Understanding Sendinblue Email Marketing Platform Features And Pricing

SendinBlue is an email marketing platform that offers various features for businesses and individuals looking to manage their email campaigns. The platform provides a range of services including email design, marketing automation, CRM tools, and more. Based on the available information, SendinBlue offers both free and paid plans with different features and limitations that may be suitable for various users.

Free Plan Features

SendinBlue offers a permanently free package that is described as not being one of those "useless freebies" with heavily restricted features. The free plan includes several valuable features:

• Unlimited number of contacts
• Up to 300 emails per day (approximately 9,000 per month)
• Marketing automation for up to 300 emails a day
• A sales CRM
• Page tracking
• Advanced segmentation
• Email support for initial queries

The free plan is particularly generous in terms of the number of contacts allowed, with no limit on subscriber count. This contrasts with competitors like Mailchimp, which charges per contact stored and limits free accounts to 2,000 contacts.

Additionally, SendinBlue's free plan allows for split testing from the start, a feature that Mailchimp reserves for paying customers. Users can create unlimited custom signup forms and have contacts on multiple lists for free, another advantage over Mailchimp's limitations.

Paid Plans and Pricing

SendinBlue's paid plans begin with the Lite package at $25 per month. This plan includes:

• Everything in the Free package
• No daily sending limits
• Email support
• Lite+ add-on options including A/B testing, removal of Sendinblue logo, and advanced statistics

The Lite plan allows users to send up to 40,000 emails per month with no limit on the list size or daily sends. According to one source, the Lite plan costs $25 per month for 20,000 emails, while another source mentions it allows for 40,000 emails per month.

The premium plans range from as low as $22.50 a month to $173 a month, with costs varying based on the source information. Plans beyond this range are considered "Enterprise" level, which is typically for large businesses sending more than 350,000 emails per month. Enterprise pricing requires direct contact with the company.

User Interface and Experience

SendinBlue is described as having a well-designed interface with a minimalist layout. The dashboard displays basic stats such as the number of blacklisted contacts, email clicks, and opened emails. Unlike some competitors, SendinBlue's interface is noted for being intuitive and user-friendly, even for those without prior email marketing experience.

The platform allows users to design emails, signup forms, landing pages, and call-to-action pop-ups. Campaign performance can be tracked through real-time metrics available directly from the dashboard.

Comparison with Competitors

When compared to Mailchimp, SendinBlue offers several advantages:

• Unlimited contacts on all plans versus Mailchimp's contact limits
• Free A/B testing versus Mailchimp's restriction of this feature to paying customers
• More generous free plan with 300 daily emails versus Mailchimp's 2,000 subscriber limit
• No additional cost for having contacts on multiple lists

However, Mailchimp is noted for its ease of use and extensive template library, which may appeal to users who prefer ready-made designs and a straightforward interface.

Customer Support and Community Reception

SendinBlue appears to have positive customer reviews, with users describing their experiences as "mostly positive." The company is described as "first class" by one community member on AppSumo, where they offered "the best deals we have ever offered - way better than our best Black Friday deals."

The company has responded to customer inquiries, emphasizing their commitment to providing quality service and maintaining their reputation by avoiding association with spammers. However, there appears to be some controversy around their pricing strategy, with one user questioning whether requiring payment for higher email volumes unfairly labels users as spammers.

Practical Applications

Based on the source information, SendinBlue is suitable for:

1. Beginners in email marketing who want to start with a free plan
2. Businesses with growing email lists that may exceed 2,000 subscribers
3. Users who need advanced features like A/B testing and segmentation without paying premium prices
4. Those who require CRM functionality alongside email marketing

The platform's free plan is particularly recommended for users with between one and 1,000 subscribers who are just starting to build their email list.

Limitations

Despite its generous free offering, SendinBlue's free plan has some limitations:

• Landing pages are not included in the free plan
• Email automation is free only for up to 2,000 email subscribers
• The 300 daily email limit may be restrictive for some businesses
• Advanced features require upgrading to paid plans

Conclusion

SendinBlue presents itself as a competitive email marketing platform with a notably generous free plan and reasonably priced paid options. Its unlimited contacts, free A/B testing, and CRM functionality provide advantages over competitors like Mailchimp for many users. The platform's minimalist interface and real-time campaign metrics make it accessible to beginners while still offering advanced features for growing businesses.

For those considering SendinBlue, the free plan provides an excellent starting point with no credit card required. Users can experiment with the platform and upgrade only when their needs exceed the free plan's limits. The company's positive customer reviews and commitment to quality service further support its position as a viable email marketing solution.

Sources

1. SendX vs SendinBlue Comparison
2. SendinBlue AppSumo Discussion
3. SendinBlue vs Mailchimp Comparison
4. SendinBlue Pricing Overview
5. SendinBlue Review
6. SendinBlue vs Mailchimp Comparison