Systeme.io vs. Brevo for WordPress sign-up forms
If you’re stuck choosing between systeme.io vs. brevo for your WordPress sign-up forms, this post is for you. I tried both on my own blog. One worked on my setup, and one didn’t, and I’ll tell you exactly what happened without pretending either tool is the villain.
This is not a full feature battle. It covers one job: getting a sign-up form onto a WordPress blog. I’ll also be plain about what I haven’t tested yet, because that part matters as much as what I did test.
Affiliate disclosure: I’m a Systeme.io affiliate, so if you sign up through one of my Systeme.io links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I’m not a Brevo affiliate, and I earn nothing if you choose Brevo. Everything below is based on what I actually did on my own site.
Why sign-up forms matter for a blog
A sign-up form is how a reader becomes someone you can reach again. Without one, a visitor reads your post, closes the tab, and you have no way to tell them when you publish something new.
Search traffic and social posts are borrowed attention. An email list is the part you own. That is why almost every blogger ends up needing a sign-up form and why the tool behind that form is worth choosing with some care.
For a beginner, the form itself has one simple job. It collects an email address and passes it to an email tool, which stores it and sends your messages later. The two tools in this post, Systeme.io and Brevo, both do that job. The real question in the Systeme.io vs Brevo choice is how easily the form gets onto your WordPress site and looks right once it’s there.
What "embedded code" means in plain English
When you build a form inside Systeme.io or Brevo, the form lives on their servers, not on your blog. To show it on your WordPress site, the tool gives you a short block of code called an embed code.
You copy that code and paste it into a spot on your site where WordPress allows custom code. On my site, that spot was a custom HTML widget. Once it’s pasted, your page loads the form from the email tool and displays it.
That’s the whole idea. You don’t write the code yourself. You copy and paste it. The catch is that the form is now a guest on your site, and it has to play nicely with your theme, your page builder, and your settings. Sometimes it does that smoothly, and sometimes it doesn’t. That is exactly what the next section is about.
Systeme.io vs Brevo on my WordPress site: what I tried
Here is my setup so you can compare my systeme.io vs. brevo experience with yours: WordPress with the Kadence theme and Elementor. Everything below happened on that setup, and I can only speak for that setup.
My experience with Systeme.io
I use Systeme.io for other things outside this blog, and I think it’s a very good, easy tool for beginners. I want that on the record before anything else, because what comes next is not a complaint about the tool.
On this blog, I tried the Systeme.io embed code for pop-ups and sign-up forms. I pasted it into a Custom HTML widget in WordPress. It didn’t work well on my site. In my words, the styling broke, and it didn’t work well overall.
I don’t know why. I haven’t found the cause, and I’m not going to guess one or blame my theme or my page builder, because I haven’t verified anything. All I can honestly say is that it didn’t work well on my setup. That is not the same as saying Systeme.io doesn’t work with WordPress, and I’m not saying that.
My experience with Brevo
So I switched to Brevo for the sign-up form on this blog for now, until I get the Systeme.io embed sorted out.
Here is exactly how I added it:
- I created the form inside Brevo.
- Brevo gave me an embed code.
- I pasted that code into a Custom HTML widget in WordPress.
It worked for me that way. I’ve been using Brevo for about 4 months on the free plan, and I’m still testing it.
I’ve also added a pop-up. I built that form in Brevo too, then embedded it using a pop-up maker, which controls how it shows up on my site. That’s a different route from the Systeme.io pop-up embed I tried, so it isn’t a like-for-like pop-up comparison.
What I use each tool for now
- Systeme.io: Other things outside this blog
Brevo: The sign-up form on this blog, for now,
plus a pop-up built in Brevo and shown with a pop-up maker
That’s a temporary split, not a permanent verdict. If I get the Systeme.io embed working on this site, I may move the form back, and I’ll say so here if I do.
One limit I want to be upfront about: I have not used Brevo for newsletters or campaigns. This post is about sign-up forms on a WordPress blog, and nothing more.
If an embed code doesn't work or the styling breaks: general checks
A fair warning first. The list below is general troubleshooting advice for embed codes. These are not confirmed causes of my problem, and I haven’t verified any of them on my site. I’m sharing them because they are sensible things to look at if you’re in the same spot.
