Brevo vs MailerLite for Nonprofits: Affordable Email Marketing Platforms Compared
Compare Brevo's multi-channel marketing platform with AI automation, SMS, and WhatsApp ($9-69/month, 15% enterprise nonprofit discount) with MailerLite's email-focused solution with unlimited sends ($10-20/month, 30% nonprofit discount). Full-featured marketing suite vs streamlined email specialist: which affordable platform fits your nonprofit?
At a Glance Comparison
| Feature | Brevo | MailerLite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9-69/month (send-based) | $10-20/month (subscriber-based) | Context-dependent |
| Ease of Use | 4/5 - More features, steeper curve | 5/5 - Very intuitive | MailerLite |
| Nonprofit Discount | 15% off (Enterprise only) | 30% off all paid plans | MailerLite |
| Integration | Built-in multi-channel tools | Zapier + native integrations | Brevo |
| AI Capabilities | Aura Agents, send-time optimization | AI writing assistant, subject lines | Brevo |
Choosing an affordable email marketing platform is one of the most important technology decisions for resource-constrained nonprofits. Your email platform becomes the primary channel for donor communications, event promotions, volunteer recruitment, and impact storytelling—making it essential to select a tool that balances cost, features, deliverability, and ease of use.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and MailerLite represent two distinct approaches to budget-friendly email marketing. Brevo positions itself as a comprehensive multi-channel marketing suite that includes email, SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages, CRM, and live chat—offering nonprofits an all-in-one platform that consolidates multiple tools. MailerLite focuses squarely on email marketing excellence, providing unlimited sending, superior deliverability, and an exceptionally intuitive interface that non-technical staff can master quickly.
Both platforms offer generous free plans, affordable paid tiers under $20/month for small nonprofits, and nonprofit-specific discounts—but they differ significantly in pricing models, feature depth, automation capabilities, and intended use cases. Understanding these differences is critical to choosing the platform that will actually get used by your team and deliver measurable results.
This comprehensive comparison examines Brevo and MailerLite across pricing, features, automation, deliverability, ease of use, nonprofit discounts, and integration ecosystems. We'll help you determine which platform aligns with your organization's communication strategy, technical capacity, budget constraints, and growth trajectory. Whether you need multi-channel capabilities or prefer email-focused simplicity, this guide provides the insights to make an informed decision.
What Is Brevo?
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is an all-in-one customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation platform designed to help businesses and nonprofits manage multi-channel communications from a single interface. Originally founded in France in 2012, Brevo has grown to serve over 500,000 users worldwide, positioning itself as a comprehensive alternative to platform-specific tools by bundling email, SMS, WhatsApp, transactional messaging, landing pages, and live chat into one affordable solution.
The platform's core philosophy is eliminating tool sprawl by providing everything needed for donor engagement, volunteer coordination, and fundraising campaigns without requiring multiple subscriptions. Brevo's pricing model is unique: instead of charging based on subscriber count like most competitors, it charges based on the number of emails sent per month—making it particularly attractive for nonprofits with large contact lists but infrequent sending patterns.
Brevo has invested heavily in AI-powered features through its Aura Agents system, which includes AI email copywriting, chatbot engagement, data analysis, and send-time optimization. For nonprofits seeking to consolidate communications technology while accessing advanced automation and multi-channel capabilities, Brevo represents a feature-rich, cost-effective platform that scales from small organizations to enterprise deployments.
Key Brevo Capabilities
- Multi-Channel Marketing: Email, SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications, and live chat in one platform
- Aura AI Agents: AI email writing, chatbot engagement, data analysis, and send-time optimization
- Advanced Automation: Website behavior tracking, lead scoring, conditional workflows, multi-channel triggers
- Built-In CRM: Contact management, deal tracking, task assignments, unified donor history
- Transactional Emails: Password resets, donation receipts, event confirmations via SMTP server
- Landing Pages & Forms: Drag-and-drop builder, A/B testing, Facebook ads integration
- Send-Based Pricing: Pay per email sent (not per contact), ideal for large lists with infrequent campaigns
- Generous Free Plan: 9,000 emails/month (300 daily), up to 100,000 contacts, automation included
What Is MailerLite?
