Brevo vs Substack — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Brevo and Substack to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Substack takes the lead with a 4.2 rating and is best for writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions.. Brevo (4.2) is the better pick if you need budget-conscious businesses with large contact lists who want email, sms, and crm in one place..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Brevo | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.2(234) | ★★★★ 4.2(312) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | free |
| Starter Price | $9/mo (Starter, 5K emails) | N/A |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Learning Curve | easy | easy |
| API Available | Yes | No |
| Best For | Budget-conscious businesses with large contact lists who want email, SMS, and CRM in one place. | Writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions. |
| Verdict | recommended | situational |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Brevo | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Email, SMS, and WhatsApp marketing | — | |
| Marketing automation | — | |
| Built-in CRM | — | |
| Transactional email API | — | |
| Landing pages | — | |
| Live chat widget | — | |
| Clean writing editor | — | |
| Paid subscriptions built in | — | |
| Web archive for every post | — | |
| Podcast hosting | — | |
| Substack Notes (social) | — | |
| Network discovery | — |
Brevo
Pros
- ✓Per-email pricing with unlimited contacts is the best model
- ✓Multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, WhatsApp) in one platform
- ✓Free tier with 300 emails/day is genuinely useful
Cons
- ✕Automation features are less sophisticated than ActiveCampaign
- ✕Email builder is functional but not the most polished
- ✕Brand is less recognized after the Sendinblue rename
Substack
Pros
- ✓Zero monthly cost — only pay when you earn
- ✓Simplest writing and publishing experience available
- ✓Built-in paid subscriptions with no setup
Cons
- ✕10% revenue cut is expensive at scale
- ✕Virtually no email marketing or automation features
- ✕Zero customization — every Substack looks the same
The Bottom Line
Both Brevo and Substack are solid tools in the Email Marketing space. Substack edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.2 vs 4.2) and is the better choice for writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions.. However, if you prioritize budget-conscious businesses with large contact lists who want email, sms, and crm in one place., Brevo is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.