Brevo Pricing 2026: Hidden Costs & The “Starter” Plan Trap
As we head into 2026, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) remains the top challenger to Mailchimp. While most competitors continue to hike prices based on your list size, Brevo sticks to its golden rule: Pay for what you send, not who you know.
However, with the introduction of new AI features and stricter deliverability rules in 2026, understanding their tiers is more important than ever. Here is the updated breakdown.
📅 The 2026 Verdict
- Best Value: The Business Plan is now the “sweet spot” for 2026. It includes the “Brevo AI” writing assistant and removes the logo, which is essential for professional branding.
- The “Hidden” Gem: Brevo’s “Pay As You Go” credits are still the best option in the market for seasonal businesses who don’t want a monthly bill.
Pricing Tiers Overview (2026 Updated)
| Plan Tier | Starting Price | Volume (Emails) | Key 2026 Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 / mo | 300 / day | WhatsApp Campaigns, Basic CRM |
| Starter | ~$9 / mo | From 5k / mo | No Daily Limit, Basic Reporting |
| Business | ~$18 / mo | From 5k / mo | Marketing Automation, A/B Testing, No Logo |
| Brevo+ | Custom | Unlimited | Enterprise Security (SSO), Sub-account management |
Deep Dive: What Changed in 2026?
1. The “Starter” Trap
The Starter Plan remains affordable (starting around $9/month), but be aware: it still includes the Brevo branding in the footer of your emails. To remove it, you must pay an “Add-on” fee (typically ~$10/mo).
Pro Tip: If you are paying for Starter + No Logo Add-on, you are almost at the price of the Business Plan. In 2026, it almost always makes more sense to just jump to Business to get the automation features.
2. The Rise of “Brevo AI”
In 2026, AI is standard. Brevo’s Business plan now heavily integrates AI for:
- Smart Sending: AI predicts exactly when your contact is most likely to open the email.
- Subject Line Generator: Auto-generates high-converting titles.
3. WhatsApp & SMS Pricing
Brevo is not just for email. It is a Unified Communication Platform.
- SMS: Paid via prepaid credits (prices vary by country).
- WhatsApp: Charges per conversation (24-hour window), adhering to Meta’s 2026 pricing guidelines.
Is Brevo Worth It in 2026?
Yes, for 90% of SMBs.
If you have a list of 20,000 subscribers but only send a monthly newsletter, Mailchimp would charge you ~$200/month. Brevo charges you ~$29/month. The math is simple.
However, if you are a high-volume daily sender (e.g., a daily deal site), the “pay-per-email” model might actually become more expensive than flat-rate competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Brevo just for Transactional Emails (SMTP)?
A: Yes! This is Brevo’s superpower. You can use their robust API/SMTP service to send password resets and order confirmations without using their marketing tools. The pricing shares the same pool of email credits.
Q: What is the “Marketing Platform” vs “Conversations” pricing?
A: Brevo has split its product. The “Marketing Platform” (Emails) is what we discussed above. “Conversations” (Chat widget for your site) has a separate Free tier and a Pro tier (~$15/user) if you need chatbots and Instagram Direct integration.
Q: Do credits expire?
A: Monthly plan credits expire at the end of the month (they do not roll over). “Pay As You Go” prepaid credits never expire.
