Intro — context and who each platform suits
Choosing between ActiveCampaign and Sendinblue (rebranded as Brevo) means weighing two popular email marketing solutions with distinct automation options, pricing approaches, and strengths in the ecommerce and SMS space. ActiveCampaign attracts users seeking robust marketing automation and CRM features. Brevo appeals to those looking for flexible, product-based pricing and a set of tools that blend email, SMS, and WhatsApp capabilities. Your best fit depends on your sending volume, integration priorities, and channel mix.
Key takeaways
- ActiveCampaign prices by contacts, while Brevo (Sendinblue) generally prices by emails sent.
- Both offer advanced automation; ActiveCampaign leans toward deeper marketing automation, Brevo toward omnichannel (email, SMS/WhatsApp).
- Brevo delivers built-in ecommerce integrations and SMS from the start. ActiveCampaign’s ecommerce ecosystem is broader, but SMS is an add-on.
- Both platforms support ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance, with Brevo disclosing more detail on multi-factor authentication (MFA) and IP restrictions.
Summary comparison table
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Brevo (Sendinblue) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | By contacts | By emails sent (varies by product) | Brevo for lower send volumes, ActiveCampaign for large lists with fewer sends |
| Email Marketing | Included (with advanced automation) | Included (with multi-channel support) | Depends on channel needs |
| Marketing Automation | Advanced, varies by plan | Automation builder included | ActiveCampaign for complex workflows |
| SMS/WhatsApp | SMS as add-on | SMS and WhatsApp in core offering | Brevo for integrated SMS/WhatsApp |
| Ecommerce Integrations | Ecommerce/CRM in integration marketplace | Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress integrations standard | Brevo for out-of-the-box ecommerce, AC for broader choices |
| Templates & A/B Testing | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Deliverability Tools | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Integrations & API | Marketplace covers ecommerce, CRM | Marketplace, including Shopify, WooCommerce | ActiveCampaign for breadth, Brevo for major ecommerce |
| Security/Compliance | GDPR, ISO 27001 supported | ISO 27001:2013, GDPR, MFA, IP restrictions | Brevo for published controls |
| Migrations | Not publicly specified | Help Center support | Not publicly specified |
What each platform is (positioning & modules)
ActiveCampaign is an email marketing and marketing automation platform focused on complex audience management, CRM, and powerful workflow automation. It appeals to businesses needing multistep campaigns and contact-based data management.
Brevo (Sendinblue) is an all-in-one communications suite for email, SMS, WhatsApp, automation, and transactional messaging. It’s designed for users who want all their channels consolidated and a clear, scalable email/SMS pricing structure, especially for ecommerce.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Automation builder & workflows
ActiveCampaign is notable for sophisticated automation capabilities, with automation complexity scaling by plan tier (feature availability varies by AC plan). Multiple triggers, branching logic, and actions for CRM, tagging, and messaging are available. Brevo also offers an automation builder, supporting multi-channel flows, but details on workflow complexity are not publicly specified. Both solutions are strong, but ActiveCampaign may appeal more for advanced marketers wanting nuanced branching and lead scoring.
Email creation, templates, testing, deliverability
Both platforms advertise user-friendly email campaign creation, but neither provides public details on the exact number or types of templates, or A/B testing capabilities. Deliverability tools and specifics are not publicly specified in available documentation. Consult their support or Help Centers for current functionality if template or testing depth is a critical requirement.
Integrations & ecosystem
ActiveCampaign lists an extensive integration marketplace, covering CRM and ecommerce platforms (ActiveCampaign integrations marketplace), suggesting more breadth in third-party connections. Brevo’s integration page highlights out-of-the-box support for Shopify, WooCommerce, and WordPress (Brevo integrations). For standard ecommerce stacks, Brevo is ready to use instantly; if your business needs specialized CRM or less-common integrations, ActiveCampaign could be preferable.
Pricing model & limits
ActiveCampaign pricing is based on number of contacts, making it more attractive for large lists with low monthly sending (ActiveCampaign pricing). Brevo (Sendinblue) prices primarily by the number of emails sent each month (Brevo pricing). This can be economical for businesses with small lists but high engagement, or those using multiple communication channels. Both platforms offer free trials, but exact feature inclusions depend on product tiers.
Security/compliance & account controls
Brevo publishes details on its ISO 27001:2013 certification, GDPR compliance, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and IP access restrictions (Brevo security). ActiveCampaign states support for GDPR and ISO 27001, but does not disclose details on SSO, MFA, or similar admin controls in public materials. Businesses with strict security requirements may find Brevo’s transparency preferable.
When to choose one vs the other — use-case fit
Choose ActiveCampaign if you prioritize advanced marketing automation, need complex CRM or segmentation logic, and plan to integrate with a wide range of third-party business tools. The contact-based pricing can be effective for large, low-frequency mailing lists.
Choose Brevo (Sendinblue) if integrated SMS/WhatsApp is central to your outbound strategy, if you rely on Shopify or WooCommerce, or if you send relatively few emails to a modest list for strong omnichannel impact. Brevo’s published security details may also appeal if compliance is a top concern.
Migration notes & pitfalls (lists, tags, automations)
Neither ActiveCampaign nor Brevo publicly specify official migration tools that handle all aspects such as contact lists, tags, and automations. Brevo’s Help Center covers best practices for getting started, but custom mapping of tags or complex automations may need manual effort in both platforms. Consider exporting/importing contacts via CSV and carefully rebuilding automations, especially if your current setup uses advanced triggers or ecommerce data.
Conclusion
ActiveCampaign vs Sendinblue (Brevo) remains a close contest: both provide strong value, but their philosophies differ. Your choice hinges on whether contact- or send-based pricing best matches your volumes, how many communication channels you need, and which integrations and compliance features you require. Each has advantages, so review your tech stack and campaign style before committing.
FAQs
Which platform is more affordable for low-volume versus high-volume sending?
Brevo (Sendinblue) is generally more affordable for low send volumes due to its pricing by emails sent. For high-volume lists with fewer emails per contact, ActiveCampaign’s contact-based pricing may cost less.
Does Brevo (Sendinblue) price by emails sent while ActiveCampaign prices by contacts?
Yes. Brevo prices most email marketing plans by number of emails sent each month. ActiveCampaign prices by number of contacts in your account.
Which offers stronger ecommerce and SMS features out of the box?
Brevo provides SMS, WhatsApp, and major ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress) without requiring add-ons. ActiveCampaign offers broad ecommerce support via its integrations marketplace but provides SMS as an add-on feature.
How do integrations and developer tools compare?
ActiveCampaign has a larger integration marketplace, spanning both ecommerce and CRM tools. Brevo covers all major ecommerce platforms and essentials out of the box but may have fewer specialized integrations compared to ActiveCampaign.
What security and compliance assurances does Brevo publish?
Brevo publicly discloses ISO 27001:2013 certification, GDPR compliance, availability of multi-factor authentication (MFA), and IP restriction features.