycle drips |
| Conditional logic | 5/10 Simple yes/no branching | 6/10 Basic if/else branching | 9/10 Branch by plan, MRR, trial status |
| Wait steps | 6/10 Time delays in journeys | 7/10 Time-based delays | 8/10 Smart send-time optimization |
👥 Contacts & Segmentation
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact management | 7/10 Audience management with tags | 7/10 Contact database with CRM integration | 9/10 Enriched with subscription data |
| Segmentation | 7/10 Tags, engagement, purchase behavior | 7/10 Attributes, engagement, purchase history | 9/10 SaaS-native: trial, churned, at-risk |
| Custom properties | 6/10 Merge tags and custom fields | 7/10 Custom contact attributes | 8/10 Custom + auto-synced billing properties |
| Event tracking | 5/10 Basic behavioral tracking | 5/10 Limited to email and site engagement | 9/10 Product + billing events |
| Import/export | 8/10 CSV import, integrations | 8/10 CSV, API, integrations | 7/10 CSV + auto-import from billing |
💻 Developer Experience
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| API design | 6/10 Marketing API v3, shows its age | 7/10 v3 REST API with good structure | 8/10 Clean REST API with SaaS endpoints |
| SDK support | 6/10 Official and community libraries | 8/10 Official SDKs for 6 languages | 7/10 Node.js and Python SDKs |
| SMTP relay | 6/10 Via Mandrill add-on only | 9/10 Built-in SMTP relay for easy transactional | 5/10 API-first, no SMTP relay |
| Webhook system | 5/10 Basic webhooks | 7/10 Delivery and engagement webhooks | 8/10 Email + billing event webhooks |
| Documentation quality | 6/10 Extensive but sometimes outdated | 7/10 Good API docs with examples | 8/10 SaaS-focused with billing guides |
🚀 Deliverability & Infrastructure
| Feature | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared IP reputation | 7/10 Massive pools, variable reputation | 7/10 Large pools, variable due to diverse senders | 8/10 SaaS-only shared IPs |
| Dedicated IP | 7/10 Add-on on Standard+ plans | 8/10 Available on Business plan ($18/mo) | 7/10 Available on Growth plan ($49/mo) |
| Domain authentication | 7/10 SPF, DKIM, DMARC guides | 8/10 SPF, DKIM, DMARC guided setup | 8/10 Guided SPF, DKIM, DMARC setup |
| Bounce handling | 7/10 Standard bounce handling | 7/10 Bounce handling with list hygiene | 8/10 Payment-status-aware suppression |
| Sending speed | 7/10 Throttled on lower plans | 7/10 Good throughput on Business plan | 7/10 Reliable lifecycle email throughput |
Mailchimp vs Brevo vs Sequenzy: Pricing
Mailchimp charges by contacts, Brevo charges by email volume (unlimited contacts), Sequenzy charges by email volume.
Free plan: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month
Free plan: 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts
Free trial: 14 days with full features, then $19/mo
| Tier | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $13/mo 500 contacts, basic automation, email support | $9/mo 5,000 emails/month, unlimited contacts, basic analytics | $19/mo 15,000 emails/month, all SaaS workflows, billing integration | 500 contacts / 5K-15K emails |
| Growth | $60/mo 5,000 contacts, journeys, A/B testing | $18/mo 20,000 emails/month, automation, A/B testing | $49/mo 50,000 emails/month, dedicated IP, advanced analytics | 5K contacts / 20-50K emails |
| Scale | $175+/mo 25,000+ contacts, advanced segmentation, multivariate testing | $65+/mo 100,000+ emails, dedicated IP, phone support | $149/mo 200,000 emails/month, SLA, SSO | 25K+ contacts / 100K+ emails |
Mailchimp: Watch Out For
- !Inactive contacts still count toward limit
- !Mandrill transactional email is $20/mo extra
- !Post-Intuit pricing increases
- !Advanced features on expensive Premium plan
Brevo: Watch Out For
- !Brevo branding on free plan emails
- !Advanced automation only on Business plan
- !Landing pages limited on lower plans
- !Phone support only on Business+ plans
Sequenzy: Watch Out For
- !No built-in CRM or chat
- !No SMTP relay option
- !Free tier is a trial, not permanent
Pricing Verdict: Brevo offers the lowest absolute price with unlimited contacts. For B2B SaaS, Sequenzy at $19/mo provides lifecycle features neither Mailchimp nor Brevo offer. Mailchimp pricing has become less competitive since the Intuit acquisition.
