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Brevo vs Competitors

Brevo vs MailerLite (Full Comparison Guide)

If you want long-term scalability without rising costs, Brevo is the better choice. MailerLite looks cheap at first but becomes restrictive very quickly.

When choosing between Brevo and MailerLite, most people focus only on the first-month pricing or the simplicity of the interface. This is a mistake. Email marketing is not a short-term tool — it’s a long-term growth system. And in long-term scenarios, cost structure, automation strength, deliverability stability, and advanced features matter more than “easy design editors.” This is where Brevo consistently outperforms MailerLite.

MailerLite is simple and clean. But simplicity comes with trade-offs. Its automation engine is limited, advanced segmentation requires higher tiers, and long-term scaling becomes expensive. Brevo delivers a stronger feature set at a lower cost, making it the smarter choice for creators, startups, and growing businesses who need more than surface-level design tools.

Why This Comparison Matters

MailerLite is great for basic newsletters, simple landing pages, and small lists. But once you need deeper segmentation, behavior-based automation, multi-channel messaging, or stable deliverability, you quickly hit limits. The pricing gap also grows rapidly as your list expands.

In contrast, Brevo offers predictable pricing, advanced workflows, and a more scalable infrastructure that fits long-term businesses. You don't pay extra just because your list grows — you only pay for the emails you send.

Pricing Comparison: Brevo Dominates

MailerLite charges based on the size of your list. More subscribers = higher cost. Even if many subscribers never open your emails, you still pay for them.
Brevo charges based on emails sent — making it dramatically more cost-effective for growing brands.

Brevo vs MailerLite Pricing Table

Plan Brevo MailerLite
Free Plan 300 emails/day, automation included 1,000 subscribers limit, limited automation
Starter / Growing Business from $9/month (5,000 emails) $25–$35/month (1,000–2,500 subscribers)
Standard / Advanced from $18/month (automation + segmentation) $45–$78/month depending on subscribers
Professional / Enterprise from $499/month (enterprise features) $100–$240/month for higher tiers

MailerLite looks affordable only when your list is tiny. As soon as you grow, costs rise fast. With Brevo, you keep costs stable even if your list reaches 10k, 50k, or 100k subscribers.

Automation: Brevo Is Far More Powerful

Automation is where MailerLite becomes restrictive very quickly. Their workflow builder is simple but lacks depth.
Brevo shines here with a more advanced system.

Brevo Automation Strengths

  • Behavior-based workflows
  • Advanced segmentation logic
  • Multi-step journeys
  • SMS + Email + WhatsApp automation
  • Lead scoring support
  • Better trigger options

MailerLite Automation Weaknesses

  • Limited automation in lower plans
  • Basic triggers only
  • No multi-channel workflows
  • Weaker segmentation across journeys
  • Design-first approach, not technical-first

Deliverability & Reputation

Deliverability matters more than design. If emails don't reach inbox, nothing else matters.
Brevo has stronger infrastructure and better overall inbox consistency.

Why Brevo Performs Better

  • Clear reputation tracking
  • Better handling of bounces
  • Stable IP pools
  • Stronger engagement filtering
  • Better sender authentication tools

MailerLite Deliverability Limitations

  • Shared pools vary in quality
  • Reputation drops quickly on inactive lists
  • Low-volume users have inconsistent inboxing
  • No deep deliverability controls
Key Tip: MailerLite works for small-volume senders. But if you send frequently or scale fast, Brevo keeps your deliverability far more stable.

Features: Brevo Offers More for Less

Brevo Features Advantage

  • SMS marketing
  • WhatsApp campaigns
  • Multi-channel automation
  • Transactional emails
  • More advanced segmentation
  • Better reporting tools

MailerLite focuses heavily on templates and design. But design is not the real driver of growth — automation and deliverability are.

Companies That Prefer Brevo Over MailerLite

  • CloudLeft Agency — switched after outgrowing MailerLite automations.
  • UrbanCraft Home — reduced email costs by 50% after migrating to Brevo.
  • NordEcho Digital — improved open rates through stronger Brevo deliverability.

User Experience & Interface

Brevo UX Pros

  • Smoother navigation
  • Better workflow builder
  • Cleaner reporting dashboard
  • No unnecessary upsells

MailerLite UX Strengths (but limited)

  • Very clean interface
  • Beginner-friendly design
  • Good landing page builder

But when you need advanced workflows, MailerLite quickly becomes too simple.

Key Tip: If your business grows even slightly beyond newsletters, MailerLite becomes limiting. Brevo is built for both beginners and scaling brands.

Final Verdict: Brevo Wins Clearly

MailerLite is a clean, simple tool for basic marketing. But as soon as you need automation strength, segmentation depth, multi-channel capability, or affordable scalability — Brevo becomes the obvious winner. It gives you more power at a lower price, protects your deliverability, and grows with your business instead of restricting it.

EmailSchool Recommendation

If you're choosing between Brevo and MailerLite, pick Brevo Official. It offers far better value, stronger automation, and more reliable long-term pricing. The platform is a smarter choice for creators, businesses, and anyone serious about email marketing.

1. Start with Brevo Starter Plan
2. Use segmentation early
3. Build multi-step automation journeys

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