Brevo vs MailerLite – Which Is Best for Small Business?
If you are choosing between Brevo vs MailerLite for your small business, here is the short answer: pick Brevo if you send a lot of emails and want SMS and WhatsApp in the same tool, and pick MailerLite if you want the simplest tool at the lowest price for a small list. Both are good, affordable email marketing tools, and both offer a free plan, so the right choice depends on how you work and how fast your list is growing.
Below, we compare the two side by side: pricing, features, automation, templates, deliverability, and analytics. All prices were checked live on the official Brevo and MailerLite websites on November 8, 2026.
What Is Brevo?
Brevo is an all-in-one marketing platform. You can send email campaigns, build automations, create landing pages, and run SMS and WhatsApp campaigns from one dashboard. It also has a built-in CRM, so your contacts, deals, and conversations live in the same place as your emails.
Brevo charges by the number of emails you send, not by the number of contacts you have. You can store unlimited contacts on every plan, including the free one, and you only pay more when you send more emails. For a small business with a large list that only emails once or twice a month, that can work out cheaper than tools that charge per subscriber.
Brevo suits online stores, service businesses, and anyone who wants to grow beyond simple newsletters. If you want a broader view of the market first, our guide to the best email marketing software for small businesses compares more options side by side.
What Is MailerLite?
MailerLite is an email marketing tool built around one idea: keep it simple. You can create campaigns with a drag-and-drop editor, set up automations, build landing pages and signup forms, and even publish a simple website. The interface is clean and easy to learn, which is why many beginners choose it as their first email tool.
MailerLite charges by the number of subscribers on your list. The free plan covers up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, which is enough to get started. As your list grows, you move up the pricing steps, and the paid plans add more automations and more seats for your team.
MailerLite suits bloggers, creators, coaches, and small shops that send a weekly newsletter and do not need SMS or a CRM. It does not try to do everything, and that focus is part of its appeal.
Brevo vs MailerLite: Pricing Compared
Pricing is where these two tools differ the most, because they charge in different ways. Brevo charges by emails sent, while MailerLite charges by subscribers. The cheaper option for you depends on your list size and how often you email.
Brevo pricing, checked on Brevo’s pricing page on November 8, 2026, with yearly billing first and monthly billing in brackets:
| Brevo plan | Price per month | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic email tools, unlimited contacts |
| Starter | From $8.08 ($9 monthly) | 5,000 emails a month, landing page builder |
| Standard | From $16.17 ($18 monthly) | 5,000 emails a month, A/B testing, automation |
| Professional | From $449.08 ($499 monthly) | 150,000 emails a month, advanced automation |
| Enterprise | Custom price | Tailored limits and support |
MailerLite pricing, checked on MailerLite’s pricing page on November 8, 2026, for up to 500 subscribers, with yearly billing first and monthly billing in brackets:
| MailerLite plan | Price per month | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month |
| Comfort | $10.80 ($12 monthly) | Up to 500 subscribers, 50 automations |
| Power | $22.50 ($25 monthly) | Up to 500 subscribers, unlimited emails |
| Enterprise | Custom price | For lists over 200,000 subscribers |
For a small list, MailerLite is the cheaper starting point. A business with 500 subscribers pays $10.80 a month on Comfort with yearly billing, while Brevo Starter starts at $8.08 a month for 5,000 emails. The math changes as you grow. If you have 10,000 contacts but send only one email a month, Brevo can cost less. If you email a small list four times a week, MailerLite can cost less.
Features Compared
When you compare Brevo vs MailerLite on features, both tools cover the basics well: a drag-and-drop email editor, signup forms, landing pages, list segments, and a contact manager. The differences show up when you look at what else each tool does.
Brevo is the broader tool. Alongside email, you get SMS and WhatsApp campaigns, a CRM with deals and tasks, and live chat on higher plans. That makes it a real option if you want to bring more of your marketing into one place instead of paying for three separate tools.
MailerLite is the more focused tool. It covers email, automations, landing pages, forms, and simple websites, and it does those things well. It also supports selling digital products, which suits creators. What it does not offer is SMS or a full CRM, so if you need those, you would need another tool alongside it.
Automation: Which One Saves You More Time?
Automation is where a good email tool pays for itself, so it deserves a close look in any Brevo vs MailerLite comparison. Both tools let you build visual workflows that send the right email at the right time, such as a welcome series for new subscribers, a reminder for an abandoned cart, or a follow-up after a purchase.
MailerLite keeps automation simple. The free plan includes 3 automations, Comfort allows 50, and Power allows unlimited automations. The builder is easy to follow, and most small businesses can set up a welcome series in under an hour. If you are new to automation, MailerLite is the gentler place to start.
Brevo’s automation is more powerful, especially on the Standard plan and above. You can build multi-step journeys, test different paths with A/B testing, and trigger messages from website visits or CRM events. It takes a little longer to learn, but it can handle more complex setups as your business grows. Bottom line: MailerLite wins on ease, Brevo wins on depth.
Email Templates and Design
On templates and design, Brevo vs MailerLite is evenly matched. Both tools offer a drag-and-drop editor and a library of ready-made templates, so you do not need design skills to send a good-looking email. You can add images, buttons, and columns, save your own templates, and preview how an email looks on a phone before you send it. MailerLite’s editor feels a little cleaner and faster for simple newsletters, with modern templates that are easy to adjust. Brevo’s editor is also easy to use, and its library covers more use cases, including order confirmations and SMS messages. It also supports HTML editing for users who want full control.