Cost Comparison Note
The pricing gap is significant. For 10K contacts, Mailchimp costs $100+/mo while Brevo costs $18/mo (by email volume). For SaaS teams, Sequenzy at $19/mo provides lifecycle features neither offers.
B2B SaaS Use Cases
How each platform handles the email workflows that matter most for B2B SaaS companies.
🎯 User Onboarding Sequences
Automated sequences guiding new users through activation.
Mailchimp
Customer Journey builder with pre-built onboarding paths. Simple welcome sequences.
Brevo
Automation builder with pre-built recipes. Basic onboarding flows with time delays.
Sequenzy
Pre-built onboarding templates connected to billing. Branch by plan, adoption, and payment status.
Verdict: Sequenzy has pre-built SaaS onboarding templates with billing awareness. Both Mailchimp and Brevo handle basic onboarding but lack SaaS-specific features.
Real-World Example
A SaaS wants onboarding that adapts based on plan type and feature adoption.
Example subject line: Welcome to [App]. Here is your quickstart checklist.
💰 Trial-to-Paid Conversion
Converting trial users to paying customers.
Mailchimp
Time-based customer journeys. No trial awareness or billing integration.
Brevo
Basic automation sequences. No trial-specific triggers or billing integration.
Sequenzy
Billing-aware trial conversion sequences from Stripe/Paddle. Knows trial status and engagement.
Verdict: Sequenzy wins decisively for trial conversion. Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo has trial-specific awareness or billing integration.
Real-World Example
A SaaS needs billing-aware trial conversion emails.
Example subject line: Your trial ends in 3 days.
🔔 Transactional Notifications
System emails like password resets and invoices.
Mailchimp
Mandrill add-on ($20/mo extra). Separate infrastructure. Good deliverability.
Brevo
Built-in SMTP relay and API. Easy integration. Included in all plans.
Sequenzy
API-based transactional with SaaS-specific templates for invoices and plan changes.
Verdict: Brevo wins for transactional email ease with built-in SMTP relay at no extra cost. Mailchimp requires the Mandrill add-on. Sequenzy includes SaaS-specific transactional templates.
Real-World Example
A SaaS needs SMTP relay for password resets and receipts.
Example subject line: Your password has been reset
📢 Product Changelog & Announcements
Announcing new features to users.
Mailchimp
Create polished announcements with the best template library. Tag-based targeting.
Brevo
Good visual editor with segment targeting. Professional templates.
Sequenzy
Campaign builder with plan-aware segmentation.
Verdict: Mailchimp has the best visual design tools. Sequenzy adds plan-based targeting. Brevo offers good templates at lower cost.
Real-World Example
A SaaS announces a Pro-only feature.
Example subject line: New: AI reports are here
🔄 Churn Prevention
Re-engaging declining users.
Mailchimp
Basic re-engagement journeys. Limited to email engagement signals.
Brevo
Basic automation for re-engagement. Limited product usage tracking.
Sequenzy
Churn prevention combining usage with billing data. Identify downgraders and approaching renewals.
Verdict: Sequenzy combines behavior with billing signals. Both Mailchimp and Brevo are limited to email engagement for re-engagement.
Real-World Example
A SaaS wants to re-engage users showing declining activity.
Example subject line: We miss you. Here is what is new.