- Where the code is pasted. A Custom HTML widget, a block in the editor, and a section inside a page builder can each behave differently with the same code. Try the same code in a different spot on a test page.
- Whether that spot allows scripts. Many embed codes include a script. Some widgets or editor blocks may not run scripts the way you expect, depending on how your site is set up.
- Caching or optimization plugins. These can change how files load, and that can sometimes affect a form that depends on a script. Try clearing the cache, or pausing the optimization settings briefly on a test page.
- Other styling on the page. Styles that already exist on your site can sometimes clash with a form that brings its own styles.
- A fresh copy of the code. Copy the embed code again from the tool, in case something was cut off or changed when it was pasted.
I’m not saying any of these applies to me or to my theme or builder. They are just the usual places to look.
If you do get stuck, contact each tool’s support team. They can see the form on their side and know their own embed code far better than I do. Send them the page address, a screenshot of what you see, and where you pasted the code. That saves everyone a few rounds of back-and-forth.
Systeme.io vs Brevo free plans: what's reported and where limits matter
Both companies change their plans and prices, so treat any systeme.io vs brevo price comparison, including this one, as a starting point. The figures below are what third-party sources reported, not what I’ve confirmed, and those sources sometimes disagreed with each other. Please check the official pages before you decide: Systeme.io pricing and Brevo pricing.
Systeme.io also reportedly offers a discount for paying yearly, but sources disagree on how much, so I won’t quote a number. Brevo’s Standard plan was reportedly called Business in older material, so don’t be surprised if you see both names.
Where the limits matter for a beginner
The two tools count different things, so the limit you’ll feel first is different too.
With Systeme.io, the reported free-plan limits focus on contacts, funnels, and courses. If you only want a sign-up form, the funnel and course limits may never matter to you. The contact cap is the one to watch as your list grows.
With Brevo, the reported limit that matters is the daily send cap. At 300 emails a day, a list of 1,000 people can’t all get the same email on the same day. The Brevo logo on free-plan emails is the other thing to weigh if branding matters to you.
I should be honest about my own position. I’m on Brevo’s free plan, and I’m still testing it. I’ve only used it for the sign-up form, so I haven’t run into either of these limits. Check what matters for the kind of list you plan to build.
Systeme.io vs Brevo: which one I'd choose, and when
I don’t need to crown a winner in the Systeme.io vs. brevo debate. Both tools are good for beginners in their own ways. What matters is which one fits your site and your situation.
When I'd choose Systeme.io
- You already use Systeme.io, or plan to use it for other parts of your online work. I do, and I find it easy to work with.
- You can get the embed code working with your WordPress theme. If it works for you, you can use it happily.
- You like having one tool for things beyond a sign-up form, so you’re not juggling several logins.
If you’re still weighing it against other email tools, my comparison of MailerLite vs Systeme.io and my Systeme.io review go into more detail.
When I'd choose Brevo
- Your Systeme.io embed isn’t working on your site, and you want a sign-up form live now. Brevo’s form worked for me that way.
- You want to start on a free plan. Brevo’s free plan is the one I’ve been testing for about 4 months.
- You’re comfortable with the same copy-and-paste routine: create the form, copy the code, and paste it into a Custom HTML widget.
My Brevo review for bloggers covers my wider thoughts on Brevo. And if you’re still deciding which email tool to build on at all, start with my guide to the best email marketing for bloggers, or read my ConvertKit vs MailerLite comparison.
What to check before you switch
Switching sign-up forms sounds small, but a few things can go wrong quietly. Before you move, check:
- Your existing subscribers. Know where they are stored and how to export them so nobody is lost in the move.
- Every place the old form appears. Sidebar, footer, posts, pop-ups. Replace them all, or you’ll have two forms feeding two lists.
- Confirmation and welcome emails. Check what a new subscriber receives, and make sure it still makes sense.
- A real test sign-up. Use your own email address on your live site and make sure it arrives where you expect.
- How the form looks on a phone. Most visitors may be on one, so check it there too.
- The current pricing and limits. Look at both official pricing pages before you commit, since plans change.
What I haven't tested yet
This is the part of a comparison most people skip, so I’d rather say it clearly.
- Pop-up comparison. I can’t compare pop-ups between the two tools like for like. My Brevo pop-up was built in Brevo and shown through a pop-up maker, while the Systeme.io pop-up I tried used its embed code. If I sort out the Systeme.io embed, I’ll update this post.
