· 16 min read

How to Add a MailChimp Popup to WordPress

Perihan Uramış
-Published on:
Jan 23, 2024
-Updated on:
Jan 13, 2026

If you have a WordPress website, just hear us out and explore the easiest way to add a MailChimp popup to WordPress.

Then, you’ll be ready to collect leads, engage with visitors, and increase sales.

What to Consider When Adding MailChimp Popup to WordPress

person in gray jacket using MacBook Pro checking WordPress

We can make you sure about the easiness of adding a MailChimp popup to a WordPress site.

However, there are some criteria that you need to take into consideration while doing this.

Examining these criteria can help you be more apt to this process:

  • Audience-Based Targeting: You should consider your audience and whether they are ready for this activity. Keep their interest, attention, timing, and behavior on your site in mind to specify the target.
  • User Experience Improvement: No matter what, user experience is one of the most essential parts of a website. Thus, you should contemplate whether or not adding a MailChimp popup will affect your user experience.
  • GDPR-Compliant: Since user consent is critical, you must display privacy notices to get their consent.
  • Designing and Customization: Branding is branding. You cannot publish a popup irrelevant to your brand identity and content. Consider the colors, fonts, and images you use.
  • A/B Testing: To test your popups and see how they fit your audience, A/B testing is an optimizing action for your popup campaign.
  • Device-Based Customization: If your popup doesn’t fit the devices you aim for, you need to customize or find an alternative solution to make your campaign go.
  • Analytics: You should be able to check your rates and control your performance after a while to see if your campaign is working correctly.
  • Updated Content: Your popup can be about anything, but you should keep your content updated. Let it be an image or writing to inform your visitors; your popup should include up-to-date information.
  • Seamless Integration between Tools: The most crucial point and the reason for our research is the integration of MailChimp and WordPress. If you successfully integrate these tools, you can have a smooth process to go without any doubt.

How to Make a MailChimp Popup on a WordPress Site

Before you start the process, we imagine you have a WordPress site and want to add a MailChimp popup.

If you do not have a WordPress site, you should start by having a WordPress site, deciding on your theme and settings, and then publishing it as you like.

Then, the next step is to start the process below for adding a MailChimp popup to your WordPress site.

Step 1- Create a MailChimp Account.

While creating your account, make sure you have a group on MailChimp to create audiences for the leads collected with your popup.

the sign up form page of MailChimp site for new users

Step 2- Click on “Audience” and “Signup forms” on the Left Sidebar.

managing audience with signup forms on MailChimp

Step 3- Scroll down the Page. Then, Find and Select the “Subscriber pop-up.”

subscriber pop-up of MailChimp audience section

Step 4- On Your MailChimp Dashboard, Choose “Connect Site.”

It is also the place where you can customize your MailChimp popup.

Therefore, it is better to focus on popup design best practices at this point while customizing your popup and then go forward with connecting your site.

connecting site on MailChimp dashboard

Step 5- Enter the Website URL into the MailChimp Modal.

You should accept the additional terms for connecting your website to Connected Sites.

That’s how you give permission to collect your leads from your WordPress site on your MailChimp account.

connecting site modal of MailChimp account

After doing this, you will get a code to embed your website. You should copy this code.

Step 6- Now, Go to Your WordPress Admin Panel. Click “Appearance” and “Theme File Editor” on the Left Sidebar.

appearance and theme file editor on WordPress Admin panel

Step 7- Under the Theme Files on the Right Side, Find “Theme Header (header.php) File.”

You need to paste your code just before the tag.

theme header and head closing tag on WordPress

Lastly, you need to click Update File at the bottom of the page.

Step 8- That’s All! It’s Time to Check the Connection.

To check your connection, you need to go back to your MailChimp account and click “Check connection” on the same modal.

It will be verified, and you will get a verification message.