💳 Payment Failed (Dunning)
Recovery emails for failed payments.
Mailchimp
Not designed for dunning. Would require Zapier with limited logic.
Brevo
Not designed for dunning. No billing integration.
Sequenzy
Auto-triggered from Stripe/Paddle. Escalating templates. Auto-stops on success.
Verdict: Sequenzy dominates dunning. Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo is suited for this SaaS-critical use case.
Real-World Example
A subscription SaaS needs automated payment recovery.
Example subject line: Action required: your payment failed
🛠️ All-in-One Marketing Suite
Email, CRM, chat, SMS, landing pages in one platform.
Mailchimp
Email, landing pages, social posting, basic CRM. No live chat or SMS.
Brevo
Email, SMS, WhatsApp, live chat, CRM, landing pages, meetings. Most complete suite.
Sequenzy
Email-focused with SaaS lifecycle automation. Integrates with external tools.
Verdict: Brevo is the most complete all-in-one suite at the lowest price. Mailchimp covers email and social well. Sequenzy focuses on email lifecycle.
Real-World Example
A small team wants email, CRM, and chat without paying for 3 tools.
Example subject line: N/A
📈 Upsell & Expansion
Promoting plan upgrades.
Mailchimp
Basic campaigns with tag targeting. No usage tracking.
Brevo
Basic automation with attribute targeting. Limited SaaS awareness.
Sequenzy
Auto-triggers near plan limits. Billing-personalized sequences.
Verdict: Sequenzy is purpose-built for SaaS expansion. Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo is optimized for this.
Real-World Example
Upselling users approaching plan capacity.
Example subject line: You have used 90% of your plan limits
The Bigger Picture
Both Mailchimp and Brevo handle general email marketing well but lack SaaS-specific capabilities. For billing-integrated lifecycle email, Sequenzy fills the gap that neither platform addresses.
Automation Capabilities
Email automation is critical for B2B SaaS. Here is how Mailchimp, Brevo, and Sequenzy compare.
| Capability | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | Yes Customer Journey builder, limited | Yes Visual builder with pre-built recipes | Yes Visual builder with SaaS templates |
| Time-based triggers | Yes Basic time delays | Yes Time delays and scheduled triggers | Yes Billing-aware scheduling |
| Event-based triggers | Yes Basic signup/purchase triggers | Yes Contact activity and page visits | Yes Product + billing events |
| Conditional branching | Yes Simple yes/no | Yes Basic if/else | Yes Branch by plan, MRR, trial status |
| Multi-step sequences | Yes Multi-step journeys | Yes Multi-step with email and SMS | Yes Multi-step SaaS templates |
| Goal tracking | No Not available in journeys | Yes Basic goal tracking | Yes Billing event-based goals |
| Send time optimization | Yes On paid plans | Yes ML-based optimization | Yes Timezone + engagement based |
| Dynamic content | Yes Merge tags | Yes Dynamic blocks on attributes | Yes Billing data personalization |
API & Developer Experience
For B2B SaaS teams, the API quality directly impacts how fast you can integrate and iterate on email.
