SendGrid vs Brevo for Drip Email Campaigns (2026)
Compare SendGrid and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) for drip email automation. Side-by-side analysis of features, pricing, deliverability, and more.
TL;DR verdict
SendGrid wins on raw deliverability and developer experience. Brevo offers better value with its unlimited contacts model and built-in multi-channel capabilities. For SaaS teams focused on billing-triggered drip sequences, Sequenzy provides a more targeted solution.
SendGrid
7.5/70
Best for API-first drip campaigns with enterprise-grade deliverability.
Brevo
7.9/70
Best for affordable multi-channel drip campaigns with unlimited contacts.
Sequenzy · also consider
8.3/70
Best for SaaS drip emails with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy integration.
Sequenzy email automation for SaaS → · from $19/month
Brevo has evolved significantly since its Sendinblue days and now competes well on features. SendGrid remains the deliverability leader, but its marketing tools lag behind.
Quick comparison
| Feature | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual drip builder | Basic automation UI | Full visual workflow editor | Guided SaaS sequence builder | Brevo |
| Pricing model | Per email sent | Per email sent, unlimited contacts | $19/mo for 15K emails | Brevo |
| Multi-channel drip | Email only | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, push | Email only | Brevo |
| API quality | Comprehensive v3 REST API | Good REST API, slightly less mature | Focused REST API | SendGrid |
| Deliverability tools | Dedicated IP, ISP insights | Dedicated IP from $251/yr | Managed shared pools | SendGrid |
| SaaS billing triggers | Requires custom integration | Requires custom integration | Native Stripe/Paddle/Lemon Squeezy triggers | Sequenzy |
| Contact limits | Varies by plan | Unlimited on all plans | Unlimited on all plans | Tie |
Score breakdown
| Category | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip Campaign Builder | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Automation Flexibility | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Deliverability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Ease of Use | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Pricing Value | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Analytics & Reporting | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Integration Ecosystem | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Total | 52 | 55 | 57 | 70 |
Drip feature deep-dive
Sequence Building
| Capability | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow editor | 6/10 — Basic automation builder with limited branching | 8/10 — Full visual workflow with drag-and-drop nodes | 8/10 — Streamlined builder with SaaS-specific steps |
| Time-delay options | 7/10 — Delay by hours, days, or specific timestamps | 8/10 — Flexible delays with best-time optimization | 8/10 — Smart delays with timezone-aware delivery |
| Conditional logic | 6/10 — Basic if/then conditions on engagement | 8/10 — Multi-condition branching with AND/OR logic | 7/10 — Conditions based on billing and engagement data |
| Multi-channel steps | 3/10 — Email only in automation sequences | 9/10 — Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and push in one workflow | 4/10 — Email-focused, webhook step for external channels |
Trigger Management
| Capability | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event-based triggers | 8/10 — Rich event API for custom triggers | 7/10 — Event triggers via API and tracking | 9/10 — Billing events as first-class triggers |
| Segment entry triggers | 7/10 — Segment membership changes trigger entry | 8/10 — List and segment-based entry with filters | 7/10 — Segment-based entry with plan awareness |
| Website activity triggers | 4/10 — Requires custom event tracking setup | 7/10 — Built-in website tracking script | 5/10 — Via webhook integration |
Pricing
Both platforms charge by email volume rather than contacts, but Brevo is significantly cheaper at every tier. Brevo also includes SMS credits and unlimited contacts on all plans.
