Migrating from Drip to Ontraport

Complete Guide: Migrating from Drip to Ontraport (Same AccessAlly Site)

Why Migrate from Drip to Ontraport?

Common reasons for migrating from Drip to Ontraport:

• Business Platform Upgrade: Ontraport is a full business automation platform, not just email marketing
• Advanced CRM Features: Ontraport includes deals, pipelines, tasks, projects (Drip has none of these)
• Native Payment Processing: Ontraport has built-in payment gateway (Drip requires external integrations)
• More Powerful Automations: Ontraport campaigns more sophisticated than Drip workflows
• Better Contact Management: Ontraport designed for complex businesses with robust contact database
• Unified Business Hub: Manage marketing, sales, fulfillment, and support in one system

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What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Access & Accounts

• WordPress admin access to your AccessAlly site
• Drip account access (for data export)
• Ontraport account (must be set up and configured first)
• AccessAlly license that supports CRM switching
• Access to your payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal)
• Access to your domain’s DNS settings (for email deliverability)

📋 Complete the Pre-Migration Checklist

Before proceeding, work through the complete Pre-Migration Checklist. Key items include:

• Full backup of WordPress site and database
• Export of all Drip contact data
• Audit of your current member count, tags, and custom fields
• Data mapping spreadsheet (contacts, tags, custom fields, automations)
• Staging site setup for testing (CRITICAL for CRM switches)
• Request 2-site exception from AccessAlly support
• Downtime plan and member communication

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Phase 1: Pre-Migration Setup (3-4 hours)

Step 1: Set Up Your Ontraport Account

If you haven’t already set up Ontraport:

1. Sign up for Ontraport (choose tier based on contact count – start with Basic $297/mo)
2. Complete basic account setup (company info, timezone, sender email)
3. Configure email deliverability (SPF, DKIM, DMARC records)
4. Test email sending (send yourself a test campaign to Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)
5. Create your first form and test submission
6. Explore the platform (CRM, campaigns, deals, tasks)

Step 2: Export Your Data from Drip

1. Log into your Drip account
2. Go to Settings → Account
3. Click “Export All Subscribers”
4. Drip will email you a CSV file (may take 15-30 minutes for large lists)
5. Download and open the CSV file
6. Review the data structure (email, names, tags, custom fields)

What’s included in the Drip export:

• Email addresses
• First and last names
• Custom fields (all stored as text in Drip)
• Tags (flat structure, no categories)
• Subscription status (active/unsubscribed)
• Opt-in timestamps

What’s NOT included:

• Automation workflows (must be rebuilt in Ontraport)
• Email campaign history
• Email templates
• Form designs
• E-commerce order history (export separately if needed)

Step 3: Map Your Drip Data to Ontraport

Create a comprehensive data mapping spreadsheet. Use the Data Mapping Reference Guide for complete field mappings.

Drip Field	Ontraport Field	Ontraport Field ID	Notes
Email	email	email	Required field
First Name	firstname	firstname	Standard field
Last Name	lastname	lastname	Standard field
Tags	Ontraport tags	Tag IDs (auto-assigned)	Recreate in Ontraport first
Custom Fields (text)	Custom fields (typed)	f1234, f1235, etc.	Note field IDs after creation
Status (active/unsubscribed)	bulk_mail	bulk_mail (2=subscribed, 0=unsubscribed)	Map subscription status

Step 4: Create Custom Fields in Ontraport (with Proper Types)

This is where you upgrade from Drip’s simple text fields to Ontraport’s typed fields:

1. List all custom fields from your Drip export
2. For each field, decide the appropriate type in Ontraport
3. Go to Ontraport → Contacts → Contact Information
4. Click “Add Field” for each custom field
5. Choose proper field type (text, numeric, date, dropdown, checkbox)
6. CRITICAL: Note each field’s ID (e.g., “f1234”) for CSV mapping

Field type upgrade examples:

Field Name	Drip Type	Ontraport Type	Benefit
Member Since	Text	Date	Date-based automation triggers
Purchase Amount	Text	Numeric (Price)	Math calculations, revenue reports
Membership Level	Text	Drop Down	Controlled values, better reporting
Accepts Marketing	Text	Check Box	Boolean logic in campaigns

Step 5: Recreate Your Tags in Ontraport

1. Make a list of all tags from your Drip export
2. Go to Ontraport → Contacts → Tags
3. Create each tag in Ontraport
4. Use the exact same tag names for easier mapping (case-sensitive)
5. Note that Ontraport auto-assigns tag IDs (you don’t need to track these)

Step 6: Connect Ontraport to AccessAlly (Staging Site First)

1. On your STAGING site, go to AccessAlly → Settings → General
2. Under “CRM Integration,” change from Drip to Ontraport
3. Enter your Ontraport API credentials:
   • App ID (found in Ontraport → Administration → Integrations → API Instructions)
   • API Key (found in same location)
4. Click Save and Test Connection
5. Verify the connection is successful
6. AccessAlly will reload with Ontraport features enabled

Step 7: Prepare Your CSV for Migration Wizard

The AccessAlly Migration Wizard expects a specific format. Transform your Drip export.

