Brevo is often praised as one of the most affordable email marketing platforms, partly because it prices differently from most competitors. Instead of charging mainly by how many contacts you have, it charges mainly by how many emails you send. That can save a lot of money, or cost more than you expect, depending on how you use email. This guide explains the pricing so you can pick the right plan.
In this article
- How Brevo pricing works
- Plan-by-plan breakdown
- Hidden costs and renewals
- Which plan for which user
- How to calculate your cost in five minutes
- Free plan vs Starter: when to upgrade
- Transactional email: a separate line on the bill
- How to save money
- How Brevo compares on price
- Common pricing mistakes
- Verdict
- Frequently asked questions
How Brevo pricing works
Two numbers decide what you pay:
- Emails sent per month. This is the main price driver for marketing emails on paid plans. Sending a newsletter to 2,000 people four times a month uses 8,000 emails.
- Plan features. Higher tiers add capabilities such as advanced automation, A/B testing, send-time optimisation, extra users and phone support.
Contacts themselves are generous on most plans, which is why Brevo appeals to businesses with large but quieter lists.
Separately, Brevo sells SMS and WhatsApp credits and offers transactional email (receipts, password resets). These have their own usage-based costs.
Plan-by-plan breakdown
Plan names, limits and prices change, so this table explains what each tier is for rather than quoting figures that may be out of date.
| Plan | Designed for | What it typically includes | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Testing and very small senders | Contacts storage, campaigns, basic automation, forms, transactional email | Daily sending limit, Brevo logo in emails |
| Starter | Small businesses and bloggers | Monthly email volume of your choice, no daily limit, option to remove branding | Fewer advanced features |
| Business | Growing businesses and marketers | Advanced automation, A/B testing, send-time optimisation, more users | Higher price per volume |
| Enterprise / custom | Large organisations | Custom volumes, dedicated support, advanced security and roles | Priced on request |
Hidden costs and renewals
- Branding removal. On lower tiers, removing the Brevo logo may be an add-on.
- SMS and WhatsApp. Credits are charged separately and vary by country. In India, SMS also involves regulatory requirements such as DLT registration.
- Dedicated IP. Large senders may want their own sending IP, which costs extra and only helps at high, consistent volumes.
- Volume creep. Sending more often or adding automations increases monthly email volume. Watch the usage meter.
- Currency and taxes. Prices may be shown in a currency other than yours, and taxes may apply.
Which plan for which user
A new blogger or newsletter writer
Start on the free plan. It is enough to build a list, set up a welcome email and send a regular newsletter while your list is small. Move to Starter when the daily limit gets in your way or you want to remove branding.
A small business with a large customer list
If you have thousands of customers but email them once or twice a month, Starter is usually excellent value, because you pay for the emails you send, not for every contact you store.
An online store
Look at Starter or Business, depending on automation needs. Abandoned-cart and post-purchase flows send more emails, so estimate volume carefully. Add transactional email for order confirmations if your store platform does not send them.
A marketing team or agency
Business adds the automation depth, testing and user seats teams need. Larger organisations can discuss enterprise terms.
How to calculate your cost in five minutes
- Count your subscribers today and estimate the number in 12 months.
- Multiply by how many emails each person gets per month, including automations.
- Add a 20% buffer for growth and extra campaigns.
- Choose that monthly email volume on Brevo’s pricing page and note the price.
- Compare it with a contact-based platform’s price for the same list size.
Example: 3,000 subscribers × 4 newsletters + about 1 automated email = 15,000 emails a month; with a 20% buffer, plan for 18,000.
Free plan vs Starter: when to upgrade
Stay on the free plan while all of these are true: your list is small enough to send each newsletter within the daily limit, you do not mind the Brevo logo in your emails, and you only need a basic welcome automation. Upgrade to Starter when any one of these stops being true, especially when you have to split a newsletter over several days. Upgrade beyond Starter only for a specific feature you will use weekly, such as A/B testing subject lines or giving a colleague their own login.
Transactional email: a separate line on the bill
If you use Brevo to send your website’s automatic emails, such as order confirmations, password resets or booking reminders, these are transactional emails. They are counted and priced separately from marketing campaigns. For a small website the volume is low, but for a busy store it can be significant, so include it in your monthly estimate.
How to save money
- Stay on the free plan until a real limit blocks you.
- Clean inactive contacts. Fewer pointless sends means lower volume and better deliverability.
- Segment instead of blasting. Send promotions only to people likely to care.
- Pay annually once you know your volume, if an annual discount is offered.
- Skip add-ons you do not use, such as a dedicated IP at low volumes.
- Review usage quarterly and move up or down a volume tier as needed.
How Brevo compares on price
| Your situation | Often cheaper |
|---|---|
| Large list, emailed once or twice a month | Brevo (pays per email) |
| Small list, emailed several times a week | Per-subscriber platforms can be similar or cheaper |
| Newsletter-first publication growing fast | Compare with beehiiv |
| Need SMS + email + transactional together | Brevo, because you avoid several separate tools |
Common pricing mistakes
- Estimating only newsletters. Automations, re-sends and tests also use email volume.
- Upgrading for one feature you might use. Test whether you really need A/B testing or extra seats before paying for a higher tier.
- Buying SMS credits without a plan. SMS costs vary by country and can add up quickly; start with a small test.
- Never checking usage. Look at the usage meter monthly so you are not surprised mid-campaign.
Verdict
For most small businesses and bloggers, Brevo’s free plan is the right start and Starter is the natural next step. Its email-based pricing is excellent value for large lists that are emailed occasionally. Before upgrading, do the five-minute calculation above and compare it with one contact-based alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brevo really free?
Yes, there is a free plan with a daily sending limit and Brevo branding. It is suitable for small lists and testing.
Does Brevo charge for contacts?
Brevo’s pricing is mainly based on emails sent rather than contacts, which is why large lists can be affordable. Check the current plan details.
What happens if I exceed my monthly emails?
You can usually upgrade to a higher volume or buy additional credits. Watch the usage meter so campaigns are not interrupted.
Can I pay in Indian rupees?
Payment options depend on your region. Check the checkout page and your card’s foreign transaction fees.
Do unused emails roll over to the next month?
Monthly volume plans usually reset each month; prepaid credits may work differently. Check the current terms on your billing page.
Is the Business plan worth it?
Only if you will use its advanced automation, testing or team features. Many small senders are fine on Starter.