SendGrid free option
100 emails/day (about 3,000/mo), basic automation
Free tier available, paid plans from $19.95/mo
Brevo free option
300 emails/day (about 9,000/mo), unlimited contacts, basic automation
Free tier available, paid plans from $9/mo
Sequenzy free option
Free tier available; paid from $19/mo (check current limits)
From $19/month
| Tier | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19.95/mo — 40,000 emails/mo | $9/mo — 5,000 emails/mo, unlimited contacts | $19/mo — 15,000 emails, all drip features |
| Mid-range | $34.95/mo — 100,000 emails/mo | $18/mo — 20,000 emails/mo, A/B testing | $19/mo — 15,000 emails, all features |
| Growth | $74.95/mo — 200,000 emails/mo, dedicated IP option | $49/mo — 60,000 emails/mo, marketing automation | $49/mo — 50,000 emails, priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing — Custom volume, SLA, sub-user management | $1,000+/mo — Dedicated IP, priority support, advanced integrations | $99/mo — 150,000 emails, dedicated account manager |
Brevo offers the best value per dollar, especially for teams that want multi-channel capabilities. SendGrid justifies its higher price with superior deliverability tools. Sequenzy sits in between, offering strong value for SaaS-specific drip needs.
Brevo unlimited contacts model is a major advantage for teams with large lists. SendGrid per-email pricing can still be competitive for low-frequency, high-list-size scenarios.
Drip campaign types
Welcome/Onboarding Drip
Winner: SequenzyAutomated sequence to onboard new users
6/10 · SendGrid
Basic automation builder or API-driven sequences
8/10 · Brevo
Visual workflow with email and SMS welcome steps
9/10 · Sequenzy
Pre-built SaaS onboarding sequences ready to customize
Sequenzy leads for SaaS onboarding. Brevo is strong for multi-channel welcome flows.
Trial-to-Paid Conversion
Winner: SequenzyDrip sequence to convert trial users
5/10 · SendGrid
Custom API integration required
7/10 · Brevo
Event-triggered workflows with conditional paths
9/10 · Sequenzy
Native billing-aware trial conversion drips
Sequenzy is purpose-built for trial conversion with Stripe/Paddle awareness.
Lead Nurturing
Winner: SequenzyMulti-step sequence to warm up prospects
6/10 · SendGrid
Time-based sequences with engagement filtering
8/10 · Brevo
Score-based nurturing with multi-channel touchpoints
7/10 · Sequenzy
Engagement-based nurturing with product usage data
Brevo offers the most complete lead nurturing with built-in CRM and lead scoring.
Re-engagement Drip
Winner: SequenzyWin back inactive users or subscribers
7/10 · SendGrid
Segment by engagement and trigger re-engagement
8/10 · Brevo
Inactivity triggers across email and website
8/10 · Sequenzy
Usage-based inactivity detection
Brevo edges ahead with multi-channel re-engagement capabilities.
Churn Prevention
Winner: SequenzyAutomated outreach on cancellation signals
5/10 · SendGrid
Requires webhook integration for billing events
5/10 · Brevo
Event-based triggers, but billing integration is manual
9/10 · Sequenzy
Native payment failure and cancellation triggers
Sequenzy is the clear winner with native billing event awareness.
For SaaS-specific drip campaigns like trial conversion and churn prevention, general-purpose tools require significant custom work. Sequenzy provides these out of the box.
