GetResponse vs Brevo: Comprehensive Email Marketing Platform Comparison
Explore our in-depth GetResponse vs Brevo comparison. We analyze features, pricing, automation, and usability to help you choose the best email marketing platform.
Introduction
In the digital marketing landscape, choosing the right platform can be the difference between a thriving business and a struggling one. An all-in-one marketing solution promises to streamline operations, unify data, and drive growth by consolidating tools for email campaigns, customer relationship management, and automation. Among the top contenders in this space are GetResponse and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue).
Both platforms offer a comprehensive suite of tools designed to attract, engage, and retain customers. However, they cater to slightly different needs and philosophies. GetResponse positions itself as a powerful inbound marketing platform with a strong emphasis on conversion funnels and advanced automation. Brevo, on the other hand, presents itself as a versatile sales and marketing toolbox, excelling in multi-channel communication and offering a more accessible entry point.
This comprehensive comparison will dissect every critical aspect of GetResponse and Brevo, from their core features and user experience to their pricing strategies and target audiences. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which platform is the superior choice for your specific business goals.
Product Overview
Before diving into a feature-by-feature breakdown, let's establish a high-level understanding of what each platform brings to the table.
GetResponse at a Glance
GetResponse has evolved from a simple email marketing service into a robust inbound marketing solution. It’s designed for businesses that want to build a complete customer journey within a single ecosystem. Its standout features include a sophisticated marketing automation builder, a built-in webinar hosting tool, and AI-powered content creation aids. GetResponse is built for marketers who prioritize lead nurturing and complex, automated campaign sequences.
Brevo at a Glance
Brevo has carved out a niche as a highly versatile and cost-effective platform. Its core strength lies in its multi-channel capabilities, seamlessly integrating email, SMS, live chat, and even WhatsApp campaigns. Brevo also includes a capable CRM, a landing page builder, and strong support for transactional email, making it an excellent choice for e-commerce stores, SaaS companies, and businesses that need a reliable, all-in-one communication hub without a hefty price tag.
Core Features Comparison
Here’s where the platforms truly diverge. While both cover the basics of email marketing, their approaches and advanced functionalities cater to different strategies.
| Feature | GetResponse | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Email Editor | Intuitive drag-and-drop editor with a vast template library and AI content generation. | Clean and simple drag-and-drop editor with a solid selection of templates. |
| Marketing Automation | Advanced visual workflow builder with extensive triggers, conditions, and actions. Ideal for complex funnels. | Visual workflow builder that is powerful and easy to use, though slightly less complex than GetResponse's. |
| CRM | Basic CRM included, focused on tracking leads within marketing funnels. | More developed, sales-oriented CRM with deal pipelines, task management, and lead scoring. |
| Landing Pages | Powerful, conversion-focused landing page builder with A/B testing and a large number of templates. | Capable landing page builder, functional and easy to use, but with fewer advanced features. |
| SMS Marketing | Available, but often requires integration or is a secondary focus. | Natively integrated and a core feature of the platform, including transactional SMS. |
| Webinars | Unique built-in webinar hosting platform, a significant advantage for content creators and coaches. | No native webinar functionality. Requires third-party integration. |
| Transactional Emails | Supported, but not its primary specialty. | A core strength, with a dedicated API and high deliverability for system-generated emails. |
| AI Features | AI Email and Subject Line Generator, AI Campaign Generator, AI Product Recommendations. | AI-powered content generation and send-time optimization. |
Email Marketing & AI
Both GetResponse and Brevo offer excellent drag-and-drop email editors that make creating beautiful campaigns straightforward. GetResponse pulls ahead with its extensive library of over 500 templates and its AI Campaign Generator, which can build entire campaigns based on a few prompts.
Brevo’s editor is clean and efficient, and while its template selection is smaller, it's more than adequate for most businesses. Both platforms provide A/B testing, but GetResponse offers more variables to test, giving data-driven marketers an edge.
Marketing Automation
This is a key battleground. GetResponse's automation workflow builder is one of the most powerful in its class. It allows for incredibly granular and complex customer journeys based on a wide array of triggers like email opens, link clicks, page visits, and purchase history.
Brevo's automation is also robust and user-friendly, covering all essential functions like welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, and lead nurturing. For most small to medium-sized businesses, Brevo's capabilities are more than sufficient. However, for marketers who need to build deeply intricate, multi-layered funnels, GetResponse has a clear advantage.
Integration & API Capabilities
A marketing platform is only as strong as its ability to connect with your existing tech stack.
- GetResponse offers over 170 pre-built integrations with popular tools like Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce, and Zapier. Its API is well-documented, allowing developers to build custom connections for more specific needs.
- Brevo also boasts a strong integration marketplace with connections to major e-commerce platforms, CRMs, and CMSs. Its API is particularly noted for its strength in handling transactional emails, making it a favorite among developers for application-triggered communications.
Both platforms offer solid integration options, but if your business heavily relies on custom API calls for transactional messaging, Brevo's infrastructure is purpose-built for it.
Usage & User Experience
The user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) can significantly impact your team's efficiency.
- GetResponse: The interface is feature-rich and packed with data. This can be fantastic for experienced marketers who want everything at their fingertips. However, for beginners, the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming, leading to a steeper learning curve.
- Brevo: Brevo is widely praised for its clean, intuitive, and modern UI. Navigating between different tools—from email campaigns to the CRM to live chat—is seamless. This makes it an exceptionally beginner-friendly platform that doesn't sacrifice power for simplicity.
For ease of use, particularly for those new to all-in-one platforms, Brevo has the upper hand.
Customer Support & Learning Resources
When issues arise, reliable support is critical.
- GetResponse provides 24/7 live chat and email support across all plans, which is a significant plus. Phone support is available on higher-tier plans. Their knowledge base is extensive, with countless articles, video tutorials, and webinars.
