Brevo vs MailerLite Comparison 2026
Brevo prices by how many emails go out, which rewards a big list mailed rarely, free to start with Starter at $9 a month. MailerLite prices by subscriber count instead and stays cheap as that number grows, with Comfort from $12 a month, but its free tier stops at a slim 250 subscribers against Brevo's uncapped, daily-limited free plan. Brevo's own listing says as much: pick it when the list is big and quiet, and if you mail weekly, a newsletter-first tool like MailerLite serves the writing better.
Email, SMS and automation on one free plan
Email marketing that stays cheap as lists grow
At a glance
- Brevo starts cheaper, at $9.
- Both have a genuinely free tier.
Side by side
Brevo | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $9 | From $12 |
| Pricing model | Free plan, paid tiers | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Monthly or annual | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial (they differ) | None | 14 days |
| API |
Brevo
Email, SMS and automation on one free plan
Brevo, formerly Sendinblue, prices by messages sent rather than by contacts stored, which is the cheaper shape for anybody with a big list they mail rarely. Email, SMS and WhatsApp sit in one place. The editor and templates are plainer than the newsletter-first tools.
Our note
This is the one to pick when the list is big and quiet. If you mail weekly, the send-based pricing stops being a saving and a newsletter-first tool will serve the writing better.
Only on this side
- Works with WhatsApp
MailerLite
Email marketing that stays cheap as lists grow
MailerLite sends campaigns, runs automations and hosts the signup forms feeding them, and prices all of it under the tools it competes with. The editor is plain in a way that suits people who write more than they design. The free plan stops at 250 subscribers, which is a fraction of what beehiiv and Kit give away, so the comparison is really about what you pay at ten thousand.
Why people weigh these two
- MailerLite instead of Brevo
- MailerLite is a straight swap that stays cheap as lists grow, with a free tier and paid plans from $12.
- Brevo instead of MailerLite
- Brevo folds SMS sending into the same free plan as email, useful for anyone who wants both channels without adding a second tool.
Which one should you pick
Pick MailerLite if the newsletter is mailed regularly and the list is what is growing, since its plain editor and subscriber-based pricing are built around exactly that, and automations sit on the cheapest paid plan rather than several tiers up. The free plan is small at 250 subscribers, more a fortnight-long trial than a place to run a list.
Pick Brevo if the list is large and gets mailed occasionally, or SMS and WhatsApp need to live in the same account as email. Starter is $9 a month against MailerLite's $12, and the free plan has no subscriber ceiling stated, only a daily send limit, which suits a bigger dormant list better.
Common questions
- Which free plan is more useful to start on?
- It depends on the list. MailerLite's free tier is capped at 250 subscribers, small enough that its own listing calls it a fortnight to decide rather than a place to run a list long-term. Brevo's free plan has no stated subscriber ceiling, working instead on a daily send limit, which suits a larger, quieter list.
- Which is cheaper as a list grows?
- MailerLite's own listing claims to stay cheap as lists grow relative to its competitors, with pricing tied to subscriber count. Brevo instead stays cheap for a list that is mailed rarely regardless of size, since its pricing tracks sends, not contacts.
- Which suits a newsletter that goes out every week?
- MailerLite. Brevo's own listing recommends a newsletter-first tool for exactly that case, since send-based pricing stops being a saving once mail goes out weekly.
- Does either include channels beyond email?
- Brevo does, with SMS and WhatsApp sharing a contact record alongside email in one account. MailerLite's listing describes campaigns, automations and signup forms, without SMS or WhatsApp mentioned.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.