Which approach saves your nonprofit time and budget while boosting supporter engagement?
The choice between these two email marketing platforms matters. You need clarity on pricing, sending limits, and automation depth to run effective campaigns.
GetResponse shines when you want advanced funnels, landing pages, and automation tied to contacts. Its free plan covers up to 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters per month, and there’s a 50% nonprofit discount that can cut costs substantially. In addition to its robust features, GetResponse offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for nonprofits to create visually appealing campaigns. Organizations can leverage the power of automation to engage their supporters more effectively, ensuring timely communication and increased fundraising opportunities. Overall, GetResponse for nonprofit organizations provides an accessible and cost-effective solution to enhance outreach and impact.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) uses a per-email model with a 300-emails-per-day free tier and strong transactional SMTP. Paid tiers remove daily caps (starting near $25 for 10,000 emails/month) and add templates, SMS, WhatsApp, and live chat.
In short, choose GetResponse if you need unlimited sends by list size and deep funnel tools. Choose Brevo if you prefer predictable per-email pricing and reliable SMTP for transactional email. This guide gives a data-backed comparison to help you pick the right marketing software and tools for your mission. Both platforms offer unique capabilities, so it’s essential to align your choice with your specific goals. For those looking to optimize their campaigns with advanced automation and customization, the getresponse email marketing features are particularly noteworthy. Conversely, if your focus is on straightforward transactional email needs, Brevo delivers a robust and dependable solution.
Key Takeaways
- GetResponse favors advanced funnels and automation with per-contact billing and a strong nonprofit discount.
- Brevo offers per-email pricing, robust SMTP, and multi-channel options like SMS and live chat.
- Free tiers differ: 500 contacts/2,500 newsletters (GetResponse) vs 300 emails/day (Brevo).
- Pick by sending pattern: list-based volume vs high transactional sends.
- Consider templates, editor usability, and integrations when scaling campaigns.
Nonprofit buyer’s guide: what to evaluate in an email marketing platform today
Picking the right email marketing software shapes how your team engages donors and saves time. Start by matching a platform to your mission, staff skills, and growth plans.
Focus on core capabilities—automation builders, deliverability tools, analytics, and editor ease. These features directly affect campaign speed and inbox performance.
Compare marketing software on billing and scale. Decide between per-contact and per-email pricing, check nonprofit discounts, and test free plan limits against your expected send volume.
- Prioritize intuitive setup, accessible email editors, and clear onboarding support.
- Verify integrations with CRMs, donation tools, and Zapier or API access.
- Evaluate list hygiene: segmentation, tagging, and consent tracking to protect deliverability.
- Look for testing and reporting features—A/B tests, multivariate options, and deeper analytics.
Map the plan path—ensure the chosen platform’s plan unlocks the tools you need (transactional email, SMS, funnels) as your list and campaigns grow.
At a glance: GetResponse and Sendinblue compared for mission-driven teams
Choose the platform that matches your sending rhythm and technical needs. This quick overview focuses on core positioning, strengths, and trade-offs so you can pick the right email path.
Core focus and positioning
Core focus and positioning for nonprofits
Sendinblue (Brevo) centers on per-email pricing, transactional SMTP, and multichannel reach with SMS and WhatsApp. Its free tier gives 300 emails/day and a library of 60+ templates.
GetResponse emphasizes funnels, landing pages, and visual automation. Its free plan covers 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters/month and includes AI features and a nonprofit discount. Additionally, users can benefit from advanced analytics to track campaign performance and optimize their strategies effectively. For those interested in a deeper understanding of the service’s financial aspects, ‘getresponse pricing details explained‘ provides a comprehensive breakdown of each plan’s features and benefits. This ensures that businesses can choose the right option that aligns with their marketing goals and budget.
Key strengths and potential trade-offs
- Brevo’s trigger breadth (35 start points) suits behavior-driven transactional journeys.
- GetResponse’s 46 pre-made flows speed up campaign launches and conversion funnels.
- Per-contact billing favors high-frequency email sends; per-email pricing favors seasonal, low-volume campaigns.
- Both offer drag-and-drop editors and templates; usability impacts campaign velocity and brand consistency.
| Capability | Brevo (Sendinblue) | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 300 emails/day | 500 contacts / 2,500 newsletters/month |
| Pricing model | Per-email | Per-contact |
| Automation starts | 35 trigger options | 17 triggers + 46 pre-made flows |
| Omnichannel | SMS & WhatsApp native | Funnels, landing pages, AI tools |
Pricing for nonprofits and total cost per month
Budget clarity starts with how each plan charges you: per contact or per email sent. That billing logic determines your true cost per month and affects campaign strategy.