- Brevo offers email support on its free and lower-tier plans. Live chat and phone support are reserved for Business and Enterprise customers. Their resource center is comprehensive, with detailed guides and a helpful blog.
GetResponse’s commitment to 24/7 live chat support for all users gives it a slight edge in accessibility.
Real-World Use Cases
- E-commerce Store: Brevo is arguably the better choice here. Its tight integration of email, SMS, and abandoned cart automation, combined with its reliable transactional email service for order confirmations and shipping notices, creates a powerful e-commerce marketing machine.
- Content Creator or Coach: GetResponse is ideal for this user. The built-in webinar platform is a game-changer for hosting live training or workshops. Its advanced conversion funnel builder can seamlessly guide prospects from a landing page to a webinar registration to a product purchase.
- Small B2B Business: This could go either way. If the focus is on sales pipeline management, Brevo's more developed CRM might be the deciding factor. If the focus is on sophisticated lead nurturing through content, GetResponse's automation may be more suitable.
Target Audience
- GetResponse is best for:
- Marketers who need advanced automation and complex funnels.
- Businesses that rely on webinars as a core part of their strategy.
- Users who prioritize a vast selection of templates and AI-driven campaign creation.
- Brevo is best for:
- Startups and small to medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one solution.
- E-commerce and SaaS companies that need reliable multi-channel communication (email, SMS, chat).
- Users who value a clean, intuitive user interface and a robust free plan.
Pricing Strategy Analysis
Pricing is often a decisive factor. GetResponse and Brevo have fundamentally different models. GetResponse is primarily contact-based, while Brevo is primarily send-based.
| Plan Tier | GetResponse | Brevo |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Free-Forever plan with up to 500 contacts, 2,500 emails/month, 1 landing page, and basic features. | Generous free plan with unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day (9,000/month), chat, CRM, and transactional email. |
| Entry-Level Paid | Email Marketing Plan: Starts at $19/month for 1,000 contacts. Includes autoresponders. | Starter Plan: Starts at $25/month for unlimited sends (up to 20k emails) and no daily sending limit. |
| Mid-Tier Paid | Marketing Automation Plan: Starts at $59/month for 1,000 contacts. Adds marketing automation, webinars, and advanced segmentation. | Business Plan: Starts at $65/month. Adds automation, landing pages, A/B testing, and phone support. |
| High-Tier Paid | Ecommerce Marketing Plan: Starts at $119/month for 1,000 contacts. Adds e-commerce features and transactional emails. | BrevoPlus (Enterprise): Custom pricing for advanced features, dedicated support, and high-volume sending. |
Brevo's free plan is one of the most generous on the market, making it an unbeatable starting point for new businesses. For paid plans, Brevo's send-based model can be more cost-effective for users with large contact lists but moderate sending frequency. GetResponse becomes more valuable as you leverage its advanced features like automation and webinars, justifying its contact-based pricing.
Performance Benchmarking
Performance ultimately comes down to deliverability: ensuring your emails land in the inbox, not the spam folder. Both GetResponse and Brevo are reputable providers with strong anti-spam policies and dedicated deliverability teams. They maintain high sender reputations and provide tools like domain authentication (SPF, DKIM) to help users maximize their inbox placement rates. While precise, independent deliverability rates fluctuate, both platforms perform reliably well and are trusted by millions of users worldwide.
Alternative Tools Overview
- Mailchimp: A great alternative for beginners who need a very simple, email-focused platform. Its UI is famously user-friendly, but it can become expensive quickly as your list grows, and its automation is less powerful than GetResponse or Brevo.
- ActiveCampaign: For users who find GetResponse's automation powerful but want even more, ActiveCampaign is the next step up. It offers one of the most advanced automation and CRM platforms on the market, but with a higher price point and complexity.
Conclusion & Recommendations
There is no single winner in the GetResponse vs. Brevo matchup; the best choice depends entirely on your business's unique needs and priorities.
Choose GetResponse if:
Your marketing strategy is built around sophisticated lead nurturing. You need a best-in-class visual automation builder to create complex customer journeys. Webinars are a critical component of your sales and marketing funnel. You are willing to invest in a platform that can manage every stage of your inbound marketing process.
Choose Brevo if:
You are a small or medium-sized business looking for maximum value and an all-in-one tool. You need to communicate with customers across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and live chat. A clean, easy-to-use interface and a robust free plan are important to you. Your business relies heavily on transactional emails for things like order confirmations and password resets.
Ultimately, GetResponse is the specialist for automated inbound marketing, while Brevo is the versatile generalist for multi-channel communication. By evaluating your core requirements against the strengths of each platform, you can confidently select the tool that will best empower your growth.
FAQ
Q1: Which platform is better for beginners?
Brevo is generally considered more beginner-friendly due to its clean, intuitive user interface and straightforward navigation. Its generous free plan also allows new users to explore its core features without any financial commitment.
Q2: Can I host webinars on Brevo?
No, Brevo does not have a native webinar hosting feature. You would need to integrate a third-party webinar tool like Zoom or GoToWebinar. GetResponse offers this functionality built-in, making it a superior choice for webinar-centric marketing.
Q3: Does GetResponse offer transactional email services?
Yes, GetResponse offers transactional emails, primarily as part of its higher-tier "Ecommerce Marketing" plan or as an add-on. However, Brevo is more specialized in this area, offering a dedicated and highly reliable transactional email API that is a core part of its service even on lower-tier plans.
Q4: Is the CRM in GetResponse or Brevo better?
Brevo's CRM is more developed and sales-focused. It includes features like deal pipelines and task management, making it a more practical tool for managing a sales process. GetResponse's CRM is more basic, designed primarily to support its marketing automation and funnel-building capabilities.