Introduction
In 2025, choosing the right email marketing platform can make or break your digital marketing success. With so many options available, three tools consistently stand out: Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign.
But which one is best for you? The answer depends on your business size, goals, budget, and the type of marketing campaigns you plan to run.
This guide provides a deep comparison of Brevo, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign, looking at features, pricing, pros/cons, and real-world use cases. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which platform fits your business best in 2025.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature / Tool | Brevo | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small/medium businesses, startups, ecommerce needing email + SMS + automation | Beginners & marketers wanting easy-to-use design & branding features | Advanced marketers needing deep automation & CRM |
| Free Plan | Yes, 300 emails/day | Yes, up to 500 contacts | No (14-day trial only) |
| Ease of Use | Very beginner-friendly | Very intuitive & polished | Steeper learning curve |
| Automation | Strong automation workflows | Basic automation | Industry-leading, advanced workflows |
| Pricing (Starter) | From ~$9/mo | From ~$13/mo | From ~$29/mo |
| Unique Strength | Multichannel (Email + SMS + WhatsApp) | Beautiful templates & integrations | Deep automation + built-in CRM |
| Weakness | Reporting not as advanced | Expensive as list grows | Expensive & complex for small teams |
Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue) Overview
Brevo has quickly become a favorite in 2025 for small and medium businesses looking for affordable, all-in-one marketing tools. Unlike most platforms, Brevo goes beyond email, offering SMS, WhatsApp campaigns, chat, CRM, landing pages, and transactional emails in one place.
Key Strengths of Brevo
- Affordable pricing — free plan available (300 emails/day).
- Multichannel marketing (Email, SMS, WhatsApp).
- Automation workflows are flexible and easy to set up.
- Transactional email API/SMTP for ecommerce (order confirmations, password resets).
- Drag-and-drop editor for quick, professional email designs.
Weaknesses of Brevo
- Some advanced features (A/B testing, advanced reporting, landing pages) require paid plans.
- Free plan limits growth if your list grows quickly.
👉 Best For: Startups, small businesses, and ecommerce owners who want a cost-effective solution that does more than just email.
Mailchimp Overview
Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms, especially known for its user-friendly design, templates, and integrations. Many beginners choose Mailchimp because it’s intuitive and works seamlessly with popular platforms like Shopify, WordPress, and WooCommerce.
Key Strengths of Mailchimp
- Beautiful email templates and a polished editor.
- Strong integrations with 300+ apps.
- Beginner-friendly interface with drag-and-drop design.
- AI content suggestions introduced in recent updates.
Weaknesses of Mailchimp
- Pricing increases sharply as your contact list grows.
- Automation is basic compared to ActiveCampaign.
- Some important features (A/B testing, multichannel) require higher-tier plans.
👉 Best For: Small businesses and beginners who value design, branding, and ease of use over deep automation.
ActiveCampaign Overview
ActiveCampaign is known as a powerhouse for advanced marketing automation. It offers sophisticated workflows, behavioral targeting, and CRM features, making it a strong choice for businesses ready to scale.
Key Strengths of ActiveCampaign
- Best-in-class automation — complex workflows, conditional logic, multi-step triggers.
- Integrated CRM for managing sales pipelines and customer journeys.
- Excellent deliverability with reputation management tools.
- Powerful segmentation based on user behavior, tags, and preferences.
Weaknesses of ActiveCampaign
- No free plan (only a 14-day trial).
- Higher cost than Brevo and Mailchimp.
- Steeper learning curve for beginners.
👉 Best For: Medium to large businesses, agencies, and advanced marketers who need automation depth and CRM integration.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
1. Email Campaign Creation
- Brevo: Simple drag-and-drop editor with responsive templates.
- Mailchimp: Best templates for design; polished branding tools.
- ActiveCampaign: Functional but less design-focused; shines in personalization.
2. Marketing Automation
- Brevo: Great for beginners (welcome series, cart recovery, segmentation).
- Mailchimp: Limited to basic triggers (birthday emails, product recommendations).
- ActiveCampaign: Advanced — conditional logic, multi-channel, CRM-linked workflows.
3. Pricing in 2025
| Plan | Brevo | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 300 emails/day | 500 contacts | No |
| Starter | ~$9/mo | ~$13/mo | ~$29/mo |
| Mid-Tier | ~$25/mo | ~$59/mo | ~$49/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
👉 Takeaway: Brevo is the most affordable, Mailchimp starts cheap but becomes expensive quickly, ActiveCampaign is pricey but powerful.
4. Multichannel Capabilities
- Brevo: Email, SMS, WhatsApp, transactional emails.
- Mailchimp: Primarily email; integrates with ads and social media.
- ActiveCampaign: Email + SMS, but limited multichannel compared to Brevo.
5. Analytics & Reporting
- Brevo: Good analytics (open/click rates, deliverability) but less advanced.
- Mailchimp: Solid reporting, especially on design engagement.
- ActiveCampaign: Advanced analytics + predictive insights.
Which Tool Should You Choose in 2025?
Here’s the honest breakdown:
- ✅ Choose Brevo if… you’re a small/medium business, startup, or ecommerce store wanting affordable email + SMS + automation in one place.
- ✅ Choose Mailchimp if… you’re a beginner who values design, branding, and simplicity more than automation.
- ✅ Choose ActiveCampaign if… you’re ready for advanced automation, CRM, and have the budget + team to manage complexity.
FAQs
1. Is Brevo the same as Sendinblue?
Yes. Sendinblue rebranded to Brevo in 2023, offering more than email: SMS, WhatsApp, CRM, and automation.
2. Which tool is most affordable for small businesses?
Brevo — it has the lowest starting price and a free plan.
3. Which tool is best for advanced automation?
ActiveCampaign, thanks to its powerful workflows and CRM integration.
4. Which tool has the best templates?
Mailchimp, widely recognized for its beautiful, polished designs.
Conclusion
Choosing between Brevo, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign in 2025 depends on your needs and budget:
- Brevo: Best value for money, multichannel, beginner-friendly.
- Mailchimp: Best for design and beginners but can get expensive.
- ActiveCampaign: Best for advanced automation and CRM integration.
👉 If you’re just starting or running a small business, Brevo gives you the best balance of affordability and features. It grows with your business, offering everything from email and SMS to automation and CRM — all in one place.
Action Step:
Sign up for Brevo’s free plan today and test your first campaign. You’ll see why so many businesses are switching to Brevo in 2025.