Differences between the new and classic automation editors

To offer you a better experience when building automations, we launched a new version of the automation editor in September 2024. This new version offers more flexibility with a drag-and-drop canvas, an easily accessible step library, and the ability to design messages directly within the editor.

To support your transition from the classic editor to the new one, we’ve included two helpful tables in this article:

Comparison table

This comparison table highlights the key differences between the new and classic automation editors ⬇️:

  New automation editor Classic automation editor
Design aut_new-editor_interface_en-us.png aut_classic-editor_interface_en-us.png
Availability Available to all users

Only users who have used the classic editor at least once since early 2025 can create new automations with it. All others can only use the new editor for new automations.

Existing automations created with the classic editor remain available and can still be edited or activated.

User interface and experience

A user-friendly editor with:

  • Modern interface
  • Flexible drag-and-drop canvas with the possibility of rearranging steps as needed
  • Clearly categorized steps for easy navigation
  • Reliable performance, even in complex workflows
  • Faster execution

A legacy editor with:

  • Outdated interface
  • Rigid canvas without the possibility of rearranging steps
  • Overlapping issues in complex workflows with many steps and branches
Type of automations

Contact-based automations

🔈 Coming soon

Object-based automations (only available to users on an Enterprise plan)

Contact-based automations

Pre-built automations

8 pre-built automations with guided setup:

🔈 Coming soon

Back-in-stock (only available to eCommerce users)

No pre-built automation
Triggers

More trigger options with:

🔈 Coming soon

Trigger an automation when a contact clicks an external link

Fewer trigger options with:

  • Limited and complex conditions to refine triggers
  • Custom condition triggers with fewer options
  • No option to manually add contacts to automations
Actions

Actions available only in the new editor:

Action available only in the classic editor:

Channels
Rules

Same rules, with more flexibility:

  • Time delay
  • Conditional split with easy branch switching
  • Percentage split with customizable ratios and easy branch switching
  • Wait until an event happens, with access to all Brevo events

Same rules, but with limited options:

  • Add a delay
  • If/Else conditions without branch switching
  • A/B split fixed at a 50:50 ratio
  • Wait until limited to basic contact, email, and website events
Audience management Centralized menu for audience re-entry, exit, and restart rules

Scattered options that are harder to find and use

Message creation and personalization
  • Create emails, internal email notifications, and SMS directly within the editor
  • Easily personalize subject lines, preview text, and SMS using the variable picker
  • Messages must be created outside the editor

  • Subject line, preview text, and SMS require manual personalization

Testing messages

The new editor makes testing messages easier:

  • Messages are tested without triggering additional steps, such as deleting a contact or updating their attributes.
  • Messages in separate branches can be tested simultaneously using the same contact, without needing to meet branch conditions.
  • Test results are available in the workflow logs and do not affect automation statistics.

The classic editor has limitations when testing:

  • When testing the workflow, all steps are triggered, including actions like deleting a contact or updating their attributes.
  • Steps in separate branches need to be tested with different contacts, and branch conditions have to be met (for example, opening the email to proceed to branch A).
  • Test results impact the workflow statistics.
Sharing

Not possible yet

Possible to share automations between different accounts and sub-accounts
Statistics and reporting

A dedicated workspace provides access to statistics and email reports

🔈 Coming soon

A dedicated report for percentage split (only available to users on an Enterprise plan)

Only basic statistics and reporting are available

Feature equivalence table

This feature equivalence table will help you locate matching features across both editors ⬇️:

Classic editor feature Equivalent in new editor
Entry points/Triggers

Email Marketing and Transactional Activity:

  • Opened
  • Clicked
  • Unsubscribed

Email:

  • Email opened
  • Email clicked
  • Email unsubscribed

Contact details:

  • Anniversary
  • Contact attributes condition
  • A contact is added to a list
  • A contact is in a segment at a given time

Contacts:

  • Anniversary
  • Contact matches custom filter
  • Contact added to list
  • Contact is in a segment 

A contact submits a form

Forms:

  • Form submitted

An event happens

All the events are available as different triggers

Website activity

  • A contact visits a page
  • A contact visits an external link

Website:

  • Webpage visited
  • — (coming soon)
Actions

Send an email

Messaging:

  • Send an email

Send an SMS

Messaging:

  • Send an SMS

Send a WhatsApp message

Messaging:

  • Send a WhatsApp message

Send a notification

Messaging:

  • Notify by email

Add the contact into a list

Contacts:

  • Add contact to a list

Remove the contact from a list

Contacts:

  • Remove contact from a list

Call a webhook

Webhooks:

  • Call a webhook

Update contact attribute

Contacts:

  • Update contact attribute

Blocklist a contact

Contacts:

  • Blocklist contact

Start another workflow

Automations:

  • Start another automation

Go to another step

Automations:

  • Redirect contact to another step

Perform a CRM action:

  • Create a deal
  • Create a task
  • Assign a user to the contact

Deals:

  • Create a deal
  • Create a task

Contacts:

  • Assign a user to the contact
Record a conversion — (only available in the classic editor for now)
Conditions/Rules
Add a delay Time delay
Wait until Wait until an event happens
If/Else condition Conditional split
A/B split Percentage split
Exit and restart conditions/Audience entry and exit

Exit & Restart the workflow:

  • Exit the workflow
  • Restart the workflow

Settings:

  • Exit conditions
  • Restart conditions

Workflow settings:

  • Allow your contacts to enter the automation more than once

Settings:

  • Contact re-entry after exit

FAQs

General FAQs

Who has access to the new editor?

All Brevo users have access to the new editor. 

💡 Good to know
Some steps are only available to some users. For example, sending a wallet notification from an automation is only available to Enterprise users with a Wonderpush account. To learn more, check our dedicated article Available triggers, actions, and rules in an automation.
Who has access to the classic editor?

Only users who have used the classic editor at least once since early 2025 can create new automations with it. All others can only use the new editor for new automations.

Existing automations created with the classic editor remain available and can still be edited or activated.

How do I know if my automations were created using the classic or new editor?

From the Automations page, your automations have a specific tag based on the editor they were created with.

aut_editors_tag_en-us.png

About the new editor

Does the new editor have the same features as the classic editor?

Yes, the new editor includes all the features of the classic editor, with added improvements such as:

The only options not available in the new editor are the Contact clicks an external link trigger (coming soon) and the Record a conversion action. 

What improvements does the new editor offer over the classic version?

The new editor offers several improvements, including:

  • 8 pre-built automations for easy setup
  • A flexible canvas to organize automation steps more intuitively
  • More messaging channels, including wallet and push notifications
  • Advanced conditions and filtering for triggers and rules
  • Built-in email and SMS creation directly within the editor
  • The ability to manually add contacts to an automation
Will my existing automations still work if I start using the new editor?

Yes, automations created with the classic editor will continue to work. You can use both editors simultaneously if needed. However, we recommend gradually migrating to the new editor to take advantage of its improvements.

How do I get started with the new automation editor?

To get started with the new editor, we recommend reading our introductory article About the new automation editor. Then, try one of our pre-built automations to familiarize yourself with the editor and learn how to create an automation:

Is there any documentation available for the new automation editor?

Yes, we offer documentation for the new editor, including feature overviews, use cases, and step-by-step technical guides.

To learn more, check our dedicated help section New automation editor.

Will the new editor receive updates and improvements?

Yes, the new editor will be continuously enhanced with new features and improvements over time.

About the classic editor

Can I still use the classic editor?

Only users who used the classic editor in the last six months can create new automations with it. All others can only use the new editor for new automations.

Existing automations created with the classic editor remain available and can still be edited or activated. However, we recommend gradually migrating to the new editor to take advantage of its improvements.

Will the classic editor receive new updates or improvements?

No, the classic editor will not receive any new updates or improvements.

Will the classic editor be deprecated?

Yes, the classic editor will eventually be deprecated, but no specific date has been set. The transition will be gradual, and you’ll be notified in advance before any changes are made.

⏭️ What's next?

🤔 Have a question?

If you have a question, feel free to contact our support team by creating a ticket from your account. If you don't have an account yet, you can contact us here.

If you’re looking for help with a project using Brevo, we can match you with the right certified Brevo Agency partner.

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