Mailchimp API
- SDKs: Python (official), Node.js (community), PHP (community)
- Docs: 6/10
- Webhooks: Basic webhooks for subscribe/unsubscribe
- Rate Limit: 10 concurrent connections, throttled by plan
- Batch: Batch list operations
Brevo API
- SDKs: Node.js (official), Python (official), PHP (official), Ruby (official), Go (official), Java (official)
- Docs: 7/10
- Webhooks: Delivery and engagement event webhooks
- Rate Limit: 80-400 requests/minute by plan
- Batch: Batch contact import and sends
Sequenzy API
- SDKs: Node.js (official), Python (official), REST API for all languages
- Docs: 8/10
- Webhooks: Email + billing events with retry logic
- Rate Limit: 50 requests/second
- Batch: Batch sending with personalization
Mailchimp Code Example
const mailchimp = require("@mailchimp/mailchimp_marketing");
mailchimp.setConfig({ apiKey: "key", server: "us1" });
await mailchimp.lists.addListMember("list_id", {
email_address: "user@company.com",
status: "subscribed",
merge_fields: { FNAME: "Sarah" },
tags: ["trial_user"],
});Brevo Code Example
const SibApiV3Sdk = require("@getbrevo/brevo");
const api = new SibApiV3Sdk.TransactionalEmailsApi();
api.setApiKey(SibApiV3Sdk.TransactionalEmailsApiApiKeys.apiKey, "key");
const email = new SibApiV3Sdk.SendSmtpEmail();
email.to = [{ email: "user@company.com", name: "Sarah" }];
email.templateId = 12;
email.params = { plan: "Pro", amount: "$299" };
email.sender = { name: "Acme", email: "team@acme.com" };
await api.sendTransacEmail(email);Sequenzy Code Example
import { Sequenzy } from "sequenzy";
const sq = new Sequenzy("sq_your_api_key");
await sq.subscribers.add({
email: "user@company.com",
firstName: "Sarah",
stripeCustomerId: "cus_abc123",
});
await sq.sequences.trigger({
email: "user@company.com",
sequence: "trial_onboarding",
});Email Deliverability Comparison
Your emails are useless if they do not reach the inbox. Here is how all three platforms handle deliverability.
| Factor | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Massive infrastructure, variable quality | Large infrastructure serving 500K+ businesses | SaaS-only sender pools |
| Inbox Placement Rate | ~90-95% (estimated) | ~92-96% (estimated) | ~96-98% (estimated) |
| Dedicated IP | Add-on on Standard+ plans | Business plan ($18/mo) | Growth plan ($49/mo) |
| Auth Protocols | SPF, DKIM, DMARC | SPF, DKIM, DMARC | SPF, DKIM, DMARC, Custom Return-Path |
| IP Warmup | Auto-warmup for dedicated IPs | Auto-warmup for dedicated IPs | Guided warmup |
| Spam Testing | Inbox preview and content analysis | Built-in spam checker | Spam score with inbox preview |
Both Mailchimp and Brevo serve massive, diverse customer bases, which can impact shared IP quality. A dedicated IP helps. Brevo offers the most affordable dedicated IP at $18/mo. Sequenzy SaaS-only pools maintain stronger reputation.
Integration Ecosystem
Mailchimp has ~300 integrations, Brevo has ~65, and Sequenzy has ~25. Here is how they compare across key B2B SaaS categories.
Payment & Billing
| Service | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (Native) |
| Paddle | No (None) | No (None) | Yes (Native) |
| LemonSqueezy | No (None) | No (None) | Yes (Native) |
CRM
| Service | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (Official) |
| Salesforce | Yes (Official) | Yes (Official) | Yes (3rd Party) |
| Pipedrive | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) | No (None) |
Product Analytics
| Service | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segment | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (Official) |
| Mixpanel | No (None) | No (None) | Yes (3rd Party) |
| Amplitude | No (None) | No (None) | Yes (3rd Party) |
Automation & Workflow
| Service | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Yes (Official) | Yes (Official) | Yes (Official) |
| Make (Integromat) | Yes (Official) | Yes (Official) | Yes (Official) |
| n8n | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) | Yes (3rd Party) |
Development Frameworks
| Service | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next.js | Yes (API Only) | Yes (API Only) | Yes (API Only) |
| React | No (API Only) | No (API Only) | No (API Only) |
| Svelte/SvelteKit | No (API Only) | No (API Only) | No (API Only) |
Analytics & Reporting
What data you can track and how each platform helps you measure email performance.