MailerLite is a streamlined email marketing platform founded in 2010 in Lithuania, designed with a laser focus on making email campaigns simple, affordable, and effective for small businesses, creators, and nonprofits. The platform has earned a reputation for exceptional ease of use, consistently ranking among the most intuitive email marketing tools available—a critical advantage for nonprofits with limited technical expertise or staff capacity.
Unlike multi-channel platforms that attempt to do everything, MailerLite deliberately concentrates on doing email marketing extraordinarily well. This focus translates to superior email deliverability (consistently topping third-party tests), unlimited sending on all paid plans, an extensive template library, and a clean interface that reduces training time and increases team adoption. The platform's subscriber-based pricing provides predictable monthly costs, and its 30% nonprofit discount makes premium features accessible even on tight budgets.
MailerLite has expanded strategically into adjacent features like landing pages, website builders, digital product sales, and AI writing assistants—but always maintaining its core commitment to simplicity and usability. For nonprofits that prioritize email as their primary communication channel and value ease of use over feature breadth, MailerLite offers a polished, reliable solution that staff will actually enjoy using rather than avoid due to complexity.
Key MailerLite Capabilities
- Unlimited Email Sending: All paid plans include unlimited emails—critical for high-volume campaigns
- Superior Deliverability: Strict anti-spam policies, dedicated deliverability team, tops third-party tests
- Exceptional Ease of Use: Intuitive drag-and-drop builder, extensive templates, minimal learning curve
- AI Writing Assistant: AI-powered subject lines, email copy generation, available in 30+ languages
- Creator Monetization: Sell digital products, paid newsletter subscriptions, Stripe integration
- Landing Pages & Website Builder: AI landing page generator, 70+ customizable sections
- 30% Nonprofit Discount: Applies to all paid plans, making $10/month just $7/month for verified nonprofits
- Predictable Pricing: Subscriber-based pricing (not send-based), easier budgeting and forecasting
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
We evaluated both platforms across seven critical dimensions to help you understand where each excels and where they fall short.
Email Builder & Design
Creating professional, on-brand campaigns
Brevo
Solid drag-and-drop builder with 40+ responsive templates, custom HTML editor, AI content generation, and design mode for visual customization. Supports dynamic content and personalization tokens.
Limitation: Template library is smaller than MailerLite's; less variety in layouts
MailerLite
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with extensive template library, preview-before-insert blocks, custom HTML support, and rich text editing. AI assists with subject lines and body copy.
Advantage: More template variety, easier to use for non-technical users, cleaner interface
Winner: MailerLite
Better templates, more intuitive builder, superior user experience for design
Automation & Workflows
Automated donor journeys and engagement
Brevo
Advanced automation with website activity tracking, lead scoring, conditional splits, multi-channel workflows (email + SMS + WhatsApp), cart abandonment, and behavioral triggers. Visual workflow builder with unlimited automation on all plans.
Advantage: Significantly more sophisticated automation capabilities, website behavior tracking, lead scoring
MailerLite
Clean automation builder with triggers (signup, date, activity), time delays, conditional splits, and actions (send email, update fields). Advanced features like webhooks on paid plans. Easy to set up but less complex than Brevo.
Limitation: No website behavior tracking or lead scoring; automation is simpler and email-focused only
Winner: Brevo
More powerful automation, multi-channel workflows, website tracking, lead scoring
Multi-Channel Marketing
Reaching donors beyond email
Brevo
True multi-channel platform including SMS campaigns, WhatsApp messaging, push notifications, live chat widget, and Facebook ads integration. All channels unified in one dashboard with cross-channel workflows.
Advantage: Complete multi-channel suite eliminates need for separate SMS/chat tools
MailerLite
Email-focused platform without native SMS, WhatsApp, or live chat capabilities. Offers landing pages and website builder to support email campaigns but doesn't extend to other communication channels.
