ActiveCampaign vs. Brevo: Expert Comparison For 2026
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At some point, the marketing automation software you’re using starts to feel misaligned with how you actually work. Automations become harder to manage, costs increase as your list grows, or the platform feels either too complex or too limited for your needs.
That’s often when teams start comparing ActiveCampaign and Brevo, looking for a tool that better supports their workflows, budget, and growth goals. This comparison breaks down how each platform works in practice, so you can choose the marketing automation software that fits what you need now and as you scale.
ActiveCampaign
4.4/5
- 14-day free trial
- From $15/month (billed annually)
Brevo
4.6/5
- Free plan + free demo available
- From $8.08/month (billed annually)
Why Trust Our Software Recommendations
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Industry experts
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Evaluation factors
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Years
Our team has been testing and reviewing software since 2012. As marketing leaders ourselves, we know how difficult—and important—it is to choose the right software.
For this guide, we evaluated tools using hands-on testing and independent research, scoring tools using our selection criteria.
Our reviews reflect our human editorial judgment, not a sales pitch.
Expert reviewers:
Gui DrusinaCreative Director- Shriya GhateSenior Marketing Lead
Amanda JacquesMarketing Ops Leader
| ActiveCampaign | Brevo | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | 14-day free trial | Free plan + free demo available |
| Pricing | From $15/month (billed annually) | From $8.08/month (billed annually) |
ActiveCampaign vs. Brevo Pricing & Hidden Costs
ActiveCampaign uses contact-based, tiered pricing that increases as your contact list and feature needs grow. Costs can rise as you move into higher tiers to access advanced automation or CRM features.
Brevo uses an email-volume-based pricing model with a free tier and paid plans based on sends rather than contacts. Extra costs may apply for higher send limits, premium channels, or add-ons.
When comparing pricing, consider how your contact list or email volume will scale and which features you’ll need over time.
| ActiveCampaign | Brevo | |
|---|---|---|
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Audience Targeting | Yes | Yes |
| Brand Management | Yes | Yes |
| Campaign Management | Yes | Yes |
| Contact Management | Yes | Yes |
| Contact Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Conversion Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| CRM Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Management | Yes | Yes |
| Data Export | Yes | Yes |
| Data Import | Yes | Yes |
| Email Integration | Yes | Yes |
| External Integrations | Yes | Yes |
| Lead Management | Yes | Yes |
| Lead Scoring | Yes | Yes |
| Link Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Social-Media Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ActiveCampaign | Brevo |
| Salesforce | ✅ | ✅ |
| Slack | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shopify | ✅ | ✅ |
| WordPress | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zoom | ✅ | ❌ |
| HubSpot | ✅ | ❌ |
| Google Analytics | ✅ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Teams | ✅ | ✅ |
| API | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zapier | ✅ | ✅ |
Both ActiveCampaign and Brevo integrate with core tools like Salesforce, Slack, Shopify, WordPress, Google Analytics, Microsoft Teams, APIs, and Zapier. ActiveCampaign also offers additional native integrations, such as Zoom and HubSpot, which Brevo does not currently support.
| Factor | ActiveCampaign | Brevo |
| Data Privacy | ActiveCampaign documents its data protection and GDPR compliance practices. | Brevo ensures GDPR compliance and offers tools for managing consent. |
| Encryption | Shares general information about its security measures, without going into exact encryption methods. | Account data is encrypted before backup and stored on EU-based servers. |
| Uptime Guarantee | ActiveCampaign delivers 99% uptime, backed by reliable server infrastructure. | Brevo provides a public system status page showing real-time service availability across its platform. |
| Access Control | ActiveCampaign manages access through user permissions and account-level user settings. | Brevo provides role-based user access control with customizable permissions. |
Both ActiveCampaign and Brevo offer solid security and compliance features, including GDPR support, access controls, and reliable infrastructure.
Each platform provides documented guidance on data protection and consent management, along with role-based user access, encrypted data handling, and service availability transparency.
| Factor | ActiveCampaign | Brevo |
| User Interface | ActiveCampaign offers a clean, intuitive interface with drag-and-drop features. | Brevo provides a straightforward interface with easily navigable menus. |
| Onboarding | ActiveCampaign provides one-on-one onboarding, comprehensive tutorials, and onboarding resources. | Brevo’s onboarding page walks users through account setup and initial configuration to get started quickly. |
| Setup | ActiveCampaign offers free migration services and a guided setup process that helps users get started quickly. | Brevo offers a guided setup process designed for quick and easy onboarding. |
| Support | ActiveCampaign provides support via its Help Center, community forums, and live support channels. | Brevo provides a Help Center, community resources, and direct support options. |
ActiveCampaign enables teams to build automated campaigns using AI trained on billions of data points, with 1:1 onboarding, free migration services, 950+ prebuilt recipes, and live support included on all paid plans. Brevo offers an intuitive interface with straightforward setup and email/chat support, helping you get basic campaigns running quickly.
