Live lists vs fixed lists (and converting)

SwiftFox lists come in two types. Choosing the right one — and knowing how to convert between them — is key to getting predictable results.

Live lists

A live list updates automatically as contact data changes. Whenever a contact starts meeting the list's criteria they are added, and whenever they stop meeting the criteria they are removed.

• Best for always-current segments — for example "all current members" or "everyone in a postcode range".
• The Total Contacts count and membership can change between visits as your data changes.
• Use a live list for ongoing reporting and for audiences you want to stay up to date.

Fixed lists

A fixed list is a point-in-time snapshot that does not change. The members are captured at the moment the snapshot is taken and stay the same even if the underlying contact data later changes.

• Best for stable audiences — for example the exact recipients of a specific email campaign, or a record of who matched a segment on a given date.
• Membership will not drift over time, so results are repeatable and auditable.
• In Emails and similar campaign features, a fixed list is the recommended choice for recipients so the audience cannot change mid-send.

Converting a live list to a fixed list

You can turn a live list into a fixed snapshot at any time:

1. Open Lists from the left-hand menu.
2. Locate the live list you want to convert.
3. Click the three-dot menu on that list.
4. Choose Convert.
5. Confirm. SwiftFox creates a fixed version that captures the current members and no longer updates.

You can also capture a snapshot from inside a list by using Save as fixed list in the Actions stage — this keeps the original live list intact and saves a separate fixed copy.

Choosing between them

• Choose a live list when you want the segment to stay current as data changes.
• Choose a fixed list when you need a stable, repeatable audience or an auditable snapshot.
• Converting is one-way in effect — the resulting fixed list is a frozen snapshot, so if you later need the live behaviour again, keep or rebuild the live list separately.