Brevo vs ActiveCampaign 2026: Pricing, Features, CRM
ActiveCampaign is a specialized marketing automation and CRM platform with advanced workflow automation and AI-powered sales features, while Brevo is a more affordable, all-in-one solution combining email marketing, SMS, and basic CRM that's better for budget-conscious small businesses.
Brevo
All-in-one email marketing, SMS, and basic CRM platform designed for small businesses and startups.
Solopreneurs, small agencies, e-commerce businesses, and startups needing affordable multi-channel marketing without complex sales workflows.
ActiveCampaign
Marketing automation CRM with behavioral AI and advanced email workflows for SMBs.
Mid-market B2B companies, enterprises, sales-driven organizations, and agencies needing sophisticated automation, CRM, and revenue intelligence tools.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryActiveCampaign is a specialized marketing automation and CRM platform with advanced workflow automation and AI-powered sales features, while Brevo is a more affordable, all-in-one solution combining email marketing, SMS, and basic CRM that's better for budget-conscious small businesses.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose ActiveCampaign if you need enterprise-grade marketing automation, advanced CRM capabilities, and AI-driven sales features for growing mid-market companies. Choose Brevo if you prioritize affordability, need integrated SMS marketing out-of-the-box, and want a simpler solution for small businesses or startups with basic automation needs.
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Choose Brevo if
Solopreneurs, small agencies, e-commerce businesses, and startups needing affordable multi-channel marketing without complex sales workflows.
Choose ActiveCampaign if
Best pickMid-market B2B companies, enterprises, sales-driven organizations, and agencies needing sophisticated automation, CRM, and revenue intelligence tools.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Starting Price:✓ ActiveCampaign wins($15/month vs $20/month)
- Contact Limit (Free Plan):✓ ActiveCampaign wins(500 contacts vs 300 contacts)
- Marketing Automation Workflows:✓ ActiveCampaign wins(Advanced AI-powered workflows vs Basic workflows)
Key Facts & Figures
74 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Brevo | ActiveCampaign | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts) | 300 | — | — |
| Starter Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $29 | — | — |
| Contact Limit at Entry Paid Tier(contacts) | 500,000 | — | — |
| Email Support Cost(USD/month) | Free for all users | — | — |
| Channels Supported(count) | 4 (Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Social) | — | — |
| Starting Price (Paid Plan)(USD/month) | $0.60 per 1,000 emails + $5/year base | — | — |
| G2 Award Count(awards) | Enterprise and small business | — | — |
| Starter Plan Monthly Price(USD) | $20 | $15/month | |
| Emails Per Day (Free Tier)(emails/day) | 300 (14 days only) | — | — |
| Average Deliverability Rate(%) | 98.8% | — | — |
| API Response Time (p95)(milliseconds) | <200ms | — | — |
| Uptime SLA(%) | 99.9% | — | — |
| SMS Messages Included (Starter)(SMS/month) | 5 | — | — |
| Webhook Event Types(count) | 12 standard events | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD) | $48/month | — | — |
| Email Templates Included(templates) | 200+ templates | — | — |
| Annual Cost Savings vs Constant Contact (10K contacts)(USD) | $3,024 savings per year | — | — |
| Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) | $20/month | $15 | |
| Free Tier SMS Messages(messages/month) | 300 SMS | — | — |
| Native Integrations(count) | 200+ | 1000+ | |
| Pre-Built Email Templates(count) | 90+ templates | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 24 hours average | — | — |
| Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts) | 300 contacts | 500 contacts | |
| Minimum Monthly Cost (Core Plan)(USD) | $20 | $9 | |
