Brevo vs MailerLite (2026): Which Is Better?

Last updated: June 2026 · Tested by our editorial team using real subscriber lists and live campaigns

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and MailerLite are two of the best-value email platforms for small businesses, but they suit different needs. Brevo is the broader all-in-one with CRM, SMS, and send-based pricing. MailerLite is the lean, design-friendly tool loved for its clean editor and simple pricing.

We ran the same lists and automations through both to see which delivers more value in 2026.

Below is our full 8-round breakdown with a winner each round and a running score. The Quick Answer and final scoreboard summarize it if you are short on time.

Brevo vs MailerLite: At a Glance

Pricing verified 2026. Entry-level paid plans shown.

Round 1: Ease of Use and Onboarding

Winner: MailerLite

MailerLite is famous for simplicity. The interface is uncluttered, onboarding is quick, and a non-technical user can build and send a polished campaign with almost no learning curve.

Brevo is capable but busier, with more features competing for attention on first use. For pure ease of use, MailerLite wins.

Round 2: Editor and Templates

Winner: MailerLite

MailerLite’s drag-and-drop editor is one of the cleanest in the category, and its templates and built-in design tools make good-looking emails effortless.

Brevo’s editor is solid and improving, but MailerLite’s design experience is more refined out of the box, so it takes the round.

Round 3: Automation and Workflows

Winner: Brevo

Both offer visual automation, but Brevo includes more automation capability on its lower tiers and combines it with CRM data and SMS steps.

MailerLite’s automation is clean and sufficient for newsletters and basic journeys, but Brevo’s depth and multi-channel steps win the round.

Round 4: CRM and Sales Features

Winner: Brevo

Brevo includes a built-in CRM with deals, pipelines, tasks, and meeting scheduling, so small teams can manage light sales alongside email.

MailerLite focuses on email and does not offer a comparable CRM. Brevo wins this round clearly.

Round 5: SMS and Transactional Email

Winner: Brevo

Brevo bundles SMS marketing and offers a strong transactional email and SMTP service for receipts and notifications.

MailerLite does not offer native SMS and treats transactional email as an add-on. For multi-channel and transactional needs, Brevo wins.

Round 6: Deliverability

Winner: Tie

Both platforms post solid inbox placement for senders who authenticate and maintain list hygiene, with results depending more on sender reputation than the tool.

Neither offers a clear per-ISP placement view, so deliverability is a tie.

Round 7: Integrations and Ecosystem

Winner: Brevo

Brevo offers a broad set of integrations plus a robust API and SMTP relay, which suits teams with transactional and CRM needs.

MailerLite integrates with the major tools and covers common needs, but Brevo’s breadth across CRM, SMS, and transactional wins the round.

Round 8: Pricing and Value

Winner: MailerLite

MailerLite offers a generous free plan (1,000 contacts, 12,000 emails/month) and simple, low-cost paid tiers that are easy to predict for small lists.

Brevo’s send-based model is excellent for large lists that send infrequently, but for a small, design-led sender MailerLite delivers more value with less complexity. MailerLite takes the value round.

Final Scoreboard: Brevo 4, MailerLite 3 (1 tie)

Brevo wins automation, CRM, SMS and transactional, and integrations — the rounds that reflect breadth. MailerLite wins ease of use, editor and templates, and pricing value, with deliverability tied.

The result fits the intent: Brevo is the broader all-in-one for teams that need CRM and SMS; MailerLite is the simplest, most design-friendly value pick. Your need for breadth versus simplicity decides it.

Brevo Pros and Cons

MailerLite Pros and Cons

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Brevo if:

• You store a large contact list but email less often and want send-based pricing.
• You want a built-in CRM and SMS without buying separate tools.
• You need strong transactional email or SMTP alongside marketing.
• You want automation on lower-cost tiers.

Choose MailerLite if:

• You want the cleanest editor and easiest setup for newsletters.
• You have a small or mid-size list and want simple, predictable pricing.
• You value design quality and a generous free plan.
• You do not need CRM, SMS, or heavy automation.

Neither feels right?

Both tools in this comparison have real trade-offs — steep pricing as your list grows, features gated behind higher tiers, or paying for contacts who never open your emails. If your main job is email marketing and you want more value for the money, it is worth looking at a third option.

Mailercloud starts at $7/month with a free plan covering 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month — see our pricing. It includes an Inbox Tracker that shows exactly where your emails land across 15+ ISPs, plus AMP for Email, visual automation, A/B testing, segmentation, and 24/7 live chat on every plan, including free. The trade-off is a smaller integration library and lower brand recognition — but for pure email marketing value, it is hard to beat at the price.

How to Switch Between Brevo and MailerLite

Switching between Brevo and MailerLite starts with exporting contacts as a CSV from the source platform, including consent status and custom fields, then importing into the new tool and mapping fields on upload.

Rebuild your automations and templates next; both accept custom HTML for coded designs. If you move to Brevo, pick a send-based tier that matches your monthly volume; if you move to MailerLite, confirm your contact count fits the plan you choose.

FAQ

Is Brevo better than MailerLite?

Brevo is better than MailerLite for businesses that need a built-in CRM, SMS, transactional email, or send-based pricing for large lists. MailerLite is better for newsletters and small lists that value the cleanest editor, easiest setup, and a generous free plan. The right pick depends on whether you need breadth or simplicity.

Is Brevo cheaper than MailerLite?

It depends on your list and sending pattern. Brevo bills by emails sent, which is cheaper for large lists that send infrequently. MailerLite bills by contacts with a generous free plan and simple low-cost tiers, which is cheaper for small, design-led senders. Compare your volume to your list size.

Can I migrate from MailerLite to Brevo?

Yes. Export your MailerLite contacts and consent data as a CSV, import them into Brevo, and rebuild your automations and templates. Choose a send-based plan that fits your monthly volume. Brevo provides migration guidance and most moves take a day or two.

Does MailerLite have a CRM or SMS?

No, MailerLite does not include a built-in CRM or native SMS marketing; it focuses on email, landing pages, and websites. Brevo includes both a CRM and bundled SMS, which makes it the better choice for teams that need marketing, light sales, and multi-channel in one tool.

What is the main difference between Brevo and MailerLite?

The main difference is breadth versus simplicity. Brevo is an all-in-one with CRM, SMS, transactional email, and send-based pricing. MailerLite is a lean, design-friendly email tool with the cleanest editor and simple contact-based pricing.

Is there a cheaper alternative to both Brevo and MailerLite?

Yes. Mailercloud starts at $7/month with a free plan for 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails per month, and is worth evaluating if email marketing value is your priority. Both Brevo and MailerLite are also strong value options to compare directly.

Final Verdict

Brevo edges this matchup on breadth, winning automation, CRM, SMS and transactional, and integrations, and is the right call for teams that need an all-in-one with multi-channel and light sales.

MailerLite is the better pick for design-led simplicity, with the cleanest editor, easiest setup, and a generous free plan. Match the tool to whether you value breadth or simplicity.