Yes, it is that simple! :)

How to Add MailChimp Popup to WordPress using Popupsmart

If you want to spice up your WordPress website and engage your visitors to grow your email list with eye-catching popups, you can also use Popupsmart’s WordPress plugin and integrate it with MailChimp!

Let’s explore the process of adding Popupsmart to your WordPress website with easy steps.

Step 1: Sign in to Popupsmart. Click on your account in the left menu. Then, locate the "Websites" option.

Add your website URL. Then, click the "Unverified" button next to it.

Once you add your website, you’ll see the “Unverified” button. If you click on it, the verify modal will appear, taking you to Popupsmart WordPress plugin once you click “Go to WordPress App.”

a screenshot of clicking unverified and verifying website on Popupsmart

Step 2: Click "Download" and wait for Popupsmart.zip to save to your device.

a screenshot of Popupsmart WordPress plugin landing page on WordPress

Go to your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to Plugins and click "Add New."

Step 3: Either upload Popupsmart.zip using the "Upload New" button or find it in the search bar.

a screenshot of uploading plugin on WordPress panel

After installation, click "Activate Plugin" to proceed.

Step 4: Locate "Popupsmart" under Settings in the left menu.

a screenshot of Popupsmart on left menu of WordPress panel

Step 5: On the displayed page, identify your "Account ID."

a screenshot of getting account ID and installation steps on Popupsmart WordPress plugin

Step 6: Return to Popupsmart dashboard. Click on "Account" and go to "Personal Data." Copy the Account ID.

a screenshot of going personal data page and getting account ID on Popupsmart

Paste the Account ID in the WordPress "Account ID" field, as shown before.

You can explore our documentation about WordPress popup for more details.

Step 7: Go to the “Campaigns” page & click “New Campaign” to create your popup campaign.

Create your popup & customize it according to your goals & brand identity.

a screenshot of creating and customizing a popup campaign on Popupsmart

Step 8: Click on your campaign's form element and click the "Add integration" button.

a screenshot of clicking “Add integration” button on a form element on Popupsmart

Then, select MailChimp from the list and click the “Connect” button.

a screenshot of  selecting MailChimp from integrations list on Popupsmart

Step 9: Select "API" or "Add new MailChimp API."

a screenshot of setting up MailChimp integration on Popupsmart

Step 10: Log in to your Mailchimp account, click on your profile, and select "Account & billing." Navigate to "Extras" and click "API keys."

a screenshot of  getting API key from Extras and API Key sections on MailChimp

Step 11: Click "Create New Key." Then, generate a name for your API key.

a screenshot of creating a new key from “Your API keys” section on MailChimp

Your API key is ready now! You can copy it & paste it on Popupsmart by returning to the dashboard. Enter your key to the “API Key” part.

a screenshot of setting up MailChimp integration and entering API key on Popupsmart

Then, select your list from the dropdown. Fill in the blanks according to the data you desire. Options include Form Field, System Field, API Field, and Static Field.

Save your settings, publish your popup & that’s all! The integration status is on by default; you can adjust it by toggling on/off in the three-dot menu.

Now, you can use the popups you create with Popupsmart on WordPress and integrate them with MailChimp for your business goals.

Learn more by reading:How to Integrate Popupsmart with Mailchimp

Top Benefits of Adding a MailChimp Popup to WordPress Site

person using MacBook Pro on brown wooden table checking WordPress

You will inevitably have incredible benefits after you have added a MailChimp popup to the WordPress site.

Simply put, your site will be abundant after you generate leads.

Hence, let’s focus on some benefits of connecting MailChimp and WordPress.

1. Better Engagement: Because people will tend to engage with your popup depending on your campaign, your website will be enriched.

2. Strong Customer Relationship: If you plan to use your leads for email marketing, you will contact your customers so that they will feel the closeness of your brand.

3. Determined Marketing: Using popups will help you determine your aims more effectively, so you will increase the possibility of being successful.