ActiveCampaign
- Offers market-leading email deliverability, free migration services, and 1:1 onboarding on all paid plans.
- All-in-one platform combines email, SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages, CRM, and behavioral automation with over 1,000 integrations.
- Active Intelligence builds campaigns for you from plain-language goals using AI trained on billions of data points, delivering campaigns in 5 clicks.
- The interface might feel a bit clunky compared to some competitors.
- New users may find some of ActiveCampaign's more advanced features overwhelming, requiring time to learn.
- Costs can rise as contact lists grow, especially for advanced features
Brevo
- Visual automation builder supports multi-step workflows
- Pay-as-you-go pricing model for flexible campaign budgets
- Transactional email and SMS features included in all plans
- List management tools have limited segmentation options
- Emails template library is smaller than some competitors
- Reporting lacks advanced attribution and funnel analysis
ActiveCampaign
- Travel and HospitalityAutomate booking confirmations and post-stay engagement to improve guest retention and reviews.
- Online Learning CreatorsDeliver onboarding and lesson sequences automatically based on where learners are in your courses.
- Healthcare ProvidersSend appointment confirmations, reminders, and timely follow-ups with consistent communication.
- AgenciesManage segmented campaigns and automation workflows for clients without doing every step manually.
- Ecommerce StoresTrigger automated emails for abandoned carts and personalized product follow-ups tied to customer behavior.
- SaaS CompaniesAutomate lead follow-ups and product onboarding sequences to nurture users through the trial and adoption cycle.
Brevo
- StartupsAffordable entry-level plans allow for scaling as lists grow.
- Event OrganizersQuick campaign setup and RSVP tracking streamline event communications.
- Marketing AgenciesMulti-client management is supported with separate sender identities.
- Local Service ProvidersAutomated appointment reminders and follow-ups are easy to set up.
- NonprofitsPay-as-you-go pricing helps manage irregular campaign schedules and budgets.
- Small RetailersBrevo’s transactional SMS and email features support order updates and promotions.
Who Should Use ActiveCampaign, and Who Should Use Brevo?
ActiveCampaign is ideal for teams that want autonomous AI to build campaigns for them in 5 clicks, combining email, SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages, and CRM in a single platform.
Brevo focuses on providing an all-in-one platform for email, SMS, and multi-channel communication with an emphasis on accessibility and flexible usage. It’s suited for teams that want to launch campaigns, manage contacts, and communicate across channels without heavy setup or complex automation requirements.
| ActiveCampaign | Brevo | |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign is built around advanced automation, supporting complex, multi-step workflows tied to user behavior and lifecycle stages. | Brevo Brevo focuses on simpler automation and campaign optimization rather than deep, conditional automation logic. |
| Integration Focus | ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign provides a broader range of native integrations with CRM and sales platforms such as HubSpot and Zoom. | Brevo Brevo covers core marketing and collaboration tools but relies more on third-party connectors for extended integrations. |
| Integrations | ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign includes a tightly integrated CRM designed to work directly with its automation and sales workflows. | Brevo Brevo offers CRM-style contact management, but it is more lightweight and centered on communication rather than sales pipeline management. |
| Multi-Platform Use | ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign prioritizes email-driven automation with additional channels layered into automation workflows. | Brevo Brevo places stronger emphasis on multi-channel messaging, including email, SMS, and chat from a single platform. |
| Pricing Model | ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign uses contact-based pricing, where costs increase as your contact list grows and you move into higher feature tiers. | Brevo Brevo uses an email-volume-based pricing model, which can be more predictable for teams with large contact lists but controlled send frequency. |
| Email Capabilities | ActiveCampaign and Brevo both provide robust email marketing features, including campaign creation, segmentation, reporting, and performance tracking. |
|---|---|
| GDPR Compliance | Both platforms support GDPR compliance and provide tools to help businesses manage consent, user data, and privacy requirements. |
| Multichannel Support | Both platforms support campaigns across multiple channels beyond email, such as SMS or transactional messaging. |
| Platform Scope | Both tools offer high service reliability, with uptime commitments designed to support consistent campaign execution. |
| Zapier Connectivity | Each platform integrates with Zapier, allowing users to connect with thousands of third-party tools and extend functionality without custom development. |