| Free Tier Daily Email Limit(emails/day) | 300 emails/day | Unlimited (500 contacts max) | — |
| Pre-Built Automation Templates(templates) | 100+ | 500+ | |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $20/month | $9/month | |
| Email Templates Available(templates) | 800+ templates | 500+ templates | |
| API Rate Limit(calls/minute) | 300 calls/min | 600 calls/min | |
| Average Onboarding Time(days) | 1 day | 14 days | |
| Mid-Tier Plan Monthly Price(USD) | $49/month (Plus) | $49/month (Plus) | |
| Enterprise Plan Monthly Price(USD) | $145/month | $145/month | |
| Unlimited Automation Available From(USD/month) | $49/month | $49/month | |
| Minimum Contact Threshold (Starter)(contacts) | 1,000 contacts | 1,000 contacts | |
| Starting Price (Email Only)(USD/month) | $9 (500 contacts) | $9 (500 contacts) | |
| Price at 100K Contacts(USD/month) | $385–$495 | $385–$495 | |
| eCommerce Email Automation ROI(%) | 4,200% ROI (industry average) | 4,200% ROI (industry average) | |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $15 | $15 | |
| Cost at 10,000 Subscribers(USD/month) | $149 (Pro plan, unlimited) | $149 (Pro plan, unlimited) | |
| Max Contacts at Entry Plan(contacts) | 1,000 contacts | 1,000 contacts | |
| Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month) | $49/month (Plus) | $49/month (Plus) | |
| Starting Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) | $9 | $9 | |
| User Training Required (Days)(days) | 2-5 days | 2-5 days | |
| Salesforce CRM Sync Latency(hours) | 2-4 hour sync | 2-4 hour sync | |
| Contacts at $99/Month(contacts) | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 4-8 weeks | 4-8 weeks | |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery Rate(percent) | 8-12% (varies by setup) | 8-12% (varies by setup) | |
| Lowest Paid Plan Price(USD/month) | $15 | $15 | |
| Available Integrations(count) | 1000+ | 1000+ | |
| Native CRM Integrations(integrations) | 4+ (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, native) | 4+ (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, native) | |
| Implementation Time to Productivity(weeks) | 1 week | 1 week | |
| Attribution Model Depth(models) | 2 (last-click, first-click) | 2 (last-click, first-click) | |
| Typical User Seat Cost(USD/user/month) | $25-50 | $25-50 | |
| API Call Rate Limit (per 15 min)(calls) | 10-300 calls (tier-dependent) | 10-300 calls (tier-dependent) | |
| Third-Party Integrations(count) | 1000+ | 1000+ | |
| Custom Fields Supported(fields) | 100+ (plan-dependent) | 100+ (plan-dependent) | |
| Mid-Tier Plan Cost (100 contacts)(USD) | $49/month | $49/month | |
| Starting Price(USD/month) | $9 (Lite tier) | $9 (Lite tier) | |
| Free Tier Subscriber Limit(subscribers) | No free tier | No free tier | |
| Pre-built Automation Workflows(workflows) | 500+ pre-built workflows | 500+ pre-built workflows | |
| Mid-tier Monthly Cost (50K subscribers)(USD/month) | $229/month | $229/month | |
| Ease of Use Rating(1-5 scale) | 3.9/5 | 3.9/5 | |
| Mid-Tier Monthly Price(USD) | $299 | $299 | |
| Daily API Rate Limit(calls/day) | 10,000 | 10,000 | |
| Email Template Library(templates) | 500+ | 500+ | |
| Maximum Contacts (Mid-Tier Plan)(contacts) | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
| Max Contacts (Starter Plan)(contacts) | 500 | 500 | |
| Cost for 10 Users + 10,000 Contacts(USD/month) | $549 (10 seats @ $35 + contact tier) | $549 (10 seats @ $35 + contact tier) | |
| Native APIs Available(count) | 200+ | 200+ | |
| Email Deliverability Rate(percent) | 97.2% | 97.2% | |
| Average Implementation Time(weeks) | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | |
| Marketing Automation Workflows (Pre-built)(count) | 1000+ | 1000+ | |
| Custom Field Limit(fields) | 500 | 500 | |
| Languages Supported(count) | 20+ | 20+ |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $20/monthStarting Price$15/month(winner)
- 300 contactsContact Limit (Free Plan)500 contacts(winner)
