By Abdi • january 5, 2026
introduction
Starting a new side hustle can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to choose the right platform to build funnels, grow your email list, and automate your marketing. If you are asking yourself, Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo: Which is best for new side hustlers?”, you are not alone.
disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely believe can help Systeme.io for Your Side Hustlers build real online income.
In this guide, you will see how each tool works, who it is best for, and what you actually get on the free plans. By the end, you will know exactly which platform is the best starting point for your side hustle.
Overview of Each Platform
Before choosing a tool, it helps to understand what each platform is mainly built for. All three offer email marketing, but they focus on different types of users and business models.This comparison between Systeme.io, MailerLite, and Brevo will help you understand each platform’s strengths.
Systeme.io – All-in-One Platform for Side Hustlers
Systeme.io is an all-in-one online business platform that lets you build funnels, create landing pages, send emails, host courses, and automate your marketing from one dashboard. You do not need to connect many different tools, which is a big advantage for beginners.
Systeme.io is especially popular with affiliate marketers, course creators, and new side hustlers who want something simple that “just works” with minimal tech setup.
Best known for:
- All-in-one platform (funnels, emails, pages, courses)
- Built-in funnels and automations
- Beginner-friendly free plan
MailerLite – Simple, Clean Email Marketing
MailerLite focuses mainly on email marketing and newsletters. It offers a clean interface, modern templates, and easy automation workflows, which makes it a good fit for content creators.
Unlike Systeme.io, MailerLite is not trying to be a full business platform. It does one thing very well: email marketing.
Best known for:
- Simple, modern email designs
- Strong newsletter tools
- Good automation for content creators
Brevo – Email & SMS for Growing Businesses
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) combines email marketing, SMS marketing, and CRM features in one platform. It is designed more for small to medium-sized businesses that need advanced communication tools.
Brevo is powerful, but the dashboard and features can feel more complex for brand‑new side hustlers compared to Systeme.io or MailerLite.
Best known for:
- Email + SMS marketing
- Advanced automation options
- Business-focused features
Who Each Tool Is Best For
In this Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo comparison, each tool excels for different user types…
All three tools can send emails, but they are not aimed at the same type of beginner. Choosing the right one depends on your goals and how simple or advanced you want things to be.
Systeme.io – Best for New Side Hustlers & Affiliate Marketers
Systeme.io is ideal for complete beginners who want to run a side hustle with one simple tool. If you are an affiliate marketer, digital product seller, or someone building funnels for the first time, Systeme.io is a strong choice.
You can collect emails, send automated sequences, build landing pages, and promote offers without extra software.
Best for:
- New side hustlers
- Affiliate marketers
- Beginners with no tech experience
- People who want everything in one place
MailerLite – Best for Bloggers & Content Creators
MailerLite is a great fit for bloggers, writers, and content creators who mainly want to build an email list and send newsletters. If your focus is publishing content and staying in touch with your audience by email, MailerLite works very well.
However, it does not include a full funnel system for multi-step sales flows.
Best for:
- Bloggers
- Content creators
- Small websites
- Beginners focused only on email marketing
Brevo – Best for Small Businesses & Advanced Users
Brevo suits small businesses and more advanced users who need email plus SMS and CRM tools. It can handle multi-channel marketing but comes with a steeper learning curve.
For a brand-new side hustler, Brevo can feel complex at first, but it is a reasonable option if you already think long term about multi-channel communication.
Best for:
- Small businesses
- Ecommerce brands
- Users who want email + SMS marketing
- More advanced beginners
Ease of Use & Learning Curve
When comparing Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo for ease of use…
For most new side hustlers, ease of use is one of the most important factors. You want a tool that is quick to set up and not confusing.
Systeme.io – Easiest for Complete Beginners
Systeme.io is designed for non‑technical users. The dashboard is simple and focused on the core actions you need: building funnels, managing contacts, and sending emails.
Most beginners can create a landing page, connect a form, and send automated emails within a single day.
Ease-of-use highlights:
- Very simple dashboard
- Fast setup
- No technical skills required
MailerLite – Beginner-Friendly but Email-Focused
MailerLite has a clean, modern dashboard and is easy to use for basic email marketing. Creating your first list and campaign is straightforward, though learning segments and advanced automation may take a bit more time.
It is very friendly if you only care about email and newsletters, not funnels or complex sales systems.
Ease-of-use highlights:
- Clean interface
- Easy newsletter setup
- Light learning curve for automation
Brevo – Powerful but More Complex
Brevo offers many features, so the dashboard can feel busy for beginners. You may need extra time to understand campaigns, advanced automations, contact management, and SMS tools.
It is better for users who are comfortable learning more advanced platforms.
Ease-of-use highlights:
- Feature-rich dashboard
- Longer setup time
- Better for experienced users
Email Marketing Features Compared
Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo features comparison…
Email marketing is at the center of this decision, because all three platforms help you send newsletters, sequences, and targeted messages.