Automation builder & editor
Builder features
| Feature | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow editor | ✓ Basic UI, functional but not visually rich | ✓ Full drag-and-drop builder with visual flow | ✓ Guided builder optimized for SaaS sequences |
| Multi-channel steps | — Email only | ✓ Email, SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications | — Email with webhook step for external channels |
| Webhook triggers | ✓ Full event API and webhook support | ✓ Webhook triggers and actions | ✓ Billing event webhooks built in |
| Lead scoring integration | — No built-in lead scoring | ✓ Native lead scoring that feeds into workflows | — No lead scoring, focuses on product usage signals |
| A/B testing in workflow | ✓ Subject line and content testing | ✓ A/B testing with winner auto-selection | ✓ Subject line and send-time A/B testing |
| Goal-based exit | — Must configure manually | ✓ Goal tracking for automated exit | ✓ Conversion goals tied to billing events |
Template editor
| Aspect | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor type | Code-based with optional Design Editor | Drag-and-drop with responsive design | Clean editor with SaaS-focused blocks |
| Pre-built templates | Small library of basic templates | 60+ responsive email templates | SaaS drip email templates |
| Custom HTML | Full HTML/CSS control | HTML code editor available | HTML editing supported |
| Dynamic content | Handlebars-style substitution | Dynamic content blocks with conditions | Billing-aware dynamic content |
| Image hosting | Built-in image library | Built-in image gallery with editing | Image upload and hosting included |
Deliverability
| Factor | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average inbox placement | 93-96% | 89-93% | 90-94% |
| Dedicated IP | Available from $89/mo | Available from $251/yr | Not available |
| SPF/DKIM/DMARC | Full support with step-by-step setup | Full support with DNS wizard | Full support with guided setup |
| Bounce management | Automatic suppression with categorization | Automatic hard/soft bounce handling | Automatic bounce handling |
| Reputation monitoring | Sender reputation dashboard | Basic reputation metrics | Delivery monitoring dashboard |
| IP warm-up | Automated warm-up program | Manual warm-up guidance | Managed warm-up support |
SendGrid has the edge in deliverability due to its heritage as an email infrastructure company. Brevo has improved significantly but still trails on dedicated IP maturity. Sequenzy maintains clean shared pools with proactive list hygiene.
Integrations
SendGrid
150+
Brevo
65+
Sequenzy
25+
Payment/Billing
SendGrid
- ✓ Stripe: Via Zapier
- — Paddle: Not supported
Brevo
- ✓ Stripe: Via plugin or Zapier
- — Paddle: Not supported
Sequenzy
- ✓ Stripe: Native, real-time sync
- ✓ Paddle: Native, real-time sync
CRM
SendGrid
- ✓ Salesforce: Native integration
- ✓ HubSpot: Via Zapier
Brevo
- ✓ Salesforce: Native plugin
- ✓ HubSpot: Via Zapier
Sequenzy
- — Salesforce: Not supported
- ✓ HubSpot: Via webhook
E-commerce
SendGrid
- ✓ Shopify: Native integration
- ✓ WooCommerce: Via plugin
Brevo
- ✓ Shopify: Native plugin
- ✓ WooCommerce: Native plugin
Sequenzy
- — Shopify: Not supported
- — WooCommerce: Not supported
Analytics & reporting
| Metric | SendGrid | Brevo | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open rate tracking | Yes, with trend graphs | Yes, with real-time tracking | Yes, per-step tracking |
| Click tracking | Link-level click data | Click heatmaps and link tracking | Link-level per-step tracking |
| Revenue attribution | Via Google Analytics | Basic e-commerce revenue tracking | Native MRR and billing attribution |
| Workflow analytics | Per-step open/click rates | Workflow performance dashboard | Sequence funnel with drop-off analysis |
| Deliverability metrics | ISP-level placement data | Domain and campaign-level metrics | Delivery and bounce reporting |
Only in SendGrid
- ISP-level inbox data
- Email validation metrics
- Suppression analytics
Only in Brevo
- Real-time visitor tracking
- CRM deal pipeline analytics
- SMS delivery analytics
Only in Sequenzy
- MRR impact per sequence
- Trial-to-paid funnel
- Billing event correlation
Pros and cons
SendGrid
Pros
- Top-tier deliverability with dedicated IP options
- Comprehensive API for developer-driven automation
- Strong event tracking and webhook system
- Scales reliably to millions of emails
- Trusted by large enterprises and high-volume senders
Cons
- Automation builder is less intuitive than competitors
- No multi-channel capabilities (email only)
- Higher price for equivalent email volumes
- Marketing features feel secondary to infrastructure
- Template library is limited
Brevo
Pros
- Unlimited contacts on all plans, including free
- Multi-channel (email, SMS, WhatsApp, push) in one workflow
- Competitive pricing, especially at lower tiers
- Built-in CRM with lead scoring
- Visual automation builder with conditional logic
Cons
- Deliverability is good but not best-in-class
- API is less mature than SendGrid
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
- Interface can feel cluttered with so many features
- Customer support response times vary
Best for these scenarios
Budget multi-channel drip
Pick: BrevoYou want email and SMS drip campaigns without breaking the bank
Brevo offers the most affordable multi-channel automation with unlimited contacts.