- Basic workflowsMarketing Automation WorkflowsAdvanced AI-powered workflows(winner)
- Yes, included(winner)Built-in SMS MarketingAdd-on feature
- Basic contact managementCRM FunctionalityEnterprise-grade sales CRM(winner)
- 800+ templates(winner)Email Templates500+ templates
- 300 calls/minAPI Rate Limit (calls/minute)600 calls/min(winner)
- Starting Price
Brevo
$20/month
ActiveCampaign
$15/month(winner)
- Contact Limit (Free Plan)
Brevo
300 contacts
ActiveCampaign
500 contacts(winner)
- Marketing Automation Workflows
Brevo
Basic workflows
ActiveCampaign
Advanced AI-powered workflows(winner)
- Built-in SMS Marketing
Brevo
Yes, included(winner)
ActiveCampaign
Add-on feature
- CRM Functionality
Brevo
Basic contact management
ActiveCampaign
Enterprise-grade sales CRM(winner)
- Email Templates
Brevo
800+ templates(winner)
ActiveCampaign
500+ templates
- API Rate Limit (calls/minute)
Brevo
300 calls/min
ActiveCampaign
600 calls/min(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Brevo | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts) | 300 | — |
| Contact Limit at Entry Paid Tier(contacts) | 500,000 | — |
| Starter Plan Monthly Cost(USD) | $29 | — |
| Pricing Structure | Emails sent per month | — |
| Free Contact Storage(contacts) | Generous, unlimited across plans | — |
| Starting Price (Paid Plan)(USD/month) | $0.60 per 1,000 emails + $5/year base | — |
| Maximum Contact Plan(USD/month) | Unlimited (pay-per-email) | — |
Show 25 more attributesFree Plan Availability Limited contacts with basic features — Starter Plan Monthly Price(USD) $20 $15/month Emails Per Day (Free Tier)(emails/day) 300 (14 days only) — Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD) $48/month — Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) $20/month $15 Monthly Contact Limit (Free Plan)(contacts) Unlimited contacts (Free plan available) — Minimum Monthly Cost (Core Plan)(USD) $20 $9 Starting Monthly Price(USD) $20/month $9/month Mid-Tier Plan Monthly Price(USD) $49/month (Plus) — Enterprise Plan Monthly Price(USD) $145/month — Starting Price (Email Only)(USD/month) $9 (500 contacts) — Price at 100K Contacts(USD/month) $385–$495 — Base Monthly Price(USD) $15 — Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month) $49/month (Plus) — Starting Monthly Price (Annual Commitment)(USD) $9 — Lowest Paid Plan Price(USD/month) $15 — Free Plan Monthly Email Limit(emails) None (paid only) — Typical User Seat Cost(USD/user/month) $25-50 — Free Plan Available No (14-day trial only) — Mid-Tier Plan Cost (100 contacts)(USD) $49/month — Starting Price(USD/month) $9 (Lite tier) — Free Tier Subscriber Limit(subscribers) No free tier — Mid-tier Monthly Cost (50K subscribers)(USD/month) $229/month — Mid-Tier Monthly Price(USD) $299 — Cost for 10 Users + 10,000 Contacts(USD/month) $549 (10 seats @ $35 + contact tier) — | ||
| Landing Pages on Free Plan(pages) | Limited | — |
| Email Automation Workflows | Advanced automation with dynamic content triggers | — |
| Native CRM Integration | Full CRM with advanced segmentation and scoring | — |
| Segmentation Capability | Standard segmentation engine | — |
| Channels Supported(count) | 4 (Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Social) | — |
Show 41 more attributesAI Features Available(count) Multiple AI platform enhancements (2026) — Customer Data Platform Expanding CRM data capabilities — Automation Features Advanced workflows from Standard plan — SMS Messages Included (Starter)(SMS/month) 5 — Built-in CRM/Automation Yes (included) — Webhook Event Types(count) 12 standard events — Automation Workflow Complexity(triggers/conditions) 100+ pre-built templates Advanced (conditional logic, multi-branch) Email Templates Included(templates) 200+ templates — SMS Marketing Included Yes (native) Add-on only CRM Features Full CRM with deals, pipeline, and forecasting — Free Tier SMS Messages(messages/month) 300 SMS — Native Integrations(count) 200+ 1000+ Pre-Built Email