# ConvertKit (Kit) → AcelleMail Migration — Visual Walkthrough

> Export subscribers from ConvertKit (now Kit), import into AcelleMail in 6 clicks. Visual walkthrough on both sides with API-driven option.

- Canonical URL: https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/migrating-from-convertkit-kit-to-acellemail
- Author: Martin Keller, SaaS & Business Editor
- Category: Migration & Comparison — Switching from Mailchimp/Sendinblue, cost comparison, data migration
- Content type: tutorial · Difficulty: beginner
- Tags: Acellemail
- Published: 2026-07-04 · Last updated: 2026-08-15
- Reading time: 5 min
- Publisher: AcelleMail Knowledge Base, https://acellesend.com/kb

---

## Before you start

You'll need:

- A ConvertKit (Kit) account with subscriber-export permission
- An AcelleMail installation up and running
- ~30 minutes for <100k subscribers

ConvertKit was rebranded to Kit in 2024. The UI shifted but the export flow remains the same — this guide uses the current Kit screen names.

## Export from Kit (ConvertKit)

In Kit's top nav, click **Subscribers**. Filter by tag, segment, form, or "all subscribers" — whichever scope you want to migrate. Then click **Export** in the toolbar.

Kit asks for format (CSV) and field selection — pick all the custom fields you've defined. The file prepares in the background; **Account → Imports & Exports** shows the download link when ready (usually <5 minutes).

Exported CSV includes: email, first name, all custom fields, tags (comma-separated), confirmed-at timestamp, source.
## Import into AcelleMail (the same 6 clicks for every source)

Once you have the CSV exported from your previous platform, the import flow in AcelleMail is identical regardless of where the data came from.

### 1. Open your destination list

In AcelleMail's sidebar, click **Audience** → choose the list that will receive the migrated subscribers (or create a new one — *New list* button top-right).

![Lists index](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/01-lists-index.png)

You'll see a per-list overview card with subscriber counts:

![List overview](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/02-list-overview.png)

### 2. Click "Import" in the list toolbar

The wizard entrypoint is on the list detail page:

![Import entry point](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/03-import-entry.png)

### 3. Upload your CSV

Drop the CSV file from the previous platform into the upload area:

![Upload empty state](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/04-upload-empty.png)

AcelleMail parses the file and confirms detection:

![Upload success](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/05-upload-success.png)

### 4. Map the columns

The wizard auto-detects standard columns (`email`, `first_name`, `last_name`) and shows green *Mapped to EMAIL* chips. Adjust manually for any non-standard column from the source:

![Map columns](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/06-map-columns.png)

### 5. Pick duplicate handling

In the same screen, choose what AcelleMail does when a subscriber already exists in this list:

- **Skip** — keep the existing row, don't overwrite
- **Update** — overwrite name/tags/custom fields with values from the CSV
- **Unsubscribe** — mark existing rows as unsubscribed (rare; used when re-importing an opted-out list)

### 6. Run the import

Click **Start import**. The job runs in the background — close the popup, work elsewhere, return to **Audience → [list] → Import** to see progress:

![Import history](https://acellesend.com/plugins/acelle/landing/images/help/kb/import-csv/07-import-entry-revisit.png)

You'll see *Pending* → *Running* → *Complete* per import job, with rows-imported / rows-skipped / errors counts.

## After the import

- **Verify list count** matches your expected size (rows that failed validation appear in the *Errors* column with a downloadable error CSV).
- **Re-tag if needed** — for behavioural data that doesn't fit a CSV column (e.g. "opened campaign X"), you may need to re-create the tag via segmentation rules.
- **Pause for warm-up** — if the imported list is large (>10k) and your sending IP is new or recently rotated, run a short warm-up campaign to your most-engaged 10% before the full send. See [IP warm-up best practices](https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/ip-warmup-schedule-for-new-sending-servers) for the schedule.

## Rebuilding Kit (ConvertKit) automations

Kit's **automations** (formerly called "sequences" + "rules") map to AcelleMail's **Automations**. Equivalent triggers:

| Kit trigger | AcelleMail trigger |
|---|---|
| Subscribes via form | Subscribed to list |
| Tag added | Tag added |
| Clicks link in email | Link clicked |
| Purchases (via integration) | Custom event (API) |
| Date condition | Date relative |
| Form submission | Subscribed to list (form's target list) |

Kit's "Visual Automations" (drag-and-drop sequence builder) closely mirror AcelleMail's automation canvas — the rebuild is largely 1:1 with the same node primitives.

## Merge-tag syntax differences

| Kit (ConvertKit) | AcelleMail |
|---|---|
| `{{ subscriber.first_name }}` | `{{ subscriber.first_name }}` (no change!) |
| `{{ subscriber.email_address }}` | `{{ subscriber.email }}` |
| `{{ subscription.unsubscribe_url }}` | `{{ unsubscribe_url }}` |

Kit uses Liquid templating, very close to AcelleMail's own syntax. Most templates copy-paste with only the `email_address` → `email` rename and unsubscribe-URL rename.

<details>
<summary><strong>Advanced: API-driven migration with Kit's subscribers endpoint</strong></summary>

**Export from Kit via API:**

```bash
# Kit (v4) API key from Account → API & Apps
curl -X GET "https://api.kit.com/v4/subscribers?per_page=1000" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <KIT_API_KEY>" \
  -o kit-subscribers.json
```

Paginate via `after` cursor; loop until response `pagination.has_next_page` is false.

**Import into AcelleMail:**

```bash
ACELLE_TOKEN="..."
ACELLE_LIST_UID="..."

jq -c '.subscribers[] | {email: .email_address, first_name: .first_name}' kit-subscribers.json \
  | while read sub; do
      curl -X POST "https://acellemail.com/api/v1/subscribers" \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACELLE_TOKEN" \
        -d "{\"list_uid\":\"$ACELLE_LIST_UID\",\"subscriber\":$sub}"
    done
```

For Kit's "Commerce" features (paid subscriptions, products), AcelleMail doesn't have direct equivalents — those workflows typically stay on Kit or move to a dedicated subscription tool.

</details>

## Related articles

- [Importing contacts CSV — best practices and field mapping](https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/importing-contacts-csv-best-practices-and-field-mapping)
- [Migration from Mailchimp to AcelleMail](https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/migrating-from-mailchimp-to-acellemail)
- [Building a welcome email series in AcelleMail](https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/building-a-welcome-email-series-in-acellemail)
- [Re-engagement campaigns — win back inactive subscribers](https://acellesend.com/kb/articles/re-engagement-campaigns-win-back-inactive-subscribers)

---

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