ActiveCampaign is the most common destination for Brevo users who have outgrown Brevo's automation capabilities. If you need more sophisticated branching logic, a built-in CRM, or better segmentation, ActiveCampaign is the natural step up.
This guide covers everything you need to migrate from Brevo to ActiveCampaign without losing subscribers or breaking your automations. Estimated time: half a day to a full 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 ActiveCampaign |
| Automation workflows | No | Need to be rebuilt from scratch |
| Campaign history | No | Historical stats stay in Brevo |
Step-by-step migration guide
Sign up at try.activecampaign.com before doing anything else. Keep your Brevo account running throughout the migration: do not cancel it until everything is confirmed working in ActiveCampaign.
Add your domain to ActiveCampaign 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 Brevo, 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 ActiveCampaign to stay compliant.
Upload your CSV into ActiveCampaign 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 Brevo before rebuilding them in ActiveCampaign. 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 ActiveCampaign and replace the Brevo 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 Brevo once you are fully satisfied that ActiveCampaign is working as expected.
Once ActiveCampaign is fully operational, cancel your Brevo 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
ActiveCampaign makes sense if Brevo's automation depth is holding you back. It is more expensive but the automation builder is in a different league. If you are running complex nurture sequences or need CRM, the upgrade is worth it.
Not sure ActiveCampaign is the right destination? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz for a personalized recommendation.