Limitation: Email only—requires third-party tools for SMS or other channels
Winner: Brevo
Only Brevo offers true multi-channel capabilities built into the platform
Segmentation & Personalization
Targeting the right donors with relevant content
Brevo
Advanced segmentation with unlimited custom fields, contact attributes, behavioral data (opens, clicks, website visits), lead scoring, and AI-suggested segments based on engagement patterns. Dynamic content blocks personalize emails per recipient.
Advantage: More granular segmentation options, AI-driven insights, website behavior data
MailerLite
Robust segmentation with custom fields, subscriber activity, signup source, location, and engagement history. Dynamic content and personalization tags. Segmentation interface is cleaner and easier to navigate than Brevo.
Advantage: Easier to create and manage segments, more intuitive interface
Winner: Tie
Brevo has more power; MailerLite is easier to use. Both meet most nonprofit needs
Analytics & Reporting
Understanding campaign performance
Brevo
Comprehensive dashboard with opens, clicks, bounces, unsubscribes, heatmaps showing click areas, geolocation data, device/browser stats, and revenue tracking. CRM reports on deals and pipeline. AI analyzes data to surface insights.
Advantage: More detailed analytics, CRM reporting, AI-driven insights
MailerLite
Clean reporting interface with essential metrics (opens, clicks, unsubscribes, bounces), click maps, subscriber growth charts, and campaign comparisons. Reports are easy to understand and share with stakeholders.
Advantage: Clearer visualizations, easier to interpret for non-technical users
Winner: Tie
Brevo offers more depth; MailerLite is easier to understand. Both provide essential metrics
Deliverability & Support
Ensuring emails reach donor inboxes
Brevo
Strong deliverability safeguards including SPF, DKIM, DMARC authentication, dedicated IPs on higher plans, deliverability monitoring, and spam score checking. Support via email and chat (phone on Business+). Knowledge base and tutorials.
Strength: Solid deliverability infrastructure, comprehensive authentication
MailerLite
Industry-leading deliverability with strict anti-spam approval process, dedicated deliverability team, full authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, custom domain), and proactive monitoring. Consistently tops third-party deliverability tests. 24/7 email support (live chat on Advanced).
Advantage: Superior deliverability track record, rigorous anti-spam policies, more hands-on support
Winner: MailerLite
Better deliverability results, stricter anti-spam measures, more deliverability support
CRM & Contact Management
Managing donor relationships and data
Brevo
Full-featured built-in CRM with contact profiles, deal pipeline management, task assignments, company/organization tracking, notes, tags, and unified communication history across all channels. Integrates seamlessly with email campaigns.
Advantage: Complete CRM functionality eliminates need for separate donor management tool
MailerLite
Contact management focuses on subscriber data, custom fields, tags, groups, and segmentation. Tracks email engagement history but doesn't include deal tracking, task management, or CRM features. Clean, simple contact interface.
Limitation: Not a CRM—purely email subscriber management without pipeline or deal tracking
Winner: Brevo
Only Brevo offers full CRM capabilities—critical for donor relationship management
Pricing Breakdown: Send-Based vs Subscriber-Based
Brevo and MailerLite use fundamentally different pricing models, which creates scenarios where one platform is dramatically more affordable than the other depending on your sending patterns and list size. Understanding these pricing structures is essential to calculating your true costs and avoiding surprise bills.
