Create a list and import a file

Updated Markdown

Lists are where the work happens: quality checks, enrichment, AI commands and export all run on a list. You create one from the New List button on Home, or by dropping a file anywhere on the Home page — both open the same wizard. A new list is created in your active workspace, so every member of that workspace sees it (see "What is a workspace").

The Lists start page ("No lists yet")#

Before your workspace has any list, clicking Lists in the rail shows No lists yet ("A list comes from your own data or from a search.") with six Ways to your first list:

  • Import a file → Choose file (Excel, CSV or JSON).
  • From Segment Search → Open segments (find an audience by filters).
  • From AI Research → Start research (leads no database has).
  • From Saved → Open Saved (turn contacts you saved into a list).
  • Connect an app → Connect (HubSpot, Google Sheets and more, gated by plan).
  • Empty list → Create list (set up your own columns, free — see "Starting without data").

A box Just want to look around? offers Open a sample list, which loads the sample contacts straight into the import preview (see "Trying ListPlus with a sample list").

Starting the wizard#

The wizard asks "How do you want to start?" with two groups. Use existing data: Import a file (drop an Excel, CSV or JSON file, or click to choose one) or Or connect your system (Google Sheets, Airtable, HubSpot and other tools, gated by plan). Build a new list: Find Contacts (Person Search, Segment Search or AI Research), Collect web data from LinkedIn, or Start without data from a template or a blank column set. Dropping a file directly onto the Home page skips straight to this same wizard with your file already attached — you need to be signed in first. Dropping or attaching an Excel file — or a CSV/JSON table file — inside the Inbox (Eingang) instead goes straight into this same wizard too, rather than becoming an Inbox entry.

Importing a file#

  1. Drop or select the file. CSV, Excel (.xlsx, .xlsm, .xls), JSON, TXT and TSV are accepted, up to 100 MB; encoding and delimiters are detected automatically.
  2. For Excel files with multiple tabs, pick the worksheet or table to import.
  3. Check the preview (the first 20 rows) and the detected field types. By default ListPlus uses AI to recognise what each column holds — email, first name, company, phone and so on — because checks and enrichment rely on it later. A Skip AI Enhancement button appears only if AI is unavailable or the analysis fails; otherwise the AI step always runs.
  4. Name the list and click Create List.

A file import costs 1 credit, checked against your balance before the import starts; see "What happens when I don't have enough credits?" if your balance is too low. Column type detection itself is billed separately, by AI usage — see "AI, research and import costs" for that cost.

Record limit#

The workspace owner's plan caps how many records all lists together can hold, counted across every workspace that person owns — see "What is the record limit?" for the exact numbers and what happens when an import is larger than your remaining capacity.

Duplicates#

Files are not deduplicated on import; use the duplicate checks in the list afterwards, or Consolidate Lists on Home to merge several lists with duplicate detection.

Starting without data#

Choosing Start without data and picking a template and clicking Create list creates the list with an empty row — via Start without data this costs nothing, since only file, connected-tool and LinkedIn imports are billed. Fill it later by import or enrichment. The sample-list buttons ("Open a sample list", "Try a sample list") and a finder's "…or create a new list" option are not this path — they create the list from a file behind the scenes, so they cost the usual 1 credit.

After the import#

To rename, duplicate, group or delete lists, see "Projects and list management".

Related topics: record-limit · not-enough-credits · price-list-ai-research-imports · import-file-details · column-detection · import-from-url · empty-list-and-templates · projects-and-list-management.

FAQ#

How do I import an Excel or CSV file?#

Click New List on Home, then drop or select your file (Excel, CSV, JSON, TXT or TSV, up to 100 MB). Pick the worksheet if it is an Excel file, check the preview and the detected field types, name the list and click Create List. A file import costs 1 credit.

Which file formats can I import?#

Excel (.xlsx, .xlsm, .xls), CSV, TSV, TXT and JSON, up to 100 MB per file. You can also load a file from a direct link or a Google Sheets share link, or connect a tool such as Google Sheets or Airtable directly — see "Which apps can I connect?".

Can I just drop a file onto the Home page?#

Yes — dropping a supported file (.csv, .xlsx, .xls or .json) anywhere on the Home page takes you straight into the New List wizard with that file already attached; you don't have to click New List first. You do need to be signed in.

How many contacts can I import?#

As many as the workspace owner's record limit still has room for, counted across all lists in every workspace they own — Basic 10,000, Pro 100,000, Premium 1,000,000. See "What is the record limit?" for what happens when a file is larger than your remaining capacity.

Why does the import ask about field types?#

ListPlus needs to know what each column holds — email, first name, company, phone and so on — because checks and enrichment depend on it. AI recognises this automatically during every import; you can adjust the detected types in the preview afterwards, or skip the AI step with the Skip AI Enhancement button when it's offered.

Does the import remove duplicates?#

No, files are imported as they are. Run the duplicate checks in the list afterwards to find and merge duplicates by email, phone, LinkedIn URL or name and company, or use Consolidate Lists on Home to merge several lists into one with duplicate detection.

Can I paste contacts instead of uploading a file?#

Not in the import wizard. Paste notes, signatures or a small table into Inbox (Eingang) instead and click Recognize contacts (0.5 credits or more per run); a table with more than 10 rows and at least 3 columns is offered as Import as list instead, opening this same wizard with the table pre-loaded. Inbox entries — recognized or not — expire after 14 days unless you save the people or add them to a list.

Can I import contacts from LinkedIn?#

Yes, through the wizard's LinkedIn options: a Sales Navigator search, the employees of a LinkedIn company page, a LinkedIn profile search, or the people who reacted to or commented on a post. These imports deliver names, job titles, companies and LinkedIn URLs but no email addresses — you add those with enrichment afterwards; ListPlus never uses your own LinkedIn account. To start, your balance must cover the maximum cost; the actual charge follows once the import finishes.

What are the ways to create my first list?#

With no lists yet, the Lists page shows "No lists yet" with six ways: Import a file, From Segment Search, From AI Research, From Saved, Connect an app, and Empty list. A file import costs 1 credit, an empty list is free, and the finders charge for their searches as usual. To just look around first, click Open a sample list on the same page.

Which workspace does a new list go into?#

Every new list — imported, created empty or added from a finder — is created in the workspace that is active when you create it, and every member of that workspace can see and edit it. Check the workspace name in the Home page header before importing, and switch there if needed. Lists can't be moved between workspaces afterwards, only exported and imported again.

Can I start a list with no data at all?#

Yes — choose Start without data in the wizard, pick a template (Contacts, Companies, HubSpot, Outbound or Custom structure), adjust the columns if you like, name the list and click Create list. The list opens with an empty row, ready to fill. This is free; fill it later with an import, a finder or enrichment.