Required columns for AccessAlly + Ontraport import:

• Email – Email address (required)
• First Name – First name
• Last Name – Last name
• Tags – Comma-separated list of Ontraport tag names
• f1234, f1235, etc. – Custom field columns using Ontraport field IDs

CSV transformation steps:

1. Open your Drip export in Excel or Google Sheets
2. Rename columns to match Ontraport format:
   • Keep “Email” → Email
   • Keep “First Name” → First Name
   • Keep “Last Name” → Last Name
   • Keep “Tags” → Tags (ensure comma-separated)
3. For custom fields, rename columns to Ontraport field IDs:
   • “Member Level” → f1234
   • “Purchase Date” → f1235
   • Use the field IDs you noted when creating fields in Ontraport
4. Remove unsubscribed contacts (or handle separately with bulk_mail=0)
5. Ensure tags are comma-separated in one cell
6. Save as new CSV: “drip-to-ontraport-import.csv”

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Phase 2: Migration Execution (2-3 hours)

Step 8: Import Contacts via Migration Wizard

1. On your STAGING site, go to AccessAlly → Migration Wizard
2. If you don’t see Migration Wizard, download and activate the plugin (instructions)
3. Click “Import from CSV”
4. Upload your prepared CSV file
5. Map CSV columns to Ontraport fields (should auto-detect if named correctly)
6. Choose import options:
   • Update existing users: Check if members may already exist in WordPress
   • Create users in CRM: Check (this creates contacts in Ontraport)
   • Add tags: Check (applies tags from CSV)
7. Click “Start Import”

What happens during import:

• WordPress user accounts created (if they don’t exist)
• Contacts created in Ontraport with proper field types
• Tags applied in Ontraport
• Contact ID from Ontraport stored in WordPress user meta
• This Contact ID linking is CRITICAL for access control

Step 9: Verify Contact ID Linking (MOST CRITICAL STEP)

After import, you MUST verify Contact IDs are properly linked:

1. In WordPress, go to Users and select a random user
2. Edit the user and scroll to the user meta section
3. Look for ontraport_contact_id or contact_id
4. Note the Contact ID value (e.g., “12345”)
5. In Ontraport, search for that Contact ID
6. Verify it’s the correct contact (email matches)
7. Repeat for 5-10 random users to confirm pattern

Step 10: Update AccessAlly Tags and Access Rules

AccessAlly stores tag names from your old CRM. After switching to Ontraport, verify these still match:

1. Go through each AccessAlly Module or protected page
2. Check “Who Can Access” settings
3. Verify tag names match Ontraport tags exactly (case-sensitive)
4. Update any tag-based access rules if names changed
5. Update membership levels to link to correct Ontraport tags

Critical areas to check:

• Module access rules
• Page protection settings
• Order form tag assignments
• Email wizard tag triggers
• Automation trigger rules

Step 11: Link Payment Gateway Subscriptions

If you have paid members with active subscriptions, ensure their Stripe/PayPal subscriptions are properly linked:

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe or PayPal
2. Match subscription IDs to member email addresses
3. In AccessAlly, go to each member’s profile
4. Verify the subscription ID is stored correctly
5. Test that failed payments will cancel access

Detailed guide: Preserving Subscriptions During Migration

Step 12: Rebuild Your Automations in Ontraport

Drip workflows cannot be automatically migrated. You must rebuild them as Ontraport campaigns.

Common Drip workflows to rebuild:

• Welcome sequences: Use Ontraport campaigns with email elements
• Tag-based automations: Use Ontraport rules and campaign triggers
• Purchase follow-ups: Set up in Ontraport campaigns with conditional logic
• Re-engagement campaigns: Use Ontraport sequences with goals
• E-commerce automations: Leverage Ontraport’s built-in order tracking

Drip → Ontraport automation mapping:

Drip	Ontraport Equivalent	Notes
Workflow	Campaign	Similar drag-and-drop builder
Tag trigger	Campaign trigger (tag added)	Same concept
Delay	Wait element	More flexible timing options
Branch (if/else)	Switch element	More conditions available
Goal	Campaign goal	Similar, exits campaign when reached
Custom field condition	Field condition (with typed fields)	More powerful with proper field types

Step 13: Update Forms

Drip forms need to be replaced with Ontraport forms OR AccessAlly forms that submit to Ontraport.

Option 1: Use Ontraport Forms

1. Create forms in Ontraport → Landing Pages → Forms
2. Embed Ontraport form code on your WordPress pages
3. Style forms to match your site
4. Set up tag assignments and automation triggers
5. Benefit: Native Ontraport tracking and reporting

Option 2: Use AccessAlly Forms (Recommended)

1. Create forms in AccessAlly → Opt-in Forms
2. Configure to submit to Ontraport
3. Better integration with WordPress/AccessAlly features
4. More control over styling and behavior
5. Seamless order form integration

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Phase 3: Go-Live and Verification (2-3 hours)

Step 14: Test Everything on Staging

Before touching your live site, thoroughly test on staging:

• ✅ Member login works
• ✅ Content access rules work correctly for each membership level
• ✅ Tags control access properly
• ✅ Contact IDs properly link WordPress users to Ontraport contacts
• ✅ Forms submit to Ontraport
• ✅ Purchase flow works end-to-end
• ✅ Subscription linking works
• ✅ Failed payment handling tested
• ✅ Core automations trigger correctly
• ✅ Email sending works

Step 15: Switch Live Site to Ontraport

When staging tests pass, switch your live site:

1. Schedule downtime (2-4 hour window recommended)
2. Put site in maintenance mode
3. Communicate with members about scheduled maintenance
4. Create fresh WordPress backup
5. Export final Drip data (capture any new contacts since staging)
6. Switch AccessAlly to Ontraport (same steps as staging)
7. Import any new contacts from final export
8. Verify access rules and tags
9. Test login for 3-5 members of different levels
10. Take site out of maintenance mode
11. Monitor closely for 1-2 hours

Step 16: Complete Post-Migration Checks

Work through the complete Post-Migration Verification Checklist. Key items for Drip → Ontraport:

✅ Contact Data Integrity

• Verify total contact count matches Drip export
• Check 10 random contacts in Ontraport for complete data
• Verify Contact IDs properly stored in WordPress
• Check custom fields populated with correct data types
• Verify no duplicate contacts

✅ Access & Permissions

• Test login as multiple member types
• Verify access to protected content for each membership level
• Check tag-based access rules work
• Test content unlocking based on tags
• Verify membership level access

✅ Tags & Custom Fields

• Verify tags migrated correctly (sample 10 contacts)
• Check custom fields populated in Ontraport with proper types
• Test tag-based access rules
• Verify tag assignment via forms

✅ Forms & Automations

• Test each opt-in form submission
• Verify form data reaches Ontraport
• Test order form purchases (use Stripe test mode)
• Confirm post-purchase automations fire in Ontraport
• Test auto-login after purchase (if enabled)

✅ Subscriptions & Payments

• Verify active subscriptions linked correctly
• Test new purchase flow end-to-end
• Test subscription cancellation
• 🚨 CRITICAL: Test failed payment handling
• Verify member access aligns with payment status

Step 17: Monitor for 7 Days

Don’t cancel Drip immediately. Monitor for issues during the first week:

• Day 1-2: Watch for immediate access issues, login problems
• Day 3-5: Monitor form submissions and automation triggers
• Day 6-7: Check subscription/payment handling

What to monitor:

• Member support tickets (migration-related confusion?)
• Login errors or access issues
• Payment failures or subscription problems
• Form submission success rates
• Automation trigger verification
• Email deliverability (check bounce rates)

Step 18: Clean Up

Once migration is stable (7+ days):

1. Disconnect Drip from AccessAlly (remove API keys)
2. Deactivate Migration Wizard plugin
3. Export final Drip data for records (campaign history, analytics)
4. Downgrade or cancel Drip (after 30-day safety period)
5. Remove staging site’s 2-site exception (contact AccessAlly support)
6. Update member documentation if needed
7. Train team on Ontraport features (CRM, deals, tasks, etc.)

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Contact IDs Not Linking (CRITICAL)

Symptoms: Members have correct tags in Ontraport but can’t access content

Causes:

• Contact ID not stored in WordPress user meta during import
• Contact ID stored under wrong meta key
• WordPress user exists but Ontraport contact doesn’t

Solution:

1. Check WordPress user meta for “ontraport_contact_id” or “contact_id”
2. If missing, re-import the user via Migration Wizard with “Update existing users” checked
3. Verify the Contact ID in Ontraport matches the stored ID
4. Test access after fixing Contact ID

Issue 2: Custom Fields Not Populating Correctly

Symptoms: Custom field data missing or formatted incorrectly in Ontraport

Causes:

• CSV column names don’t match Ontraport field IDs (f1234)
• Field type mismatch (text data in date field)
• Custom fields not created in Ontraport before import

Solution:

1. Verify custom fields exist in Ontraport
2. Note exact field IDs (e.g., “f1234”)
3. Update CSV with correct Ontraport field ID column names
4. For date fields, ensure date format matches Ontraport expectations
5. For numeric fields, remove currency symbols or text
6. Re-import with “Update existing users” checked

Issue 3: Forms Not Submitting to Ontraport

Symptoms: Form submissions not creating/updating contacts in Ontraport

Causes:

• AccessAlly not properly connected to Ontraport
• Form configured for old Drip connection
• Ontraport API rate limit reached
• Form fields don’t match Ontraport field names/IDs

Solution:

1. Verify AccessAlly → Ontraport connection still active
2. Edit form settings in AccessAlly
3. Ensure form is set to submit to Ontraport (not Drip)
4. Check field mappings match Ontraport field IDs
5. Test form submission and verify contact appears in Ontraport

Issue 4: Tags Not Controlling Access

Symptoms: Members have tags in Ontraport but content access doesn’t match

Causes:

• Tag names in AccessAlly don’t match Ontraport exactly (case-sensitive)
• Contact ID linking issue (see Issue 1)
• Access rules reference old Drip tag names that changed

Solution:

1. Go to AccessAlly module or page protection settings
2. Check “Who Can Access” tag names
3. Compare to exact tag names in Ontraport (case-sensitive)
4. Update tag names in AccessAlly to match Ontraport
5. Verify Contact ID is linking correctly (most common cause)

Issue 5: Subscription Payments Not Linked

Symptoms: Active subscribers showing as “no subscription” in AccessAlly

Causes:

• Subscription IDs not properly transferred during migration
• Email address mismatch between Stripe and WordPress
• Subscription metadata not stored correctly

Solution:

1. Export active subscriptions from Stripe
2. Match subscription IDs to WordPress user emails
3. Manually update AccessAlly subscription data for each user
4. Test failed payment handling for each subscription

Detailed guide: Preserving Subscriptions During Migration

Issue 6: Automation Not Firing in Ontraport

Symptoms: Campaign sequences start but don’t continue, or don’t start at all

Causes:

• Campaign not set to “Live” status (in draft mode)
• Contact already went through campaign previously
• Campaign trigger conditions not met exactly
• Contact unsubscribed from bulk mail
• Element conditions in campaign evaluating to false

Solution:

1. Check campaign status – must be “Live” not “Draft”
2. Check contact’s campaign history – if already completed, won’t trigger again
3. Review trigger conditions – must match exactly (tag spelling, field values)
4. Check contact’s bulk_mail status – must be “2” (subscribed) to receive emails
5. Test campaign with brand new test contact (not existing member)
6. Use “Test Contact” feature in Ontraport to debug campaign flow
7. Check for stuck elements – sometimes contacts get stuck on Wait elements

Issue 7: Overwhelmed by Ontraport’s Complexity

Symptoms: Team struggling to understand Ontraport features after migration

Causes:

• Ontraport is significantly more complex than Drip
• Many features (CRM, deals, tasks, projects) not present in Drip
• Insufficient training time allocated
• Trying to use all features immediately instead of gradually

Solution:

1. Schedule dedicated Ontraport training sessions (10-20 hours over 3-4 weeks)
2. Start with basics: contacts, tags, campaigns (similar to Drip)
3. Week 1: Master email and basic campaigns only
4. Week 2: Add custom fields and landing pages
5. Week 3: Introduce CRM features (deals, tasks)
6. Week 4: Advanced automations and reporting
7. Use Ontraport’s training resources and documentation
8. Consider hiring Ontraport consultant for custom team training ($500-2,000)
9. Don’t try to use all features immediately – add gradually as needed
10. Create internal documentation for your specific workflows

Real-World Migration Examples

Learning from others’ experiences helps avoid common pitfalls. Here are anonymized real-world scenarios:

Example 1: Small Coaching Business (500 Contacts)

Background:

• Solo coach with 2 membership tiers (Bronze $97/mo, Gold $297/mo)
• Using Drip for email sequences and Stripe for payments
• Simple automation: welcome sequence, renewal reminders
• Migrated to Ontraport for CRM features to track coaching calls

Migration Process:

• Completed migration in one weekend (Saturday setup, Sunday testing)
• Total time: 7 hours
• Zero member complaints
• Key success factor: Extensive testing on staging before go-live

Post-Migration Results:

• Cost increased $278/mo ($19 Drip → $297 Ontraport)
• Added CRM pipeline to track client onboarding stages
• Automated task assignment for coaching session scheduling
• Better reporting on member lifetime value
• Learning curve: 2 weeks to proficiency, 1 month to master

Verdict: Worth it because CRM features streamlined client management, saving 3-5 hours/week on manual tracking.

Example 2: Medium Membership Site (2,800 Contacts)

Background:

• Online course platform with 3 membership levels
• Team of 3 (owner, support, sales)
• Using Drip for marketing, separate CRM for sales tracking
• Complex email sequences (20+ workflows)
• Migrated to Ontraport to consolidate tools

Migration Process:

• Spread migration over 3 weekends (setup, import, testing)
• Total time: 15 hours (5 hours per weekend)
• Encountered Contact ID linking issue (resolved with support)
• Had to rebuild 20 workflows (took 6 additional hours)

Post-Migration Results:

• Cost impact: Saved $50/mo (eliminated separate CRM at $347/mo)
• Consolidated 2 tools into 1 (Drip + CRM → Ontraport)
• Team collaboration improved with shared contact records
• Sales pipeline tracking added (didn’t have before)
• Learning curve: 3 weeks team training, 2 months to full adoption

Verdict: Worth it because tool consolidation saved money and improved team efficiency despite initial learning curve.

Example 3: Large Business (8,500 Contacts)

Background:

• Multi-product online business with 7 membership tiers
• Team of 10 (marketing, sales, support, fulfillment)
• Using Drip + external CRM + separate payment processor
• Very complex automation (50+ workflows)
• Migrated to Ontraport for unified business platform

Migration Process:

• Hired Ontraport consultant for migration ($2,500)
• Professional migration completed in 1 week
• Team training: 2 full days onsite ($3,000 consultant fee)
• Zero downtime (consultant managed entire process)
• All automations rebuilt with improvements

Post-Migration Results:

• Cost impact: Saved $400/mo (eliminated Drip $154 + CRM $643 = $797 total, vs. Ontraport $797)
• Consolidated 3 tools into 1 platform
• Team productivity increased 25% from unified platform
• Revenue reporting dramatically improved
• Learning curve: 1 month intensive training, 3 months to optimization

Verdict: Worth it. $5,500 migration investment recovered in 3 months through tool consolidation savings and improved efficiency. Complex business needs justified Ontraport’s platform approach.

Example 4: Failed Migration (Rollback)

Background:

• Boutique membership site (1,200 contacts)
• Solo owner with no technical background
• Simple needs (email only, no CRM requirements)
• Migrated to Ontraport because “everyone said it’s better”

Migration Process:

• Attempted DIY migration without staging site testing
• Contact IDs didn’t link correctly (skipped verification step)
• Members lost access immediately after go-live
• Spent 2 days troubleshooting while members complained
• Rolled back to Drip on day 3

Post-Rollback Analysis:

• Lost 15 members who cancelled during chaos
• Wasted 20 hours attempting migration
• Paid for 1 month Ontraport + Drip overlap ($330 wasted)
• Reputation damage from member complaints

Lessons Learned:

• Always test on staging first – Would have caught Contact ID issue
• Verify Contact ID linking – Critical step was skipped
• Don’t migrate just because others recommend it – Simple email needs didn’t justify Ontraport
• Consider professional help – $500 consultant would have prevented $2,000+ revenue loss
• Match tool to needs – Drip was sufficient for email-only business

Verdict: Not worth it. Simple needs didn’t justify complexity and cost of Ontraport. Stayed with Drip.

Pre-Migration Checklist (Expanded)

Before starting your migration, ensure you’ve completed every item on this checklist:

Business Readiness

• ☐ Budget approved for Ontraport subscription increase ($3,000-8,000/year)
• ☐ Budget approved for potential consultant fees ($500-2,500)
• ☐ Business justification documented (why Ontraport vs. staying with Drip)
• ☐ Team buy-in secured (they understand learning curve commitment)
• ☐ Training time allocated (10-20 hours per team member)
• ☐ Migration timeline approved (6-8 hours work + 2-4 hours downtime)

Technical Readiness

• ☐ Ontraport account created and configured
• ☐ Ontraport email deliverability tested (SPF, DKIM, DMARC configured)
• ☐ AccessAlly staging site set up
• ☐ 2-site exception requested and approved from AccessAlly support
• ☐ Full WordPress site backup completed and verified
• ☐ Full Drip data export completed and reviewed
• ☐ Payment gateway access confirmed (Stripe or PayPal)

Data Preparation

• ☐ All tags documented and recreated in Ontraport
• ☐ All custom fields mapped (Drip text → Ontraport typed fields)
• ☐ Custom fields created in Ontraport with field IDs documented
• ☐ CSV formatted correctly for Migration Wizard
• ☐ Small test batch prepared (10-20 contacts) for import testing
• ☐ Subscription list exported from Stripe/PayPal

Content Audit

• ☐ All AccessAlly modules audited for tag-based access rules
• ☐ All protected pages audited for tag-based access
• ☐ All order forms audited for tag assignments
• ☐ All email wizards audited for tag triggers
• ☐ All automation triggers audited for tag rules
• ☐ All membership levels audited for tag associations
• ☐ Tag reference checklist created for post-migration updates

Automation Planning

• ☐ All Drip workflows documented with screenshots
• ☐ Critical workflows prioritized for rebuild (MVP first)
• ☐ Workflow rebuild plan created (Drip → Ontraport campaign mapping)
• ☐ Nice-to-have workflows identified (can rebuild later)
• ☐ Decision made: rebuild workflows exactly, or improve during migration?

Testing Plan

• ☐ Test account credentials prepared for each membership level
• ☐ Test checklist created (login, access, forms, purchases, subscriptions)
• ☐ Team members assigned to test specific features
• ☐ Rollback procedure documented (if critical issues occur)
• ☐ Support ticket system ready for member issues

Communication Plan

• ☐ Member notification drafted (scheduled maintenance announcement)
• ☐ Downtime window selected (low-traffic period)
• ☐ Maintenance page message prepared
• ☐ Post-migration email drafted (any member-facing changes)
• ☐ Support team briefed on potential migration-related questions

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Migration Timeline & Downtime

Total Time Estimate: 6-8 hours (plus 2-3 hours testing)

Phase	Tasks	Time
Pre-Migration Setup	Ontraport setup, data export, field mapping, tag creation	3-4 hours
Migration Execution	Contact import, Contact ID verification, automation rebuild	2-3 hours
Go-Live & Verification	Staging tests, live site switch, post-migration checks	2-3 hours

Recommended Downtime Window: 2-4 hours on a weekend or low-traffic period for the live site switch

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Understanding the Drip vs. Ontraport Difference

This migration represents a fundamental business platform upgrade. Understanding the differences helps you leverage Ontraport effectively:

What Drip Does Well

• Simple Email Marketing: Clean, focused interface for email campaigns and workflows
• E-commerce Focus: Built specifically for e-commerce stores with product-triggered emails
• Easy to Learn: Most users productive within a few hours
• Affordable Entry Point: Starts at $19/mo for 500 contacts
• Visual Workflow Builder: Intuitive drag-and-drop automation builder

What Ontraport Adds

• Full Business Platform: Not just marketing – includes CRM, sales, fulfillment, project management
• Advanced Contact Management: Robust database with custom object types
• Business Automation: Automate beyond marketing (fulfillment, team assignments, client onboarding)
• Native Payments: Built-in payment gateway (vs. external Stripe integration)
• Team Collaboration: Multiple users with role-based permissions
• Advanced Reporting: Business intelligence dashboards and revenue tracking

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Drip	Ontraport
Email Marketing	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent
Automation Workflows	✅ Good (email-focused)	✅ Advanced (business-wide)
CRM / Contact Management	⚠️ Basic	✅ Full-featured CRM
Deals & Pipelines	❌ Not available	✅ Built-in
Tasks & Project Management	❌ Not available	✅ Built-in
Native Payment Processing	❌ External only	✅ Built-in gateway
Custom Field Types	⚠️ All text-based	✅ Typed (date, number, dropdown, etc.)
Multi-User Team Access	⚠️ Limited	✅ Role-based permissions
Landing Pages	✅ Built-in	✅ Advanced builder
Membership Site Features	⚠️ Via integrations	✅ Built-in (plus AccessAlly)
Learning Curve	✅ Easy (2-4 hours)	⚠️ Moderate (10-20 hours)
Starting Price (500 contacts)	$19/mo	$297/mo (2,500 contacts)

Leveraging Ontraport’s New Features

After migration, you gain access to powerful features Drip doesn’t have. Here’s how to leverage them:

1. CRM Features – Beyond Email Marketing

Deals & Sales Pipelines

Track sales opportunities through stages (Lead → Qualified → Proposal → Closed). Unlike Drip’s simple contact list, Ontraport lets you:

• Create multiple pipelines for different products or services
• Assign dollar values to deals for revenue forecasting
• Set probability percentages for each stage
• Track time in stage to identify bottlenecks
• Automate tasks when deals move between stages

Example use case: When a member inquires about your premium coaching program, create a deal in Ontraport. As they move through your sales process (inquiry → discovery call → proposal → purchase), the deal moves through pipeline stages. Automation can assign tasks to your sales team at each stage.

Tasks & Team Management

Assign follow-up tasks to team members automatically based on contact behavior:

• When contact downloads lead magnet → assign “Follow up in 24h” task to sales rep
• When member cancels → assign “Exit interview” task to retention specialist
• When payment fails → assign “Payment recovery” task to support team
• When member reaches milestone → assign “Congratulations call” task to success coach

Full Contact Timeline

Every contact has a complete interaction history Drip doesn’t provide:

• All emails sent and opened
• All pages visited on your website
• All purchases and transactions
• All tasks completed by team
• All notes and call logs
• All tag changes and campaign activity

2. Business Automation – Beyond Email Sequences

Projects & Fulfillment Tracking

Ontraport includes project management features Drip lacks. Use for:

• Client Onboarding: Create project template with tasks for new member setup
• Product Fulfillment: Track physical product shipping and delivery
• Service Delivery: Manage coaching session scheduling and completion
• Course Completion: Track student progress through learning modules

Advanced Conditional Logic

Ontraport campaigns support more complex conditions than Drip workflows:

• Date Math: Trigger actions X days before anniversary, renewal, birthday
• Numeric Comparisons: If lifetime value > $5,000, add VIP tag
• Multiple Conditions: If tag = Member AND purchase count > 3 AND last login > 30 days ago
• Score-Based Actions: Move contacts through sequences based on engagement scores

Example automation: 7 days before membership renewal date, check if member logged in within last 30 days. If yes, send renewal reminder. If no, assign task to retention team for outreach call. If renewal fails, wait 3 days then send payment recovery email. If still no payment, cancel access and add “Churned” tag.

3. Reporting & Analytics – Real Business Intelligence

Revenue Reporting

Track revenue in ways Drip can’t:

• Revenue by product, campaign, traffic source, sales rep
• Lifetime value per customer segment
• Average order value trends over time
• Refund rates and churn analysis
• Forecast revenue based on pipeline deals

Performance Dashboards

Create visual dashboards for:

• Marketing Performance: Email open rates, click rates, conversion rates by campaign
• Sales Performance: Deals by stage, close rate, average deal size, sales cycle length
• Membership Health: Active members, churn rate, expansion revenue, net MRR
• Team Performance: Tasks completed, deals closed, support tickets resolved per team member

Contact Segmentation

Advanced reporting on contact segments:

• Which segments have highest lifetime value?
• Which traffic sources produce best customers?
• Which member types have lowest churn?
• Which onboarding sequences lead to most upgrades?

4. Member Field Type Upgrades

Moving from Drip’s text-only fields to Ontraport’s typed fields unlocks new capabilities:

Field Type	Drip Limitation	Ontraport Benefit	Use Case
Date	Text (no date math)	True dates with calculations	Send birthday email exactly on birthday
Numeric	Text (no math)	Math operations, comparisons	Calculate total spend, offer discount if > $1000
Dropdown	Text (any value)	Controlled values only	Member Level (Bronze/Silver/Gold only)
Checkbox	Text (“yes”/”true”/etc.)	Boolean (true/false)	Accepts Marketing (clean yes/no logic)
Price	Text with $ symbol	Currency with calculations	Sum all purchases for lifetime value

5. Integration Ecosystem

Ontraport integrates with tools Drip doesn’t:

• Calendar Systems: Calendly, Acuity, Schedule Once for appointment booking
• Webinar Platforms: WebinarJam, EverWebinar, Zoom for automated webinar funnels
• SMS Platforms: Twilio for text message campaigns
• Advanced Analytics: Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel with better tracking
• Team Tools: Slack notifications for team collaboration

Training Your Team on Ontraport

Ontraport’s complexity requires dedicated training time. Here’s a structured approach:

Week 1: Foundation (3-4 hours)

• Day 1-2: Contacts, tags, and basic searches (similar to Drip)
• Day 3-4: Email campaigns and forms (similar to Drip)
• Day 5: Basic campaigns (similar to Drip workflows)

Week 2: Intermediate (4-5 hours)

• Day 1-2: Advanced campaigns with conditional logic
• Day 3: Custom fields and proper field types
• Day 4: Landing pages and ONTRApages
• Day 5: Reports and dashboards

Week 3-4: Advanced (6-8 hours)

• CRM features: Deals, pipelines, tasks
• Project management: Client onboarding workflows
• Payment processing: Order forms and transactions
• Team collaboration: User roles and permissions
• API and integrations: Connecting external tools

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Is Ontraport Worth It?

Ontraport costs significantly more than Drip. Here’s how to determine if the investment makes sense:

Pricing Comparison (Based on Contact Count)

Contact Count	Drip Cost	Ontraport Cost	Annual Difference
500 contacts	$19/mo ($228/yr)	$297/mo* ($3,564/yr)	+$3,336/yr
2,500 contacts	$39/mo ($468/yr)	$297/mo ($3,564/yr)	+$3,096/yr
5,000 contacts	$122/mo ($1,464/yr)	$497/mo ($5,964/yr)	+$4,500/yr
10,000 contacts	$154/mo ($1,848/yr)	$797/mo ($9,564/yr)	+$7,716/yr

*Ontraport’s basic plan includes 2,500 contacts minimum

When Ontraport Makes Financial Sense

You should migrate if:

• You need CRM features for sales team management
• You’re currently paying for separate CRM + email marketing tools (consolidation savings)
• You need advanced automation for complex customer journeys
• You require team collaboration features with role-based permissions
• You want native payment processing (save Stripe fees on payment gateway)
• Your business revenue can easily absorb $3,000-10,000/year additional cost
• Time saved through automation justifies increased cost

You should stay with Drip if:

• You only need email marketing (no CRM, deals, projects)
• Your team is small (1-2 people) and doesn’t need collaboration features
• Your email workflows are simple and Drip handles them fine
• $3,000-10,000/year additional cost is significant for your business
• You don’t have 10-20 hours to invest in learning new platform
• Your current Drip setup is working well and not limiting growth

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When to Hire Professional Help vs. DIY

Deciding whether to hire a consultant or do it yourself depends on several factors:

Do It Yourself If:

• You have 6-8 hours to dedicate to the migration
• You’re comfortable with technical processes (CSV files, WordPress admin, testing)
• Your contact list is under 5,000 contacts
• You have fewer than 10 automation workflows to rebuild
• Your team can handle 2-4 hours of downtime
• You’ve successfully completed similar migrations before
• You have staging site access and AccessAlly support available
• Your business can tolerate some learning curve inefficiency

DIY Cost: Free (except your time)

Hire Professional Help If:

• You have 5,000+ contacts
• You have 20+ automation workflows to rebuild
• You’re not comfortable with technical processes
• Downtime could cost you significant revenue (24/7 business)
• You have complex tag-based access rules across many modules
• You need guaranteed zero member complaints
• Your time is worth more than consultant fees
• You want training included (learn Ontraport during migration)

Professional Cost: $500-2,500 depending on complexity

What Professional Help Includes:

• Pre-migration audit and planning session
• Complete data export and transformation
• Ontraport account setup and configuration
• Contact import with verified Contact ID linking
• Automation rebuild (core workflows)
• Testing and verification before go-live
• Managed go-live process (minimal downtime)
• Post-migration support (usually 30 days)
• Team training on Ontraport basics (4-8 hours)

Hybrid Approach (Best Value)

Many businesses choose a hybrid approach:

• You handle: Data export, tag/field setup, basic configuration
• Consultant handles: Contact import, Contact ID verification, go-live process
• Cost: $500-1,000 (50% savings vs. full service)
• Your time: 4-5 hours prep work
• Consultant time: 2-3 hours critical migration steps

This approach lets you save money on tasks you can do yourself while getting expert help for high-risk steps (Contact ID linking, go-live).

Need Help?

Migration Support:

• Review the Migration Support Policy
• For CRM switch assistance: Contact AccessAlly support
• Consider professional migration help for large or complex sites
• Ontraport has certified consultants who specialize in migrations

Related Guides:

• Pre-Migration Checklist
• Post-Migration Verification
• Data Mapping Reference
• Drip → AccessAlly Managed
• ActiveCampaign → Ontraport
• How to Migrate CRMs and Keep Same Site
• Preserving Subscriptions During Migration