This guide shows how to import Mailchimp contacts into MailerPress with the Migration Center: audiences, tags, merge fields and contacts. It is a one-time import through the Mailchimp API, with no ongoing sync.
Requires MailerPress Pro 2.1.0 or later. Migrations from email platforms are not available in the free version of MailerPress.
Before you start
- Create a Mailchimp API key from your Mailchimp profile, under Extras > API keys.
- Copy the full key, including the data center after the hyphen (for example
-us21). - Mailchimp is not a MailerPress sending service, so you enter this key in the migration screen.
- Decide whether to import unsubscribed members: this option is set when you save the key.
- Back up your database, or test the import on a staging site first.
- Only import contacts who agreed to receive your emails.
What gets imported
| Mailchimp | MailerPress |
|---|---|
| Audiences | Lists, one per audience |
| Tags | Tags. A tag used in several audiences becomes one MailerPress tag. |
| Merge fields | Custom fields. Number and date fields keep their type. Other types become text. First and last name fill the contact’s name. |
| Subscribed members | Contacts, with their audience list, tags and field values |
| Unsubscribed members | Contacts, only if Include unsubscribed contacts is checked |
| Not imported | Pending, cleaned, archived and transactional members, groups, segments, campaigns, templates, automations, forms and reports. |
- Merge field values are imported only when Custom fields is checked.
- A MailerPress list or tag with the same name is reused, not duplicated.
Import your contacts
- Go to MailerPress > Tools > Migrations.
- Select Platforms.
- In Import from platform, choose Mailchimp (not connected).
- In the Connect Mailchimp form, paste your key in API key.
- To also import unsubscribed members, check Include unsubscribed contacts. Do it now: the form closes once the key is saved.
- Click Save API key. The record counts appear under Data to migrate.
- Check Lists, Tags, Custom fields and Contacts.
- Click Start migration.
- Wait for Migration completed. The counters show processed, skipped and failed records.
The import runs in the background, so you can leave the page. Cancel stops it, and records already imported stay in MailerPress. If it does not progress on a low-traffic site, set up a server cron job.
Contact statuses
| Mailchimp status | MailerPress status |
|---|---|
| Subscribed | Subscribed |
| Unsubscribed | Unsubscribed, if Include unsubscribed contacts is checked. Otherwise not imported. |
| Pending, cleaned, archived, transactional | Not imported |
- An existing MailerPress contact (same email) takes the Mailchimp status. An unsubscribed contact can become Subscribed again.
- A member of several audiences becomes one contact in several lists. Its status comes from the last audience imported.
- No contact is imported as Pending, so the sign-up confirmation email is not sent.
- Automations with the Contact Subscribed trigger can run for each new contact. Pause them first if needed.
After the import
- Open a few contacts and check their status, lists, tags and field values.
- Choose a sending service for your MailerPress emails. Mailchimp cannot send them.
- Set your sender name and address in MailerPress.
- Replace Mailchimp sign-up forms with a MailerPress sign-up form.
- Stop collecting contacts in Mailchimp: later sign-ups and unsubscribes there are not copied to MailerPress.
- Delete the API key in Mailchimp when you no longer need it.
- You can run the import again: contacts are matched by email, so no duplicates are created.
For all sources and options, see Migrate your contacts to MailerPress with the Migration Center.