ConvertKit vs Brevo
Compare ConvertKit and Brevo for drip email campaigns. Creator-focused simplicity versus multi-channel marketing platform with SMS, CRM, and transactional email.
Last updated: 2026-03-15
ConvertKit
convertkit.comEmail marketing built for creators
Best for: Creators, bloggers, and solopreneurs selling digital products
Brevo
brevo.comAll-in-one marketing platform with email, SMS, and chat
Best for: Budget-conscious businesses needing multi-channel marketing
TL;DR: ConvertKit vs Brevo for Drip Campaigns
ConvertKit and Brevo serve fundamentally different audiences. ConvertKit is laser-focused on creator email marketing with clean drip sequences, while Brevo offers a broader multi-channel platform with email, SMS, CRM, and transactional email. Brevo wins on value and channel breadth, while ConvertKit wins on simplicity and creator-specific features.
Simple, focused drip email for creators selling digital products.
Multi-channel platform with unlimited contacts and built-in CRM at lower cost.
SaaS-focused drip platform with native Stripe/Paddle integration at $19/mo.
Editor's Note
These tools target different markets. ConvertKit is a focused tool for creators who live and breathe email. Brevo is a broader platform for businesses that want email, SMS, CRM, and transactional email in one place. For SaaS companies, Sequenzy remains the best choice for billing-integrated drip campaigns.
ConvertKit vs Brevo vs Sequenzy: Quick Comparison
| Feature | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Subscriber-based | Email volume-based (unlimited contacts) | Email volume-based ($19/mo for 15K) | Brevo |
| Multi-Channel | Email only | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat | Email only | Brevo |
| Built-in CRM | No (subscriber profiles only) | Yes, with deal pipeline | Subscriber profiles with SaaS data | Brevo |
| Transactional Email | Not included | Built-in with SMTP relay | Built-in transactional support | Brevo |
| Drip Sequence Simplicity | Very clean and intuitive | More complex workflow builder | Pre-built templates, fast setup | ConvertKit |
| Tag-Based Management | Core architecture | Supported but attribute-based primary | Tags with behavioral tracking | ConvertKit |
| Digital Product Sales | Native commerce platform | Via integrations | Native Stripe/Paddle integration | ConvertKit |
| Free Plan Automations | No automations on free plan | Full automations (2K contacts in workflows) | No free plan, $19/mo all features | Brevo |
Score Breakdown
Totals: ConvertKit 60/80, Brevo 60/80, Sequenzy 66/80.
Drip Email Feature Comparison
Feature-by-feature analysis of drip campaign capabilities.
Sequence Building
| Feature | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-step sequences | 8/10 Clean, intuitive sequence builder | 8/10 Multi-step workflows with visual editor | 9/10 Pre-built SaaS sequences |
| Conditional branching | 8/10 Tag-based visual branching | 8/10 Attribute and event-based conditions | 8/10 Event-driven branching |
| Multi-channel steps | 3/10 Email only | 9/10 Email, SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications | 3/10 Email-focused platform |
| Time-based delays | 8/10 Day-based delays with day targeting | 8/10 Flexible delays with timezone support | 9/10 Smart delays with weekend awareness |
Personalization
| Feature | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic content | 6/10 Liquid-based templating | 7/10 Conditional display blocks | 7/10 Conditional blocks with merge tags |
| Contact data depth | 7/10 Tags and custom fields | 8/10 Contact attributes, CRM data, event history | 8/10 SaaS usage and billing data |
| Behavioral targeting | 7/10 Tag and link-click targeting | 7/10 Page visit and event-based targeting | 9/10 SaaS usage and billing targeting |
List Management
| Feature | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact storage | 7/10 Subscriber-based pricing, single record per sub | 10/10 Unlimited contacts on all plans | 8/10 Unified subscriber profiles |
| Segmentation | 7/10 Tag-based, simpler logic | 8/10 Dynamic segments with contact and event filters | 8/10 Behavioral segments for SaaS |
| Lead scoring | 4/10 No native scoring | 7/10 Lead scoring with custom rules | 7/10 SaaS engagement scoring |
Pricing Comparison
Brevo is dramatically more affordable, especially for large lists, thanks to its unlimited contacts model. ConvertKit charges per subscriber, which makes it more expensive at scale but simpler to predict costs.
Up to 1,000 subscribers. Broadcasts only, no automations or sequences.
Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day. Full automations for up to 2,000 contacts in workflows.
No free plan. $19/mo for all features and 15,000 emails.
| Tier | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 subscribers | $15/mo (Creator) Full automations | $9/mo (Starter) Unlimited contacts, 5K emails/mo | $19/mo All features, 15K emails |
| 5,000 subscribers | $66/mo (Creator) Unlimited sends | $9/mo (under limit) Price based on email volume, not contacts | $19/mo Up to 15K emails |
| 10,000 subscribers | $100/mo (Creator) All features | $18/mo (20K emails) Business plan for advanced automation | $39/mo Up to 50K emails |
| 25,000 subscribers | $166/mo (Creator) Same features at all tiers | $49/mo (60K emails) Unlimited contacts always | $69/mo Up to 150K emails |
Pricing Verdict: Brevo is dramatically cheaper for large lists. At 25,000 subscribers, ConvertKit costs over 3x more. However, ConvertKit simplicity and creator features may justify the premium for its target audience.
