How to migrate from Mailchimp to GetResponse on GetResponse

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-19

Quick Answer

Migrate from Mailchimp to GetResponse by exporting your contact lists as CSV files from Mailchimp, then importing them into GetResponse using the built-in import tool. You'll also need to recreate your email templates and automation workflows in GetResponse.

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Prerequisites

Active Mailchimp account with data access
GetResponse account (free or paid)
CSV export permissions in Mailchimp
Admin access to both platforms

Step-by-Step Instructions

Export your contacts from Mailchimp

Log into your Mailchimp account and navigate to Audience > All contacts. Click the Export Audience button and select Export as CSV. Choose to include all subscriber data including custom fields, tags, and segments. Download the CSV file to your computer.

Export each audience separately if you have multiple lists in Mailchimp to maintain organization.

Prepare your contact data

Open the exported CSV file and review the data format. Ensure email addresses are in the first column and remove any unnecessary columns. Save the file with UTF-8 encoding to preserve special characters. Note any custom fields or tags you want to preserve for the import process.

Clean up any duplicate or invalid email addresses before importing to maintain good deliverability.

Create a new list in GetResponse

In your GetResponse dashboard, go to Lists and click Create List. Enter a descriptive name for your list and configure the basic settings including From name, Reply-to email, and Company address. Click Create list to proceed.

Import contacts to GetResponse

Navigate to Contacts > Import and select From file. Choose your prepared CSV file and click Upload. Map the columns from your CSV to GetResponse fields - ensure email addresses map to the Email field. Configure any custom fields as needed and select the target list for import.

Use the preview feature to verify your field mapping is correct before completing the import.

Set up custom fields and tags

Go to Contacts > Custom fields to create any additional fields that match your Mailchimp data structure. For tags, navigate to Contacts > Tags and recreate your tag system. Apply tags to imported contacts by using the Search & select feature to filter contacts and bulk apply tags.

Start with your most important custom fields and tags first - you can always add more later.

Recreate your email templates

In Email marketing > Templates, use GetResponse's drag-and-drop editor to recreate your Mailchimp email designs. You can start with a blank template or choose from GetResponse's library. Save frequently used designs as templates by clicking Save as template after designing.

GetResponse offers AI-powered design suggestions that can help improve your email layouts.

Set up automation workflows

Navigate to Automation > Create workflow to rebuild your Mailchimp automations. Choose from triggers like Subscription, Date-based, or Action-based. Add actions such as sending emails, adding tags, or moving contacts between lists. Test each workflow before activating.

Start with simple welcome sequences before building complex automation funnels.

Update subscription forms and integrations

Go to Forms to create new subscription forms using GetResponse's form builder. Embed the new forms on your website and update any third-party integrations to point to GetResponse instead of Mailchimp. Test all forms to ensure they're capturing leads correctly and triggering appropriate automation sequences.

Keep your old Mailchimp forms active for a few days during transition to avoid losing any new subscribers.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

CSV import fails with formatting errors

Ensure your CSV file uses UTF-8 encoding and has email addresses in the correct format. Remove any special characters from headers and verify there are no empty rows in your file.

Custom fields not importing correctly

Create the custom fields in GetResponse before importing your contacts. Go to Contacts > Custom fields and add each field with the exact same data type as your source data.

Automation workflows not triggering

Check that your workflow triggers are properly configured and that the workflow status is set to Active. Verify that contacts meet the trigger conditions and haven't already been through the workflow.

Email deliverability issues after migration

Warm up your sending reputation gradually by starting with your most engaged subscribers. Configure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM) in Account settings > Sending domains.

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