How to Export Emails From WordPress Comments (and Grow Your List the Right Way)

Every commenter on your blog leaves an email address, and readers who comment are often your most engaged audience. It is tempting to export those emails and add everyone to your newsletter or contacts. But commenters gave you their email to post a comment, not to receive marketing, and privacy laws such as the GDPR and the US CAN-SPAM Act take that seriously.

This guide shows how to export commenter emails when you have a legitimate reason, and, more importantly, how to turn commenters into subscribers the right way, with their permission.

When Is It OK to Export Commenter Emails?

• Fine: backing up your site, migrating to a new comment system, contacting a contest winner who entered by commenting, or replying personally to a specific commenter about their comment.
• Not fine: adding commenters to your newsletter, uploading their emails to social networks to find and follow them, or sharing the list with anyone else, unless they explicitly agreed.

Also make sure your privacy policy explains what you do with commenter data.

How to Export Emails From WordPress Comments

The plugin used in the original version of this guide (Commenter Emails) has been removed from WordPress.org. The easiest current option is WP All Export:

1. Install and activate WP All Export from Plugins > Add New Plugin.
2. Go to All Export > New Export and choose Comments.
3. Drag the fields you need, such as Author Name, Author Email, Post Title, and Comment Date, into the export template.
4. Run the export and download the CSV file.

Store the file securely and delete it when you no longer need it.

The Better Way: Let Commenters Subscribe Themselves

Instead of exporting emails, add an opt-in checkbox to your comment form. Commenters who tick it are added to your email list with clear consent, and everyone else is left alone.

1. Install MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress (or use your email service’s WordPress plugin).
2. Connect your email account.
3. Go to Integrations > Comment Form, enable it, and set the checkbox label, for example “Send me new posts and tips by email.”
4. Leave the checkbox unchecked by default so consent is a real choice.

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Build Real Relationships With Commenters

• Reply to comments thoughtfully; it is the simplest way to turn a commenter into a loyal reader.
• Visit commenters’ blogs and leave genuine comments there too.
• Follow active commenters on social media by searching their name or website, rather than uploading their emails.
• Mention great comments in future posts or newsletters (with credit).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add blog commenters to my email list?

Only if they explicitly agree, for example by ticking an opt-in checkbox on your comment form. Adding them without consent breaks privacy laws in many countries and email service rules.

Where are commenter emails stored in WordPress?

In your site’s database, and you can see each one on the Comments screen when you hover over a comment author.

Is it legal to export commenter emails?

Exporting for backups or site migration is fine. Using them for marketing without consent is not.