How to Switch from Mailchimp to ConvertKit (Step-by-Step 2026 Guide)

Q: Will I lose subscribers when switching from Mailchimp to ConvertKit?

No, you will not lose subscribers. Mailchimp exports your full subscriber list as CSV including email, name, tags, and custom fields. ConvertKit imports these directly. The only data you cannot transfer is email engagement history like open rates and click history from Mailchimp.

Q: How long does the Mailchimp to ConvertKit migration take?

For most creators and small businesses, the migration takes 2-3 hours. This includes exporting from Mailchimp (10 minutes), cleaning data (30 minutes), importing to ConvertKit (20 minutes), and rebuilding automations (1-2 hours depending on complexity).

By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026

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Easy2-3 hoursEmail Marketing

Migration takes about 2-3 hours for most creators. Mailchimp exports your subscribers as CSV, and ConvertKit has a direct import tool. The biggest time sink is rebuilding automations manually since those do not transfer. Here is exactly what to do.

Migration Checklist

Step 1: Export Your Data from Mailchimp

Log into Mailchimp and go to Audience → All Contacts
Click Export Audience in the top-right dropdown
Select Export as CSV
Wait for the email from Mailchimp with your download link (takes 1-10 minutes)
Download the ZIP file and extract it

Also export: Go to Campaigns → All Campaigns and take screenshots of your automation workflows. You will need to rebuild these manually in ConvertKit.

Step 2: Clean and Prepare Your Data

Open the CSV in Google Sheets or Excel
Delete rows where UNSUB or CLEANED status appears (these are unsubscribed contacts)
Keep only essential columns: Email Address, First Name, Last Name, TAGS
Rename headers to match ConvertKit: email, first_name, last_name
Remove duplicate email addresses
Save as a new CSV file

Step 3: Set Up Your ConvertKit Account

Sign up at convertkit.com (free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers)
Go to Settings → Email and configure your sender name and reply-to address
Verify your sending domain under Settings → Email → Domains
Create your first form or landing page to test

Step 4: Import Subscribers to ConvertKit

Go to Subscribers → Add Subscribers
Click Import a CSV
Upload your cleaned CSV file
Map the columns: email → Email, first_name → First Name, etc.
Assign a tag like imported-from-mailchimp to track these contacts
Click Import Subscribers and wait for completion

Tip: ConvertKit will automatically skip duplicates and invalid emails during import.

Step 5: Recreate Automations and Sequences

Go to Automate → Visual Automations
Create a new automation for each Mailchimp workflow you screenshotted
For welcome sequences: Automate → Sequences → create a new sequence
Copy email content from Mailchimp into ConvertKit email editor
Set timing between emails (ConvertKit uses days, not dates)

Step 6: Test Everything

Add yourself as a test subscriber
Trigger each automation and verify emails arrive
Check that all forms submit correctly
Verify tags are applied as expected
Test on mobile devices

Step 7: Update Forms and Integrations

Replace all Mailchimp embed forms on your website with ConvertKit forms
Update Zapier/Make.com integrations to point to ConvertKit
Update any API connections (ConvertKit API v3 endpoint: api.convertkit.com/v3/)
Change popup forms and landing pages

Step 8: Run Parallel for 1-2 Weeks

Keep your Mailchimp account active while you verify ConvertKit is working correctly. Monitor open rates, delivery rates, and automation triggers. If anything breaks, you still have Mailchimp as a fallback.

Step 9: Deactivate Mailchimp

Pause all Mailchimp automations: Campaigns → select each → Pause
Download a final export as backup
Go to Account → Settings → Pause or Delete Account
Choose Downgrade to Free if you want to keep the data, or Delete for a clean break

What You Will Lose

Email engagement history — open rates, click rates, and engagement scores do not transfer
Template designs — Mailchimp templates must be recreated in ConvertKit format
A/B test history — past test results stay in Mailchimp
Mailchimp-specific integrations — some Shopify/WooCommerce plugins are Mailchimp-only
Campaign reports — historical campaign analytics remain in Mailchimp

What You Will Gain

Tag-based organization — far more flexible than Mailchimp groups/segments
Visual automation builder — easier to design complex email funnels
Creator-focused features — paid newsletters, tip jars, digital product sales built in
Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers — much more generous than Mailchimp free tier
Simpler pricing — no more paying for unsubscribed contacts sitting in your list

Gotchas and Common Mistakes

Double opt-in re-confirmation: ConvertKit may ask imported contacts to re-confirm. Turn this off during import by selecting "Do not require confirmation" since they already opted in via Mailchimp.
Mailchimp merge tags break: If your emails use *|FNAME|* merge tags, these will not work in ConvertKit. Replace with ConvertKit syntax: {{ subscriber.first_name }}
Groups vs Tags: Mailchimp groups do not directly map to ConvertKit tags. Plan your tag structure before importing.
Sending reputation reset: Your email sending reputation starts fresh with ConvertKit. Warm up by sending to your most engaged subscribers first.

Data Export Formats

Data Type	Mailchimp Export	ConvertKit Import
Subscribers	CSV (ZIP archive)	CSV upload
Tags/Groups	Included in CSV columns	Map during import
Email templates	HTML (manual copy)	Paste into editor
Automations	No export (screenshot)	Rebuild manually
Campaign history	CSV report download	Not importable

Migration Timeline

When	Task	Time Needed
Day 1	Export Mailchimp data + set up ConvertKit	1 hour
Day 1	Clean data + import subscribers	45 min
Day 1-2	Rebuild automations and sequences	1-2 hours
Day 2	Update website forms + integrations	30 min
Day 3-14	Run parallel + monitor	10 min/day
Day 14	Deactivate Mailchimp	10 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose subscribers when switching from Mailchimp to ConvertKit?

No. Mailchimp exports your full subscriber list as CSV including email, name, tags, and custom fields. ConvertKit imports these directly. The only data you cannot transfer is email engagement history like open rates and click history.

How long does the Mailchimp to ConvertKit migration take?

For most creators, 2-3 hours. This includes exporting (10 minutes), cleaning data (30 minutes), importing (20 minutes), and rebuilding automations (1-2 hours depending on complexity).

Can I migrate Mailchimp automations to ConvertKit?

Automations cannot be automatically transferred. You need to manually recreate workflows in ConvertKit Visual Automations editor. The good news: ConvertKit tag-based automations are simpler to set up than Mailchimp group-based workflows.

Not sure yet? Read our full Mailchimp vs ConvertKit comparison to see pricing, features, and which tool fits your needs better.

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Last updated: April 9, 2026. All steps verified.