Free plan limits and value differ in useful ways. One platform gives 300 emails/day—simple and steady for small sends. The other allows 500 contacts and up to 2,500 newsletters/month, which favors list growth and frequent updates.
Billing models compared
Per-email billing scales with send volume and can lower cost if you run occasional campaigns to large lists. Per-contact billing charges by list size and rewards high-frequency sends across many campaigns.
- Starter pricing: $25 per month removes daily caps and adds A/B testing and advanced stats (10k emails/month).
- Contact-based: Entry at $19 per month for 1,000 contacts; nonprofit discounts can slash this significantly.
| Metric | Per-email | Per-contact |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier cap | 300 emails/day | 500 contacts / 2,500 newsletters/month |
| Starter price (per month) | $25 (10k emails) | $19 (1k contacts) |
| Nonprofit discount | — | 50% off + prepay discounts |
Project seasonal spikes and factor transactional SMTP, templates, and support when you model monthly costs. That helps you avoid unexpected overages and saves time on execution.
getresponse vs sendinblue for nonprofits: automation depth and journey building
Automation choices shape how quickly you can react to donor behaviors. Pick the right mix of triggers, rules, and actions to match campaign complexity.
Triggers: One platform offers 35 start points across email activity, contact data, forms, web behavior, and manual starts. The other provides 17 triggers including subscribes, clicks, opens, custom field updates, and ecommerce events.
Rules and branching
One option gives 4 basic rules (delay, wait-until, if/else, A/B). The other supplies 17 rules for deep conditional paths, filters, and splitters. If you need fine-grained segmentation, the latter gives more control.
Actions and cross-channel steps
Action libraries differ: one platform supports SMS, WhatsApp, webhooks, list management, and workflow chaining across many actions. The other focuses on send messages, tagging, scoring, and moving contacts between lists and workflows.
Limitations that affect complex campaigns
- Single-trigger workflows: One tool limits workflows to a single trigger point.
- Unlimited triggers: The other allows many triggers per workflow, which helps multi-entry journeys.
| Capability | Platform A | Platform B |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger count | 35 (email, contact, form, web, manual) | 17 (subscribe, clicks, opens, fields, ecommerce) |
| Rule types | 4 (delay, wait, if/else, A/B) | 17 (filters, splitters, waits, advanced conditions) |
| Actions | 13 (email, SMS, WhatsApp, webhook, list ops) | 18 (messages, tag/score, copy/move, filters) |
| Trigger points per workflow | Unlimited | Single |
Recommendation: Map key journeys (donor, volunteer, attendee) to triggers and rules. Run pilot automations to test email throughput, latency, and the operator experience before you commit.
Email editor and templates: drag-and-drop, design quality, and brand control
A clean, usable editor plus a strong template library speeds campaign production and protects brand consistency. You should be able to build an email quickly and keep it on-brand across channels.
Template availability and variety
Brevo offers a library of more than 60 high-quality templates optimized for common marketing use cases. These cover newsletters, events, fundraising appeals, and volunteer outreach.
Ease of use in the drag-and-drop editor
GetResponse includes a visual drag-and-drop email editor and workflow builder that links creative to automation. Reusable blocks and brand style settings speed multi-campaign production.
Content testing and personalization options
Look for in-editor testing: A/B subject and content variants help you learn fast. Confirm support for personalization fields and dynamic sections to tailor email content by donor segment.
- Check mobile responsiveness and accessible design defaults.
- Verify which features live on each plan—landing page design and export/import options can affect migration.
List and contact management: segmentation, tagging, and data hygiene
Clean contacts and clear segmentation determine whether your messages reach supporters.
Keep lists tidy and actionable. Use tagging, dynamic segments, and consent flags to route supporters into the right journeys. That reduces irrelevant sends and protects your email reputation.
GetResponse workflow actions support tagging, scoring, consent updates, and dynamic segments. These features enable progressive profiling and suppression logic that you can automate.
Brevo actions let you add or remove people from lists, update attributes, blocklist records, and record conversions. Those steps help maintain hygiene and capture consent history for audits.
- Standardize fields: normalize custom values to power reliable segmentation across programs.
- Automate sunsetting: re-engage lapsed supporters, then remove inactive contacts to protect deliverability.
