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ActiveCampaign vs Brevo for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose ActiveCampaign for deep automation, a CRM, and stated security evidence. Choose Brevo for low-cost volume, transactional email, and SMS. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
ActiveCampaign vs Brevo: which is better for agencies in 2026?
ActiveCampaign and Brevo are both automation-capable email platforms. ActiveCampaign prices by contacts and focuses on automation and CRM. Brevo prices by send volume and adds SMS, WhatsApp, and transactional email.
We compared price, channels, and security.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | 4.3 / 5 | G2 4.4 | 14-day free trial. Starter $15, Plus $49, Pro $79 and Enterprise $145 a month on annual billing at 1,000 contacts. | Small to enterprise teams |
| Brevo | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.5 | Free plan. Starter $8.08, Standard $16.17 and Professional $449.08 a month on annual billing ($9, $18 and $499 monthly); Enterprise from $2,499 a month. | Small to enterprise teams |
How do ActiveCampaign and Brevo compare on price?
ActiveCampaign costs $15, $49, $79, or $145 a month at 1,000 contacts on annual billing. Brevo has a free plan and costs $8.08, $16.17, or $449.08 a month on annual billing, with Enterprise from $2,499.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | Starter | $15 per month (annual billing) | 1,000 contacts; 1 user; limited segmentation; 5 actions per automation |
| ActiveCampaign | Plus | $49 per month (annual billing) | 1,000 contacts; 1 user; unlimited automation actions; landing pages |
| ActiveCampaign | Pro | $79 per month (annual billing) | 1,000 contacts; 3 users; advanced segmentation; predictive and conditional content; attribution |
| ActiveCampaign | Enterprise | $145 per month (annual billing) | 1,000 contacts; 5 users; premium segmentation; custom objects; SSO; dedicated account team |
| Brevo | Free | $0 per month (monthly billing) | 300 emails a day; transactional email features |
| Brevo | Starter | $8.08 per month (annual billing); $9 monthly | From 5,000 emails a month; email and SMS; AI content generator; no Brevo logo |
| Brevo | Standard | $16.17 per month (annual billing); $18 monthly | Starter plus marketing automation, A/B testing, landing page, AI send-time optimization |
| Brevo | Professional | $449.08 per month (annual billing); $499 monthly | From 150,000 emails a month; 10 seats; WhatsApp, push and popups; phone support; 3 hours of deliverability support a year |
| Brevo | Enterprise | From $2,499 a month | Multi-account management, dedicated IP, SSO and SAML, CSM support |
Which costs less?
Brevo for large lists with modest sending, because it prices by send volume. ActiveCampaign can cost less for small, highly engaged lists with heavy automation.
Run both with your real contact count and monthly sends.
Brevo Standard is a low-cost way to get automation, while ActiveCampaign Plus offers a richer builder at a higher price.
Which has more channels?
Brevo, which includes email, SMS, WhatsApp, push, and transactional email on every plan with APIs and SMTP. ActiveCampaign offers SMS as an add-on and focuses on email, automation, and CRM.
If a client needs transactional email, Brevo is the natural fit.
Which has stronger security evidence?
ActiveCampaign, which states SOC 2, GDPR and HIPAA support, MFA on every account, and SSO. Brevo security details were not captured because its security page returned an error, though it lists SSO and SAML on Enterprise.
Ask Brevo for documents before moving a regulated client.
If a client sends both marketing and transactional messages, check whether one platform can handle both without mixing reputations, since separate sending streams protect deliverability for password resets and receipts.
Test each platform with the same list and the same campaign, then compare inbox placement and reporting. Real results on a small test tell you more than a feature table.
How do ActiveCampaign and Brevo compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | ActiveCampaign | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | More than 1,000 integrations and 950+ automation recipes | More than 150 digital tools |
| Security | SOC 2 report through the Trust Center; GDPR and HIPAA support stated; MFA on every account (SMS and authenticator apps) and SSO; ISO 27001 and data hosting regions were not stated | SSO and SAML on Enterprise; Certifications, 2FA and hosting regions were not stated (the security page returned an error) |
| Support | Starter and Plus: basic email and chat; Pro and Enterprise: priority email and chat; Enterprise adds a dedicated account team; Free contact migration, training and a knowledge base; support hours were not stated | Starter and Standard: email in 6 languages; Professional: phone and deliverability-specialist support; Enterprise: tailored onboarding and CSM support |
| Apps | An ActiveCampaign mobile app is listed; platforms were not stated | A mobile app was not stated; mobile and web push is on Professional |
What are the pros and cons of ActiveCampaign and Brevo?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
ActiveCampaign pros
- Plans from $15 a month on annual billing at 1,000 contacts, with a 14-day trial.
