Mailchimp vs Brevo: Which is Cheaper in 2026?
Brevo is significantly cheaper than Mailchimp for most businesses — often by 60–80% at the same list size. Mailchimp charges by how many contacts you store; Brevo charges by how many emails you send. If you email your list 1–4 times per month, Brevo almost always wins on price. If you send daily or run heavy automations, the gap narrows. Here's the full 2026 breakdown with exact prices.
The Key Difference: How They Charge
Mailchimp charges based on how many contacts you have in your list — regardless of how often you email them. The more contacts, the higher your monthly bill.
Brevo charges based on how many emails you send per month — regardless of how many contacts you have. If you have a large list but email infrequently, Brevo can be significantly cheaper.
Price Comparison by List Size
| Contacts | Mailchimp Essentials | Brevo Starter (4x/mo) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | €12/mo | €7/mo | Brevo |
| 2,500 | €41/mo | €14/mo | Brevo |
| 10,000 | €86/mo | €35/mo | Brevo |
| 25,000 | €212/mo | €59/mo | Brevo |
| 50,000 | €301/mo | €59/mo | Brevo |
Brevo prices assume ~4 emails per contact per month (weekly send cadence). Daily senders will pay more with Brevo.
Free Plans Compared
Mailchimp Free: Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month. Very limited but good for absolute beginners.
Brevo Free: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day (9,000/month). Much more generous in terms of contacts.
When Mailchimp is Worth It
- You need deep integrations with eCommerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce)
- You rely heavily on pre-built templates and the drag-and-drop editor
- You send emails daily or multiple times per week — Brevo's volume pricing becomes expensive fast
- Your team is already familiar with Mailchimp's interface
When Brevo is the Better Choice
- You have a large list but send a weekly newsletter or less
- You're a European business and want EU-based data hosting
- You want SMS marketing and transactional emails in one platform
- Price is the primary concern — Brevo is almost always cheaper
Verdict
For most European small businesses, Brevo is significantly cheaper — often by 50-75% at larger list sizes. The exception is high-frequency senders (daily emails) where Brevo's volume pricing catches up. Use our calculator to see the exact numbers for your list size.