| Metric | Mailchimp | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open rate tracking | Per-campaign with industry benchmarks | Per-campaign real-time stats | Per-campaign, per-sequence, per-lifecycle |
| Click tracking | Click maps and tracking | Click tracking with maps | Link-level with conversion attribution |
| Bounce tracking | Standard bounce handling | Bounce tracking with hygiene | Payment-status-aware suppression |
| Unsubscribe tracking | Built-in management | GDPR-compliant management | Built-in preference center |
| Revenue attribution | Ecommerce tracking | Basic conversion tracking | Native MRR impact per sequence |
| Dashboard | Dashboard with benchmarks | Real-time campaign dashboard | SaaS dashboard with MRR/churn |
| Export capabilities | CSV export | CSV export and API | CSV export plus API |
Mailchimp: Unique Features
- + Industry benchmark comparisons
- + Social media analytics
- + Content optimizer AI
- + Ecommerce revenue tracking
Brevo: Unique Features
- + Real-time campaign monitoring
- + Email heat maps
- + CRM deal analytics
- + Landing page conversion tracking
Sequenzy: Unique Features
- + MRR impact per sequence
- + Trial conversion rate tracking
- + Dunning recovery dashboard
- + Churn prevention metrics
- + Lifecycle stage overview
Pros & Cons
Mailchimp
Pros
- + Most recognized email marketing brand
- + Best template editor and design tools
- + Free plan for getting started
- + All-in-one: email, landing pages, social posting
- + Industry benchmark comparisons
- + Large third-party integration ecosystem
- + Easy to learn for beginners
- + Content optimizer with AI suggestions
Cons
- - Pricing increased significantly post-Intuit acquisition
- - Automation is basic compared to alternatives
- - Charges for inactive and unsubscribed contacts
- - Transactional email requires Mandrill add-on
- - No native billing integration for SaaS
- - API shows its age
- - No built-in CRM with deal pipelines
- - Deliverability can vary on shared IPs
Brevo
Pros
- + Extremely affordable with unlimited contacts
- + All-in-one: email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat, CRM
- + Built-in SMTP relay for transactional email
- + Affordable dedicated IP ($18/mo)
- + SDKs in 6 languages
- + Generous free plan
- + ML-based send-time optimization
- + Profitable company (lower shutdown risk)
Cons
- - Not designed for SaaS workflows
- - Limited event tracking
- - Shared IP reputation varies due to large base
- - Automation less powerful than ActiveCampaign
- - No native billing integration
- - Brevo branding on free plan
- - Analytics are basic
- - Rate limits on lower plans
Who Should Use What?
Specific recommendations based on your company type and needs.
Early-stage SaaS
Pre-PMF with fewer than 1,000 users.
Sequenzy at $19/mo gives you SaaS sequences and billing integration. Free plans from Mailchimp/Brevo work for basic email but lack SaaS features.
Budget-first all-in-one
You want the most features for the least money.
Brevo offers email, CRM, chat, SMS, and landing pages starting at $9/mo with unlimited contacts. Unbeatable for overall value.
Product-led growth SaaS
Self-serve signups needing billing-aware lifecycle email.
Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo connects to billing providers. Sequenzy does this natively.
Best visual design tools
Template design quality is your top priority.
Mailchimp has the most polished editor and largest template library in this comparison.
SaaS focused on churn reduction
Dunning, churn prevention, and trial conversion are priorities.
Native billing integration for automated dunning and churn prevention.
SMTP relay for transactional
You need an easy SMTP relay for password resets and receipts.
Brevo includes SMTP relay on all plans. Mailchimp requires the Mandrill add-on.
Newsletter-focused SaaS
Newsletters and content marketing are your primary strategy.
Mailchimp has the best newsletter tools with RSS-to-email and the most polished templates.
International SaaS team
Your team is global and needs multi-language support.
Brevo (based in Paris) has strong EU compliance, multi-language interface, and GDPR-first approach.