Deliverability: Will Your Emails Reach the Inbox?
Deliverability means your emails actually land in the inbox instead of the spam folder. Both tools take this seriously, and neither one stands out clearly in this Brevo vs MailerLite comparison. Both support sender authentication, which helps mailbox providers trust your emails, and both give you tools to clean your list and remove inactive contacts. The biggest factor in deliverability is not the tool, it is you. Send to people who asked to hear from you, remove addresses that bounce, and avoid spammy subject lines. That is why it pays to grow your email list from scratch the right way, with real subscribers who want your emails.
Analytics and Reporting
When you compare Brevo vs MailerLite on analytics, both tools show you the numbers that matter: opens, clicks, unsubscribes, and bounces. You can see which emails performed best, which links people clicked, and how your list is growing over time. MailerLite’s reports are simple and visual, and you can check campaign results at a glance. Brevo’s reporting goes deeper, especially on the Professional plan, where you can track revenue from your campaigns and compare results across channels. If you run an online store and want to know exactly how much money an email made, Brevo gives you more to work with.
Brevo vs MailerLite at a Glance
| Feature | Brevo | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0 with unlimited contacts | $0 for up to 250 subscribers |
| Paid plans start at | $8.08 a month (yearly billing) | $10.80 a month (yearly billing) |
| Pricing is based on | Emails sent per month | Subscribers on your list |
| Email automation | Visual builder, A/B testing | Simple builder, 3 automations free |
| Templates | Large library, HTML editing | Modern templates, very easy editor |
| SMS and WhatsApp | Yes | No |
| Built-in CRM | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes, plus simple websites |
| Best for | Growing businesses, more channels | Beginners and small lists |
Pros and Cons of Brevo
Pros
- Charges by emails sent, so a large but quiet list can cost less
- Unlimited contacts on every plan, including the free plan
- SMS and WhatsApp campaigns in the same tool
- Built-in CRM to manage contacts and deals
- Strong automation with A/B testing and advanced journeys
Cons
- Costs rise quickly if you send emails very often
- More features mean a slightly longer learning curve
- Professional plan is a big price jump from Standard
Pros and Cons of MailerLite
Pros
- Very easy to learn, even for complete beginners
- Low starting price for small lists
- Clean editor and modern templates
- Free plan covers up to 250 subscribers
- Landing pages and simple websites included
Cons
- Price rises with every new subscriber
- No SMS or WhatsApp campaigns
- No full CRM for managing sales
- Automation is simpler, with fewer advanced options
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick Brevo if you have a large list but send emails only once or twice a month, if you want SMS or WhatsApp in the same tool, or if you want a built-in CRM so your marketing and sales live together. Brevo is also the better choice if you expect your email program to get more complex over the next year, because its automation and reporting have more room to grow.
Pick MailerLite if you have a small list, send a regular newsletter, and want the simplest tool you can learn in an afternoon. It is a great fit for bloggers, creators, coaches, and small shops that do not need SMS or a CRM. The low starting price and clean editor make it easy to stay consistent, and consistency is what grows an email list. Still unsure? Both tools offer a free plan, so test each one with a real campaign before you pay anything. Our guide on how to choose the right SaaS tools for your small business can help you think through the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brevo or MailerLite cheaper for a small business?
It depends on your list and how often you email. For up to 500 subscribers, MailerLite starts at $10.80 a month with yearly billing, while Brevo starts at $8.08 a month for 5,000 emails. If you email a small list often, MailerLite can cost less. If you have a big list but email rarely, Brevo can cost less.
Do Brevo and MailerLite have free plans?
Yes, both do. Brevo’s free plan costs $0 and includes unlimited contacts. MailerLite’s free plan costs $0 for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
Which is easier for a beginner, Brevo or MailerLite?
MailerLite is easier to learn. Its interface is simpler and its automation builder is more straightforward. Brevo is still easy to use, but its extra features take a little longer to explore.
Can I switch from MailerLite to Brevo later?
Yes. Both tools let you export your contacts and import them into the other tool. You will need to rebuild your templates and automations, so pick the tool you expect to keep for at least a year.
Does Brevo offer SMS marketing?
Yes, Brevo offers SMS and WhatsApp campaigns alongside email. MailerLite does not offer SMS, so if text messages matter to you, Brevo is the better fit.
Which tool is better for online stores?
Brevo is usually the stronger pick for online stores, because it combines email, SMS, and a CRM, and its reporting can track revenue from campaigns. MailerLite also works for small shops that only need email and landing pages.
Do I need a CRM with my email tool?
Not always. If you only send newsletters, a simple contact list is enough. If you track leads and follow up on sales, a built-in CRM like Brevo’s saves time. Our guide to the best CRM software for small businesses explains when a CRM is worth it.
Final Verdict: Brevo vs MailerLite
Brevo vs MailerLite is a close contest, and there is no single winner for every business. If you want the simplest, cheapest start for a small list, choose MailerLite. Its clean editor, low price, and easy automations make it the best pick for beginners and small newsletters. If you want more power and more channels in one place, choose Brevo. Its email-based pricing, SMS and WhatsApp options, built-in CRM, and stronger automation make it the better long-term pick for growing businesses.
Our recommendation: start with the tool that matches how you work today, and use the free plan to test it with a real campaign. If your list is small and you send a weekly newsletter, MailerLite will feel just right. If you send a lot of emails, run a store, or want text messages too, Brevo will serve you better as you grow. Either way, the best tool is the one you will actually use every week.
