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Best Platforms for Email Marketing for Small Businesses in India
There are dozens of platforms for email marketing, and most comparison lists are written by affiliates. This one is not. Here is how Mailchimp, Brevo and Zoho Campaigns compare for an Indian small business, what their free plans really include, how their pricing works, and how to choose without overpaying.
What a small business actually needs from a platform
The short answer: For most Indian small businesses, Brevo, Zoho Campaigns and Mailchimp are the sensible shortlist. Brevo suits businesses that send many emails to a growing list, Zoho Campaigns suits teams already using Zoho with INR billing, and Mailchimp suits those who want polished templates and a huge integration library. All three have free plans, so test before you pay.
Before comparing logos, be clear on what the platform has to do. If you are new to the idea, our guide to what email marketing is covers the basics; if you need a plan for what to send, read our email marketing strategy for small businesses.
Good deliverability
Emails must reach the inbox. Look for easy SPF, DKIM and DMARC setup and one-click unsubscribe.
Non-negotiableSimple automation
Welcome, follow-up and reminder emails triggered by sign-ups, purchases or tags.
Integrations
WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, your CRM or a webhook from a custom site.
Pricing that fits
Some charge by contacts, some by emails sent. The right model depends on your list and how often you send.
Contacts vs emails: how platforms charge
This one detail decides which platform is cheaper for you, more than any headline price.
Zoho Campaigns offers both styles: subscriber-based monthly plans and pay-as-you-go email credits.
Mailchimp vs Brevo vs Zoho Campaigns
Figures below are from each platform's official pricing page, as of November 2026. Prices and limits change often, so always check the official page before you sign up.
| Platform | Free plan (as of November 2026) | Paid pricing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Up to 250 contacts, 500 emails a month (max 250 a day) | By number of contacts; introductory discounts on paid plans for the first 12 months | Polished templates, huge integration library |
| Brevo | Up to 300 emails a day | By monthly email volume; Starter from US$9 a month, Standard from US$18 a month | Large lists, transactional plus marketing email |
| Zoho Campaigns | Up to 2,000 contacts and 6,000 emails a month | By subscribers (monthly or yearly) or email credits; INR billing available | Businesses already on Zoho CRM or Zoho Books |
Sources: Mailchimp official pricing page, Brevo official pricing page, Zoho Campaigns official pricing page. Checked November 2026. Prices exclude GST and may differ by currency.
Email marketing with Mailchimp: pros and cons
Mailchimp is the name most people know, and email marketing with Mailchimp is easy to start. The editor is polished, templates look good, and almost every website tool has a Mailchimp integration.
- Clean drag-and-drop editor and templates
- Integrations with almost everything
- Reports that are easy to read
- A small free plan: 250 contacts and 500 emails a month
- Pricing that climbs as your contact list grows
- Introductory prices that rise after the first year
Mailchimp makes most sense when your list is modest, you value design, and you will clean out inactive contacts regularly.
Brevo: pros and cons
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) charges mainly by how many emails you send rather than how many contacts you store. That suits businesses with a large list who email it a few times a month.
- Volume-based pricing that is kind to big lists
- Marketing and transactional email in one place
- A free plan with a daily sending allowance
- Free plan emails carry Brevo branding
- Daily send cap on the free plan slows big campaigns
- Editor is less polished than Mailchimp's
Zoho Campaigns: pros and cons
Zoho is an Indian-founded company, and Zoho Campaigns fits neatly if you already use Zoho CRM, Zoho Books or Zoho Forms. Billing in INR is a practical bonus for GST paperwork.
- The most generous free plan of the three
- Tight links with the wider Zoho suite
- INR billing and pay-as-you-go credits
- Interface feels busier than the others
- Fewer third-party integrations than Mailchimp
- Best value only if you live inside Zoho
Why not just send from your own server?
Self-hosted tools exist, but for a small business the time spent on IP reputation, bounces and blocklists is rarely worth the saving. Keep your website on your server and let a platform send the email.
Which platform should you pick?
Three questions, one shortlist
Pick the answer closest to your business.
1. How big is your list likely to be within a year?
2. What other software do you use?
3. What matters most?
Try Mailchimp first
Great for a modest list and design-led emails. Clean out inactive contacts so the bill does not creep up.
Try Brevo first
Volume-based pricing suits bigger lists, and it handles order and booking emails too.
Try Zoho Campaigns first
A generous free plan and a natural fit if your customer data already lives in Zoho.
Whichever you choose, the setup matters more than the brand: domain authentication, clean sign-up forms and the right automations. That is where most of our AI and automation work comes in. If you also want to automate replies across channels, read our guide to automating customer service.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best platforms for email marketing in India?
For most small businesses the shortlist is Brevo, Zoho Campaigns and Mailchimp. Brevo suits large lists, Zoho Campaigns suits Zoho users who want INR billing, and Mailchimp suits smaller lists that value templates and integrations.
Is email marketing with Mailchimp free?
Mailchimp has a free plan. As of November 2026 its official pricing page lists up to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, with a maximum of 250 a day. Larger lists or automation need a paid plan.
Which email marketing platform has the best free plan?
Of the three compared here, Zoho Campaigns' free plan allows the most contacts, up to 2,000 with 6,000 emails a month as of November 2026. Brevo's free plan is limited by a daily sending cap instead. Check the official pages, as limits change.
Can I switch email platforms later?
Yes. You can export your contacts as a CSV and import them elsewhere. Templates and automations usually have to be rebuilt, so choose carefully but do not worry about being locked in forever.
Do these platforms work with WordPress and WooCommerce?
Yes. Mailchimp, Brevo and Zoho Campaigns all offer WordPress plugins or integrations, and all can receive contacts from a custom website through their APIs or webhooks.
Do I need a business domain to use an email platform?
You should send from your own domain, such as hello@yourbusiness.in, and add the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records the platform gives you. Sending from a free Gmail address hurts deliverability.
Need your platform connected properly?
We set up sign-up forms, domain authentication and the automations that link your website, store or CRM to your email platform, with a fixed quote within one business day. See our AI and automation page.
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