Switch from ConvertKit to GoHighLevel without losing tags, automations, or deliverability

You can move from ConvertKit to GoHighLevel in one week, keep subscriber status and tags, rebuild automations cleanly, and protect inbox placement.

Who this is for

Creators, newsletters, education brands, and small shops using ConvertKit for forms, tags, sequences, and simple commerce, and now want a full CRM, automations, funnels, and ads tracking under one roof.

What you keep

• Subscribers and tags imported one to one, including custom fields and segments.
• Unsubscribed and bounced contacts preserved as Do Not Disturb so you do not email them.
• Sequence content copied as templates, then scheduled in GoHighLevel.
• Commerce with Stripe continues, new checkouts run in GoHighLevel. Existing subs keep billing in Stripe, you sync events back to GoHighLevel.
• Deliverability posture via your sending domain, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and a short warm up.

What you rebuild

• Visual automations become Workflows with clearer triggers and steps.
• Forms and pages move to GoHighLevel Sites or Funnels. Keep a temporary ConvertKit embed during the cutover if needed.
• Double opt in uses a Workflow with a confirmation email and trigger link, not ConvertKit’s native toggle.
• Segments map to Smart Lists using tags, fields, and UTM attributes.

The 7 day, zero downtime plan

Day 0, setup

• Create a dedicated sending subdomain, for example mail.yourdomain.com.
• Add DNS for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and tracking. Verify the domain inside GoHighLevel.
• Connect Stripe to GoHighLevel. Keep your existing Stripe connection that powers ConvertKit Commerce.
• Create a staging pipeline for testing email events and conversions.

Day 1, export and import

• Export subscribers from ConvertKit with tags and custom fields. Export unsubscribed and cancelled separately.
• Import to GoHighLevel. Map tags and fields one to one.
• Import unsubscribed and bounced as Email DND so suppression persists.
• Spin up Smart Lists that mirror your key segments.

Day 2, sequences and templates

• Copy each ConvertKit Sequence into Email Templates in GoHighLevel. Keep subject lines identical for continuity.
• Create one Workflow per journey, for example Welcome, Lead Magnet, Nurture, Launch, Reactivation.
• Add Email Events steps to branch on opened, clicked, replied, or unsubscribed where you previously used Visual Automation rules.

Day 3, forms, pages, and attribution

• Recreate ConvertKit forms as GoHighLevel Forms. Add hidden fields for UTM source, medium, campaign, term, content, plus gclid or fbclid if you run ads.
• Rebuild your top landing pages in Funnels or Sites. Use the same URLs if possible.
• If you need a buffer, embed the existing ConvertKit form for 24 to 48 hours while traffic shifts, then replace with the GoHighLevel form.

Day 4, testing and QA

• Seed test contacts that represent each segment, tag, and custom field pattern.
• Fire every trigger, for example form submit, tag added, purchase, link click, reply. Check execution logs.
• Send a small batch email to a test list and confirm inbox placement on Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail. Fix alignment, tracking, footer, and compliance items.

Day 5, pilot live traffic

• Route 10 to 20 percent of new form traffic to GoHighLevel pages and forms. Keep the rest on ConvertKit for one day.
• For paid ads, connect Google Ads offline conversions and Meta Conversions API using Workflow actions. Trigger conversions on form submit, booked call, pipeline stage change, or purchase.
• Connect Stripe webhooks so purchases and subscription renewals tag contacts and update pipelines.

Day 6, full cutover

• Point all forms and pages to GoHighLevel. Remove ConvertKit embeds.
• Pause ConvertKit sequences. Leave broadcasts and automations disabled to avoid double sends.
• Keep ConvertKit only as an archive for 2 to 4 weeks while you monitor metrics and spam complaints.

Day 7, optimize and remove risk

• Review opens, clicks, replies, unsubscribes, spam complaints, and bounce codes. Adjust sending cadence and throttling if needed.
• Consolidate duplicate tags, standardize naming, and lock your new Smart Lists.
• Document the migration, including DNS, list health, and Workflow maps.

Key mappings and cautions

Tags, fields, and segments

• Keep your tag vocabulary. Do not rename during import. Clean later.
• Segments that relied on “Subscribed to Sequence” should switch to fields or tag logic, for example tag = lead-magnet-a AND last_engaged_date >= 30d.

Double opt in

• Build a Workflow: trigger form submit, send confirm email, wait for trigger link click, then set a custom field opt_in = confirmed, then tag marketing-ok.

Purchases and subscriptions

• Existing ConvertKit Commerce subscriptions continue to bill in Stripe. You do not “move” those subscriptions into GoHighLevel. Instead, you:
  • Keep Stripe as the source of truth for renewals.
  • Listen for Stripe events and update the contact, tags, membership access, and pipeline in GoHighLevel.
  • Use new GoHighLevel checkouts for future offers and bundles.

Deliverability and warm up

• Send from a dedicated subdomain. Keep consistent from name and reply to.
• Warm with high engagement segments first: clickers and recent buyers.
• Honor suppression. Never re import unsubscribes as mailable.

Attribution and ads

• Capture UTMs and click IDs on forms. Use Workflow actions to send conversions to Google Ads and Meta.
• Require gclid, wbraid, or fbclid for API conversion uploads. If missing, do not push to ads.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Importing unsubscribed as active. Always map them to Do Not Disturb.
• Replacing every tag system at once. Migrate first, refactor later.
• Breaking reply detection by using no reply addresses. Use a real inbox for replies and routing.
• Losing access to old files. Export sequence content and automation screenshots before you shut ConvertKit down.

FAQ

Will my old subscribers keep receiving billing emails after the move?
Yes. Existing subscriptions keep billing in Stripe. Use webhooks to sync renewals into GoHighLevel so access and tags stay current.

Can I import my Visual Automations directly?
No. Rebuild them as GoHighLevel Workflows. The logic is equivalent and usually cleaner.

Do I need to re confirm my entire list?
No, if you preserve subscriber status and suppression correctly. Only new opt ins need your double opt in Workflow if you require it.

How do I keep my sequences sending on schedule?
Replicate delays and conditions exactly. For date based sends, use time windows and contact time zone in Workflows.

What about deliverability during the cutover?
Warm up the new domain with engaged segments, keep list hygiene tight, and monitor spam and bounce codes daily for the first 2 weeks.