Cost Note
The cost difference is dramatic at scale. A creator with 10,000 subscribers pays $100/mo on ConvertKit but as little as $18/mo on Brevo. Whether the creator-specific features justify a 5x premium is the key question.
Drip Campaign Types Comparison
How each platform handles different types of drip email campaigns.
Welcome Series
Onboarding new subscribers
ConvertKit
Clean text-based welcome sequences
Brevo
Multi-channel welcome with email and SMS
Sequenzy
SaaS-optimized onboarding flows
Verdict: Both handle welcome series. Brevo adds SMS as a bonus channel.
Course Delivery
Drip-fed educational content
ConvertKit
Purpose-built for course delivery via sequences
Brevo
Workflow-based content delivery
Sequenzy
Feature adoption sequences for SaaS
Verdict: ConvertKit is the better choice for drip-fed courses.
Transactional Follow-up
Post-transaction automated emails
ConvertKit
Via ConvertKit Commerce receipts
Brevo
Built-in transactional email with SMTP relay
Sequenzy
Native transactional tied to billing events
Verdict: Brevo built-in transactional email is a significant advantage.
Multi-Channel Drip
Email plus SMS and chat sequences
ConvertKit
Email only
Brevo
Email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat in unified workflows
Sequenzy
Email-only sequences
Verdict: Brevo is the only choice for true multi-channel drip campaigns.
Re-engagement
Win-back for inactive subscribers
ConvertKit
Cold subscriber tagging and cleanup
Brevo
Activity-based workflows with scoring
Sequenzy
Usage-based churn detection
Verdict: Both handle re-engagement campaigns adequately.
The Bigger Picture
The clearest differentiation is multi-channel capability. If your drip strategy involves SMS or WhatsApp alongside email, Brevo is the only choice. If email-only drips are sufficient, ConvertKit simplicity is hard to beat.
Automation Builder Comparison
| Feature | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | Yes Visual Automations on paid plans | Yes Workflow editor on all plans | Yes Visual editor with templates |
| If/else branching | Yes Tag-based conditions | Yes Attribute and event conditions | Yes Behavior and billing conditions |
| SMS steps | No Email only | Yes SMS, WhatsApp, push in workflows | No Email only |
| Webhook triggers | Yes Native webhook triggers | Yes Native webhook support | Yes Webhooks plus billing events |
| Lead scoring actions | No No native scoring | Yes Score contacts within workflows | Yes Engagement scoring with SaaS signals |
| Commerce triggers | Yes Native ConvertKit Commerce triggers | Yes E-commerce and payment triggers | Yes Native Stripe/Paddle events |
| Goal-based exits | Yes Tag-based goal completion | No Not available | Yes Conversion-based exits |
Email Templates & Editor
| Aspect | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor Type | Minimalist text editor (3 templates) | Drag-and-drop with 40+ templates | Block editor for SaaS emails |
| Design Flexibility | Low (intentionally simple) | Moderate (good block editor) | Moderate (brand-focused) |
| Mobile Responsiveness | Always responsive (simple format) | Automatic responsive | Responsive with preview |
| AI Writing Tools | Not included | AI writing assistant built-in | AI subject line suggestions |
| HTML Editing | Available but not encouraged | HTML editor available | HTML editing supported |
Deliverability Comparison
| Factor | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Inbox Placement | 90-94% | 88-92% | 92-96% |
| SPF/DKIM Authentication | Supported with custom domain | Supported with guided setup | Required with guided wizard |
| DMARC Support | Supported | Supported | Supported with monitoring |
| Dedicated IP | Not available | Business plan ($18+/mo) | Shared with strict policies |
| Text-First Advantage | Default text format avoids spam filters | HTML templates, standard filtering | Clean email format |
| Bounce Handling | Automatic with list cleaning | Automatic with blacklist monitoring | Automatic with proactive hygiene |
ConvertKit text-first email approach gives it a slight deliverability edge, as simple text emails are less likely to trigger spam filters. Brevo compensates with affordable dedicated IPs and strong infrastructure.
Integration Ecosystem
ConvertKit: ~120 integrations. Brevo: ~150. Sequenzy: ~35.
