AWeber is one of the most established email marketing platforms and a natural landing spot for Mailchimp users who want something simple and reliable. The migration is straightforward: contacts move cleanly via CSV and AWeber's onboarding is well-guided.
This guide covers everything you need to migrate from Mailchimp to AWeber without losing subscribers or breaking your automations. Estimated time: 2-4 hours.
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 AWeber |
| Automation workflows | No | Need to be rebuilt from scratch |
| Campaign history | No | Historical stats stay in Mailchimp |
Step-by-step migration guide
Sign up at www.aweber.com before doing anything else. Keep your Mailchimp account running throughout the migration: do not cancel it until everything is confirmed working in AWeber.
Add your domain to AWeber 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 Mailchimp, 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 AWeber to stay compliant.
Upload your CSV into AWeber 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 Mailchimp before rebuilding them in AWeber. 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 AWeber and replace the Mailchimp 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 Mailchimp once you are fully satisfied that AWeber is working as expected.
Once AWeber is fully operational, cancel your Mailchimp 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
AWeber is a solid choice if you want a simple, reliable platform with good deliverability and strong customer support. The migration from Mailchimp is one of the easier switches you can make.
Not sure AWeber is the right destination? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz for a personalized recommendation.