- Compliance: enable double opt-in, record consent, and sync with your CRM and donation systems.
| Capability | Platform A | Platform B |
|---|---|---|
| Tagging & scoring | Yes — tags, scores, dynamic segments | Limited tags; attribute updates |
| List ops | Segment moves and suppression | Add/remove lists; blocklist support |
| Consent & audit | Consent status updates in workflows | Record conversions and attribute timestamps |
| Integration | Sync with CRM and forms | Sync and webhook support |
Document list management steps so staff can safely use these tools without risking data integrity. Monitor growth, bounces, and complaints to refine forms and content over time.
Landing pages and funnels: building donation, event, and signup flows
Landing pages and funnels are where supporter intent meets your donation workflow. Use native page builders when you need fast, repeatable donation and event flows.
Built-in landing page and funnel tools in GetResponse
GetResponse includes a landing page creator and conversion funnels for webinars, sales, and lead capture. That centralizes website sections, paid ads, signup forms, and automation so you can run end-to-end campaigns without developer help.
Routing contacts to the right journeys and lists
Map each form to automation so a new contact receives the correct tags and consent records. Route donors into a recurring-gift funnel or event attendees into reminder sequences.
- Use thank-you pages and upsell steps to ask for recurring donations.
- Apply UTM tracking to attribute signups and revenue to specific marketing channels.
- Run A/B tests on headlines, CTAs, and form fields to reduce drop and improve conversion.
- Confirm the platform passes contact data to your CRM and triggers nurture sequences.
Deliverability, compliance, and sending infrastructure
Deliverability is the backbone of every successful email campaign. Set up your sending so critical messages reach the inbox and your marketing messages stay welcome.
Transactional emails and SMTP options
Use a dedicated SMTP for critical flows. Brevo provides a dedicated SMTP server that keeps transactional email—password resets, confirmations, receipts—separate from bulk sends. That helps ensure timely delivery and clearer troubleshooting when a customer reports an issue.
Separating transactional traffic from marketing traffic also lets you apply different domain alignment and warming rules. Consider a subdomain for transactional sends and enable SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
List quality, consent, and sending limits that affect inboxing
Protect your sender reputation with tight list hygiene. Remove hard bounces, suppress chronic non‑openers, and keep opt‑in records for compliance.
- Throttle and ramp sends to avoid sudden spikes that harm inbox placement, especially on new IPs or free tiers.
- Run testing seeds and inbox placement checks to uncover ISP filtering issues before big campaigns.
- Monitor deliverability metrics and exportable logs so you can diagnose delivery problems quickly.
| Focus | Recommended action | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Transactional SMTP | Use dedicated server/subdomain | Faster, reliable delivery |
| Consent & compliance | Record opt‑ins; honor suppression lists | Legal safety and inbox trust |
| Deliverability tools | Segment, throttle, warm IPs | Protected sender reputation |
Bottom line: treat transactional and marketing email differently, keep lists clean, and use testing and domain alignment to protect deliverability. For multi‑brand programs, plan dedicated IPs and clear warming protocols.
Customer support and knowledge base: live chat, onboarding, and response time
When a high‑stakes send goes wrong, quick response matters more than features. You need clear SLAs, fast channels, and practical guides so your team recovers fast and keeps donors informed.
Live chat and documentation depth
Look for 24/7 live chat, email tickets, and searchable help content. Both vendors maintain solid knowledge bases and onboarding guides. One responds within minutes on chat and offers named account managers on top plans. The other is widely praised for amazing customer support across channels.
Checklist to review:
- Confirm live chat hours and average response time for your time zone.
- Scan the knowledge base for migration guides, template imports, and automation examples.
- Verify training resources—webinars, office hours, and certification paths—for your staff.
Dedicated help for advanced setups and migrations
Ask whether your plan includes screen shares, migration services, or a named specialist for DNS, DMARC, and CRM sync. For peak seasons, insist on escalation paths and clear response-time commitments.
| Channel | Typical offering | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | Real‑time fixes | Fast recovery during mid‑campaign incidents |
| Email ticket | Detailed traces & logs | Useful for deliverability and bounce analysis |
| Knowledge base | Migration & how‑to guides | Reduces dependency on live support |
Action: document support contacts and build an internal runbook. That way your team can act quickly when an email or marketing campaign needs urgent help.
Integrations and ecosystem: CRMs, donation platforms, and workflows
Integrations decide whether data moves smoothly from your forms into donor journeys or stalls in spreadsheets. Audit connectors early to avoid manual exports and missed triggers.