Developer API integration
Pick: SendGridYour engineering team needs programmatic control over drip flows
SendGrid has the most mature and well-documented API for custom drip logic.
SaaS trial nurturing
Pick: SequenzyYou need billing-aware drip sequences for trial users
Sequenzy connects natively to Stripe/Paddle for billing-triggered drip campaigns.
High deliverability requirements
Pick: SendGridInbox placement is critical for your business
SendGrid offers dedicated IPs and ISP-level insights for maximum deliverability control.
All-in-one CRM and email
Pick: BrevoYou want drip email combined with CRM and deal pipeline
Brevo includes a full CRM with contact management and deal tracking.
Migration plans
SendGrid → Brevo
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1-2 days
Warnings
- SendGrid event history will not transfer
- API endpoints differ significantly, requiring code changes
- Suppression lists must be manually exported and imported
Brevo → SendGrid
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-3 days
Warnings
- Brevo CRM data will not transfer to SendGrid
- SMS and WhatsApp sequences will need a separate tool
- Consider IP warm-up if moving to dedicated IP
| Direction | Step | Success criteria |
|---|---|---|
| SendGrid → Brevo | Export contacts and suppression lists from SendGrid | Moderate |
| SendGrid → Brevo | Import contacts into Brevo with field mapping | Moderate |
| SendGrid → Brevo | Recreate automation workflows in Brevo visual builder | Moderate |
| SendGrid → Brevo | Rebuild email templates in Brevo editor | Moderate |
| SendGrid → Brevo | Configure domain authentication (SPF/DKIM) | Moderate |
| SendGrid → Brevo | Test deliverability before full switch | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Export contacts from Brevo | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Import into SendGrid with custom field mapping | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Recreate workflows using SendGrid automation or API | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Rebuild templates in SendGrid Design Editor or code | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Set up domain authentication | Moderate |
| Brevo → SendGrid | Configure event webhooks for tracking | Moderate |
Frequently asked questions
Is Brevo cheaper than SendGrid?
Yes, at most volume levels Brevo is 30-50% cheaper. Brevo also includes unlimited contacts on all plans, while SendGrid has contact limits on marketing plans.
Which has better deliverability?
SendGrid generally has higher inbox placement rates (93-96% vs 89-93%). SendGrid also offers more advanced deliverability tools like IP warm-up and ISP-level analytics.
Can I send SMS drip campaigns with either?
Only Brevo supports SMS natively within drip workflows. SendGrid is email-only (though Twilio, its parent company, handles SMS separately).
Which is better for SaaS drip campaigns?
Neither is purpose-built for SaaS. Both require custom integration for billing-triggered drips. Sequenzy is specifically designed for SaaS with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy integration.
Does Brevo have a free plan?
Yes. Brevo offers 300 emails/day with unlimited contacts for free. SendGrid offers 100 emails/day on its free plan.
Which should you choose?
Choose SendGrid if…
- You need the highest possible deliverability and dedicated IPs
- Your team builds drip campaigns via API
- You send at enterprise scale and need SLA guarantees
- You want granular ISP-level analytics
Choose Brevo if…
- You want multi-channel drip campaigns (email + SMS + WhatsApp)
- Budget is a primary concern
- You need unlimited contacts without per-contact fees
- You want a built-in CRM alongside your drip campaigns
Also consider Sequenzy
Best for SaaS drip emails with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy integration. From $19/month with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy billing events for dunning and trial conversion.
Related comparisons
Browse the full comparison library, the 15-tool shortlist, or the drip strategy guides.