Migration Guide
Migrating from Mailchimp to Brevo
Steps
- 1. Export audience from Mailchimp
- 2. Import contacts to Brevo
- 3. Recreate templates in Brevo editor
- 4. Rebuild automations in Brevo builder
- 5. Configure domain authentication
- 6. Set up SMTP relay for transactional if needed
- 7. Test all flows
- 8. Switch sending
Watch Out For
- ! Merge tag syntax differs between platforms
- ! Mandrill transactional emails need to switch to Brevo SMTP
- ! Customer Journey structure differs from Brevo automations
- ! Historical data does not transfer
Migrating from Brevo to Mailchimp
Steps
- 1. Export contacts from Brevo
- 2. Import to Mailchimp with tag mapping
- 3. Recreate templates in Mailchimp editor
- 4. Rebuild automations as customer journeys
- 5. Configure domain authentication
- 6. Set up Mandrill for transactional if needed
- 7. Test all flows
- 8. Switch sending
Watch Out For
- ! Brevo unlimited contacts becomes limited on Mailchimp
- ! CRM data needs separate migration
- ! Chat feature has no Mailchimp equivalent
- ! Automation complexity may decrease in Mailchimp
The Bottom Line
Choose Mailchimp if...
- ✓ Brand recognition and established platform trust matter
- ✓ You want the best visual email editor and template library
- ✓ All-in-one marketing (email, social, landing pages) is important
- ✓ Industry benchmark comparisons are valuable to you
- ✓ You need Mandrill for transactional email alongside marketing
- ✓ Your team values the most intuitive interface
Choose Brevo if...
- ✓ Budget is your primary concern
- ✓ You want email, CRM, chat, and SMS in one affordable platform
- ✓ Unlimited contacts at a low price matters
- ✓ You need built-in SMTP relay for transactional email
- ✓ You want an affordable dedicated IP
- ✓ GDPR compliance and EU-based data processing are important
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brevo better than Mailchimp?
Brevo offers better value with unlimited contacts, built-in CRM, chat, and SMTP relay at a fraction of Mailchimp cost. Mailchimp has a better editor, more templates, and stronger brand recognition. For B2B SaaS, neither is ideal. Sequenzy offers purpose-built SaaS features at $19/mo.
Why did Sendinblue rebrand to Brevo?
Sendinblue rebranded to Brevo in 2023 to reflect its expansion beyond email into a full business suite (CRM, chat, meetings). The rebrand did not change core features.
Is Mailchimp too expensive now?
Mailchimp pricing increased after the Intuit acquisition. For the same contact count, Brevo is 3-5x cheaper. Sequenzy at $19/mo offers more SaaS-specific value than either.
Which has better deliverability?
Both have similar deliverability on shared IPs, which can vary due to large user bases. Brevo offers the most affordable dedicated IP at $18/mo. Sequenzy SaaS-only pools tend to maintain better reputation.
Can either platform handle SaaS dunning emails?
Neither Mailchimp nor Brevo was designed for dunning. Both lack native billing integration. Sequenzy offers pre-built dunning sequences triggered automatically by Stripe or Paddle payment failures.
Does Brevo have a CRM?
Yes, Brevo includes a free CRM with deal pipelines. Mailchimp has basic audience management but no CRM with deals. Sequenzy does not include a CRM.
Can I use Brevo for transactional email without Mandrill?
Yes. Brevo includes SMTP relay and transactional API on all plans. This is a major advantage over Mailchimp, which requires the separate Mandrill add-on ($20/mo) for transactional email.
Which is better for non-technical users?
Both are designed for non-technical users. Mailchimp has a slightly more intuitive interface. Brevo is equally user-friendly with more built-in features. Sequenzy pre-built SaaS templates also reduce the need for technical setup.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to Brevo easily?
Yes. Both platforms support CSV import/export. Migration typically takes 3-5 days. The main adjustment is learning Brevo interface and converting merge tag syntax.
Which should a SaaS startup choose?
For SaaS-specific needs (onboarding, trial conversion, dunning, churn prevention), Sequenzy is the best choice at $19/mo. For general marketing at the lowest price, Brevo. For the best visual design tools, Mailchimp.