Flodesk is a popular destination for Mailchimp users who want more beautiful emails and flat-rate pricing. Its standout feature is that your bill does not grow as your list grows: a significant difference from Mailchimp's contact-based pricing.
This guide covers everything you need to migrate from Mailchimp to Flodesk 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 Flodesk |
| 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.flodesk.com before doing anything else. Keep your Mailchimp account running throughout the migration: do not cancel it until everything is confirmed working in Flodesk.
Add your domain to Flodesk 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 Flodesk to stay compliant.
Upload your CSV into Flodesk 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 Flodesk. 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 Flodesk 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 Flodesk is working as expected.
Once Flodesk 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
Flodesk is the right move if email aesthetics matter to you and you want pricing that does not penalize list growth. The migration from Mailchimp is simple, and most users are sending within a few hours of signing up.
Not sure Flodesk is the right destination? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz for a personalized recommendation.