How do I format a CSV file to import contacts into SendFox?

Q: Where do I upload the file?

Go to Audience → Contacts, click Import contacts, then Upload a file. See creating a list and uploading contacts or adding a CSV to an existing list.

Format your CSV with an Email column, plus optional First Name and Last Name, then import it in Audience → Contacts → Import contacts → Upload a file. Every plan.

What columns does SendFox read?

CSV import works on every plan. The Free plan holds up to 1,000 contacts, and one file can have up to 100,000 rows.

Save your file as a .csv with a header row. SendFox matches these headers automatically (capital letters and spaces don’t matter):

Email or Email Address — required.
First Name or Name — optional.
Last Name — optional.

Any other column comes across only if you map it to a custom field that already exists, so create the custom field first. Columns you don’t map aren’t imported.

Not sure how to start? On the Upload a file step, click Download example for a ready-made file. Here’s what the columns and headers look like:

Example CSV with email, first name, and last name columns

Why should I export only subscribed contacts?

SendFox adds every row of your file as a subscribed contact. It doesn’t read a status column, so people who unsubscribed or bounced in your old tool would start getting your emails again. When you export, choose your subscribed (or active) contacts only.

Someone who already unsubscribed in SendFox stays unsubscribed, and anyone who left one of your lists isn’t added back to it. Imported contacts don’t receive a confirmation email.

Can I import tags from a column?

SendFox does not read a tags column out of your CSV. Instead, apply tags during the upload itself with the Tag them on import panel, which tags everyone in the file. If your export has a tags or segment column, you can either drop it, or split the file by that column and import each part with its own tag.

How do I export contacts from another platform?

Most email tools can export contacts as a CSV file. Export your subscribed contacts only, then open the file, check the headers match the ones above and remove columns SendFox doesn’t need. SendFox keeps one contact per email address, so duplicates are merged on import.

For step-by-step help, see how to switch from Mailchimp to SendFox, how to switch from Kit (ConvertKit) to SendFox or, for any other tool, how to switch to SendFox from another email platform.

Troubleshooting

My columns didn’t map correctly

Give each column a clear header and re-check the mapping step during import. The email column is required.
If no column is mapped to Email, SendFox shows Choose which column holds email addresses — contacts can’t be imported without one. You can’t continue until you pick that column.

Special characters look wrong

Save the CSV as UTF-8 so names with accents or non-Latin characters import cleanly.

My file is too big or the import was blocked

A file can have up to 100,000 rows. Over that, SendFox shows CSV exceeds the 100,000-row import limit. Split the file and import it in parts.
An import can’t take you over your plan’s contact limit. SendFox checks before the import starts, and only email addresses that are new to your account count toward the limit.

Still stuck? Browse the SendFox Help Center or email support@sendfox.com with your file’s column headers and number of rows.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I upload the file?

Go to Audience → Contacts, click Import contacts, then Upload a file. See creating a list and uploading contacts or adding a CSV to an existing list.

Is there a limit on how many I can import?

Yes. A file can have up to 100,000 rows, and an import can’t take you over your plan’s contact limit. Only email addresses that are new to your account count toward it.

Will my imported contacts get a confirmation email?

No. SendFox doesn’t send a confirmation email to imported contacts, so import only people who agreed to hear from you.