4. Sharing and Caring: If your campaigns have appealing promotions and offers, your MailChimp popups will be happy to help while highlighting.

5. Retaining Customer: Did you know you can stop customers from leaving your store with a simple popup? Yes, popups can hold your customers.

6. Increasing Website Traffic: Since popups will leave a mark in people’s minds, they will come back to see if popups are valid, or you can get email subscribers and lead them to engage with your website.

7. Cost-Effective Solution: Since popups are not only for one aim, like collecting email subscribers, you can hit two birds with one stone.

8. Enhanced Conversion Rates: This is the best part, we know. If the targeting, customizing, and analyzing are at the right point, there is no other way than enhancing your conversion rate.

To Wrap Up

All in all, you only have to go through eight steps to have effective popups on your WordPress account with MailChimp.

Since it is a smoothly continuous process, you can determine every step as you like.

After you have completed the connection of MailChimp and WordPress, you will see its impact gradually.

When you start to see that the leads are gathered and you can have more sign-ups for your newsletters, blogs, or any business-related section, you will easily get the gist of adding a MailChimp popup to your WordPress site.

We hope you can see the significance and benefits of this process after applying by following the steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have answered the most common questions about adding a MailChimp popup to a WordPress site.

You can check them to have more knowledge during or after the process.

Is It Important to Display My MailChimp Popups on My WordPress Site Are GDPR Compliant?

Yes, it is. GDPR is a very important point in general, whether the topic is about popups or not. Hence, one of your main aims should be to ensure your visitors are not in danger while sharing their personal information with you.

How Can I Use Custom Designs for MailChimp Popups on My WordPress Site?

It depends on your creativity and brand identity. If your brand needs an interactive popup, your CTAs and images can even change. You should decide the image you want to reflect and show yourself ready to engage with your visitors.

How Can I Ensure That My MailChimp Popups Are Compatible With Different Devices?

This has a direct answer: You need to test your popups. After creating your MailChimp popup and publishing it on your WordPress site, you need to test it on different devices to see if it fits or not. Next, you can customize or arrange it depending on your chosen device.

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Since adding a MailChimp popup to WordPress takes some minutes, and you might need more improvement on your WordPress site, take a look at these blog posts as well!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a Mailchimp pop-up to WordPress?

To add a Mailchimp pop-up to WordPress, start by creating your signup form/audience in Mailchimp (Audience > Signup forms) and decide what you want to collect (typically email address, optionally first name) and what you’ll offer (discount, free guide, newsletter). Next, choose your implementation method: the most reliable approach is using a WordPress plugin that connects to Mailchimp via API (for example, the official Mailchimp for WordPress plugin or a popup builder that supports Mailchimp), because it handles styling, targeting, and GDPR fields without fragile embed scripts. Install and activate the plugin, connect your Mailchimp account (usually via API key or OAuth login), select the audience, and build your popup with your branding (colors, fonts, images) and copy. Then configure targeting rules to protect user experience—set a delay (e.g., 5–15 seconds), trigger on exit intent or scroll, limit frequency (once per session/day), and exclude logged-in users or certain pages if needed. Finally, enable GDPR consent/links if you serve EU visitors, test on desktop and mobile to ensure it fits and doesn’t block content, and monitor performance in analytics so you can A/B test headlines, incentives, and timing to improve conversion.

How to create a pop-up in Mailchimp?

To create a pop-up in Mailchimp, go to your audience and open the signup form tools (often found under Audience > Signup forms or Forms), then choose the popup form option (Mailchimp calls these popup/signup forms depending on the interface/version). You’ll typically follow a guided builder: pick an offer/incentive (like “10% off” or a downloadable checklist), choose a template layout, and then customize the design to match your brand by editing colors, fonts, button text, and images. Next, add and arrange form fields (email is standard; keep extra fields minimal to reduce friction), write clear consent language if you need GDPR compliance, and set display behavior such as when it appears (after time on page, on scroll, or exit intent), where it appears, and how often the same visitor sees it. Before publishing, preview the popup for mobile responsiveness, confirm it subscribes users to the correct audience/tags (helpful for segmentation), and run a quick test subscription so you can verify the contact lands in the right list and receives the correct confirmation/welcome automation.

