Everything you need to safely switch from Mailchimp, Omnisend, Drip, ActiveCampaign, or any ESP to Klaviyo, without risking your deliverability or losing data.
TL;DR: The short version
If you want to migrate to Klaviyo safely in 2026, your success comes down to six steps:
Audit your ESP (lists, segments, suppression, flows).
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Export everything cleanly (lists, engagement, SMS consent).
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Import suppression first, then active profiles.
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Rebuild your core flows in Klaviyo.
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Warm your domain with a controlled ramp.
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QA every flow, segment, and template.
This ensures no data loss, no deliverability issues, and no broken automation.
Why so many brands are moving to Klaviyo
If you’re feeling like you’ve outgrown your current ESP, you’re not alone. Shopify brands are switching to Klaviyo at a faster pace than any previous year, and for good reason.
Klaviyo’s advantage isn’t just that it “connects to Shopify.” It pulls in real-time behavioral and purchase data, produces far richer segmentation, and can unify email + SMS inside one profile. That means every touchpoint becomes smarter, more relevant, and more profitable.
Most brands migrate because they want:
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Faster, more reliable Shopify data syncs
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Stronger deliverability controls
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Predictive analytics that guide strategy
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And ultimately: higher LTV from the same audience
If your current ESP feels slow, limiting, or “stretched thin,” you’re likely already at the point where Klaviyo starts unlocking revenue.
Before you export anything: Run a pre-migration audit
A smooth migration starts with an organized foundation. Think of this step like packing before a move. The more intentional you are upfront, the easier everything else becomes.
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Start by reviewing lists and segments. Identify duplicates, consolidate naming conventions, and document the logic behind your existing segments. This ensures you don’t import clutter or conditions that no longer serve you.
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Next, review your core flows. Screenshot logic, timing, delays, and splits. These won’t transfer automatically, so capturing them now saves hours later.
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For SMS-enabled brands, protecting compliance is essential. Export explicit opt-in records, keyword history, and any country-specific requirements so you can import clean, legally compliant SMS data into Klaviyo.
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Then, gather your templates and brand assets, both HTML and images. Some ESPs export raw HTML only, so you may be rebuilding in Klaviyo’s editor.
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Finally, export your suppression list (unsubscribed + suppressed/bounced contacts) and clean your list of long-term inactive profiles. Bringing over only your engaged audience helps your deliverability from day one.
Platform-specific differences (Mailchimp, Omnisend, Drip, ActiveCampaign)
Every ESP structures and exports data differently. Knowing what does (and doesn’t) transfer smoothly prevents surprises.
Mailchimp → Klaviyo
Mailchimp’s tags often act like pseudo-segments, so you’ll need to decide which become lists, segments, or custom properties in Klaviyo. Templates export as raw HTML, meaning they’re best rebuilt using Klaviyo’s drag-and-drop editor. The good news: engagement data typically exports cleanly.
Omnisend → Klaviyo
Expect to rebuild every flow from scratch. SMS subscribers must be exported separately with explicit opt-in. Some custom properties won’t map perfectly, so plan time to adjust these.
Drip / ActiveCampaign → Klaviyo
These platforms tend to use heavily customized fields. Many map cleanly, but some require manual adjustments. Engagement data is valuable, especially for warming your domain, so make sure it’s included in your export.
Understanding what will and will not carry over will save you time and keep your migration accurate.
The safest export + import workflow
Once your audit is complete, you’re ready for the actual migration. The order in which you export and import data matters more than most brands realize.
Begin by exporting everything from your current ESP: lists, segments, segment logic, engagement history, SMS subscribers and keyword data, suppression lists, templates, and any related documentation or flow screenshots.
When importing into Klaviyo, always start with suppression lists. This protects your compliance and ensures you don’t accidentally send to unsubscribed contacts. After that, import your active lists and custom properties. Then recreate your segments using the documented logic from your audit. Finally, bring in SMS consent records and templates.
Once everything is imported and domain authentication is added, stop sending campaigns in your old ESP. However, you’ll still want to keep your old automations running until the new ones are completely built and ready to go in Klaviyo. Which, speaking of...
Rebuilding your most important Klaviyo flows
Once you’re in Klaviyo, it’s time to rebuild your foundation for growth. Start with these five essential flows we implement for every client:
Welcome Series
This is your first impression. Deliver your incentive (if applicable), set expectations, and introduce your brand story with clarity and warmth.
Abandoned Checkout / Abandoned Cart
These flows consistently recover high-intent customers. Klaviyo’s native events and real-time data make them far more effective than in most ESPs.
Added to Cart Flow
This flow targets shoppers who showed serious intent but never reached checkout, a high-value but often overlooked audience.
Browse Abandonment
These re-engage window shoppers who haven’t added anything to their cart. Personalization here often delivers strong lifts.
Post-Purchase Flow
Your retention engine. Use it to reduce buyer’s remorse, educate customers, and guide them toward that highly profitable second purchase.
