Brevo vs ActiveCampaign: Budget Value vs CRM Integration
Comparing Brevo and ActiveCampaign for email sequences. Affordable multi-channel vs integrated CRM automation - which delivers better value?
Overview
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) and ActiveCampaign both offer email sequences with broader capabilities. Brevo focuses on affordable multi-channel marketing. ActiveCampaign integrates email automation with built-in CRM for sales-driven businesses.
For SaaS, Sequenzy provides better value with AI sequences and native billing integration. But between Brevo and ActiveCampaign, your priorities determine the winner.
| Feature | Brevo | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Strength | Budget multi-channel | CRM integration |
| Starting Price | $25/mo | $29/mo |
| Built-in CRM | Basic | Full-featured |
| SMS | Included | Add-on |
| Yes | No | |
| Automation Power | Good | Advanced |
| Sales Pipeline | No | Yes |
| Email Volume Pricing | Yes | Contact-based |
Key Differences
Pricing Model
Brevo prices by email volume, not contacts. Store unlimited contacts and pay based on sends. Better for businesses with large lists but moderate send frequency.
ActiveCampaign prices by contacts regardless of send volume. Better for businesses with smaller lists sending frequently to engaged subscribers.
CRM Capabilities
ActiveCampaign includes comprehensive CRM. Sales pipelines, deal tracking, lead scoring, task automation. Email sequences connect directly to your sales process.
Brevo has basic CRM features but it's not the focus. If you need serious CRM functionality, you'll pair Brevo with a dedicated tool.
Multi-Channel
Brevo includes SMS and WhatsApp alongside email. Useful for businesses wanting unified multi-channel without separate tools.
ActiveCampaign offers SMS as an add-on, no WhatsApp. Multi-channel is possible but not as integrated as Brevo.
Pricing Comparison
| Scale | Brevo | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $25/mo (20k emails) | $29/mo (1k contacts) |
| Growth | $65/mo (60k emails) | $79/mo (5k contacts) |
| Scale | $165/mo (150k emails) | $229/mo (25k contacts) |
Brevo is more affordable, especially for high-volume senders. ActiveCampaign's premium includes CRM that Brevo lacks.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Brevo if:
- Budget is your primary concern
- You have a large list with moderate send frequency
- Multi-channel (SMS, WhatsApp) matters
- Basic CRM features are sufficient
- You want straightforward pricing
Choose ActiveCampaign if:
- You need integrated CRM and sales pipeline
- Lead scoring and automation are priorities
- You have a sales team working deals
- Advanced automation justifies the cost
- You send frequently to engaged subscribers
Choose Sequenzy if:
- You run a SaaS business
- Native billing integration matters
- You want AI-generated sequences
The Bottom Line
Brevo delivers excellent value for budget-conscious businesses needing multi-channel capabilities. Volume-based pricing works well for many use cases.
ActiveCampaign is better for sales-driven businesses needing CRM integration. The premium is justified if you'll use pipeline management and lead scoring daily.
For SaaS businesses, Sequenzy offers more relevant features at competitive pricing. Native billing integration and AI sequence generation solve problems neither Brevo nor ActiveCampaign addresses directly.