Templates(count) 90+ templates — Automation Workflows(workflows) 50 on paid, limited — Ecommerce-Specific Abandoned Cart Feature(availability) Basic product recovery emails — Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts) 300 contacts 500 contacts Pre-Built Automation Templates(templates) 100+ 500+ CRM Capability Level Basic (contact management, no deal tracking) Advanced (deals, pipelines, forecasting) SMS Included in Base Plan Yes (Email+ and above) Yes (all paid plans) Email Templates Available(templates) 800+ templates 500+ templates Marketing Automation Sophistication Basic workflows Advanced AI-powered with predictive scoring CRM Pipeline Management Basic contact database Enterprise-grade sales CRM Landing Page Builder Access Plus plan ($99+/month) and above — AI Email Generation AI-generated email drafts included — Included Core Hubs(count) 2 (Marketing & CRM) — Unlimited Automation Available From(USD/month) $49/month — Minimum Contact Threshold (Starter)(contacts) 1,000 contacts — Landing Page Builder No (forms only) — CRM & Deal Pipeline Full-featured with scoring — Built-In CRM Yes — AI Predictive Features Predictive sending, lead scoring — Automation Capabilities(features) Unlimited advanced workflows — Lead Scoring Algorithms Behavioral, manual, predictive (limited AI) — Built-in CRM Included Yes (native) — Automation Workflows (Standard Plan)(workflows) Unlimited — Built-in Email Marketing Capabilities Advanced with A/B testing, dynamic content, behavior triggers — AI-Powered Sales Features Predictive send time, contact scoring, revenue attribution — CRM Functionality Full CRM with sales pipelines and deal tracking — Email Template Library(templates) 500+ — Native ABM Tools Limited functionality — Marketing Automation Workflows (Pre-built)(count) 1000+ — | ||
| Editor Learning Curve | Feature-rich, steeper learning curve | — |
| User Skill Level Required | Experienced marketers preferred | — |
| Setup Time to Productivity(days) | 2-4 weeks (with training) | — |
| User Training Required (Days)(days) | 2-5 days | — |
| Ease of Use Rating(1-5 scale) | 3.9/5 | — |
| Email Support Cost(USD/month) | Free for all users | — |
| Phone Support Availability(hours/day) | Enterprise plan only ($300+/month) | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 24 hours average | — |
| Average Onboarding Time(days) | 1 day(winner) | 14 days |
| Setup Complexity(complexity score) | Easier setup for essentials | — |
| Email Template Quality | Dated appearance | — |
| A/B Testing | Available ($18+/month) | — |
| Integration Capabilities(/10) | Includes native CRM and SMS | — |
| Salesforce CRM Sync Latency(hours) | 2-4 hour sync | — |
| Native APIs Available(count) | 200+ | — |
| G2 Award Count(awards) | Enterprise and small business | — |
| Average Deliverability Rate(%) | 98.8% | — |
| API Response Time (p95)(milliseconds) | <200ms | — |
| Uptime SLA(%) | 99.9% | — |
| Annual Cost Savings vs Constant Contact (10K contacts)(USD) | $3,024 savings per year | — |
| Email Marketing Included(boolean) | Yes, all plans | — |
| CRM Pipeline & Deal Management | Basic deal tracking only | — |
| Lead Scoring | Rule-based only | — |
| Free Tier Daily Email Limit(emails/day) | 300 emails/day | Unlimited (500 contacts max) |
| AI Writing Assistant | Yes (Email+ plan) | Yes (all plans) |
| API Rate Limit(calls/minute) | 300 calls/min | 600 calls/min(winner) |
| API Call Rate Limit (per 15 min)(calls) | 10-300 calls (tier-dependent) | — |
| Daily API Rate Limit(calls/day) | 10,000 | — |
| Automation Complexity Level | Advanced (Enterprise-grade automation) | — |
| Email Deliverability Testing | A/B testing and spam testing | — |
| eCommerce Platform Support(platforms) | Limited platform support | — |
| CRM Integration Capabilities | Native CRM with advanced features | — |
| Available Integrations(count) | 1000+ | — |
| Native CRM Integrations(integrations) | 4+ (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, native) | — |