- CAPTCHA and bot protection. I haven’t tested these on either tool. I’ll revisit them once real traffic and real sign-ups start coming in. If you’re curious why that matters, I wrote about fake email sign-ups [confirm slug].
- Newsletters and campaigns in Brevo. This post doesn’t cover sending them. I’m not comparing everything either tool can do, so this systeme.io vs brevo post covers only the sign-up form on a WordPress blog.
- Fixing the Systeme.io embed. I haven’t solved it yet. If I do, I’ll tell you what changed.
You’ll notice I’m not guessing in any of these. A comparison is only useful if you can tell which parts come from real use and which parts don’t.
Why I don't pay for tools until I need to
I don’t pay for a tool until I have a real reason to. A new blog doesn’t need a long list of monthly subscriptions, and it’s easy to pay for features you won’t touch for months.
So I start on free plans, I see what actually limits me, and I upgrade only when a limit gets in the way of something I’m trying to do. That’s also why I’m still on Brevo’s free plan after about 4 months. It does the one job I need it to do on this blog right now.
Paying isn’t wrong, and there are good reasons to do it. I just like the reason to come first and the invoice to come second.
Systeme.io vs Brevo: frequently asked questions
Which is better for WordPress sign-up forms, Systeme.io or Brevo?
In the systeme.io vs brevo question, I can’t give you a winner, and I don’t think one exists for everyone. If you can get the embed code working with your WordPress theme, you can use either. On my site, the Systeme.io embed didn’t work well and the Brevo form did, so I’m using Brevo for now.
Does Systeme.io work with WordPress?
I can only tell you what happened on my setup, which is WordPress with the Kadence theme and Elementor. The embed code for my pop-ups and sign-up forms didn’t work well there, and the styling broke. I haven’t found out why. Your result may be different, and the support team can help if it isn’t.
Can I use Brevo’s free plan for a sign-up form?
I’ve used Brevo’s free plan for about 4 months, and the sign-up form worked for me through an embed code in a Custom HTML widget. Third-party sources also report that forms are included on the free plan, but check Brevo’s official pricing page for the current details.
Do I need to know how to code to use an embed code?
No. You copy the code from the tool and paste it into a spot on your site that accepts custom code, such as a Custom HTML widget. You don’t write anything yourself.
What should I do if the styling breaks after I paste the code?
Start with the general checks earlier in this post: where the code is pasted, whether that spot allows scripts, and whether a caching or optimization plugin interferes. I haven’t verified any of them on my own site, so treat them as things to look at, not answers. Then contact the tool’s support team.
Have you compared pop-ups in Systeme.io and Brevo?
Not like for like. I built my Brevo pop-up form in Brevo and show it through a pop-up maker, while the Systeme.io pop-up embed I tried didn’t work well on my setup. Because the routes were different, I can’t call it a fair comparison.
Should a beginner pay for either tool right away?
Not necessarily. Both have free plans, and I’d start there and upgrade only when a limit actually gets in your way. Plans and prices change, so check each official pricing page before you decide.
Conclusion: systeme.io vs brevo for your sign-up form
Here is the short version of what I learned. I use Systeme.io for other things outside this blog, and it’s a very good, easy tool for beginners. On this blog, the Systeme.io embed code for pop-ups and sign-up forms didn’t work well on my setup, which is WordPress with the Kadence theme and Elementor. The styling broke. I haven’t found the cause, so I’m not blaming anything.
I switched to Brevo for the sign-up form for now. I created the form in Brevo, pasted its embed code into a Custom HTML widget, and it worked for me. I’ve used Brevo on the free plan for about 4 months, and I’m still testing it.
So when it comes to systeme.io vs brevo, I don’t need to crown a winner. If you can get the embed code working with your WordPress theme, you can use either one. If you can’t, Brevo’s sign-up form worked for me. Before you switch, check your subscribers, replace every old form, run a real test sign-up, and look at both official pricing pages, because plans and prices change.
I also haven’t tested CAPTCHA or bot protection, and this post doesn’t cover sending newsletters or campaigns from Brevo. My Brevo pop-up is built in Brevo and shown through a pop-up maker, so it isn’t a like-for-like comparison with Systeme.io. Until I test more, start on a free plan, see what limits you actually hit, and pay only when you have a real reason to.