- More than 1,000 integrations and 950+ automation recipes.
- Unlimited automation actions from Plus, plus landing pages and a CRM.
- MFA on every account, SSO, and a SOC 2 report through its Trust Center.
ActiveCampaign cons
- Prices shown are annual at 1,000 contacts; monthly prices were not shown.
- Starter limits automations to 5 actions and includes only 1 user.
- SMS and pipelines are paid add-ons.
- Client accounts for agencies and data hosting regions were not stated.
Brevo pros
- A free plan with 300 emails a day and transactional email features on every plan.
- Starter from $8.08 a month on annual billing.
- Unlimited automated multi-step workflows from Standard.
- Email, SMS and WhatsApp channels, with 150+ integrations.
Brevo cons
- Professional costs $449.08 a month on annual billing and Enterprise starts at $2,499 a month.
- Starter has basic reporting and no marketing automation.
- Security certifications and hosting regions were not captured (the security page returned an error).
- Only Professional lists phone support, and a mobile app was not stated.
What do reviewers say about ActiveCampaign and Brevo?
G2 shows ActiveCampaign at 4.4 from 14,813 reviews and Brevo at 4.5 from 2,768 reviews. ActiveCampaign has a much larger base.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | G2 | 4.4 / 5 | 14,813 |
| Brevo | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 2,768 |
Reviewer themes for ActiveCampaign
- G2 shows ActiveCampaign at 4.4 from 14,813 reviews.
- G2 data shows 68% of reviewers give five stars and 25% give four.
- Reviewers value automation depth and integrations.
Reviewer themes for Brevo
- G2 shows Brevo at 4.5 from 2,768 reviews.
- Reviewers cite solid deliverability, automation without custom code and an EU-hosted service that fits GDPR needs.
- Reviewers call it intuitive and cost-effective.
How does setup differ between ActiveCampaign and Brevo?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
ActiveCampaign: Use the 14-day trial to build one welcome automation from a recipe for a real client.
Brevo: Start on the free plan with one client, and send a campaign within the daily limit.
What should agencies check before choosing between ActiveCampaign and Brevo?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy ActiveCampaign
- Price the plan at your contact tier.
- Price SMS and CRM add-ons.
- Count users needed.
- Use the 14-day trial.
Before you buy Brevo
- Estimate monthly send volume.
- Price SMS credits.
- Ask for security documents.
- Start on the free plan.
How should you test ActiveCampaign and Brevo before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in ActiveCampaign versus Brevo.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: ActiveCampaign or Brevo?
Choose ActiveCampaign for deep automation, a CRM, and stated security evidence. Choose Brevo for low-cost volume, transactional email, and SMS.
Many agencies use Brevo for budget clients and ActiveCampaign for automation-led ones.
Choose ActiveCampaign if
- You build detailed automation journeys.
- You want a CRM alongside email.
- You need 1,000 or more integrations.
Skip ActiveCampaign if
- You want monthly prices shown up front.
- You need many users on a low plan.
- You need agency client accounts.
Choose Brevo if
- You send high volumes at a low cost.
- You need transactional email and SMS.
- You want unlimited automation from Standard.
Skip Brevo if
- You need security certifications confirmed up front.
- You need a mobile app.
- You need a mid-priced step between Standard and Professional.
Frequently asked questions
- Is ActiveCampaign or Brevo better?
- ActiveCampaign for automation and CRM, Brevo for low-cost volume and transactional email.
- Which is cheaper?
- Brevo for large lists with modest sending.
- Which has transactional email?
- Brevo, on every plan.
- Which has a CRM?
- ActiveCampaign.
- Which has a free plan?
- Brevo.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- ActiveCampaign pricing page
- Brevo pricing page
- G2