Deliverability: Your first 30 days matter most
Your first month on Klaviyo sets the tone for every send that follows. Rushing this part risks landing in spam and delaying historical revenue.
A proper warming plan begins with your most engaged 90-day segment. Start by sending to roughly 10 to 20% of this audience, then gradually increase volumes every 3 to 5 sends. Keep complaint and bounce rates low, and avoid changes to your sending domain or dramatic template overhauls during warming.
With a careful ramp-up, you’ll maintain a strong sender reputation and enjoy healthy inbox placement from the start.
QA: How to know your migration is set up correctly
Before you hit send on your first campaign, make sure everything is working as expected.
Check that every flow triggers correctly and that personalization fields pull the right data. Review every email on both desktop and mobile. Test links, UTM parameters, and segmentation logic. Confirm that deliverability metrics look stable and that no unexpected spam placement occurs.
When everything is set up correctly, you’ll see early signs like:
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40 to 60% open rates
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Strong SMS clicks
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Early flow revenue within the first 48 to 72 hours
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A growing engaged segment
How long (and how much) a migration should take
A self-managed migration typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how complex your data is. The most time-consuming parts include mapping custom fields, recreating flows, rebuilding templates, configuring deliverability, and testing everything thoroughly.
An expert-led migration usually takes 1 to 2 weeks and eliminates most of the risk, especially around deliverability and compliance. Since email revenue often represents 20 to 40% of ecommerce revenue, a broken migration can cost far more than doing it correctly the first time.
That’s why many brands choose to bring in specialists, especially when the migration itself is free (hint: it is at Fuel Made).
Typical agencies charge anywhere from $5K to $15K for a migration alone, and even more for complex brands with larger lists ($50K+). That’s before any strategy, design, or copywriting. If you want speed, accuracy, and a smooth transition that starts paying off immediately, hiring help is absolutely worth it, especially when it doesn’t add to your budget.
A few FAQs…
What should I do before starting a migration?
Before you migrate, take inventory of your current ESP setup: lists, segments, active automations, templates, and compliance data. It's also smart to clean your list so you aren’t carrying over unengaged contacts.
Will I lose any data when switching to Klaviyo?
You shouldn’t lose any essential data. Subscriber profiles, custom fields, consent, engagement history, templates, and automations can all be moved, some one-to-one, others rebuilt in a more Klaviyo-friendly format.
Do I need to pause my automations before migrating?
You don’t need to pause them immediately. Usually, automations remain live in your existing platform until the Klaviyo versions are tested. Once the Klaviyo flows are active, the old ones can be turned off.
Will my deliverability be affected?
Deliverability generally stays stable (or improves) if DNS records, sending domains, and warming recommendations are followed. Warming your sending domain in Klaviyo is part of a healthy transition.
What happens to my segments when I migrate?
Some segments can be recreated exactly, while others may need to be rebuilt using Klaviyo’s logic. Segments that depend on platform-specific behaviors or IDs may need adjustments.
Do I need to re-collect consent?
If your current platform stores compliant consent data (timestamps, sources, etc.), it can be migrated. You don’t need to re-collect consent unless your data is incomplete or outdated.
Will my SMS subscribers come with me?
Yes. SMS consent and phone numbers can be imported into Klaviyo, as long as your current provider allows export of compliance data such as opt-in timestamps and acquisition source.
What happens to my pop-ups and forms?
Pop-ups must be rebuilt in Klaviyo (or another onsite tool), but all settings—triggers, targeting, delays, segments—can be matched or improved. Your email/SMS list growth doesn’t need to pause.
Can I migrate if my account is messy or unorganized?
Yes. Many brands migrate to escape a messy setup. Most teams use the migration as an opportunity to clean lists, update segments, and rebuild dated automations.
Should I migrate everything exactly as it is?
Not always. A migration is often the ideal time to modernize templates, simplify flows, and build new segmentation logic that better fits Klaviyo’s features.
Do I need to warm my new Klaviyo sending domain?
Yes. Klaviyo requires warming the domain gradually to establish sender reputation. This helps avoid spam filters during the first few weeks of sending.
Can I migrate from any platform?
Klaviyo supports importing data from Mailchimp, Omnisend, MailerLite, Sendlane, Yotpo, Drip, and most other ESPs. As long as your provider allows data exports, you can migrate.
Does using Shopify make migration easier?
Yes. Klaviyo’s Shopify integration is one of the tightest in the industry, which makes syncing customer, order, and event data much faster and more reliable.
Do my customers notice anything during the migration?
No, your customers shouldn’t see any disruption. They continue receiving emails normally and won’t see any change until you switch over to Klaviyo.
What if I have multiple lists or custom fields?
Klaviyo supports both. You can consolidate lists, map custom fields into profile properties, and unify your data as part of the migration.
How does a FREE, seamless Klaviyo migration sound?
You’re in the right place. If you want a clean, secure, revenue-ready transition, our team will:
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Handle the full migration
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Rebuild your highest-performing flows
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Set up deliverability + warming
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Help you start earning from email marketing on day one