Systeme.io – Simple Emails Built for Funnels
Systeme.io focuses on conversion-focused emails tied to funnels and automation. You can send broadcasts and create sequences that trigger when someone joins your list or enters a funnel.
Segmentation is done using tags, which is simple and easy to understand for beginners.
Email features highlights:
- Broadcast emails (newsletters)
- Automated sequences linked to funnels
- Tag-based segmentation
MailerLite – Strong Newsletters & Clean Design
MailerLite is best known for its drag-and-drop email editor and attractive templates. It offers powerful email sequences and flexible segmentation using groups and segments.
This makes it excellent for bloggers and content creators who care about how their emails look and feel.
Email features highlights:
- Advanced newsletter editor
- Automated email sequences
- Flexible segmentation
Brevo – Advanced Email Features for Businesses
Brevo provides advanced email marketing tools, including behavior-based automation and transactional emails. This is great for ecommerce stores and businesses that need order confirmations, password emails, and more.
However, these advanced features mean the learning curve is steeper for complete beginners.
Email features highlights:
- Advanced automation workflows
- Behavior-based segmentation
- Transactional email support
Landing Pages & Funnel Builders
The Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo comparison shows clear differences in funnel building…
If you plan to collect leads, promote affiliate offers, or sell digital products, landing pages and funnels matter a lot.
Systeme.io – Built-In Funnels for Side Hustlers
Systeme.io shines here, with a built‑in funnel builder. You can create opt‑in pages, thank‑you pages, sales pages, and full funnel flows inside one platform.
The drag‑and‑drop editor and pre‑built templates make it easy to launch quickly without extra tools like page builders or plugins.
Landing page & funnel highlights:
- Full funnel builder included
- Drag-and-drop page editor
- Ready-made funnel templates
MailerLite – Simple Landing Pages, No Full Funnels
MailerLite includes a landing page builder that works well for capturing email subscribers. You can create simple, clean pages using templates.
However, it does not offer a true funnel system with multiple steps, upsells, or complex sales flows.
Landing page highlights:
- Simple landing page builder
- Clean, modern templates
- No advanced funnels
Brevo – Basic Pages, Limited Funnel Features
Brevo focuses more on email and SMS than funnel building. It provides basic landing pages and forms, but many users rely on external websites or funnel tools for full sales flows.
For a new side hustler, this usually means more setup and more tools to manage.
Landing page highlights:
- Basic landing pages and forms
- Not built for full funnel marketing
- Often used with third‑party tools
Free Plan Comparison (Important for Side Hustlers)
Free plans are a big deal when you are just starting. This Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo free plan comparison shows, It is important to know what you really get, not just what is advertised on the pricing page.
Systeme.io – Most Generous Free Plan
Systeme.io is well known for its strong free plan. You can build funnels, create landing pages, send emails, run automations, and even sell products without paying upfront.
There is some branding on the free plan, but for many beginners this is a fair trade for the features you get.
Free plan highlights:
- Email marketing included
- Funnels and landing pages included
- Automations included
- Branding on free plan
MailerLite – Solid Free Plan for Email-Only Users
MailerLite’s free plan gives you access to newsletters, basic automations, and simple landing pages. It is good for beginners who only need email marketing.
However, some advanced features and higher limits require paid plans, and free accounts include MailerLite branding.
Free plan highlights:
- Newsletters and sequences
- Basic landing pages
- Limited automation
- Branding included
Brevo – Free Plan with Daily Limits
Brevo’s free plan lets you send emails, but it has daily sending limits, which can slow your growth. Automation is available, but the limits make it less flexible for fast-growing lists.
This plan works best if you send low volumes of email.
Free plan highlights:
- Email marketing access
- Automation available
- Daily sending limits
- Branding included
Free Plan Summary
In this free plan comparison:
- Systeme.io → Best free plan for new side hustlers
- MailerLite → Good for email‑only beginners
- Brevo → Limited by daily sending caps
If you want to start with zero budget, Systeme.io usually gives the most value out of the box.
Pricing Plans & Long-Term Value
When looking at Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo
Price is not only about what you pay today, but also how costs grow with your list and your business.
Systeme.io – Best Long-Term Value for Side Hustlers
Systeme.io’s paid plans are designed to support beginners and growing side hustlers. You keep access to funnels, email marketing, automations, and selling tools in one subscription.
Because you do not need extra tools, Systeme.io often ends up cheaper in the long run, especially for affiliate marketers and digital product creators.
Pricing value highlights:
- Affordable paid plans
- All-in-one features included
- No need for extra tools
MailerLite – Fair Pricing for Email Marketing
MailerLite charges mainly based on subscriber count. It offers good value if you only need email marketing and your list is still small.
If you later decide to add funnels or more advanced selling systems, you will likely need additional paid tools.
Pricing value highlights:
- Subscriber-based pricing
- Affordable for small lists
- Limited to email marketing
Brevo – Flexible but Can Get Expensive
Brevo prices its plans mostly by email sending volume, not list size. This can be flexible, but costs may increase as you send more emails or add SMS and CRM features.
