How to export your data from Mailchimp

Mailchimp lets you export a full account backup (audiences, campaigns, templates, reports, SMS, events, appointments, ecommerce) as a single ZIP of CSV/HTML/TXT files from Account > Manage my data, or export a single contact's GDPR data per audience from the Audience view.

Formats: CSV, HTML, TXT, ZIP (bundle)Plan: Not gated by plan in Mailchimp's docs — the Manage my data export is described as a general account feature, not tied to a specific paid tierRole: Not specified by Mailchimp's docs; requires access to the Account > Settings area of the Mailchimp account

✓ Verified against Mailchimp's official documentation, September 2026

Step by step

1Click your profile icon, then click Account
2Click the Settings drop-down and choose Manage my data
3Check the box next to each type of data you want to export (Emails, Audiences, Reports, Templates, Gallery, SMS data, Events, Appointments, Ecommerce)
4Use the date drop-down and choose a time frame for your export
5Click Export Data
6Wait for the export to process — allow up to 24 hours if you have a lot of data
7When you get the 'your export is ready' email, click the link to go to the Export My Data page
8Click Download My Account Data to download the ZIP file

What the export includes

✓Emails: a CSV of all regular campaigns plus a campaigns_content folder with HTML and TXT files
✓Audiences: separate files for cleaned, subscribed, transactional (non-subscribed), and unsubscribed contacts
✓Reports: aggregate_activity (opens, clicks, unsubscribes), geo_data, and granular_activity (per-contact open/click data)
✓Templates: HTML files for all email templates
✓Gallery: images and content from the My files section of the Content Studio
✓SMS data: source, acquisition/revocation timestamps, subscription status, program name, and phone number for SMS contacts
✓Events: CSV of custom events sent via the API, with timestamps, event name, and contact email
✓Appointments: CSV with subject, start/end time, and description for booked appointments
✓Ecommerce: separate files for products and orders linked to sent emails

What it doesn't include

✗Deleted audiences — audience deletion is permanent and Mailchimp does not host deleted audience data
✗Billing receipts — current and past billing statements are not in the export; download those from the billing history page instead
✗Third-party information — only data about contacts actually stored in Mailchimp is included
✗Website, landing page, and ad content — social ads, remarketing ads, landing pages, and website content are not exportable

Before you start

⚠You're allowed only 1 account export per 24-hour period
⚠The export can take a while to process, especially with a lot of data, and Mailchimp emails you when it's ready
⚠The finished ZIP file is only available for download inside your Mailchimp account (Manage my data page) — it is not attached to the notification email
⚠You can re-import most exported data back into Mailchimp later, with the exception of email and SMS reports
⚠For a single contact's full personal data (GDPR-style export), you must export it per audience — if a contact is in multiple audiences, you need to repeat the export for each one
⚠The contact-level export always creates the same set of CSV files (List, Emails, Mailchimp Inbox, Appointments, Campaign interactions, Surveys, SMS, Events) even when there's no data for a given file

Where to take your data

Free and cheaper tools that can take a Mailchimp export. See all Mailchimp alternatives →

Buttondown

Alternatives Mailchimp vs Buttondown

Take the subscribed-contacts CSV from the Audiences export folder and use Buttondown's subscriber CSV import to bring your list over; campaign HTML/TXT content from the Emails export can be reused as source material for new Buttondown emails.

Resend

Use the subscribed-contacts CSV from the Audiences export to add contacts to a Resend Audience via CSV import or the API; transactional/campaign HTML from the Emails export can be adapted as Resend email templates.

Loops

Import the subscribed-contacts CSV from the Audiences export as a Loops audience/contact list, mapping the list fields captured in Mailchimp's export to Loops contact properties.

Exporting from Mailchimp: common questions

Can I export just my subscriber list without everything else?+

Yes. On the Manage my data page you check only the boxes for the data types you want — you don't have to include Emails, Reports, Templates, Gallery, SMS, Events, Appointments, or Ecommerce if you only need Audiences.

How long does a Mailchimp export take?+

It varies with how much data is in your account; Mailchimp says to allow up to 24 hours for large accounts and will email you when the ZIP is ready to download.

Can I run more than one export a day?+

No — Mailchimp limits accounts to one account export per 24-hour period.

Does the export include campaign reporting stats like opens and clicks?+

Yes, if you select Reports — it includes an aggregate_activity folder (opens, clicks, unsubscribes), a geo_data folder, and a granular_activity folder with per-contact open and click data. Note that email and SMS reports can be exported but can't be re-imported back into Mailchimp.

Will the export include audiences I already deleted?+

No. Audience deletion in Mailchimp is permanent, and deleted audience data is not retained or available in exports.

Where do I actually download the finished export file?+

You don't download it from the email itself — click the link in the notification email to go to the Export My Data page inside your Mailchimp account, then click Download My Account Data to get the ZIP.