E-commerce/Products
| Service | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | Yes (Native integration) | No (Via Zapier) | No (Not supported) |
| Teachable | Yes (Native integration) | No (Via Zapier) | No (Not supported) |
Payment/Billing
| Service | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Yes (Native for Commerce) | Yes (Via Zapier or API) | Yes (Native, real-time billing events) |
| Paddle | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) | Yes (Native, real-time billing events) |
CRM
| Service | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce | No (Via Zapier) | Yes (Native integration) | No (Not supported) |
| HubSpot | No (Via Zapier) | Yes (Via integration) | No (Via Zapier) |
Analytics & Reporting
| Metric | ConvertKit | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Rate Tracking | Yes, per-email and sequence level | Yes, real-time tracking | Yes, with sequence trends |
| Click Rate Tracking | Yes, per-link stats | Yes, with heatmap | Yes, with conversion attribution |
| Revenue Tracking | For Commerce products | For CRM deals and e-commerce | Native billing revenue tracking |
| Multi-Channel Analytics | Email only | Email, SMS, WhatsApp stats | Email sequence analytics |
| Workflow Performance | Sequence-level stats | Workflow funnel analytics | Full funnel with drop-off analysis |
ConvertKit: Unique
- + Creator earnings dashboard
- + Subscriber source tracking
Brevo: Unique
- + SMS delivery analytics
- + Transactional email stats
- + CRM deal tracking
Sequenzy: Unique
- + SaaS conversion funnels
- + MRR impact tracking
- + Billing event correlation
Pros & Cons
ConvertKit
Pros
- + Exceptionally clean and intuitive drip builder
- + Tag-based architecture prevents duplicate billing
- + Built-in commerce for selling digital products
- + Excellent deliverability with text-first emails
- + Strong creator community and resources
Cons
- - Significantly more expensive at scale
- - Email-only (no SMS, chat, or WhatsApp)
- - Very limited template design options
- - No built-in CRM or deal tracking
- - No transactional email capability
Brevo
Pros
- + Unlimited contacts on all plans
- + Multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat)
- + Built-in CRM with deal pipeline
- + Built-in transactional email with SMTP
- + Dramatically cheaper for large lists
Cons
- - Less intuitive than ConvertKit for beginners
- - Free plan limited to 300 emails/day
- - Not creator-focused (general-purpose tool)
- - Template selection is smaller than competitors
- - Interface can feel overwhelming
Best For: Who Should Use What?
SaaS Trial Conversion
Drip emails for trial-to-paid
Sequenzy is purpose-built for SaaS with native billing triggers and pre-built conversion sequences.
Creator Newsletter
Growing and monetizing a newsletter
ConvertKit is designed specifically for creators with native commerce and clean subscriber management.
Multi-Channel Marketing
Email plus SMS and WhatsApp drips
Brevo is the only option with unified multi-channel drip workflows.
Large List on Budget
Drip campaigns for 50K+ subscribers
Brevo unlimited contacts model saves hundreds of dollars monthly compared to ConvertKit.
Transactional Plus Marketing
Both transactional and drip email from one platform
Brevo includes transactional email (SMTP) on all plans, while ConvertKit does not offer it.
Migration Guide
ConvertKit to Brevo
- 1. Export subscribers from ConvertKit with tags
- 2. Import contacts into Brevo with attribute mapping
- 3. Convert tag-based logic to Brevo attribute/list logic
- 4. Rebuild sequences as Brevo workflows
- 5. Set up multi-channel options if desired
- 6. Configure domain authentication
Watch Out
- ! ConvertKit tag-based workflows need rethinking for Brevo
- ! Commerce/product sales will need separate solution
- ! Text-first email style will change to HTML templates
Brevo to ConvertKit
- 1. Export contacts from Brevo with attributes
- 2. Import into ConvertKit with tags
- 3. Rebuild workflows as ConvertKit sequences
- 4. Simplify templates for ConvertKit editor
- 5. Find alternatives for SMS and transactional email
- 6. Set up ConvertKit domain authentication
Watch Out
- ! SMS and multi-channel workflows will not transfer
- ! CRM data and deal pipelines will need separate tool
- ! Transactional email will need another service
- ! Budget for significantly higher costs per subscriber
The Bottom Line
Choose ConvertKit if...
- ✓ You are a creator selling digital products or courses
- ✓ You want the simplest, most intuitive drip email builder
- ✓ You value tag-based subscriber management
- ✓ Deliverability is your top priority
Choose Brevo if...
- ✓ You need multi-channel drip campaigns (email, SMS, WhatsApp)
- ✓ You have a large list and want unlimited contacts
- ✓ You need built-in CRM and transactional email
- ✓ Budget is a primary concern
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose ConvertKit or Brevo for drip campaigns?
Choose ConvertKit if you are a creator wanting simple, focused drip email for digital products. Choose Brevo if you need multi-channel drip campaigns, a built-in CRM, or have a large list and want unlimited contacts.
Can Brevo handle creator email marketing?
Yes, Brevo can handle the email portion, but it lacks ConvertKit creator-specific features like built-in commerce, tip jars, and the creator-community ecosystem. It compensates with lower pricing and additional channels.
Is ConvertKit or Brevo cheaper?
Brevo is substantially cheaper, especially for large lists. At 25,000 subscribers, ConvertKit costs $166/mo while Brevo costs approximately $49/mo. Brevo unlimited contacts model makes it the more affordable option at any scale.
Which has better deliverability?
ConvertKit has a slight edge (90-94% vs 88-92%) due to its text-first email approach. However, Brevo offers affordable dedicated IPs that can match or exceed ConvertKit deliverability for high-volume senders.