Which email tool is cheapest — Mailchimp, Brevo, or ConvertKit?

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is cheapest for sending volume: free plan includes 9,000 emails/month (300/day). ConvertKit free supports up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails. Mailchimp free is limited to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month. For growing lists: Brevo charges by email volume (not list size), making it cheapest for large lists with infrequent sends.

Is ConvertKit worth it for creators?

ConvertKit is purpose-built for creators (bloggers, YouTubers, newsletters). It has the best visual automation builder, subscriber tagging, and landing page tools in its class. ConvertKit Creator at $25/month (up to 1,000 subscribers) includes unlimited emails, automations, and landing pages. Compared to Mailchimp at $20/month (same subscriber count), ConvertKit is better for sequence-driven creator workflows.

Mailchimp vs Brevo — which has better deliverability?

Both have comparable deliverability rates (95%+). Mailchimp has a longer track record and is more widely recognized by ISPs. Brevo includes SMS marketing (Mailchimp does not) and transactional emails on all plans. For e-commerce with transactional + marketing emails, Brevo's combined platform saves money. For pure email newsletters, Mailchimp's templates and A/B testing are more polished.

What happened to Mailchimp's free plan?

In 2023, Mailchimp reduced its free plan from 2,000 contacts to 500 contacts, and from 10,000 emails/month to 1,000 emails/month. This was a significant cut for small businesses. If you're affected, Brevo (9,000 emails/month free) or ConvertKit (1,000 subscribers free, unlimited emails) are better alternatives at the free tier.

Mailchimp vs Brevo vs ConvertKit Pricing 2026

The email marketing showdown: Mailchimp for SMBs and free-tier loyalty, Brevo for advanced automation and SMS, and ConvertKit for creators and newsletter writers.

Quick Price Comparison

Mailchimp Free: $0 (500 subscribers max, free tier cut in Feb 2024 but still available)
Mailchimp Premium: Starts at $20/month (5,000 subscribers)
Brevo Essentials: $20/month (unlimited emails, 300 contacts)
ConvertKit Creator: $25/month (up to 1,000 subscribers)
For 5,000 subscriber list: Mailchimp = $20, Brevo = $20 (capped), ConvertKit = $25+
Best for: Mailchimp = SMBs starting free; Brevo = email + SMS automation; ConvertKit = creators and newsletter writers

Full Pricing Breakdown

Mailchimp Plans (2026)

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/day, basic templates, limited automations
Essentials	$20/month	Up to 5,000 contacts, landing pages, automations, A/B testing
Standard	$350/month	Up to 50,000 contacts, priority support, advanced segmentation, SMS add-on
Premium	Custom	Unlimited contacts, dedicated support, advanced analytics, multi-user

Brevo Plans (2026)

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Up to 300 contacts, unlimited emails, basic templates, limited automations
Essentials	$20/month	Unlimited emails, up to 20,000 contacts, SMS, advanced automations, transactional email
Business	$48/month	Unlimited contacts, advanced segmentation, dedicated IP, priority support
Premium	Custom pricing	Custom features, dedicated account manager, API access, white-label

ConvertKit Plans (2026)

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Up to 1,000 subscribers, basic email broadcasts, limited forms, no automations
Creator	$25/month	Up to 1,000 subscribers, email automations, landing pages, audience building
Creator Plus	$75/month	Up to 10,000 subscribers, custom domains, advanced analytics, subscriber tags
Creator Pro	$150/month	Unlimited subscribers, premium templates, API access, priority support

Cost Breakdown by Subscriber List Size

Subscriber Count	Mailchimp	Brevo	ConvertKit
500 (free tier)	$0	$0 (free up to 300)	$0 (free up to 1,000)
1,000	$20/mo	$20/mo	$0 (free)
5,000	$20/mo	$20/mo	$75/mo
10,000	$350/mo	$48/mo	$150/mo
50,000+	Custom	$48+/mo (best value)	$150+/mo

Feature Comparison Matrix

Feature	Mailchimp	Brevo	ConvertKit
Email Automation	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent
SMS Marketing	⚠️ Add-on $20+/mo	✅ Included	❌ No
Landing Pages	✅ Good	⚠️ Limited	✅ Good
Deliverability	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	✅ Very good
Subscriber Forms	✅ Many templates	⚠️ Basic	✅ Creator-friendly
Segmentation	✅ Advanced	✅ Advanced	✅ Good
Analytics	✅ Good	✅ Very good	✅ Good
Integrations	✅ 1,500+ integrations	✅ API available	✅ Creator platforms
Ease of Use	✅ Very intuitive	⚠️ Moderate learning curve	✅ Creator-optimized
Transactional Emails	⚠️ Limited free	✅ Included	❌ No

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Mailchimp If:

You want to start completely free
SMB with under 5,000 contacts
Need many integrations (1,500+)
Prefer intuitive, simple UI
Don't need SMS or advanced automation
Want reliable established platform

Choose Brevo If:

You need SMS + email together
Large lists (50,000+) on budget
Advanced automation essential
Want best value at scale
Need transactional emails
Willing to invest in learning curve

Choose ConvertKit If:

You're a creator or newsletter writer
Want creator-friendly features
Audience building is priority
Value simplicity over features
Don't need SMS or SMS marketing
Under 10,000 subscribers sweet spot

💰 Cost Verdict

Cheapest for startups (free tier): ConvertKit free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers at $0

Best value under 5,000 subscribers: Mailchimp $20/mo essentials plan

Best value at scale (50,000+ subs): Brevo at $48/mo (includes SMS, transactional email, advanced automation)

Best for creators: ConvertKit at $25/mo for full automation + audience building

Pro tip: Start free, then move to Mailchimp or ConvertKit. Only switch to Brevo if you need SMS + email bundling or have massive lists. Mailchimp's free tier cuts in 2024 makes ConvertKit's free tier (1,000 subs) more generous for creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Mailchimp really cut its free tier in 2024?

Yes. Mailchimp removed free plan automations, landing pages, and ads in Feb 2024. Free tier is now basic email campaigns only. Premium required for automation. This pushed many creators to ConvertKit.

Which has the best free tier in 2026?

ConvertKit (1,000 subscribers, full email + automation) > Brevo (300 contacts, unlimited emails) > Mailchimp (500 contacts, basic campaigns only).

Can I use all three together?

Yes. Many use Mailchimp for transactional/product emails, ConvertKit for newsletters, and Brevo for SMS campaigns. Integration via Zapier or webhooks is possible but adds cost.

Which has the best deliverability?

Brevo is industry-leading for deliverability (formerly Sendinblue). ConvertKit is very good for creators. Mailchimp is good but has reputation issues at scale. Test each with your email list.

Can I import lists from one platform to another?

Yes. All three support CSV imports and exports. Plan a test send to your domain before fully importing to avoid spam folder issues.

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