| Customer Review Parity(rating) | Nearly identical ratings | — |
| Average eCommerce Email Revenue Per Send(USD) | Not published | — |
| eCommerce Email Automation ROI(%) | 4,200% ROI (industry average) | — |
| Built-in CRM for Sales Teams | Full B2B/B2C CRM with lead scoring | — |
| Native SMS Channel | Available (add-on/integration) | — |
| Shopify Integration Depth | Supported via marketplace | — |
| Multi-Channel Automation Support | Email, SMS, web, social, chat (native) | — |
| Contacts/Subscribers (Base Plan)(count) | Unlimited | — |
| Max Contacts at Entry Plan(contacts) | 1,000 contacts | — |
| Contacts at $99/Month(contacts) | 10,000+ | — |
| Max Contacts (Starter Plan)(contacts) | 500 | — |
| Cost at 10,000 Subscribers(USD/month) | $149 (Pro plan, unlimited) | — |
| Ease of Use(score/10) | Moderate - requires learning | — |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 4-8 weeks | — |
| Average Implementation Time(weeks) | 1-2 weeks | — |
| Shopify Native Integration | Basic (via third-party apps) | — |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery Rate(percent) | 8-12% (varies by setup) | — |
| Advanced Segmentation | Yes (behavioral, predictive, dynamic) | — |
| Pre-built Automation Workflows(workflows) | 500+ pre-built workflows | — |
| Implementation Time to Productivity(weeks) | 1 week | — |
| Attribution Model Depth(models) | 2 (last-click, first-click) | — |
| Lead Scoring AI Capability(text) | Advanced predictive with AI priority ranking | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(count) | 1000+ | — |
| Custom Fields Supported(fields) | 100+ (plan-dependent) | — |
| Custom Field Limit(fields) | 500 | — |
| Implementation Time(weeks) | 2-4 weeks | — |
| Maximum Contacts (Mid-Tier Plan)(contacts) | 100,000 | — |
| Email Deliverability Rate(percent) | 97.2% | — |
| Languages Supported(count) | 20+ | — |
Show 25 more attributes
Show 41 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
Brevo
Pros
- Integrated SMS marketing included at no extra cost (up to 160 SMS credits monthly on free plan)
- Lower starting price at $20/month with more generous free plan (300 contacts vs competitors' 100-150)
- 800+ professionally designed email templates with drag-and-drop editor
- Simple, intuitive interface requiring minimal training for small teams
- Supports multi-channel campaigns (email, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, chat)
Cons
- Limited marketing automation capabilities compared to enterprise platforms; lacks advanced conditional logic and AI-powered recommendations
- Basic CRM functionality not suitable for complex sales processes or large teams
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Advanced marketing automation with predictive lead scoring and AI-powered behavior-based workflows
- Enterprise-grade CRM with robust sales pipeline management, deal tracking, and 360-degree customer view
- Higher API rate limit (600 calls/minute) supporting complex integrations and large-scale operations
- Predictive sending feature analyzing optimal send times for 40% higher open rates on average
- Account-based marketing (ABM) capabilities for targeting high-value accounts with personalized campaigns
Cons
- Starting price of $15/month is only slightly lower than Brevo despite advanced features; significant cost increase at higher tiers (enterprise plans $299+/month)
- Steeper learning curve for small teams; requires 2-3 weeks onboarding versus Brevo's same-day setup
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Brevo includes SMS marketing natively in all plans with 160 monthly SMS credits on the free tier. ActiveCampaign requires SMS as a paid add-on. If SMS is critical to your strategy, Brevo offers better value since SMS is built-in at no extra cost, while ActiveCampaign charges $10-50/month additional depending on volume.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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