Quick Answer
60-second read
This is really a comparison between two different billing philosophies as much as two different feature sets. Brevo prices by email volume, not contact count — its free plan allows up to 100,000 contacts (send limits apply, 300 emails/day), which is dramatically more generous on the contact side than EmailOctopus’s 2,500-contact cap. Brevo also goes multichannel: SMS and WhatsApp messaging alongside email, none of which EmailOctopus offers at all — it’s email-only, full stop. If you need SMS/WhatsApp in the same platform or have a large contact list with modest sending frequency, Brevo’s model favors you. If you send frequently to a smaller list and want the lowest possible cost with no multichannel complexity, EmailOctopus wins on simplicity and price.
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This comparison was last updated July 2026, with pricing verified directly on emailoctopus.com and brevo.com. EUR conversions use 1 USD = ~€0.8442 (ECB) and should be treated as approximate — always confirm current rates before subscribing.
EmailOctopus vs Brevo at a Glance
| Category | EmailOctopus | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | By contact count | By email volume sent |
| Free plan | 2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month | Up to 100,000 contacts, 300 emails/day |
| Entry paid price | ~$10/month (~€8.44), 500 contacts | ~$9/month (~€7.60), 5,000 emails |
| Channels | Email only | ✅ Email + SMS + WhatsApp |
| High-volume sending | ✅ EmailOctopus Connect (AWS SES) | Standard tiered pricing, no direct-infrastructure option |
| Automation depth | Basic | More advanced, multichannel-capable |
| CRM features | ❌ Not available | ✅ Basic CRM included |
| G2 rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 | ~4.4/5 aggregate |
Billing Model: The Real Structural Difference
This matters more than it might seem. EmailOctopus prices based on how many contacts you store, regardless of how often you email them. Brevo prices based on how many emails you actually send, letting you hold a much larger contact list (up to 100,000 on the free plan) as long as your sending volume stays within limits. If you have a large list but email infrequently, Brevo’s model can work out cheaper. If you send frequently to a smaller, more active list, EmailOctopus’s contact-based pricing (especially combined with Connect for high volume) tends to be more predictable and often cheaper.
Multichannel: Brevo’s Clear Advantage
Brevo includes SMS and WhatsApp messaging alongside email, with the first 1,000 WhatsApp messages free monthly to any country. EmailOctopus is, and has always positioned itself as, purely an email tool — there’s no SMS or WhatsApp option at all. If multichannel messaging is part of your strategy, this isn’t a close comparison: Brevo can do it, EmailOctopus fundamentally can’t.
Where EmailOctopus Wins
For pure email sending at high volume, EmailOctopus Connect’s AWS SES integration gives it a cost-efficiency ceiling Brevo doesn’t match — there’s no equivalent “pay near-raw infrastructure cost” option in Brevo’s pricing model. EmailOctopus’s simplicity is also a genuine advantage if you don’t need or want a broader multichannel/CRM toolkit and just want straightforward email sending without extra complexity in the interface.
Who Wins for Your Use Case
Brevo wins for: businesses that want SMS/WhatsApp alongside email, have a large contact list with moderate sending frequency, or want basic CRM features bundled in.
EmailOctopus wins for: pure email-focused senders who want the simplest possible interface, frequent senders to an active list, and especially high-volume senders who can take advantage of Connect’s AWS SES pricing.
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2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month. No credit card required.
Start Free with EmailOctopus →Frequently Asked Questions: EmailOctopus vs Brevo
Does EmailOctopus have SMS like Brevo?
No — EmailOctopus is a pure email marketing platform with no SMS or WhatsApp functionality at all. Brevo includes both alongside email, with the first 1,000 WhatsApp messages free monthly to any country. If multichannel messaging matters to your strategy, Brevo is the only one of the two that supports it.
Which has a more generous free plan: EmailOctopus or Brevo?
It depends on what you value. Brevo’s free plan allows up to 100,000 contacts (with a 300 emails/day sending limit), while EmailOctopus’s free plan caps at 2,500 contacts but allows 10,000 emails/month. If you have a large list you email infrequently, Brevo’s free tier is more generous. If you actively email a smaller list often, EmailOctopus’s higher send allowance matters more.
Is EmailOctopus cheaper than Brevo?
It depends on your sending pattern, since the two platforms bill differently — EmailOctopus by contact count, Brevo by email volume. For frequent senders to a smaller list, EmailOctopus (especially with Connect for high volume) tends to be cheaper. For a large list emailed infrequently, Brevo’s volume-based pricing can work out more favorably.
Does Brevo have a CRM?
Yes — Brevo includes basic CRM functionality as part of its platform, letting you track contact interactions and deals alongside your email marketing. EmailOctopus has no CRM features at all, staying focused purely on email sending, landing pages, and forms.
Related Resources
- 📊 EmailOctopus Review 2026 — Full hands-on review of EmailOctopus specifically
- 🎯 Brevo Review — Full hands-on review of Brevo specifically
- ⚡ EmailOctopus vs Mailchimp — The comparison EmailOctopus positions itself against directly
- 🔀 EmailOctopus vs MailerLite — Two budget-friendly platforms compared
