Brevo vs MailerLite
The two most popular Mailchimp alternatives side by side, the generous French platform against the friendliest editor on the market.
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Brevo
The most generous free plan, and you pay per email, not per contact.
MailerLite
The friendliest tool for beginners, with an honest free plan.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Brevo | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Price | From $9/mo | From $10/mo |
| Free plan | ||
| Best for | Big list, low volume | Beginners |
| Category | Free to start | Free to start |
| Provider | Brevo SAS | MailerLite |
| Visit Brevo | Visit MailerLite |
Our verdict
The difference is the pricing model and the on-ramp. Brevo bills per email sent and is unbeatable for anyone with many contacts who mails selectively. MailerLite bills per subscriber, has the most pleasant editor, and includes automation in its free plan. For most starters and creators, MailerLite wins on ease of use.
Owners of big lists do the math and pick Brevo.
“Paying per email sent instead of per contact makes Brevo unique. We stored tens of thousands of contacts for free. For a big list you do not email daily, it is by far the cheapest serious option.”Editorial team, on Brevo
“The most pleasant editor of this line-up and a free plan you can genuinely start a business on. For beginners, this is our first recommendation.”Editorial team, on MailerLite
Frequently asked questions
Brevo or MailerLite: which is the better Mailchimp alternative?
For most starters and creators, MailerLite, because the editor is friendlier and automation is already in the free plan. Brevo wins the moment volume maths take over. It bills per email sent instead of per subscriber, which is unbeatable if you keep many contacts and mail them selectively. Owners of big lists should run the numbers and pick Brevo.
What do Brevo and MailerLite cost?
Brevo Starter is $9 a month, $108 a year. MailerLite's Growing Business plan is $10 a month, $120 a year, and that monthly rate assumes annual billing (US dollars, checked August 2026). Both have a free tier. Brevo gives 300 emails a day with unlimited stored contacts, MailerLite 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
I have a big list but only email once a month. Which is cheaper?
Brevo, by a wide margin. It charges for emails sent rather than contacts stored, so an archive of subscribers you rarely touch costs nothing, and the free plan already covers 300 emails a day, or 9,000 a month. MailerLite counts subscribers, so its free tier stops at 250 however rarely you send.
Do both include automation on the free plan?
Yes. MailerLite lists automation in its free plan alongside the 250 subscriber limit, and Brevo includes automation as well. The visible difference on the free tiers is branding. Brevo puts its own logo in your emails until you move to Starter at $9 a month, where the logo becomes removable and the daily send cap disappears.