Brevo vs Mailchimp: Which Free Email Marketing Tool Is Best for Beginners in 2025?
If you’re just starting with email marketing in 2025, you’ve probably heard a lot about Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and Mailchimp. Both offer generous free plans and are designed to help you launch professional email campaigns without spending a penny. But which one is actually best for beginners? In this post, I’ll break down the differences based on my own experience, real user feedback, and what matters most if you’re new to email marketing.
Brevo: The Beginner’s Friend?
Brevo stands out for its simple interface, no-nonsense free plan, and powerful automation—even at the entry level. I’ve used Brevo to launch my first campaign, and here’s what really worked for me:
True “free forever” plan: You can send up to 300 emails per day with no credit card needed.
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor: Even as a beginner, I found it easy to design professional-looking emails without any tech skills.
Automation tools included: Unlike many competitors, Brevo lets you set up basic automations (like welcome emails) even on the free tier.
No “Made with Brevo” branding: Your emails look clean and professional.
GDPR compliance and strong privacy focus: Ideal for UK/EU users and anyone who values privacy.
The only real limitation I’ve noticed is that you’re capped at 300 emails per day (9,000/month), which is more than enough for most beginners but might be restrictive as your list grows.
Mailchimp: The “Famous” Choice
Mailchimp is probably the most recognized name in beginner email marketing. It’s popular for a reason:
Well-known and trusted brand: Many people start with Mailchimp because of its long history and massive user base.
Free plan includes up to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month: Good for very small lists.
Drag-and-drop builder: Clean interface, but I found it slightly more complex than Brevo for a true beginner.
Tons of integrations: Connect with loads of third-party tools, from Shopify to WordPress.
Branding included on free plan: Your emails display a small “Mailchimp” logo unless you upgrade.
However, Mailchimp’s automation on the free plan is much more limited than Brevo’s, and some users find the workflow a bit overwhelming if you just want to send simple campaigns.
Which Should You Choose as a Beginner?
Go with Brevo if…
You want to send more emails for free
You value simple setup and automation
You want your emails to look clean, with no third-party branding
You’re based in the UK/EU or care about privacy
Try Mailchimp if…
You’re just starting and have a very small list
You want lots of integrations with other tools and don’t mind the Mailchimp logo on your emails
You might upgrade quickly to a paid plan and want advanced analytics down the line
My honest verdict:
As a new user, I found Brevo easier to get started with—and its free plan is more generous and less restrictive for most beginners. Automation, lack of branding, and simple list growth make it my top pick for anyone launching their first email marketing campaign in 2025.
But if you’re curious, it’s worth trying both (since they’re free) and seeing which feels better for you.