Dynamic vs Static Segments: Which to Use

The two segment types#

When you create a segment, the very first choice after naming it is the type. This decides how records get added — and whether the audience keeps itself up to date.

Dynamic segments#

"Auto-updates based on filters. Records join and leave as their data changes."

A dynamic segment stores a set of filters, not a fixed list of people. Every time you use it, the CRM runs those filters fresh and returns whoever matches at that moment.

A contact who starts matching your rules is added automatically.
A contact who stops matching is removed automatically.

Use dynamic segments for any audience that should always reflect current data:

"Active customers" — someone becomes active, they are in; they churn, they drop out
"Inactive for 30 days" — the list refreshes itself every single day
"Leads from this month" — rolls forward on its own

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Dynamic segments are the right default for almost every marketing use case. You build the rules once and never have to touch them again.

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Dynamic segments count toward your plan's active-segment limit. If you hit it, you will see "You've reached your plan limit of active segments" — delete unused segments or upgrade your plan to create more.

Static segments (Lists)#

"Fixed list. Records added at point of save. Does not update automatically."

A static segment captures a snapshot of records at the moment you save it. From then on the membership is frozen — new records that would match the same rules are not added, and existing members stay in even if their data changes.

Use static segments when you need a fixed, unchanging group:

"Trade show booth visitors — March 2026"
"Beta program invitees" — a hand-picked list that should never shift
A one-off audience you assembled manually or imported from a CSV

You can build a static segment three ways:

From filters — run a filter once and freeze whoever matches right now
By adding contacts manually — hand-pick contacts from your CRM
By importing a CSV — bulk-add contacts from a file

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A static segment is labelled "Static (List)" throughout the CRM. It behaves like a saved list of specific people rather than a live query.

Side-by-side comparison#

Updates automatically? — Dynamic: yes, on every use. Static: no, frozen at save.
Membership based on? — Dynamic: live filters. Static: a fixed roster of records.
Best for? — Dynamic: "always current" audiences. Static: fixed, point-in-time groups.
Can add contacts manually / via CSV? — Dynamic: no. Static: yes.
Counts toward plan limit? — Dynamic: yes. Static: no.

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Rule of thumb: if the audience should keep itself current, go Dynamic. If you need a fixed snapshot of specific records, go Static.

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Next: How to Create a Segment — walk through the full creation flow step by step.

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