Recently, Mailchimp announced a change in its free plan policy, which now limits the number of subscribers and how many emails can be sent.
What’s changing in Mailchimp’s free plan?
- Contact limit – Up to 500 contacts
- Monthly send limit – Up to 1,000 email sends
- Daily send limit – Up to 500 email sends
This has caused a bit of a stir among users who have been relying on the platform’s free plan to grow their email lists and connect with their audience.
The decision has left many businesses and individuals searching for alternative options for managing an email newsletter and subscribers, including exporting their contacts and moving to a different email marketing platform.
How to export contacts from Mailchimp
Exporting contacts from Mailchimp can be done through the Export function in the Audience tab.
You can do this by going to Audience > All Contacts and clicking the Export Audience button.
The exported file will be in CSV format, which can be opened and edited in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, or imported into a new email management system.
To ensure a smooth transition to a new email marketing platform, it’s important to make sure that all of your data is exported correctly, including subscriber information and any custom fields you may have created.
Best free WordPress email newsletter plugins
If you’re using WordPress for your website, there are a number of free email newsletter plugins that can be used as an alternative to Mailchimp.
These plugins offer a variety of features, including the ability to create and send newsletters, manage subscribers, and track engagement.
They also provide an easy way to import and export subscribers, making it simple to move your email list from Mailchimp to a different platform.
fluentCRM and Newsletter are two powerful email marketing plugins for WordPress that offer a range of features to help you connect with your audience and grow your email list.
These plugins are easy to use, with simple and intuitive interfaces, and they integrate seamlessly with your WordPress website.
Both plugins will enable you to create and send newsletters, manage subscribers, and track engagement. They also provide an easy way to import and export subscribers, making them a great option if you’re looking to move your email list away from Mailchimp.
Both these plugins can be installed via the WordPress plugin manager.
Improving email deliverability
Adding SMTP support to your WordPress website can help improve the reliability and deliverability of your emails, especially if you are using a shared hosting service that may have limitations on sending emails.
One way to add SMTP support to your WordPress website is by using the fluentSMTP plugin.
This plugin enables you to send emails using an external SMTP server, which can help improve the reliability and deliverability of your emails. The plugin is easy to install and use, making it a great option for both beginner and advanced users.
After you’ve installed and activated it, go to the plugin settings page and enter the information for your SMTP server, including the host name, port number, and credentials. You can also configure the plugin to use encryption for added security, such as SSL or TLS.
The plugin also provides detailed logging information for each email sent, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting email delivery issues.
There are alternative options!
The recent change in Mailchimp’s free plan policy has caused a lot of buzz among users, and many businesses and individuals are now looking for other options.
Exporting contacts from Mailchimp is easy and there are a number of free email newsletter plugins, including fluentCRM and Newsletter, that can help you manage your email marketing directly through WordPress.
Feel free to get in touch with me if you would like help moving your Mailchimp account.