Brevo Review for SMBs
email tool · $0 free sending limits to roughly $25–$100+/mo for growth plans
Brevo is a freemium email and SMS platform that positions itself as a simpler, cheaper alternative to HubSpot or ActiveCampaign. It lets you send newsletters, transactional emails (receipts, password resets), and basic automation without paying until you hit volume thresholds. The free tier is genuinely free—no credit card required—making it a low-risk way to test email marketing at small scale.
What it does
Brevo handles email newsletters, transactional email delivery (the automated kind your customers expect, not marketing), SMS campaigns, and lightweight automation workflows. You can segment audiences by behavior, set up simple trigger-based emails (like "send welcome email when someone signs up"), and track opens and clicks. It integrates with common platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Zapier for basic cross-tool automation. The SMS feature is a genuine differentiator—most free email tools don't include SMS, so you're not forced to add a separate vendor just to text customers.
Who it's for
Pricing breakdown
$0 (free tier; paid plans start around $20/month for 500–1,000 contacts)
Brevo uses a free tier (up to 300 emails/day, 500 contacts) and then charges by subscriber count. The $20–$100/month range covers most growing small businesses. There's no per-email overage fee, which is rare and valuable.
Where it gets expensive
Once your contact list hits 10,000–20,000 subscribers, you'll move into the $100+/month tier. SMS volume adds cost on top if you're sending thousands of texts per month.
Alternatives worth considering
GetResponse is similar in scope (email + SMS + automation) and also offers a free tier, but includes webinar hosting built-in. Pick this if you plan to host live or on-demand training events alongside email marketing.
ActiveCampaign is more powerful on automation, CRM, and reporting, but costs more ($15–$300+/month). Choose this if your workflows are complex or you need deep revenue attribution.
HubSpot offers a free tier for email and basic CRM, with paid tiers that include sales tools and advanced automation. Pick HubSpot if your team is already using it for sales or you need integrated ticketing and forms.
Verdict
Brevo is a solid choice if you need to send email and SMS from one place and don't need sophisticated automation or CRM features. The free tier is legitimately useful, and paid pricing is fair. However, it's a middleweight tool—powerful enough to replace two separate vendors, not powerful enough to replace a true CRM. You won't regret starting here, but expect to outgrow it if your business becomes email-marketing-heavy or sales-process-heavy.
FAQ
Can I use Brevo for transactional email without marketing?▼
Yes. You can send password resets, receipts, and shipping notifications on the free tier without touching marketing features. Brevo doesn't force you to pay for marketing email if you only want transactional delivery.
Does Brevo work with Shopify or WooCommerce?▼
Yes to both. Native integrations exist, so you can sync customer lists and trigger emails based on purchases. Setup is straightforward via API key in your store settings.
How does Brevo compare to Mailchimp?▼
Brevo and Mailchimp are close competitors. Brevo includes SMS and slightly cheaper paid tiers; Mailchimp is more polished and has better templates. If you don't need SMS, Mailchimp is more intuitive. If you do, Brevo saves you a vendor.
Can I export my contacts and leave if I outgrow Brevo?▼
Yes. You can export contacts as CSV anytime. No lock-in. Migration to ActiveCampaign or HubSpot takes a few hours of manual mapping, but it's doable.