Brevo and beehiiv both send emails to subscribers, both have free plans, and both are popular with small businesses and creators. But they are built around different ideas. Brevo is an all-round marketing and communication platform; beehiiv is a newsletter publishing platform. Choosing the wrong one usually means paying later for a migration.
In this article
- Quick comparison table
- Features head-to-head
- Pricing
- Ease of use and support
- Choose Brevo if…
- Choose beehiiv if…
- Deliverability and data ownership
- Integrations and the wider toolkit
- Three quick scenarios
- Common mistakes when choosing between them
- Can you switch later?
- Our recommendation in one line
- Verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Quick comparison table
| Brevo | beehiiv | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Businesses using email as one channel | Newsletter writers and publishers |
| Free plan | Yes, limited daily sending | Yes, limited subscribers and features |
| Pricing model | Mainly by emails sent per month | Mainly by number of subscribers |
| Transactional email | Yes | No |
| SMS / WhatsApp campaigns | Yes | No |
| CRM and sales pipeline | Yes, basic | No |
| Publication website | No (landing pages only) | Yes |
| Referral programme and recommendations | No | Yes |
| Built-in ad network | No | Yes |
| E-commerce automations | Yes | Basic |
Features head-to-head
Writing and sending
Both have drag-and-drop editors and templates. beehiiv’s editor feels like a writing tool: it is designed for long-form issues that also become web pages. Brevo’s editor is designed for campaigns: promotions, announcements and newsletters with product blocks and buttons.
Growth
beehiiv wins clearly. Its referral programme rewards subscribers for sharing, recommendations let other newsletters suggest yours, and every issue lives on a public website that can bring search traffic. Brevo offers forms and landing pages, but growth is largely up to you.
Automation and segmentation
Brevo wins here. It offers visual automation workflows triggered by sign-ups, purchases, website visits and contact data, and it can combine email with SMS. beehiiv covers welcome sequences and simpler automations, which is enough for most newsletters but not for complex business funnels.
Monetisation
beehiiv offers built-in options: an ad network, paid subscriptions and paid recommendations. With Brevo, you earn through what you sell (products, services, affiliate offers) rather than through the platform.
Transactional and multichannel messaging
Only Brevo sends transactional emails such as order confirmations and password resets, and it adds SMS and WhatsApp campaigns. For an online store or app this alone can decide the choice.
Pricing
The two platforms charge differently, which matters as you grow:
- Brevo mainly charges by emails sent per month, not by contacts. That suits businesses with large contact lists who email occasionally.
- beehiiv mainly charges by subscribers. That suits newsletters that send frequently to a list that grows steadily.
Do a quick calculation for your own case: subscribers × emails per month. A list of 5,000 people emailed four times a month means 20,000 emails; compare that against Brevo’s plans and against beehiiv’s price for 5,000 subscribers. Check both pricing pages for current numbers.
Ease of use and support
beehiiv is quicker to learn for writers: publish an issue, it goes out by email and to the web. Brevo has more features, so there is more to explore, but its core campaign tools are straightforward. Both provide help centres and support by chat or email; premium plans add priority support.
Choose Brevo if…
- you run a store, service or app and need receipts, reminders or password emails,
- you want SMS or WhatsApp campaigns too,
- you have a large contact list but email it only occasionally,
- you want a basic CRM to track leads and deals,
- you need automations based on purchases or website behaviour.
Choose beehiiv if…
- the newsletter is your main product or brand,
- you want subscriber growth tools such as referrals and recommendations,
- you would like to earn from sponsorships or paid subscriptions,
- you want every issue published on a website automatically,
- you prefer a writing-focused experience.
Deliverability and data ownership
Both platforms give you the essentials for good deliverability: guided SPF, DKIM and DMARC setup, automatic handling of bounces and unsubscribes, and one-click unsubscribe links. In practice, your results depend far more on your list than on the platform: send to people who asked for your emails, clean out the inactive ones, and keep a steady schedule.
On data ownership, both let you export your subscribers at any time. Make a habit of exporting your list every few months. If you ever change platform, or an account has a problem, you still have your audience.
Integrations and the wider toolkit
Brevo connects with many website builders, e-commerce platforms and CRMs, and its own CRM, chat and SMS features mean you may need fewer extra tools. beehiiv integrates with the tools newsletter writers use most and offers an API, and its built-in website means you may not need a separate blog platform at all. If you already run WordPress, both provide embeddable sign-up forms that work on any theme.
Three quick scenarios
A handmade jewellery shop sending order emails, monthly offers and occasional SMS reminders: Brevo, because transactional email and SMS matter more than newsletter growth.
A personal-finance writer publishing a weekly newsletter with sponsors: beehiiv, because growth and monetisation are the business.
A consultant sending a monthly newsletter and tracking leads: Brevo, for the CRM and automation, unless the newsletter is becoming a media product in its own right.
Common mistakes when choosing between them
- Choosing on the free plan alone. Both free plans are fine for starting; what matters is the plan you will be on in a year.
- Ignoring transactional needs. If your business needs receipts or password emails, a newsletter-only platform means adding a second tool.
- Expecting the platform to grow the list. beehiiv’s growth tools help, but readers still subscribe because of what you write.
- Over-building automations. A welcome email and a regular newsletter beat a complex funnel that nobody maintains.
Can you switch later?
Yes. Both platforms import and export subscriber lists. You may need to rebuild automations, templates and sign-up forms, and you should re-authenticate your sending domain on the new platform. Switch only for a clear reason, such as needing transactional email or newsletter monetisation, and do it between campaigns.
Our recommendation in one line
Writers: start on beehiiv. Businesses: start on Brevo. If you are unsure, ask yourself whether you would still send the newsletter if it never sold anything directly: if yes, it is a publication, and beehiiv fits.
Verdict
There is no winner in general, only a better fit. For newsletter-first creators and publishers, beehiiv is the stronger choice. For businesses where email is part of a wider marketing and customer-communication system, Brevo is the better tool.
Frequently asked questions
Which is easier for beginners?
beehiiv, if you mainly want to write and send a newsletter. Brevo has more features to learn but its basic campaign editor is simple.
Which has the better free plan?
They differ: Brevo limits how many emails you can send per day, beehiiv limits subscribers and some features. A small newsletter can start free on either.
Can I use beehiiv for an online store?
You can send newsletters to store customers, but you will lack order-based automations and transactional email. Most stores are better served by Brevo or an e-commerce email platform.
Which has better deliverability?
Both guide you through domain authentication and handle bounces. Your list quality and sending habits matter more than the platform.
Which is better for an Indian audience?
Both work worldwide. Brevo’s SMS and WhatsApp options can be useful for Indian businesses; check message costs and regulatory requirements (such as DLT registration for SMS in India) before relying on them.
Can I use both?
Some businesses use beehiiv for a public newsletter and Brevo for transactional and customer emails. It works, but keep the lists and consent records clear.