Out‑of‑the‑box connectors speed setup. One vendor lists ~150 integrations and native landing page, website, and funnel tools. The other offers 50+ ready connectors and excels at transactional email, SMS, and WhatsApp.
When native links are missing, rely on APIs and Zapier. But test rate limits, error handling, and maintenance needs before you commit. Map each form to a contact list and confirm real‑time attribute sync, tags, and consent.
- Audit: CRM, donation, event, and ecommerce connectors first.
- Map: forms → contact records → segment rules → automations.
- Test: end‑to‑end flows from form to CRM to email before launch.
| Capability | Platform A | Platform B |
|---|---|---|
| Ready integrations | ~150 | 50+ |
| API / Zapier | Full API + Zapier | API + Zapier, strong webhooks |
| Best use | All‑in‑one funnels & landing | Transactional email & SMS |
Scalability and performance over time
Forecast growth by modeling campaigns per month and expected list size. That simple step helps you avoid caps at critical moments and keeps operations smooth.
Billing logic shapes scale: per-contact plans let you send frequently as lists grow. Per-email plans give predictable monthly caps, which suit steady or seasonal sends.
Review automation limits in each plan. Some tiers cap how many contacts pass through workflows. Other tiers restrict advanced automation features until you upgrade.
Measure software performance under load. Test bulk imports, segment builds, and send throughput before big drives. Track latency and error rates to spot bottlenecks early.
- Govern data to prevent sprawl: standardize fields, tags, and archival rules so your tools stay responsive.
- Monitor deliverability and reputation over time with alerts and regular reports.
- Ensure the platform supports multi‑brand permissioning and departmental teams as you scale.
| Area | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Send model | Per-contact vs per-email caps | Determines cost and frequency as lists grow |
| Automation scale | Workflow contact limits and gated features | Affects donor journeys and throughput |
| Performance | Import speed, segment builds, send latency | Avoids delays during peak campaigns |
| Governance | Field standards, tags, archival | Keeps tools fast and data reliable |
Plan annually to revisit features and options, budget for migration risk, and align integrations so growth doesn’t create a choke point.
Security and data controls for nonprofit compliance needs
Protecting donor data starts with platform controls that limit who can view and export PII. Enforce role‑based access and approval workflows so only authorized staff can run exports or change sensitive fields.
Prioritize consent and suppression features. Use double opt‑in, clear preference centers, and automated suppression lists to keep your email sends compliant and deliverable. Maintain encryption in transit and at rest and confirm data residency options when grants or governance require them.
Keep detailed software audit logs of imports, field edits, and list actions. Standardize retention rules for contacts to reduce risk and storage costs. Implement SSO and MFA and review access when staff or partners depart.
Bake compliance checks into campaign QA: footer links, preference center tests, and PII checks. Validate vendor breach notification timelines and incident support procedures. Train teams on safe handling of lists and avoid exporting PII to unsecured tools.
| Control | Why it matters | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Role‑based access | Limits PII exposure | Least‑privilege roles + approval steps |
| Consent & suppression | Protects deliverability & compliance | Double opt‑in + automated suppression |
| Audit logs & retention | Supports investigations | Immutable logs + retention policy |
| Encryption & SSO/MFA | Prevents account compromise | Encrypt data + enforce SSO/MFA |
When to choose Sendinblue/Brevo
If your team needs predictable monthly sends and strong transactional delivery, Brevo is often the pragmatic choice. It suits groups that run steady outreach and need clear, controllable costs.
Best-fit scenarios:
- Small to mid-size teams that send frequent, steady campaigns and want per-email pricing with a low entry plan.
- Programs that depend on transactional emails—receipts, confirmations, and time-sensitive alerts—because Brevo’s SMTP keeps those flows reliable.
- Field operations that benefit from SMS and WhatsApp for urgent reminders or logistics.
The free tier (300 emails/day) works for compact lists. The Starter plan at $25 per month raises capacity to 10,000 emails monthly, removes daily caps, and adds A/B testing, advanced stats, and email support.
Use Brevo when you want a clean editor and a wide template range to speed campaign production with limited staff. Per-email billing keeps monthly spend predictable, which helps boards and finance teams approve budget lines.
Checklist before you commit: verify webhook/API options, confirm SMS/WhatsApp pricing, and test SMTP setup. If you need more context on practical trade-offs, see this detailed review review and complaints summary.
When to choose GetResponse
If your work depends on multi-step donor journeys, this platform is the sensible pick. It bundles landing pages, funnels, and a broad range of prebuilt flows that reduce setup time and speed results.