Brevo Pricing (Send-Based)
Pay per email sent, not per contact
- Free: 9,000 emails/month (300/day), up to 100,000 contacts, automation, segmentation
- Starter: $9/month for 5,000 emails; $19 for 10,000; $29 for 20,000; scales to $69 for 100,000
- Business: Starts at $18/month (5,000 emails), adds landing pages, A/B testing, advanced automation, multi-user access, chat support
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for 350,000+ emails/month, includes 15% nonprofit discount, dedicated account manager
- Best For: Large contact lists with infrequent sending (e.g., 10,000 contacts, 1-2 monthly campaigns)
MailerLite Pricing (Subscriber-Based)
Unlimited sends, pay per subscriber
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month, basic features, MailerLite logo on emails
- Growing Business: $10/month (500 subs), $20 (2,500 subs), $30 (5,000 subs)—unlimited emails, templates, 24/7 support
- Advanced: $20/month (500 subs), $40 (2,500 subs)—adds unlimited users, AI assistant, custom HTML, advanced automation
- 30% Nonprofit Discount: Applies to all paid plans (Growing Business $7/month, Advanced $14/month for 500 subscribers)
- Best For: Regular high-volume sending (e.g., weekly newsletters to 2,500 subscribers = unlimited campaigns)
Cost Comparison Scenarios
Scenario 1: Small Nonprofit (500 subscribers, weekly campaigns)
Brevo: ~2,000 emails/month = Free plan works perfectly ($0/month)
MailerLite: Growing Business plan with nonprofit discount = $7/month
Winner: Brevo (free vs $7/month)
Scenario 2: Mid-Size Nonprofit (2,500 subscribers, 2x monthly campaigns)
Brevo: ~5,000 emails/month = Starter at $9/month
MailerLite: Growing Business (2,500 subs) with nonprofit discount = $14/month
Winner: Brevo ($9 vs $14/month)
Scenario 3: Active Nonprofit (2,500 subscribers, weekly + event campaigns)
Brevo: ~15,000 emails/month = Starter at $29/month
MailerLite: Growing Business (2,500 subs) with nonprofit discount = $14/month (unlimited sends)
Winner: MailerLite ($14 vs $29/month)
Scenario 4: Large List, Low Send (10,000 subscribers, 1x monthly)
Brevo: ~10,000 emails/month = Starter at $19/month
MailerLite: Growing Business (10,000 subs) with nonprofit discount = $49/month
Winner: Brevo ($19 vs $49/month)
Pricing Recommendation: Choose Brevo if you have large contact lists but send campaigns infrequently (1-2 times per month). Choose MailerLite if you send campaigns regularly (weekly or more), need unlimited sending flexibility, or want the broader 30% nonprofit discount. For small organizations under 1,000 contacts, both platforms offer functional free plans—Brevo's includes more features, while MailerLite's provides a cleaner experience.
Nonprofit Discounts & Special Pricing
Brevo Nonprofit Program
- Discount: 15% off Enterprise plan only (contact sales for custom pricing)
- Eligibility: Verified 501(c)(3) or equivalent nonprofit status
- Application: Contact Brevo sales team directly with nonprofit documentation
- Alternative: Free and low-cost paid plans already offer strong value without discount
- Best For: Large nonprofits needing Enterprise features (dedicated IP, account manager, 350K+ emails)
MailerLite Nonprofit Program
- Discount: 30% off all paid plans (Growing Business and Advanced tiers)
- Eligibility: Verified nonprofit status (US 501(c)(3) or equivalent government documentation)
- Application: Indicate nonprofit during signup, then contact support with tax exemption certificate or official docs
- Discount Stacking: Cannot combine with annual plan discount (10% off)—nonprofit discount is better value
- Best For: Small to mid-size nonprofits seeking affordable, predictable monthly costs ($7-14/month for 500 subs)
Discount Comparison & Recommendations
MailerLite's 30% discount is more generous and accessible, applying to all paid plans without requiring Enterprise-level commitment. For a nonprofit with 2,500 subscribers on the Growing Business plan, the discount saves $86/year ($20/month → $14/month).
Brevo's 15% Enterprise discount only benefits large organizations already needing custom pricing (350,000+ emails/month). Small and mid-size nonprofits get better value from Brevo's low-cost standard plans ($9-69/month) without needing to apply for a discount.
Recommendation: If you're a small nonprofit (under 5,000 subscribers), MailerLite's nonprofit discount provides the best overall value. For larger lists with infrequent sending, Brevo's send-based pricing (even without discount) often results in lower absolute costs.
Ease of Use & Learning Curve
For resource-constrained nonprofits, ease of use directly impacts adoption rates and campaign effectiveness. A platform that's too complex leads to underutilized features, staff frustration, and abandoned campaigns. MailerLite and Brevo take different approaches to balancing power with simplicity—understanding these differences helps match the platform to your team's technical capacity.
