Mailchimp vs Kit vs Brevo: Which Email Platform Fits You?
Three very different pricing models: Mailchimp by contacts, Kit free for 10,000 subscribers, Brevo by emails sent. Here's which one costs least for your list.
These three tools can all send a nice newsletter. What makes them different is how they charge you, and that's what decides which is cheapest for you.
Mailchimp charges mostly by how many contacts you have.- Kit charges by subscribers, but its free plan goes up to 10,000.
Brevo charges by how many emails you send, with unlimited contacts.
Free plans side by side
As of October 2026:
| Free plan | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp |
250 contacts, 500 emails/month | Testing the waters |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | Creators and newsletters |
| Brevo |
Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | Big lists, occasional sends |
Which is cheapest for your situation?
You have 3,000 subscribers and send a weekly newsletter. Kit's free plan covers you. Mailchimp would need a paid plan. Brevo's 300-a-day cap doesn't fit a 3,000-person blast.
You have 20,000 old customer contacts but email them monthly. Brevo's model shines: you're not paying for all those contacts sitting quietly. A paid plan based on sending volume can work out much cheaper than contact-based pricing.
You run an online store and want abandoned cart emails. Mailchimp's e-commerce integrations are the most established, and Brevo also has strong automation. Kit is less focused on stores.
You're a writer or creator who wants to sell digital products to your audience. Kit is built for exactly this.
The personality of each
Mailchimp is the familiar all-rounder with the most templates and integrations, but it's the most expensive as you grow, and its free plan is small.
Kit feels made for independent creators: simple, focused on the newsletter and on growing an audience. The free plan includes a recommendation feature that promotes other newsletters, which is how Kit makes the free tier work.
Brevo is the practical business choice: email, SMS, WhatsApp and transactional emails like receipts and password resets, all in one place.
Our recommendation
- Creators and newsletter writers: start with Kit.
- Businesses with big lists: Brevo.
- Stores that need lots of integrations: Mailchimp, or Brevo if price matters.
Whichever you pick, read how to start an email newsletter for the setup steps that keep you out of spam folders. Want more options? See the best email marketing software.
