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How to move from Mailchimp to MailerLite: subscribers, tags, forms and automations

SwitchTo HQ · Updated 18 October 2026 · Email and team chat · How we write

MailerLite has a built-in importer that connects to your Mailchimp account and copies your subscribers across, along with their fields, tags and simple segments. Your forms, landing pages, email templates and automations don't come with them, so the switch is really two jobs: importing the audience, then rebuilding everything that sends to it. This guide follows MailerLite's own Mailchimp migration guide.

Before you start: keep your own copy of the list

Even though the importer connects directly, export your audience from Mailchimp first so you have an independent backup. Mailchimp's help centre explains how to view and export contacts. Keep the file somewhere secure, because it contains personal data about everyone on your list, and delete it once you no longer need it.

It is also worth tidying the list before you move it. Removing addresses that have bounced or never engaged means you start with a cleaner list. Some email platforms charge by number of subscribers, so a smaller list may also cost less.

Step 1: Connect Mailchimp and choose lists

In MailerLite:

Go to the Subscribers page and click Add subscribers.
Open the Import from Mailchimp tab.
Choose how to connect: log in with your Mailchimp credentials, or connect with a Mailchimp API key. If you log in, you will be sent to Mailchimp to authorise the connection.
Select the Mailchimp lists you want to bring across and click Next.

Step 2: Choose how fields are mapped

MailerLite offers two options:

Map the fields for me. MailerLite detects your Mailchimp fields and creates matching custom fields automatically.
Map the fields myself. You choose where each Mailchimp field goes.

If you map manually, MailerLite's guide gives examples. Email address maps to Email automatically. Mailchimp's internal contact_id can be skipped. The ip_opt column, the IP address used when someone opted in, can be skipped or stored in a custom field if you want to keep it as evidence of consent.

Step 3: Decide how tags become groups

Mailchimp uses tags and MailerLite uses groups, which do the same job of labelling subscribers. You can:

Create groups for each list and tag. MailerLite creates a group for every Mailchimp list and tag. MailerLite says duplicate subscribers across groups only count once towards your plan.
Add all subscribers to one group, ignoring the individual tags.

If you send different content to different tags, choose the first option.

Step 4: Segments, statuses and duplicates

Segments. Mailchimp has basic and advanced segments. MailerLite says only simple, field-based segments can be recreated automatically. Segments built on behaviour, e-commerce data or activity can't be imported and have to be rebuilt by hand. You can choose to bring over every compatible segment or none.

Unsubscribed and unconfirmed contacts. You can choose whether to import subscribers marked as unsubscribed or unconfirmed. They appear in their own category in MailerLite and can't be sent newsletters. Importing your unsubscribes is sensible. It keeps a record of who has opted out, so they aren't added back by mistake.

Duplicates. If some subscribers already exist in your MailerLite account, choose either update missing info only or overwrite all fields. MailerLite warns that with overwrite, empty fields in your import will erase existing data.

Click Let's import, match fields if you chose manual mapping, then Finish import. MailerLite shows a summary of subscribers added, updated and not added. Compare those numbers with your Mailchimp audience count.

Step 5: Rebuild forms and landing pages

Your Mailchimp signup forms keep sending new subscribers to Mailchimp until you replace them. In MailerLite:

Create forms in the Forms tab.
Create landing pages under Sites, then Landing pages.

Then replace the embed code on your website and anywhere else your form appears, such as link-in-bio pages. Until every form is switched, new signups will still arrive in Mailchimp. MailerLite's importer has a Sync again option under Import from Mailchimp to pick up subscribers added since your first import.

Step 6: Recreate templates and automations

Templates and automations are not imported. In MailerLite:

Rebuild email templates on the My templates page.
Rebuild automated sequences, such as welcome emails, in the Automation tab with New automation.

Before switching an automation on, think about subscribers who are already part-way through a Mailchimp sequence. One approach is to let existing sequences finish in Mailchimp and start new subscribers on the MailerLite version.

Step 7: Authenticate your domain and test

MailerLite recommends authenticating your sending domain before you send anything, to protect deliverability. This means adding the DNS records MailerLite gives you. Then:

Preview your new forms and landing pages, and submit a test signup.
Send test emails to yourself in a couple of email apps.
Trigger each automation to check it behaves as expected.

Step 8: Close down Mailchimp carefully

Once forms are switched and a final sync is done, stop sending from Mailchimp. Keep your exported audience file and any campaign reports you need. Check whether downgrading or closing your Mailchimp account deletes your data, and when your billing period ends.

Consent still applies

Moving a list doesn't change your obligations. Only send to people who agreed to hear from you. MailerLite's own guidance on importing says every subscriber you add must have given consent. In the UK, the ICO's guidance on electronic mail marketing explains the rules.

Checklist

Export your Mailchimp audience as a backup.
Connect Mailchimp in MailerLite, choose lists and map fields.
Turn tags into groups and bring across compatible segments.
Import unsubscribed contacts so they stay suppressed.
Rebuild advanced segments, forms, landing pages, templates and automations.
Authenticate your domain, test everything and run a final sync.
Switch every signup form before you stop using Mailchimp.