Content Systems

Brevo vs ConvertKit (2025): The Best Email Platform for Solo Course Creators & Newsletter Publishers

Quick answer: which should you choose?

Unkoa Marketing Team

15 Sep 2025 — 4 min read

Here’s the no-fluff version:

Go with ConvertKit if your focus is monetizing a small but engaged audience. It gives you built-in tools for paid newsletters and digital product sales, with a clean workflow designed for creators. Plus, ConvertKit consistently ranks higher on deliverability.
Go with Brevo if budget is your top priority. It’s one of the most affordable platforms that can scale as you grow, and it throws in extras like CRM, SMS, and meeting scheduling. Just plan to manage payments on another platform.

Pricing snapshot (month-to-month, common list sizes):

Subscribers	ConvertKit Creator	Brevo Starter	Brevo Business
1,000	≈ $29	≈ $9 to $18 (depends on send volume)	N/A
5,000	≈ $79	≈ $17 to $29 (10k to 20k emails)	≈ $69
10,000	≈ $119	≈ $39 (about 40k emails)	≈ $84

Free plan difference:

ConvertKit: Newsletter plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends.
Brevo: Unlimited contacts but capped at 300 emails/day.

Built-in monetization:

ConvertKit: Directly supports paid newsletters and digital products.
Brevo: Doesn’t process payments; you’ll connect an external cart or course platform.

Note: ConvertKit is rebranding as “Kit,” but we’ll stick with ConvertKit here.

Who these platforms are built for

ConvertKit is made for independent creators—think newsletter writers, bloggers, and online teachers. Its tools are tailored to making audience growth and monetization simple. You won’t need much outside software to start earning from your list.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is aimed at solo operators and small businesses who want more than email alone. It’s a full suite, with CRM, chat, SMS, and a meeting scheduler. Perfect if you’d rather consolidate your tools into one system.

Ease of use and getting started

ConvertKit’s simplicity: Clean interface, plain-text email style, and an automation builder that’s easy to understand. If you just want to launch a newsletter or put together a welcome sequence, you’ll get moving fast.
Brevo’s breadth (with some learning curve): More buttons, more features. You’ll see email, CRM, SMS, and meetings all in one place. Great for folks who want more control over design and multi-channel customer touchpoints, but it takes time to learn.

Core email features & integrations

Email editors

ConvertKit: Minimal, text-first, with a few starter templates. Best if your style is personal and conversational.
Brevo: Drag-and-drop builder with polished templates for more visual newsletters.

List management & segmentation

ConvertKit: Works around tags and segments, designed for clean creator funnels like tagging subscribers who bought a course.
Brevo: Uses full CRM-style segmentation, giving you deeper insight into leads.

Automations

ConvertKit: Unlimited automations on paid plans, with a visual flow builder that feels intuitive.
Brevo: Strong workflow engine too, but lower tiers limit how many contacts can enter automations at the same time.

Landing pages

ConvertKit: Built-in across all plans.
Brevo: Only included on higher tiers. Pair with Leadpages if you want powerful landing pages without upgrading.

Unique extras

ConvertKit: Native commerce for selling digital products and paid subscriptions.
Brevo: CRM, chat, meetings, SMS. Useful if your business isn’t just email-driven.

Monetization workflows (paid newsletters, product sales)

ConvertKit

This is its standout feature. You can run a paid newsletter, sell an ebook, or run a live workshop, all inside the platform. Payments happen natively, and you can plug buyers right into onboarding automations. Even the free plan allows selling. As an example, Marie Poulin uses ConvertKit to move subscribers from free resources into premium products and courses.

Brevo

Handles the marketing side but not the transactions. You’ll need an external checkout tool like Stripe links or a course platform. Then you can use Brevo’s CRM and automation to segment, nurture leads, and sequence launches. If you’re on a starter plan without landing pages, pairing Brevo with Leadpages gives you strong sales pages at a lower cost.

For related guides:

Deliverability & performance

EmailToolTester’s 2023 benchmark found ConvertKit hitting about 96% inbox placement, with more landings in Gmail’s Primary tab. Brevo, by comparison, saw more emails filtered to spam. Deliverability is never just about the platform—your sender practices matter a lot—but ConvertKit has the statistical edge.

Deliverability test report

Pricing & plans (simple, creator-focused view)

The two companies bill differently:

ConvertKit charges by subscriber count (unlimited sends).
Brevo charges by monthly email volume (unlimited contacts).

Free plans

ConvertKit Newsletter plan: 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends, product sales included. – Plan overview
Brevo: Unlimited contacts, daily cap of 300 emails. – Pricing overview

Typical pricing examples

ConvertKit (Creator): ≈ $29 (1k subs), $79 (5k subs), $119 (10k subs). – Pricing snapshots
Brevo (Starter): Starts near $9 for ~5k emails/month, scaling up by volume. Business tier roughly doubles that cost but adds features.

What that looks like in practice

1k subs: ConvertKit ≈ $29 (or free if sticking with the Newsletter plan). Brevo ≈ $9 (for 5k sends).
5k subs: ConvertKit ≈ $79. Brevo ≈ $17 for ~10k emails; ≈ $29 for ~20k; ≈ $69 if you want Business features.
10k subs: ConvertKit ≈ $119. Brevo ≈ $39 for 40k emails; ≈ $84 on Business.

Takeaway:

ConvertKit’s pricing is higher, but if you sell through its system, the native monetization often pays for itself.
Brevo is great for high-volume or fast-growing lists where software costs can otherwise balloon.

For comparisons:

Brevo vs. Mailchimp (2025)

Feature highlights creators ask about

Better for beginners: ConvertKit wins on simplicity.
Paid newsletters: ConvertKit supports them out of the box; Brevo does not.
Automations: Both solid, but ConvertKit has no caps on paid plans. Brevo removes limits only on higher tiers.
Integrations: ConvertKit leans toward creator tools; Brevo integrates more broadly with ecommerce and SMB platforms.
Deliverability: Independent tests give ConvertKit the edge.

Who should pick which (decision guide)

Choose ConvertKit if you:

Want to monetize quickly with paid newsletters or digital products.
Prefer simple, text-first design and a creator-focused interface.
Care about top-tier deliverability.

Choose Brevo if you:

Value low software costs with unlimited contacts.
Want an all-in-one tool (CRM, SMS, chat, meetings).
Prefer more visual newsletters and richer customer records.

FAQs

Which has better deliverability?

ConvertKit generally ranks higher in independent tests, but your setup and hygiene matter most.

Do both have free plans?

Yes. ConvertKit: Up to 10,000 subscribers and unlimited sends. Brevo: Unlimited contacts, 300 sends per day.

ConvertKit: Yes, directly in the platform. Brevo: You’ll need to integrate an external checkout.

Is ConvertKit worth the higher price?

If you’ll use monetization and automation features, many creators find it pays for itself. If not, Brevo’s cost savings may be more appealing.