Why Migrate?#
| Aspect |
Mailchimp |
AcelleMail |
| Cost (10K subs) |
$100/month |
$64 one-time |
| Cost (50K subs) |
$350/month |
$64 one-time |
| Annual cost |
$1,200-4,200 |
$64-199 total |
| Data ownership |
Mailchimp's servers |
Your server |
| Source code |
No access |
Full source |
| Subscriber limits |
Per plan |
Unlimited |
Migration Steps#
1. Export from Mailchimp#
- Go to Audience → All Contacts → Export Audience
- Download CSV file
- Also export: segments, tags, automation workflows (manually document these)
2. Prepare Your Data#
Clean the CSV:
- Remove unsubscribed/bounced contacts (don't re-import them)
- Map Mailchimp fields to AcelleMail fields
- Standard mapping: EMAIL → email, FNAME → first_name, LNAME → last_name
3. Install AcelleMail#
Follow the installation guide for your server.
4. Import Subscribers#
- Go to Lists → Your List → Import
- Upload CSV
- Map fields
- Choose "Subscribe" as default status
- Enable "skip existing" to avoid duplicates
5. Recreate Templates#
- Export HTML from Mailchimp templates
- Import into AcelleMail's template editor
- Or use AcelleMail's drag-and-drop builder to recreate
6. Recreate Automations#
Document your Mailchimp automations and rebuild in AcelleMail:
- Welcome series
- Abandoned cart
- Re-engagement
- Birthday emails
7. Update DNS#
Point your sending domain authentication to your new sending server:
- Update SPF record
- Add new DKIM records
- Keep DMARC in monitor mode during transition
8. Warm Up (if using new IP)#
Follow the warmup schedule in our warmup guide.
Timeline#
| Week |
Action |
| 1 |
Install AcelleMail, import lists, recreate templates |
| 2 |
Recreate automations, configure sending server |
| 3 |
DNS migration, start warmup |
| 4 |
Begin sending from AcelleMail (small batches) |
| 5-6 |
Gradual migration of all sending |
| 7+ |
Cancel Mailchimp subscription |
Tip: Run both platforms in parallel for 2-4 weeks during transition. Send different campaigns from each to avoid duplicates.
