MailCheap

Migrate from Mailchimp to MailCheap

Export your subscribers from Mailchimp, import the file as it is, and send. MailCheap reads Mailchimp's statuses, so people who left stay out.

Get startedMailCheap vs Mailchimp
  1. 1

    Export your subscribers from Mailchimp

    1. 1.1Click Audience, and pick the audience if you have several.
    2. 1.2Click Export audience, then Export CSV. Mailchimp emails you when it's ready.
    3. 1.3Download the zip and open it: it holds one CSV per type of contact.

    Import the subscribed file first. Then import the unsubscribed and cleaned files: those people come in as unsubscribed and bounced, so they get nothing.

    Leave out the non-subscribed file: those contacts never signed up for your emails.

    Mailchimp's help: View or export your contacts

    subscribed.csvExported from Mailchimp
    • Email AddressEmail
    • OPTIN_TIMESignup date
    • UNSUB_TIMEUnsubscribed
    • CLEAN_TIMEBounced
  2. 2

    Import the file into MailCheap

    1. 2.1In MailCheap, open Contacts and click Import.
    2. 2.2Choose the file. MailCheap shows how many rows it read, and their statuses.
    3. 2.3Tick "These people agreed to receive my emails", then click Import.

    MailCheap leaves out invalid addresses, role addresses (info@, support@…), throwaway inboxes, duplicates and addresses that bounced or complained before.

    Import contacts

    subscribed.csv9,412 unique valid of 9,517 rows
    active 9,108unsubscribed 251bounced 53

    These people agreed to receive my emails

    After the import

    228 left out

    • invalid address41
    • role address (info@, support@…)87
    • throwaway inbox22
    • duplicate in the file64
    • bounced or complained before14
  3. 3

    Send from your domain, or ours

    1. 3.1On Domains, add your domain and create the DNS records MailCheap shows: DKIM, a return path and one subdomain for your archive and links, plus DMARC if you have none.
    2. 3.2Until then, or for good, send from hello@your-newsletter.mailcheap.ai: it's set up for you, with no DNS to touch.

    news.yourdomain.comReady

    • CNAMEDKIM
    • CNAMEReturn path
    • CNAMEArchive and links
    • TXTDMARC

    Or hello@your-newsletter.mailcheap.aiReady

  4. 4

    Send your first issue

    1. 4.1Write it in the editor, or ask your AI agent to.
    2. 4.2Add your postal address in the newsletter settings: every issue needs one.
    3. 4.3Send yourself a test, then send or schedule it.

    Your first send to imported contacts goes out in steps: a slice first, then the rest 3 hours later if bounces and complaints stay low.

    Notes from a quiet monthSending in steps

    1. A first sliceGoes out now
    2. Rates checkedBounces under 2%, complaints under 0.08%
    3. The rest3 hours later

Comes with your list

  • Every email address
  • Who unsubscribed, bounced or complained: they get nothing
  • Signup dates, when the export has them

Stays on Mailchimp

  • Names, tags and custom fields
  • Past issues and their stats
  • Automations and their emails
  • Templates and landing pages
  • Segments

Ready to move?

Questions about your export? Email hello@mailcheap.ai.

Get started

Other migration guides

Mailchimp is a trademark of its owner, shown here to name the product you move from. MailCheap isn't affiliated with Mailchimp. The export steps follow Mailchimp's help on October 13, 2026.