ActiveCampaign vs Brevo: Which Email Marketing Tool Is Better in 2026?

ActiveCampaign

From $15

Brevo

From $9

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Brevo

Brevo is the lower-cost entry point: it starts at $9 flat versus ActiveCampaign's $15 flat and adds a free plan that ActiveCampaign does not offer. Because the two tools match on every feature in this comparison, including the absence of paid newsletter subscriptions, the decision comes down to budget and positioning rather than capability. Buyers focused on large lists on a budget or transactional email should lean Brevo; buyers focused on B2B automation and sales-plus-marketing alignment should lean ActiveCampaign.

Brevo's entry plan ($9) is 40% cheaper than ActiveCampaign's ($15).
Brevo has a free plan; ActiveCampaign does not.
They cover the same 7 of 8 core features we track, so price and UX decide.

Try ActiveCampaign →Try Brevo →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
ActiveCampaign · flat	$15.00	$180
Brevo · flat	$9.00	$108

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Buyer who wants to start without paying	Brevo	Brevo offers a free plan; ActiveCampaign does not.
Buyer minimizing starting cost	Brevo	Brevo's starting price is $9 flat versus ActiveCampaign's $15 flat.
B2B company aligning sales and marketing	ActiveCampaign	ActiveCampaign lists B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment as its best-fit uses.
Large list on a tight budget	Brevo	Brevo lists large lists on a budget among its best-fit uses and has the lower starting price.
Transactional email sender	Brevo	Brevo lists transactional email as a best-fit use.

Feature comparison: ActiveCampaign vs Brevo

Feature	ActiveCampaign	Brevo
Free plan	❌	✅
Starting price	$15 /mo	$9 /mo
Visual automation flows	✅	✅
Landing pages	✅	✅
A/B testing	✅	✅
Paid subscriptions	—	—
E-commerce integrations	✅	✅
SMS marketing	✅	✅
AI writing assistant	✅	✅
Public API	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

ActiveCampaign

Covers all eight compared features, including automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce, SMS, AI assistant, and API.
Positioned for B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment.
Longer operating history, founded in 2003.
Flat billing at a $15 starting price.

No free plan.
Starting price of $15 flat is higher than Brevo's $9 flat.
No paid newsletter subscription feature.

Try ActiveCampaign →

Brevo

Offers a free plan.
Lower starting price at $9 flat.
Covers all eight compared features, matching ActiveCampaign feature for feature.
Positioned for large lists on a budget and transactional email.

No paid newsletter subscription feature.
Shorter operating history, founded in 2012.
Does not list B2B automation or sales + marketing alignment as best-fit uses.

Try Brevo →

At a glance

ActiveCampaign

Advanced marketing automation and CRM.

Founded 2003 · From $15 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: B2B automation, sales + marketing alignment

See ActiveCampaign alternatives →

Brevo

Email, SMS and CRM priced by emails sent.

Founded 2012 · From $9 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: large lists on a budget, transactional email

See Brevo alternatives →

FAQ

Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than Brevo?

No. ActiveCampaign starts at $15 flat, while Brevo starts at $9 flat.

Does Brevo have a free plan?

Yes, Brevo offers a free plan. ActiveCampaign does not.

Do ActiveCampaign and Brevo have the same features?

They match on all eight compared features: automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce integrations, SMS marketing, AI writing assistant, and public API. Neither offers paid newsletter subscriptions.

Which is better for B2B automation?

ActiveCampaign lists B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment as best-fit uses; Brevo does not list these.

Which is better for transactional email?

Brevo lists transactional email as a best-fit use; ActiveCampaign does not.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Email Marketing tools →