For fast-growing side hustles, Brevo can become more expensive and complex over time.
Pricing value highlights:
- Send-volume-based pricing
- Extra costs for advanced features
- Better for established businesses
Customer Support & Learning Resources
Good support and clear tutorials can save beginners a lot of time and frustration.
Systeme.io – Fast, Beginner-Friendly Support
Systeme.io offers live chat, email support, and a detailed knowledge base. There are also tutorials and training materials created specifically for beginners and side hustlers.
This makes it easier to set up funnels, email sequences, and automations without getting stuck.
Support highlights:
- Live chat and email support
- Step‑by‑step tutorials
- Courses and resources for beginners
MailerLite – Helpful Guides and Documentation
MailerLite provides email support and a knowledge base with guides, videos, and blog articles. It is generally simple to use, but you may rely more on self‑study for some automation or segmentation questions.
For email‑only beginners, the resources are usually enough.
Support highlights:
- Email support
- Tutorials and guides
- Community forum
Brevo – Extensive Resources, Higher Complexity
Brevo offers email and live chat support, plus many tutorials, guides, and webinars. However, because the platform itself is more complex, beginners might still need more time to understand all the features.
If you are willing to learn, the resources are strong—but it is not the simplest starting point.
Support highlights:
- Email and live chat support
- Webinars and tutorials
- Steeper learning curve
Pros and Cons of Each Platform
Seeing the main pros and cons side by side, Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo makes it easier to choose the right tool.
Systeme.io – All-in-One for Beginners
Pros:
- All-in-one platform: email, funnels, landing pages, courses
- Very beginner-friendly and fast to set up
- Strong free plan with essential features
- Helpful support and tutorials for side hustlers
Cons:
- Email design options are more basic
- Branding is visible on the free plan
- Not focused on multi‑channel marketing beyond email
MailerLite – Simple, Clean Email Marketing
Pros:
- Modern, intuitive interface
- Excellent newsletter and email editor
- Visual automation workflows
- Affordable for email‑only users
Cons:
- Limited funnel and sales features
- Free plan includes branding and restrictions
- Some automations are simpler than advanced tools offer
Brevo – Advanced Tools for Growing Businesses
Pros:
- Supports email + SMS marketing
- Advanced automation and segmentation
- Great for businesses with multiple communication channels
- Strong educational resources
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Free plan has daily sending limits
- Less suitable for simple side hustles or basic funnels
Quick Comparison Table
For fast scanning, here is a simple comparison of the three tools.
| Feature / Tool | Systeme.io | MailerLite | Brevo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | New side hustlers, affiliate marketers, beginners | Bloggers, content creators, email-only users | Small businesses, advanced users |
| Ease of use | Very easy, beginner-friendly | Easy for email marketing | Powerful but steeper learning curve |
| Email marketing | Broadcasts, sequences, tag-based segmentation | Newsletters, sequences, visual automation | Advanced automation, segmentation, transactional |
| Automation | Funnel-triggered, rule-based | Visual workflows with triggers and conditions | Multi-channel, behavior-based, advanced |
| Landing pages | Full funnel builder included | Basic landing pages only | Basic pages, needs external tools for funnels |
| Free plan | Generous, includes emails, funnels, automations | Limited features, branding included | Daily sending limits, branding included |
| Pricing & value | Affordable all-in-one, strong long-term value | Good for small email lists | Flexible but can get costly as you scale |
| Support | Live chat, tutorials, beginner courses | Email support, guides, community forum | Email/live chat, webinars, tutorials |
This table is useful if you want to quickly check which tool matches your situation before reading everything in detail.
- Ready to start with an all‑in‑one beginner‑friendly platform?
→ Start your free Systeme.io account here. - Prefer a simple email‑only tool for your blog?
→ Try MailerLite’s free plan here. - Planning a more advanced setup with email + SMS?
→ Explore Brevo here.
Steal My Ready-Made Opt-In Funnel
If you don’t want to build everything from scratch, I’ve created a ready-made Opt-In Email Marketing for Deliverability funnel for you inside Systeme.io.
This funnel already includes a clean opt-in page, double opt-in setup, and a basic email sequence you can customize with your own brand and offers.
👉 Click here to import my free share funnel into your Systeme.io account
Final Verdict: Which Is Best for New Side Hustlers?
So, Systeme.io vs MailerLite vs Brevo: which is best for new side hustlers? Your ideal choice depends on your goals and how simple you want your setup to be.
- Systeme.io is the best all‑in‑one platform for beginners who want to build funnels, send emails, and sell products without juggling many tools. Its generous free plan and beginner‑friendly support make it the top pick for most new side hustlers.
- MailerLite is perfect if your main focus is email marketing and newsletters. It is easy to use, looks professional, and works very well for bloggers and content creators, but it lacks full funnel and sales features.
- Brevo is best for small businesses or side hustlers who want advanced email, SMS, and automation and are ready to handle a more complex tool.
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