How to Move Mailchimp Automations to MailerLite in the Easiest Way Possible
Big changes are coming to Mailchimp—and they’re not exactly the fun kind. Starting June 1, 2025, Mailchimp is discontinuing automation features for users on the free plan. Yep, you read that right: no more automated welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, or multi-step email workflows unless you upgrade.
Mailchimp’s free plan used to be pretty generous, allowing up to 2,000 contacts and 10,000 email sends each month. But recently, they’ve tightened things up quite a bit. Now you’re limited to just 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month, with a daily cap of 500 sends. To make things even trickier, Mailchimp now charges you for unsubscribed and inactive contacts, making it increasingly expensive for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Ouch.
Why MailerLite Could Be Your New Best Friend
Fortunately, there’s a simpler (and friendlier!) solution—MailerLite. Here’s why it’s quickly becoming the go-to alternative:
- Generous Free Plan: MailerLite gives you up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month completely free.
- Automation Included: Unlike Mailchimp, automation isn’t an extra upgrade. It’s part of the deal, letting you easily set up welcome sequences, sales funnels, and more.
- Cost-Effective: If you’re watching your budget (and who isn’t?), MailerLite is an affordable and robust option to keep your email marketing running smoothly without unexpected costs.
Ready to Switch? Here’s How to Easily Transition from Mailchimp to MailerLite
Switching platforms might sound daunting, but trust me, it’s a breeze. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Sign Up and Verify Your Account First things first—head over to MailerLite and create your account. They’ll walk you through a quick verification process, so you’ll be up and running in no time.
2. Import Your Subscribers
- Log in to MailerLite and navigate to “Subscribers.”
- Click on “Add Subscribers” and choose “Import from Mailchimp.”
- Connect your Mailchimp account, pick your lists, and map your subscriber fields.
- Group your subscribers to keep everything tidy.
3. Rebuild Templates and Automations MailerLite has a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to recreate your favorite email templates. Set up new automations to match your existing sequences—it’s intuitive and straightforward.
4. Update Forms and Integrations Swap out any Mailchimp signup forms on your website with fresh ones from MailerLite. Double-check your integrations with platforms like Shopify or your CRM to ensure everything stays connected seamlessly.
5. Test Everything Before You Hit Send Send yourself a few test emails to ensure everything looks perfect. Once you’re happy, start sending your campaigns through MailerLite without missing a beat.
Wrapping It Up
Mailchimp’s latest changes aren’t exactly small-business-friendly, but thankfully, MailerLite makes it easy to continue using powerful email marketing tools without blowing your budget.
For a helpful visual, check out this quick tutorial on importing subscribers from Mailchimp to MailerLite:
