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Migrating from Ontraport to Kit

ARTICLE CONTENT:

Complete Guide: Migrating from Ontraport to Kit (ConvertKit) – Same AccessAlly Site

📊 Migration Complexity: MEDIUM-HIGH
⏱️ Estimated Time: 6-8 hours (plus extensive testing)
🛠️ Technical Level: Intermediate-Advanced
💰 Cost Impact: Kit typically less expensive than Ontraport ($9-$79/mo vs $79-$497/mo)
⚠️ FEATURE DOWNGRADE: Kit has significantly fewer features than Ontraport – this is a simplification, not an upgrade

Critical Warning: This is a Feature Downgrade

🚨 UNDERSTAND BEFORE PROCEEDING

Ontraport is a powerful business automation platform with extensive CRM, marketing, and sales features. Kit (ConvertKit) is a creator-focused email platform with LIMITED features.

You will LOSE access to:

  • Advanced CRM features (deals, pipelines, task management)
  • Extensive custom fields (Kit supports very few)
  • Complex campaign logic (Kit sequences are much simpler)
  • Built-in payment processing
  • SMS marketing
  • Membership site features (beyond basic tagging)
  • Advanced reporting and analytics

This migration makes sense ONLY if:

  • You’re not using most of Ontraport’s advanced features
  • Your business is creator-focused (newsletters, courses, simple funnels)
  • You want radical simplification at lower cost
  • You understand that many Ontraport features cannot be replicated in Kit

Why Migrate from Ontraport to Kit?

Despite the feature loss, valid reasons for migrating:

  • Massive Cost Savings: Kit costs 80-90% less than Ontraport for similar contact counts
  • Simplification: You’re overwhelmed by Ontraport’s complexity and only use basic email features
  • Creator Focus: You’re a content creator/course creator who doesn’t need business CRM features
  • Not Using Advanced Features: If you’re only using Ontraport for email and tags, you’re vastly overpaying
  • Better Email UI: Kit has a more modern, intuitive email builder for creator content
⚠️ Alternative Consideration: If you need more features than Kit but want to save money vs. Ontraport, consider ActiveCampaign instead. It’s a middle ground between Kit’s simplicity and Ontraport’s power.

What You’ll Need Before Starting

✅ Required Access & Accounts

  • WordPress admin access to your AccessAlly site
  • Ontraport admin access (for data export)
  • Kit (ConvertKit) account (must be set up first)
  • AccessAlly license that supports CRM switching
  • Access to your payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal)
  • Understanding that you’ll need to convert many custom fields to tags

📋 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 Ontraport contact data
  • CRITICAL: Audit which Ontraport custom fields you MUST keep vs. can convert to tags
  • Data mapping spreadsheet (contacts, tags, custom fields → tags conversion strategy)
  • Document which Ontraport features you’re currently using (to assess what you’ll lose)
  • Staging site setup (MANDATORY for CRM switches)
  • Request 2-site exception from AccessAlly support
  • Downtime plan and member communication
🚨 CRITICAL: Custom Field to Tag Conversion Required
Ontraport supports extensive custom fields (f1234, f5678, etc.). Kit has very LIMITED custom field support.

You will need to convert most Ontraport custom fields into Kit TAGS. Plan this conversion carefully before starting the migration.

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

Step 1: Set Up Your Kit (ConvertKit) Account

  1. Sign up for Kit at convertkit.com (choose appropriate tier for your subscriber count)
  2. Complete basic account setup (creator name, timezone, sender email)
  3. Configure email deliverability (SPF, DKIM records for your domain)
  4. Test email sending (send yourself a broadcast)
  5. Create a test form and tag
  6. Familiarize yourself with Kit’s sequence builder (much simpler than Ontraport campaigns)
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t import ANY contacts into Kit yet. Complete all setup and tag creation first, then import via AccessAlly Migration Wizard.

Step 2: Export Your Data from Ontraport

  1. Log into your Ontraport account
  2. Go to Contacts → Export Contacts
  3. Select “All Contacts” or filter to active contacts only
  4. Include all fields in the export
  5. Download the CSV file
  6. Open in Excel or Google Sheets to review

What’s included in the Ontraport export:

  • Email addresses
  • First and last names
  • Phone numbers
  • Tags (as separate columns or single column)
  • Custom fields (labeled as f1234, f5678, etc.)
  • Subscription status
  • Contact scores and dates

What’s NOT included (cannot be migrated):

  • Campaign structures and automation logic
  • Deals and pipelines
  • Tasks and follow-ups
  • Email campaign history
  • Landing pages and forms (must be recreated)
  • Payment/transaction history (linked to Ontraport’s payment gateway)

Step 3: Assess Custom Field to Tag Conversion Strategy

This is the MOST CRITICAL planning step for Ontraport → Kit migrations.

Kit’s Custom Field Limitations:

  • Kit supports very few custom fields compared to Ontraport
  • Most data you stored in Ontraport custom fields must become TAGS in Kit
  • This fundamentally changes how you segment and manage contacts
⚠️ Example Conversion:

Ontraport:
– Custom field “Membership Level” (f1234) with values: Gold, Silver, Bronze

Must become in Kit:
– Three separate tags: “Membership: Gold”, “Membership: Silver”, “Membership: Bronze”

This conversion must happen for MOST of your Ontraport custom fields.

Create a Custom Field Conversion Document:

Ontraport Field Field ID Possible Values Kit Solution
Membership Level f1234 Gold, Silver, Bronze Tags: “Gold Member”, “Silver Member”, “Bronze Member”
Purchase Date f5678 Various dates Kit custom field (one of few supported) OR tag by cohort
Lead Source f9012 Webinar, Freebie, Referral Tags: “Source: Webinar”, “Source: Freebie”, “Source: Referral”
Course Progress f3456 Module 1-10 Tags: “Module 1 Complete”, “Module 2 Complete”, etc.

Step 4: Create Tags in Kit for All Ontraport Tags + Custom Field Values

Based on your conversion document:

  1. List ALL existing Ontraport tags
  2. List ALL values from custom fields that need to become tags
  3. Go to Kit → Subscribers → Tags
  4. Create each tag in Kit
  5. Use clear, consistent naming (e.g., prefix category: “Membership: Gold”, “Source: Webinar”)

Recommended Kit tag naming conventions:

  • Membership levels: “Gold Member”, “Silver Member” (or “Membership: Gold”)
  • Lead sources: “Source: Webinar”, “Source: Freebie”
  • Status tags: “Active Student”, “Alumni”, “Cancelled”
  • Cohort tags: “2024 Cohort”, “2025 Cohort”
  • Progress tags: “Module 1 Complete”, “Module 2 Complete”
💡 Simplification Opportunity: Use this migration as a chance to clean up your segmentation. Ontraport’s extensive custom fields often lead to over-complication. With Kit’s tag-focused approach, simplify your member segments to what you actually USE.

Step 5: Map Ontraport Standard Fields to Kit

Ontraport Field Kit Field Notes
email email Required field
firstname first_name Standard field
lastname Not directly supported Kit doesn’t have separate last name field – combine or skip
Tags tags Core feature in both systems
Custom Fields (f1234, etc.) Convert to TAGS Critical conversion – see Step 3
office_phone Not supported Kit doesn’t collect phone numbers

Step 6: Prepare Your CSV for Kit Import

Transform your Ontraport export to match Kit’s expected format:

Required columns for Kit import via AccessAlly Migration Wizard:

  • email – Email address (required)
  • first_name – First name (Kit’s only name field)
  • tags – Comma-separated list of Kit tags (including converted custom field values)

CSV transformation steps:

  1. Open your Ontraport export in Excel or Google Sheets
  2. Create new column: email (copy from Ontraport email column)
  3. Create new column: first_name (copy from Ontraport firstname)
  4. Create new column: tags
  5. For each contact, combine:
    • Their existing Ontraport tags
    • PLUS tags representing their custom field values
  6. Example: If contact has tag “Active” and custom field Membership Level = “Gold”, tags column should contain: “Active, Gold Member”
  7. Remove unsubscribed contacts OR tag them as “Unsubscribed”
  8. Save as new CSV: “ontraport-to-kit-import.csv”
⚠️ Example Custom Field to Tag Conversion:

Ontraport data:
– Email: [email protected]
– Name: Jane Doe
– Tag: “Active Student”
– Custom field f1234 (Membership Level): “Gold”
– Custom field f5678 (Lead Source): “Webinar”

Kit CSV row:
– email: [email protected]
– first_name: Jane
– tags: “Active Student, Gold Member, Source: Webinar”

Step 7: Connect Kit to AccessAlly (Staging Site First)

🚨 STAGING SITE MANDATORY: Never switch CRMs on your live site without testing on staging. Request a 2-site exception from AccessAlly support.
  1. On your STAGING site, go to AccessAlly → Settings → General
  2. Under “CRM Integration,” change from Ontraport to Kit (ConvertKit)
  3. Enter your Kit API credentials:
    • API Key (found in Kit → Settings → Advanced → API)
    • API Secret (same location)
  4. Click Save and Test Connection
  5. Verify the connection is successful

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 Kit fields:
    • email → Email
    • first_name → First Name
    • tags → Tags
  6. Choose import options:
    • Update existing users: Check if members may already exist in WordPress
    • Create users in CRM: Check (creates subscribers in Kit)
    • Add tags: Check (applies tags from CSV)
  7. Click “Start Import”

What happens during import:

  • WordPress user accounts created (if they don’t exist)
  • Subscribers created in Kit
  • Tags applied in Kit (including converted custom field tags)
  • Contact ID from Kit stored in WordPress user meta
  • This Contact ID linking is CRITICAL for access control
⏱️ Time Estimate: Import processes ~100-200 contacts per minute. Monitor for errors, especially tag-related issues.

Step 9: Update ALL AccessAlly Tag References

After switching CRMs, AccessAlly still references your old Ontraport tags. You must update every tag reference.

  1. Go through each AccessAlly Module or protected page
  2. Check “Who Can Access” settings
  3. Update tag names to match Kit tags (including new tags from custom field conversions)
  4. Update membership levels to link to correct Kit tags

Critical areas to update:

  • Module access rules
  • Page protection settings
  • Order form tag assignments
  • Email wizard tag triggers
  • Automation trigger rules
🚨 CRITICAL: If you converted Ontraport custom fields to Kit tags, you MUST update any AccessAlly logic that referenced those custom fields to now reference the equivalent tags.

Example: If an AccessAlly module granted access based on Ontraport field f1234 = “Gold”, you must now grant access based on Kit tag “Gold Member”.

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, verify each member’s subscription ID is stored correctly
  4. Test that failed payments will cancel access

Detailed guide: Preserving Subscriptions During Migration

🚨 SECURITY ISSUE: If subscription links aren’t correct, failed payments won’t cancel member access. This is a revenue leak and security issue. Test thoroughly.

Step 11: Rebuild Your Automations in Kit (Simple Sequences)

Ontraport campaigns CANNOT be automatically migrated. You must rebuild them in Kit – and they will be MUCH simpler.

Ontraport → Kit automation mapping:

Ontraport Feature Kit Equivalent Limitations
Campaign Sequence Kit sequences are simpler, less conditional logic
Tag-based campaign trigger Automation rule Kit has basic automation rules, less complex than Ontraport
Wait step Wait period in sequence Similar functionality
Conditional logic (if/then) Limited conditional actions Kit has basic IF/THEN, but not as sophisticated
Advanced scoring/routing NOT AVAILABLE Kit doesn’t support lead scoring or complex routing
CRM tasks/follow-ups NOT AVAILABLE Kit is email-only, no CRM features

Common automations to rebuild in Kit:

  • Welcome sequences: Use Kit visual automation builder
  • Purchase follow-ups: Create sequences triggered by purchase tags
  • Drip content: Time-based sequences with content delivery
  • Re-engagement: Broadcast campaigns or simple sequences
💡 Expect Simplification: If you had complex Ontraport campaigns with extensive branching logic, you will NOT be able to replicate them in Kit. Kit is designed for simple, linear sequences. This is a feature trade-off for cost savings and simplicity.

Step 12: Migrate Your Forms

Ontraport forms need to be recreated as Kit forms OR AccessAlly forms that submit to Kit.

Option 1: Use Kit Native Forms

  1. Create forms in Kit → Grow → Landing Pages & Forms
  2. Embed Kit form code on your WordPress pages
  3. Style forms using Kit’s limited customization options
  4. Set up tag assignments for form submissions

Option 2: Use AccessAlly Forms (Recommended)

  1. Create forms in AccessAlly → Opt-in Forms
  2. Configure to submit to Kit
  3. Better integration with WordPress/AccessAlly features
  4. More control over styling and behavior
  5. Assign Kit tags on form submission

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

Step 13: Test Everything on Staging

Before touching your live site, thoroughly test on staging:

  • ✅ Member login works
  • ✅ Content access rules work correctly
  • ✅ NEW tags from custom field conversion grant correct access
  • ✅ Forms submit to Kit and apply tags
  • ✅ Purchase flow works end-to-end
  • ✅ Subscription linking works
  • ✅ Failed payment handling tested
  • ✅ Kit sequences trigger correctly
  • ✅ Email sending works from Kit
💡 Pro Tip: Test with real member accounts that have different combinations of tags (including converted custom field tags) to ensure all access scenarios work correctly.

Step 14: Switch Live Site to Kit

When staging tests pass completely:

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

Step 15: Complete Post-Migration Verification

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

✅ Contact Data Integrity
  • Verify total subscriber count in Kit matches Ontraport
  • Check 10 random subscribers in Kit for complete data
  • Verify Contact IDs properly stored in WordPress
  • Check for duplicate subscribers
  • Verify converted custom field tags were applied correctly
✅ Access & Permissions
  • Test login as multiple member types
  • Verify access to protected content for each membership level
  • CRITICAL: Test access based on CONVERTED custom field tags
  • Test content unlocking based on tags
✅ Tags & Tag-Based Logic
  • Verify all tags migrated correctly (sample 10 contacts)
  • Verify custom field values became correct tags
  • Test tag-based access rules
  • Verify tag assignment via forms
✅ Forms & Automations
  • Test each opt-in form submission
  • Verify form data reaches Kit
  • Test order form purchases
  • Confirm post-purchase sequences trigger in Kit
  • Test auto-login after purchase
✅ 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
🚨 CRITICAL TEST: Contact ID & Tag Verification
The #1 issue with CRM switches is Contact ID mismatches and tag-based access failures. Test this:

  1. Pick a random member from WordPress
  2. Check their user meta for “kit_contact_id” or “convertkit_subscriber_id”
  3. Search Kit for that subscriber ID
  4. Verify it’s the correct contact with correct tags
  5. Test that tagging them in Kit grants access in AccessAlly
  6. Test a member who should have converted custom field tags – verify access works

Step 16: Monitor for 7 Days

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

  • Day 1-2: Watch for immediate access issues, login problems, tag-related access failures
  • Day 3-5: Monitor form submissions, sequence triggers, email deliverability
  • Day 6-7: Check subscription/payment handling

What to monitor:

  • Member support tickets (migration-related confusion or access issues?)
  • Login errors or “insufficient permissions” errors
  • Payment failures or subscription problems
  • Form submission success rates
  • Kit sequence trigger verification
  • Email deliverability (Kit has good deliverability, but monitor)

Step 17: Clean Up

Once migration is stable (7+ days):

  1. Deactivate Migration Wizard plugin
  2. Remove Ontraport API credentials from AccessAlly
  3. Export final Ontraport data for records (you may want campaign structure documentation)
  4. Downgrade or cancel Ontraport (keep 30 days as safety net)
  5. Remove staging site’s 2-site exception (contact AccessAlly support)
  6. Update member documentation if anything changed

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Members Have Tags But Can’t Access Content

Symptoms: Members have correct tags in Kit but getting “insufficient permissions” errors

Causes:

  • AccessAlly access rules reference old Ontraport custom field logic
  • Tag names don’t match exactly (case-sensitive)
  • Custom field → tag conversion wasn’t applied correctly
  • Contact ID linking issue

Solution:

  1. Check the member’s tags in Kit (note exact spelling)
  2. Go to the module or page they can’t access
  3. Check “Who Can Access” settings
  4. Verify tag name matches EXACTLY (including any prefixes like “Membership: Gold”)
  5. If the rule referenced an Ontraport custom field, update it to reference the equivalent Kit tag
  6. Test access again

Issue 2: Custom Field Data Lost

Symptoms: Important custom field data from Ontraport didn’t transfer to Kit

Causes:

  • Kit doesn’t support that type of custom field
  • Custom field wasn’t converted to tags during CSV preparation
  • Data type incompatibility

Solution:

  1. Review your custom field conversion document (Step 3)
  2. Verify you created tags for all necessary custom field values
  3. Check your import CSV – does the tags column include converted custom field values?
  4. If data is missing, re-export from Ontraport, add missing tags to CSV, and re-import with “Update existing users”

Issue 3: Kit Sequences Not Triggering

Symptoms: Members not receiving expected automated emails from Kit sequences

Causes:

  • Sequence trigger tag doesn’t match tag being applied
  • Sequence not activated in Kit
  • Subscriber is unsubscribed in Kit
  • AccessAlly not applying tags correctly to Kit

Solution:

  1. Check Kit → Automate → Sequences to verify sequence is active
  2. Check sequence trigger tag matches EXACTLY the tag being applied
  3. Test: Manually add a test subscriber to Kit, apply trigger tag, verify sequence starts
  4. Check AccessAlly → Kit connection still active
  5. Test form submission → verify tag applied in Kit within 1-2 minutes

Issue 4: Can’t Replicate Ontraport Feature in Kit

Symptoms: Important Ontraport automation can’t be recreated in Kit

Causes:

  • Kit is much simpler than Ontraport and doesn’t support that feature
  • This is expected for complex automations

Solutions:

Option 1: Simplify your automation logic to fit Kit’s capabilities

Option 2: Use AccessAlly’s automation features to supplement Kit

Option 3: Integrate a third-party automation tool (Zapier) to bridge the gap

Option 4: Accept that you can’t replicate the feature (feature trade-off for cost savings)

Option 5: Reconsider if Kit is the right platform – maybe ActiveCampaign is a better middle ground

⚠️ Reality Check: If you find yourself constantly trying to replicate Ontraport’s advanced features in Kit, you may have migrated to the wrong platform. Kit is designed for simplicity, not feature parity with business automation platforms.

Issue 5: Email Deliverability Problems

Symptoms: Emails from Kit going to spam or not being delivered

Causes:

  • SPF/DKIM not configured for your domain in Kit
  • Switching from Ontraport’s sending infrastructure to Kit’s requires domain warm-up
  • Email content triggering spam filters

Solution:

  1. Verify SPF and DKIM records in Kit → Settings → Sending
  2. Warm up your sending domain by starting with small email batches
  3. Check email content for spam trigger words
  4. Test deliverability with Mail Tester (mail-tester.com)
  5. Contact Kit support if deliverability doesn’t improve

Issue 6: Need to Rollback to Ontraport

If critical issues occur:

  1. Change AccessAlly CRM connection back to Ontraport
  2. Re-enter Ontraport API credentials
  3. Verify connection
  4. Test member access (should restore immediately with original field logic)
  5. Contact AccessAlly support for migration assistance
🚨 When to Rollback:

  • More than 50% of members reporting access issues
  • Critical data loss from custom field conversion failures
  • Unable to replicate essential Ontraport automations
  • Realizing Kit doesn’t support features you actually need

Feature Comparison: What You’re Losing

Understanding the trade-offs of migrating from Ontraport to Kit:

Feature Ontraport Kit
Custom Fields Unlimited custom fields Very limited – must use tags instead
CRM Features Full CRM (deals, pipelines, tasks) NONE – email only
Automation Complexity Advanced branching logic Simple linear sequences
Lead Scoring Built-in lead scoring NOT AVAILABLE
SMS Marketing Built-in SMS NOT AVAILABLE
Payment Processing Native payment gateway Must use external (Stripe, etc.)
Membership Sites Advanced membership features Basic tag-based access only
Reporting Extensive analytics and reports Basic email analytics only
Price $79-$497/month $9-$79/month (80-90% savings)
Best For Businesses needing CRM + automation Creators needing simple email marketing

Migration Timeline & Downtime

Total Time Estimate: 6-8 hours (due to custom field conversion complexity)

Phase Time Downtime Required?
Custom Field Conversion Planning 2-3 hours ❌ No (planning phase)
Kit Account Setup & Tag Creation 1-2 hours ❌ No
Data Export & CSV Transformation 1-2 hours ❌ No
Staging Setup & Test Import 1-2 hours ❌ No (staging only)
Update ALL Tag References 1-2 hours ❌ No (can prep in advance)
Live Site CRM Switch 1-2 hours ✅ Yes (REQUIRED)
Sequence Rebuild 2-3 hours ❌ No (can do after)
Form Migration 1 hour ❌ No
Testing & Verification 2-3 hours ❌ No

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

Need Help?

Migration Support:

Related Guides:

🎯 Migration Success Checklist:

  • ✅ All Ontraport custom fields mapped to Kit tags
  • ✅ All necessary tags created in Kit (including converted custom field values)
  • ✅ Contacts imported to Kit with complete tag data
  • ✅ Contact IDs properly linked in WordPress
  • ✅ ALL AccessAlly tag references updated (including custom field logic)
  • ✅ Member login working
  • ✅ Content access rules working with new tag-based logic
  • ✅ Tag-based access tested for multiple membership levels
  • ✅ Subscriptions linked and tested
  • ✅ Failed payment handling verified
  • ✅ Forms submitting to Kit with correct tags
  • ✅ Core sequences rebuilt and tested in Kit
  • ✅ No critical support tickets after 7 days
💡 Final Reality Check
If you find yourself struggling to replicate Ontraport features in Kit, or if the custom field to tag conversion feels overwhelming, consider:

  • Is Kit really the right platform for your business needs?
  • Would ActiveCampaign be a better middle ground (more features than Kit, less cost than Ontraport)?
  • Can you afford to lose Ontraport’s CRM and advanced automation features?

The migration itself is doable, but make sure you’re migrating to the RIGHT platform for your long-term business needs.

Updated on January 15, 2026
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