MailerLite is a much simpler tool than ActiveCampaign. If you have been using ActiveCampaign but find it more complex than you need, MailerLite offers a cleaner experience at a lower price point.
This guide covers everything you need to migrate from ActiveCampaign to MailerLite without losing subscribers or breaking your automations. Estimated time: half a day.
What transfers and what does not
| Item | Transfers? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts and email addresses | Yes | Via CSV export/import |
| Tags and segments | Partial | Export as custom fields, remap on import |
| Custom field data | Partial | Transfers if mapped correctly during import |
| Unsubscribe history | Yes | Import as suppressed contacts |
| Email templates | No | Need to be rebuilt in MailerLite |
| Automation workflows | No | Need to be rebuilt from scratch |
| Campaign history | No | Historical stats stay in ActiveCampaign |
| CRM/deal data | No | MailerLite does not have a built-in CRM |
ActiveCampaign has a built-in CRM. MailerLite does not. Deal data, pipeline stages, and sales notes cannot be migrated. If you rely on ActiveCampaign's CRM, you will need a separate CRM solution after the switch.
Step-by-step migration guide
Sign up at www.mailerlite.com before doing anything else. Keep your ActiveCampaign account running throughout the migration: do not cancel it until everything is confirmed working in MailerLite.
Add your domain to MailerLite and follow the DKIM authentication instructions. This improves deliverability and ensures your emails arrive in inboxes, not spam folders. Complete this before importing any contacts.
In ActiveCampaign, go to your audience and export your full contact list as a CSV. Make sure to include all custom fields, tags, and segments. Export your unsubscribed contacts separately: you will need to suppress these in MailerLite to stay compliant.
Upload your CSV into MailerLite and map each column to the correct field. Import your unsubscribed contacts as suppressed. Review the import report carefully before proceeding: fix any mapping errors before building automations.
Screenshot or document all your active automations in ActiveCampaign before rebuilding them in MailerLite. Start with your highest-priority flows: typically your welcome series and any active nurture sequences. Do not activate them until you have tested them with your own email address.
Build your signup forms in MailerLite and replace the ActiveCampaign embed codes on your website. Test each form to confirm subscribers land in the right list and trigger the correct automation.
Send a test campaign to yourself. Trigger your automations manually. Check every link. Confirm your unsubscribe flow works correctly. Only cancel ActiveCampaign once you are fully satisfied that MailerLite is working as expected.
Once MailerLite is fully operational, cancel your ActiveCampaign account. Check your billing date to avoid being charged for another month. Download any historical reports or data you want to keep before cancelling.
The bottom line
MailerLite makes sense if ActiveCampaign's complexity is more than you need. You will lose automation depth and CRM features, but gain simplicity and lower cost. Only make this switch if you know you are not using ActiveCampaign's advanced features.
Not sure MailerLite is the right destination? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz for a personalized recommendation.