Brevo Review
Last updated: 2026-08-18
Overview
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a Paris-based marketing platform founded in 2012 by Armand Thiberge and Kapil Sharma. It combines email marketing, SMS campaigns, marketing automation, CRM, and transactional messaging into a single suite. Brevo serves over 500,000 customers across 160 countries, particularly popular with European SMBs that need GDPR-compliant multi-channel outreach without juggling separate tools. Rated 4.3/5 — strong on automation and deliverability, weaker on template design and landing page builder quality compared to dedicated competitors.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set
- Good value for money
- Active user community
- Regular updates
Cons
- Learning curve for beginners
- Some features need premium plan
- Customer support response times vary
Features
Brevo's core email builder uses a drag-and-drop editor with responsive templates, though the design library is thinner than Mailchimp's. Marketing automation workflows support triggers based on email opens, link clicks, page visits, and custom events — you build visual flow charts with conditional branching and A/B testing nodes. The built-in CRM tracks deals and pipeline stages, syncing contact activity automatically. SMS marketing is native (not a bolt-on), with shared contact lists and compliance tools for opt-in management. Transactional email runs through Brevo's SMTP relay API with dedicated IP options on higher tiers. Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress, Salesforce, and Zapier — but the native integration catalog is smaller than Klaviyo's for e-commerce specifically. Limitations: no built-in landing pages (removed the feature), reporting is basic on lower tiers, and the free plan caps at 300 emails/day with Brevo branding.
Pricing
Brevo uses a contact-based pricing model unusual in the industry. The Free plan allows unlimited contacts but caps sends at 300 emails/day with Brevo branding. Starter begins at €9/month for 5,000 emails/month, removing the daily cap and branding. Business starts at €18/month for 5,000 emails, adding A/B testing, advanced statistics, and send-time optimization. Business Plus runs €30/month for 5,000 emails with phone support and dedicated IP. SMS and WhatsApp credits are purchased separately — there's no bundled SMS allowance. Transactional email pricing is separate from marketing email pricing.
Final Verdict
Rated 4.3/5. Brevo is best for European SMBs and mid-market companies that want email, SMS, and CRM in one GDPR-compliant platform without paying per-contact pricing. The unlimited contacts on free tier is genuinely differentiated. Drawbacks: template design feels dated, the integration ecosystem trails Mailchimp and Klaviyo, and the rebrand from Sendinblue caused some deliverability turbulence. Strong pick for cost-conscious multi-channel marketers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brevo worth it in 2026?
Yes if you need multi-channel marketing (email + SMS + CRM) without per-contact pricing. The unlimited contacts model saves money as your list grows. Weaker for design-heavy email campaigns or e-commerce personalization where Klaviyo excels.
How much does Brevo cost?
Free for up to 300 emails/day. Starter begins at €9/month for 5,000 emails. Business starts at €18/month adding A/B testing and send-time optimization. SMS credits are sold separately from email pricing.
What are the best Brevo alternatives?
Mailchimp for template design and integrations, Klaviyo for e-commerce personalization, Moosend for budget automation, and ActiveCampaign for advanced automation workflows at higher complexity levels.
Does Brevo offer a free trial or free plan?
Brevo offers a permanent free plan with unlimited contacts and 300 emails/day including Brevo branding. No time-limited trial needed — you can stay on free indefinitely and upgrade when you need higher send volumes.