Brevo: Feature-Rich Complexity
More power, steeper learning curve
Brevo's all-in-one approach means more menus, settings, and configuration options. The platform excels for users who invest time in learning its capabilities, but the initial experience can feel overwhelming for non-technical staff.
- Learning Curve: 2-3 weeks for basic proficiency; 1-2 months to master advanced features
- Interface: Dense with many tabs and options; CRM, email, SMS, automation all in one dashboard
- Support: Comprehensive knowledge base, video tutorials, email/chat support (phone on Business+)
- Best For: Teams comfortable with technology who want to consolidate multiple tools
MailerLite: Simplicity by Design
Intuitive interface, minimal training
MailerLite is consistently praised for its clean, intuitive interface that staff can master quickly. The platform hides complexity behind smart defaults, making common tasks effortless while still providing power when needed.
- Learning Curve: 1-2 hours to send first campaign; 1 week to feel fully comfortable
- Interface: Clean, uncluttered design; email-focused navigation; extensive template library
- Support: 24/7 email support, live chat on Advanced plan, video academy, help center
- Best For: Teams with limited tech skills who need to become productive immediately
User Experience Comparison
Creating Your First Campaign
MailerLite: Pick template → drag/drop content → send. Clean wizard guides you through each step. Average time: 15-20 minutes for first campaign.
Brevo: Navigate campaign types → select template → customize design → configure settings → send. More options at each step. Average time: 30-40 minutes for first campaign.
Building Automation Workflows
MailerLite: Visual workflow builder with drag-and-drop triggers and actions. Simple but effective. Limited to email-based workflows.
Brevo: More complex workflow builder with website tracking, lead scoring, multi-channel actions. Powerful but requires more setup and testing.
Managing Contacts & Segments
MailerLite: Straightforward contact management with intuitive segmentation interface. Creating segments is quick and obvious.
Brevo: More granular contact attributes and segmentation options, but the interface requires more clicks to accomplish the same tasks.
Verdict: MailerLite wins decisively on ease of use. If your team has limited technical capacity, rotating volunteer staff, or values getting campaigns out quickly without extensive training, MailerLite's intuitive interface will increase adoption and reduce frustration. Brevo's added complexity is worthwhile only if you need its multi-channel features or advanced automation capabilities.
Integration & Compatibility
Email marketing platforms rarely work in isolation—they need to connect with your donor database, website forms, event registration systems, and fundraising platforms. Integration capabilities determine whether data flows seamlessly between systems or requires manual CSV exports and imports.
Brevo Integrations
All-in-one reduces integration needs
Brevo's strategy minimizes external integrations by building features directly into the platform. The built-in CRM, SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages, and live chat eliminate the need for separate tools in most cases.
- Native Integrations: WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Salesforce, HubSpot, Facebook Ads, Google Ads
- Zapier & Make: Connect to 5,000+ apps via automation platforms
- API Access: RESTful API for custom integrations (all plans)
- Webhooks: Real-time event triggers for external systems
MailerLite Integrations
Strong ecosystem connectivity
MailerLite focuses on email excellence while providing robust integration options to connect with the rest of your technology stack through native integrations and automation platforms.
- Native Integrations: WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, Eventbrite, Webflow, Squarespace, Salesforce, HubSpot
- Zapier & Make: Connect to 3,000+ apps via automation platforms
- API Access: Developer API for custom integrations (paid plans)
- Webhooks: Available on Advanced plan for real-time automation
Common Nonprofit Integration Scenarios
Donor Database Sync (Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect)
Both platforms: Native integrations with major CRMs or use Zapier/Make to sync contact data, donation history, and engagement metrics. Brevo's built-in CRM may reduce the need for separate donor management software for smaller nonprofits.
Website Form Signups (WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow)
Both platforms: Native WordPress plugins and embed codes for other platforms. New website subscribers automatically sync to email lists with custom fields and tags.
Event Registration (Eventbrite, Luma, SignUpGenius)
MailerLite: Native Eventbrite integration syncs attendee data. Brevo: Use Zapier to connect event platforms and trigger automated confirmation emails, reminders, and follow-ups across email and SMS.
