Why did I get a zip instead of a CSV?

Because Mailchimp exports each status as its own file — subscribed, unsubscribed, cleaned — and zips them together. Open the zip; the subscribed file is the list you can send to.

What are MEMBER_RATING, OPTIN_TIME, LEID and the rest?

Mailchimp’s own columns: engagement rating, when and from where the person opted in, their timezone and location, and internal ids. Delete them here if the next system does not need them.

Can I make one list from the subscribed and unsubscribed files?

You can, but keep the status: merge them on the email here, or add a column naming the file each row came from first, so nobody who opted out is mailed by mistake.

How do I check a list against the unsubscribed file before importing?

Merge the list against the unsubscribed file on the email column and keep only the rows with no match. The merge tool lists the matches, which are the people to leave out.

Will the email addresses be changed in any way?

No. Every value is carried as text — the case, the spaces, the plus signs in an address all stay as exported. The duplicate remover compares them without regard to case only when you ask it to.

Is my export uploaded anywhere?

No. The tracking columns come off inside this page, and your subscribers’ addresses stay on your machine throughout. Disconnect from the network after the page loads and the trim still works.

All guides

The Mailchimp audience export: a zip of CSVs by status, and twenty columns you did not ask for

Exporting an audience from Mailchimp gives a zip, not a file, with a separate CSV for each status — subscribed, unsubscribed, cleaned, and sometimes non-subscribed — each with the same columns: the email, the merge fields such as first and last name, and then a run of Mailchimp’s own columns for rating, opt-in time and address, timezone, region and tags. Most people want one list of the addresses they may still mail, without the tracking columns, which is a delete and a merge here.

What the zip usually contains

One CSV per status. Subscribed is the list you can send to; unsubscribed is the people who opted out and must not be re-added; cleaned is the addresses that bounced. Each file has the same headings: Email Address, the merge fields you defined, and then columns such as MEMBER_RATING, OPTIN_TIME, OPTIN_IP, CONFIRM_TIME, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, GMTOFF, DSTOFF, TIMEZONE, CC, REGION, LAST_CHANGED, LEID, EUID, NOTES and TAGS.

Timestamps are written as date and time in the account’s timezone; tags are one cell with the tags separated by commas inside quotes; and an address merge field spreads over several columns. None of it is wrong, and most of it is noise for the next thing you will do with the list.

Keep the columns you need

Drop the subscribed file on the delete-columns tool here, remove the tracking columns, and download a file with the email and the names. The tool shows the new width before you save, and the addresses come through exactly as written — no case changed, no space trimmed, which matters when the next system matches on them.

The same edit on the other files gives the same shape, which is what the compare and merge tools below need.

Compare, dedupe, or merge the statuses

To see who unsubscribed since last month, compare this month’s unsubscribed file with last month’s: the compare tool lists the rows added. To check that a list you are about to import does not contain anyone who opted out, merge it against the unsubscribed file on the email and keep only the rows with no match. To find addresses that appear twice with different capitalisation, run the duplicate remover on the email column.

The tags cell splits on its commas with the split-column tool if you need one column per tag.

Questions

Why did I get a zip instead of a CSV?: Because Mailchimp exports each status as its own file — subscribed, unsubscribed, cleaned — and zips them together. Open the zip; the subscribed file is the list you can send to.
What are MEMBER_RATING, OPTIN_TIME, LEID and the rest?: Mailchimp’s own columns: engagement rating, when and from where the person opted in, their timezone and location, and internal ids. Delete them here if the next system does not need them.
Can I make one list from the subscribed and unsubscribed files?: You can, but keep the status: merge them on the email here, or add a column naming the file each row came from first, so nobody who opted out is mailed by mistake.
How do I check a list against the unsubscribed file before importing?: Merge the list against the unsubscribed file on the email column and keep only the rows with no match. The merge tool lists the matches, which are the people to leave out.
Will the email addresses be changed in any way?: No. Every value is carried as text — the case, the spaces, the plus signs in an address all stay as exported. The duplicate remover compares them without regard to case only when you ask it to.
Is my export uploaded anywhere?: No. The tracking columns come off inside this page, and your subscribers’ addresses stay on your machine throughout. Disconnect from the network after the page loads and the trim still works.