How to add newsletter popup in WordPress?

To add a newsletter popup in WordPress, you generally use a popup plugin or lead-generation tool that can connect to your email service (Mailchimp, Brevo, ConvertKit, etc.), because it gives you control over design, triggers, and targeting without manual code edits. Install and activate a popup plugin (for example, FireBox Lite, Popup Maker, OptinMonster, or similar), create a new campaign/popup, and choose a newsletter template to speed up setup. Customize the popup to match your site branding and keep the message specific (e.g., “Weekly WordPress tips” or “Get new posts in your inbox”), then connect the form to your email platform or embed your provider’s form shortcode. Configure behavior rules to protect user experience: set a delay, use exit-intent or scroll triggers, cap frequency (so it doesn’t show every pageview), and exclude key pages like checkout, login, or support pages. Add GDPR consent and a privacy policy link if applicable, then test across devices to ensure it doesn’t cover essential navigation on mobile, and finally track conversions so you can A/B test the headline, incentive, and trigger timing to steadily improve signups.

How do I integrate Mailchimp with WordPress?

To integrate Mailchimp with WordPress, the simplest method is installing a WordPress plugin that connects your site to Mailchimp via secure authorization, then mapping your forms to the correct audience in Mailchimp. From your WordPress dashboard, install a Mailchimp integration plugin (commonly “Mailchimp for WordPress (MC4WP)” or the official Mailchimp plugin), activate it, and connect your account either by logging in through the plugin’s authorization flow (you’ll review permissions and click Allow) or by pasting a Mailchimp API key from your Mailchimp account settings. Once connected, choose the audience you want to collect subscribers into, optionally set tags/groups for segmentation (e.g., “Blog Popup,” “Footer Form,” “Lead Magnet A”), and build or embed signup forms using the plugin’s form builder, shortcode, block, or widget. If you’re integrating for eCommerce or site activity tracking, also enable the relevant features (like WooCommerce integration) so purchases and subscriber data sync properly. Finish by adding GDPR consent fields and a privacy policy link if needed, testing a signup end-to-end (including double opt-in if enabled), and verifying in Mailchimp that the contact appears with the right tags and automations trigger as expected.

What is Mailchimp popup wordpress not working?

“Mailchimp popup WordPress not working” usually means the popup isn’t displaying, isn’t submitting, or subscribers aren’t reaching your Mailchimp audience, and the fix depends on where the breakdown occurs. First, confirm the basics: the popup is actually enabled/published, targeted to the pages you’re testing, and not limited by frequency settings (many popups won’t reappear if you already dismissed them—test in an incognito window or clear cookies). Next, check for conflicts: caching/minification plugins, performance tools, or script blockers can delay or prevent Mailchimp or popup scripts from loading; temporarily disable minification/combining, exclude the popup script from optimization, and retest. If the popup shows but submissions fail, verify the integration points—correct audience selected, valid API key/OAuth connection, required fields mapped, and double opt-in settings understood (with double opt-in, the contact won’t be “subscribed” until they confirm via email). Also review GDPR/consent requirements: if you added a required consent checkbox but didn’t map it correctly, submissions can be blocked or silently fail. For display issues, test theme and plugin conflicts by switching to a default theme and disabling other plugins briefly, and ensure the popup is mobile-responsive and not being hidden by CSS (z-index issues are common). Finally, look at error logs and browser console errors, confirm Mailchimp embed code hasn’t been placed inside a restricted area (like a page builder that strips scripts), and use analytics/events to confirm the popup is firing; if you still can’t resolve it, using a dedicated WordPress popup plugin with a native Mailchimp integration is typically more stable than raw embed code.