Best-fit nonprofit scenarios and campaign types
Use this platform when you run frequent email marketing to an engaged contact list. Per-contact billing supports unlimited send frequency tied to list size. That favors regular newsletters, stewardship sequences, and multi-step event campaigns.
Pre-made journey templates (46 flows) and a visual builder cut production time. Pair emails with native pages and forms to centralize analytics and avoid tool sprawl.
Advanced features, funnels, and nonprofit discounts
Key benefits:
- Free plan: 500 contacts / 2,500 newsletters/month; starter plans from $19/month.
- 50% nonprofit discount and MAX-level dedicated support for complex integrations.
- Deep segmentation, tagging, scoring, and conditional logic for granular journeys.
| Capability | Benefit | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Funnel + landing pages | End-to-end donor flows without external builders | Map donation pathways, test CTAs, and combine pages with automations |
| Prebuilt flows (46) | Faster campaign launches and proven journey patterns | Start with templates, then customize tags and scoring |
| Per-contact billing | Predictable scaling for frequent sends | Align plan tier to peak seasonal volume to avoid limits |
| MAX & support | Named account management for advanced setups | Consider MAX when complex CRM sync or high-volume integrations are needed |
Side-by-side feature highlights that matter to nonprofits
This side-by-side view highlights the features that change how your team designs, deploys, and measures email campaigns.
Automation building blocks: triggers, rules, and actions
Automation is about entry points and decision logic. One platform offers 35 triggers but fewer rule types. The other provides 17 triggers plus 17 rules and 18 actions for deep branching.
Practical take: choose more triggers if you need many start points. Choose richer rules/actions when you must build complex donor journeys.
Editors, templates, and landing pages
Both platforms include a drag-and-drop editor and reusable blocks. Brevo supplies 60+ email templates; the other adds native landing pages and funnels to reduce tech stack friction.
Support, integrations, and pricing
Integration counts differ (~150 vs 50+). Per-email billing suits seasonal sends; per-contact billing favors frequent outreach. Support models range from responsive chat to named account help on premium plans.
| Area | Brevo-style | Contact-based platform |
|---|---|---|
| Triggers | 35 | 17 |
| Rules & actions | 4 rules, 13 actions | 17 rules, 18 actions |
| Templates & landing | 60+ email templates, SMS/SMTP | Email templates + landing pages & funnels |
| Pricing logic | Per-email | Per-contact |
Alternatives to consider if neither platform fits
When your priorities fall outside these offerings, a range of other email tools can close the gap. Choose an alternative that matches your integration needs, budget, and staff skills.
Platforms like Mailchimp offer a friendly editor, a free plan (500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month), and 200+ integrations. Constant Contact is solid for templates, segmentation, and straightforward analytics.
ActiveCampaign shines with deep automation and embedded CRM but can raise complexity and pricing. HubSpot adds robust CRM and reporting—ideal when you need unified sales and marketing data. These platforms are particularly valuable for businesses looking to enhance their customer interactions and streamline workflows. For instance, they can help in organizing campaigns that promote products like home decor ideas and inspiration, allowing users to effectively target their audience. With the right tools, marketers can leverage data to refine their strategies and boost engagement.
ConvertKit suits creators and paid newsletters. Campaign Monitor, AWeber, and MailerLite deliver user-friendly editors, automation, and competitive pricing for small teams.
- Compare features, testing, and template range against your program needs.
- Map integrations to your CRM and donation stack to avoid manual work.
- Check free tiers, month-to-month flexibility, and nonprofit discounts.
- Run a short pilot campaign and send limited emails to validate fit before migrating.
| Option | Strength | When to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Ease + ecosystem | Small teams needing many integrations |
| ActiveCampaign | Automation + CRM | Complex journeys and advanced segmentation |
| HubSpot | CRM + reporting | When you need unified sales/marketing data |
Conclusion
Your next step is to match billing logic to how often you email supporters and how many contacts you hold.
Choose the tool that shortens setup time and improves donor journeys. If you need funnels, landing pages, and deep automation under per-contact billing, lean toward the contact-based option. If predictable per-email costs, SMTP reliability, and SMS/WhatsApp matter more, prefer the per-email path.
Practical checks: validate editor speed, template quality, integrations, and support response before you commit. Pilot a real appeal over a month to compare deliverability, UX, and reporting.
Standardize data hygiene, testing, and compliance. Reassess quarterly and align KPIs so your marketing plan drives measurable impact and saves time.
Read a detailed GetResponse review to compare real-world experiences and reports.