THE SHORT ANSWER
Our conclusion
Choose MailerLite for a small list with occasional same-day peaks above 300 sends that still fit its monthly limit. Choose Brevo when a larger database only needs small daily batches. Neither free tier fits a same-day campaign to 600 people.
Check the option that fits
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Side-by-side comparison
Read across each row: the same criterion, two approaches and the practical consequence. Capabilities describe the product offering, not a promise that every free or entry plan includes them.
| Criterion | MailerLite | Brevo | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free database | 250 subscribers | 100,000 stored contacts | A stored contact allowance is not campaign capacity. |
| Sending constraint | 2,500 sends per month | 300 sends per day | Monthly flexibility and peak-day limits are different. |
| 200 readers, four weekly issues | 800 sends fit the monthly allowance | 200 each sending day fits the daily allowance | Both fit before adding other messages. |
| Two sends to 200 people in one day | 400 fits monthly capacity if room remains | 400 exceeds the daily cap | MailerLite fits this specific peak-day scenario. |
| 600-person same-day announcement | Exceeds free subscriber ceiling | Exceeds daily send cap | Neither free plan fits; compare paid alternatives. |
Strengths and trade-offs
MailerLite
Why choose it: Monthly planning for a small active audience.
Trade-off: Subscriber ceiling is separate from available monthly sends.
Brevo
Why choose it: Large stored database for modest daily sending.
Trade-off: Unused daily sends do not carry over; peaks can fail.
Make the decision with your own evidence
Choose the two criteria below that matter most to your work. Run the same small task in both products and record a pass, a fail or an unresolved question. An untested requirement is unknown, not a pass. A failed must-have outweighs optional extras.
| Criterion to test | What to record for each product |
|---|---|
| Free database | A stored contact allowance is not campaign capacity. Record the exact plan, observed result and any workaround. |
| Sending constraint | Monthly flexibility and peak-day limits are different. Record the exact plan, observed result and any workaround. |
| 200 readers, four weekly issues | Both fit before adding other messages. Record the exact plan, observed result and any workaround. |
| Two sends to 200 people in one day | MailerLite fits this specific peak-day scenario. Record the exact plan, observed result and any workaround. |
| 600-person same-day announcement | Neither free plan fits; compare paid alternatives. Record the exact plan, observed result and any workaround. |
Download this comparison's worksheet (CSV)
If both products pass
Compare the total cost for the same workload, then the effort to move your files and train the next user. Keep a working setup when neither alternative solves a concrete problem. If neither passes, return to the software finder with the missing requirement.
Before purchasing in Europe
Check availability in your country, invoice currency and applicable VAT, renewal and cancellation terms, supported languages and support hours. For uploaded business data, review the provider's processing terms and export/deletion options. These are checks to make, not a claim that either provider meets every requirement.
Evidence: official product information; free-plan figures checked 20 September 2026 where shown. The practical implications and conclusion are WePickTools’ editorial assessment. No hands-on performance scores. See the source section on this page.
Two different constraints
MailerLite’s free tier lists 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly sends. Brevo’s free tier lists 100,000 stored contacts and 300 daily sends. Brevo says unused daily sends do not roll over. Stored contacts are therefore not the number you can reach in a single free campaign.
Scenario: one weekly update to 200 readers
Four updates require 800 sends across the month. Each update uses 200 sends on its delivery day. Both published limits accommodate this simple schedule, provided other emails do not consume the remaining allowance. Record automated messages in the same workload plan rather than treating them as free extra capacity.
Scenario: 600 people need the same announcement
Six hundred recipients exceed MailerLite’s free audience ceiling. With Brevo, 600 deliveries would require at least two days at the published daily cap, assuming no other sends. For an event reminder or a time-sensitive launch, splitting the audience may be unacceptable. Compare a paid option against the deadline, not merely the size of the address book.
Scenario: two messages on a busy day
Sending two messages to 200 people means 400 sends that day. A low monthly total does not make that fit a 300-send daily cap. Build a calendar for your busiest day and include welcome messages. This simple exercise often reveals the constraint earlier than comparing headline prices.
What to inspect in a trial
Recreate one actual campaign. Check how contacts are imported, how suppression and unsubscribe fields are preserved, and whether the form works on your website. Use your own test addresses first. Keep a record of the configuration and results; a single successful delivery does not establish general inbox placement.
Our decision
Consider MailerLite for a small audience where monthly planning matches your schedule. Consider Brevo when your contacts and daily delivery needs differ substantially, but calculate your peak day first. Neither free tier solves the 600-person same-day example above. Check a paid quote or another tool when the deadline is fixed.
Sources and further reading
- MailerLite pricing
- Brevo plan documentation (source: https://help.brevo.com/hc/en-us/articles/208589409-About-Brevo-s-pricing-plans; provider link not active)
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Considering MailerLite?
Use the comparison above to check whether it fits your workflow.
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