AWeber Migration in Brief
AWeber offers a free migration service for new customers. Its migration experts can move your email templates, automations, lists and more from your old platform, and can recreate custom templates for you. AWeber also publishes switching guides for common platforms such as Mailchimp and MailerLite.
You'll still want to do a few things yourself: export a backup of your data, re-authenticate your sending domain, reconnect your forms and test everything before cancelling your old account.
If you've been putting off a move because of the work involved, AWeber's migration team takes most of it off your plate. Keep your old account open until everything is tested.
What the Migration Team Can Move
| Item | Moved by AWeber's team? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriber lists | Yes | Include tags or groups so segmentation survives the move |
| Email templates | Yes | Custom templates can be recreated |
| Automations | Yes | Some automations need Lite or Plus to run |
| Signup forms | Rebuilt | You'll place new form code on your site |
| Domain authentication | Your job | Add AWeber's records to your DNS |
| Integrations | Your job, with help | Reconnect your store, payments and other tools |
AWeber notes that some automations aren't available on the free plan, so if you're migrating several sequences, plan on Lite or Plus. See AWeber Lite vs Plus.
Before You Start: Export a Backup
Whatever happens, keep your own copy of your data. From your current platform, export:
- Your full subscriber list as a CSV file, including tags, groups and signup dates.
- Unsubscribed and bounced addresses, so you don't accidentally email them again.
- Copies of your welcome and automation emails, even as plain text.
- Your templates, or screenshots of them if export isn't possible.
Store the files somewhere safe. If anything goes wrong, you can rebuild from them.
Step-by-Step Switch Plan
- Open your AWeber account and request free migration help.
- Share your exports and explain what you need moved.
- Verify your sending domain in AWeber with SPF and DKIM records.
- Review imported lists and tags to confirm counts and segments look right.
- Check migrated automations and switch them on only after testing.
- Replace signup forms on your website with AWeber forms.
- Reconnect integrations such as your store, payments or booking tool.
- Send a test email, then a first campaign to your most engaged subscribers.
- Cancel your old account once everything has run correctly for a week or two.
Protect Your Deliverability During the Move
A new platform means new sending infrastructure, and mailbox providers notice changes. A few precautions keep your inbox placement steady.
Authenticate your domain before sending anything. Send your first emails to your most engaged subscribers, people who opened or clicked recently, then widen to the full list over the following sends. And use the move as a chance to leave behind long-inactive subscribers rather than importing them.
That last step also saves money, since AWeber prices by subscriber tier. See email list hygiene.
Importing Responsibly
Only import people who agreed to receive emails from you. A migration isn't a chance to add old customer lists, business cards or contacts who never opted in. Doing so risks spam complaints and breaches of anti-spam rules.
If you're unsure about a group of contacts, leave them out or send them a separate, one-off invitation to join. Our how to import an email list guide explains what to check.
Switching From Specific Platforms
The basic plan above works from any tool, but each platform has quirks:
- From Mailchimp: export audiences with tags, then rebuild Mailchimp groups as AWeber tags. See AWeber vs Mailchimp.
- From Kit: Kit's tags map naturally to AWeber tags; sequences become AWeber workflows. See AWeber vs Kit.
- From MailerLite: groups become tags, and automations are rebuilt as workflows. See AWeber vs MailerLite.
Tell Your Subscribers (Briefly)
Most subscribers won't notice a platform change if your sender name and address stay the same. If anything changes, such as your sending address, a short note in your next newsletter helps people recognize you.
Ask readers to add your address to their contacts. It's a small step that helps your emails reach the inbox.
Open your account and let AWeber's migration team move your lists, templates and automations for you.
AWeber Migration FAQs
Is AWeber's migration service really free?
Yes. AWeber offers free migration help to move templates, automations, lists and more.
Will my subscribers need to opt in again?
Generally no, if they opted in on your previous platform and you keep records of that consent. Don't import contacts who never opted in.
How long does migrating to AWeber take?
It depends on your list and how many automations you have. Plan for setup, testing and a short overlap period before cancelling your old tool.
Can AWeber move my automations?
Yes, the migration team can move automations. Some require a paid plan to run.