E-commerce & Digital Products (Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe)
Both platforms: Native Shopify and WooCommerce integrations for abandoned cart emails and purchase follow-ups. MailerLite has built-in digital product sales with Stripe; Brevo focuses on transactional email for existing stores.
Integration Verdict: Brevo edges ahead due to its all-in-one architecture—the built-in CRM, SMS, and live chat reduce the number of integrations required. However, MailerLite's native integrations cover most nonprofit needs, and both platforms work seamlessly with automation tools like Zapier and Make for custom workflows.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
The right platform depends on your sending patterns, technical capacity, budget, and communication strategy. Use this decision framework to identify which tool aligns with your nonprofit's specific needs.
Choose Brevo If...
- Multi-channel marketing is essential—you need email, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat in one platform
- You have a large contact list (10,000+) but send campaigns infrequently (1-2 times per month)
- Advanced automation is a priority—you need website behavior tracking, lead scoring, and complex workflows
- CRM integration matters—Brevo's built-in CRM can replace separate donor management software
- Transactional emails are required—password resets, donation receipts, event confirmations
- You want to consolidate multiple tools and reduce your software stack complexity
Choose MailerLite If...
- Email deliverability is paramount—you need the highest inbox placement rates and dedicated deliverability support
- Unlimited sending is non-negotiable—you send weekly newsletters or frequent event updates
- Ease of use is critical—your team has limited technical skills and needs to become productive immediately
- You want the 30% nonprofit discount—it applies to all paid plans, making premium features very affordable
- Creator monetization features matter—sell digital products, paid newsletter subscriptions, Stripe integration
- You prefer predictable subscriber-based pricing over send-volume pricing for budgeting
Quick Decision Matrix
Best for Multi-Channel Nonprofits
Brevo — Email + SMS + WhatsApp + CRM in one platform
Best for Email-First Organizations
MailerLite — Superior deliverability, unlimited sends, ease of use
Best for Large Lists, Low Send
Brevo — Send-based pricing saves money on infrequent campaigns
Best for Frequent Campaigns
MailerLite — Unlimited emails on all paid plans
Best for Advanced Automation
Brevo — Website tracking, lead scoring, complex workflows
Best for Non-Technical Teams
MailerLite — Intuitive interface, minimal learning curve
Getting Started with Your Choice
Once you've selected the right platform, follow these implementation steps to ensure successful adoption and maximize your return on investment.
Getting Started with Brevo
- Sign up for free plan: Start with 9,000 emails/month to test features risk-free
- Configure sender authentication: Set up SPF, DKIM records for your domain (critical for deliverability)
- Import contacts: Upload CSV or sync from existing CRM; organize with tags and segments
- Explore multi-channel features: Test SMS, WhatsApp, landing pages to understand capabilities
- Build first automation: Create welcome series or abandoned cart workflow using visual builder
- Test Aura AI: Use AI email copywriting and send-time optimization on first campaigns
- Upgrade strategically: Move to Starter ($9) when you exceed free tier; Business ($18) for landing pages and A/B testing
- Apply for Enterprise discount: If you need 350K+ emails, contact sales for 15% nonprofit pricing
Getting Started with MailerLite
- Sign up for free plan: Start with 1,000 subscribers to test platform (indicate nonprofit status)
- Authenticate your domain: Complete SPF, DKIM, DMARC setup for maximum deliverability
- Import subscriber list: Upload CSV with custom fields; clean and segment contacts
- Choose email templates: Browse extensive template library or start from scratch with drag-and-drop builder
- Create first automation: Build welcome series or newsletter workflow using visual automation builder
- Test AI assistant: Use AI subject line generator and email copy assistant to speed up creation
- Upgrade with nonprofit discount: Contact support with 501(c)(3) docs to apply 30% discount before upgrading to Growing Business ($7/month)
- Explore landing pages: Use AI landing page generator for donation or event registration pages
Implementation Best Practices (Both Platforms)
- Clean your list first: Remove inactive emails, duplicates, and invalid addresses before importing—protects deliverability
- Start with double opt-in: Require email confirmation for new subscribers to maintain high-quality list and compliance
- Warm up your domain: If migrating, gradually increase send volume over 2-3 weeks to build sender reputation
- Set up segmentation early: Create donor segments (new, lapsed, major), interest tags, and engagement tiers from the start
- Test before scaling: Send test campaigns to small segments, review analytics, refine approach before full deployment
- Train your team: Invest in platform training (video academy, documentation) to ensure staff can use features confidently
Need Help Deciding on Email Marketing Tools?
Choosing the right email marketing platform is just one piece of building an effective nonprofit communications strategy. We help nonprofits evaluate, implement, and optimize email marketing tools that align with your goals, budget, and technical capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper for nonprofits: Brevo or MailerLite?
It depends on your sending patterns. Brevo charges based on email volume ($9/month for 5,000 emails) while MailerLite charges based on subscriber count with unlimited sending ($10/month for 500 subscribers, 30% nonprofit discount). For large lists with infrequent campaigns, Brevo is typically cheaper. For regular, high-volume sending, MailerLite's unlimited emails often provide better value. MailerLite's 30% nonprofit discount (vs Brevo's 15% Enterprise-only discount) also makes it more accessible for budget-conscious organizations.
Does MailerLite have better email deliverability than Brevo?
Yes, MailerLite generally has a slight edge in deliverability according to third-party tests. MailerLite's strict anti-spam policies, dedicated deliverability team, and comprehensive domain authentication support (DKIM, SPF, DMARC) help maintain high inbox placement rates. Brevo also provides strong deliverability safeguards and authentication, but MailerLite's rigorous approval process keeps spammers off the platform, which benefits all users. Both platforms offer deliverability features, but MailerLite provides more hands-on support to help nonprofits optimize their sender reputation.
Can Brevo send SMS and WhatsApp messages while MailerLite cannot?
Yes, Brevo includes built-in SMS and WhatsApp messaging across most plans, making it a true multi-channel marketing platform. You can create workflows that combine email, SMS, and WhatsApp messages based on contact behavior. MailerLite focuses exclusively on email marketing and doesn't offer SMS or WhatsApp capabilities natively. If multi-channel communication is important for your nonprofit (for example, sending event reminders via SMS or donor updates via WhatsApp), Brevo provides these features without requiring additional tools or integrations.
Which platform has more advanced automation features?
Brevo offers significantly more advanced automation capabilities. Brevo's workflows include website activity tracking, lead scoring, conditional splits based on multiple criteria, multi-channel triggers (email, SMS, WhatsApp), and advanced segmentation. MailerLite provides solid automation features including visual workflow builders and multiple triggers on paid plans, but the automation is less sophisticated and doesn't include website behavior tracking or lead scoring. For nonprofits that need complex donor journeys, abandoned cart recovery, or behavior-based segmentation, Brevo's automation suite is more powerful.
Does either platform offer a generous free plan for small nonprofits?
Both platforms offer free plans, but with different limitations. Brevo's free plan includes up to 9,000 emails per month (300 daily limit) with up to 100,000 contacts, plus automation, segmentation, and basic reporting—making it extremely generous for contact storage but limited by daily sending caps. MailerLite's free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 monthly emails (no daily limit), but includes fewer features and displays a MailerLite logo on emails. For very small nonprofits just getting started, Brevo's free plan offers more features and higher contact limits, while MailerLite's free plan provides better subscriber-to-send ratio without daily restrictions.
Which platform is easier to use for staff with limited technical skills?
MailerLite is generally easier to use, especially for teams with limited technical experience. It's consistently praised for its clean, intuitive interface, extensive template library, and straightforward drag-and-drop email builder. The platform requires minimal onboarding and staff can create professional campaigns quickly. Brevo offers more features and flexibility, but this comes with increased complexity—the interface has more menus, options, and settings to navigate. For nonprofits that value simplicity and want staff to become productive immediately, MailerLite has a gentler learning curve. For teams comfortable with technology who want more power and customization, Brevo's added complexity is worthwhile.