Smart Lists and Static Lists are two types of lists in Adobe Marketo Engage that allow you to segment your database based on different criteria.

Smart Lists are dynamic lists that select people based on filters that you define. For example, you can create a Smart List of people who have opened an email in the last 30 days, or who have a certain job title, or who belong to a certain segment. Smart Lists are updated in real time, so whenever a person meets or no longer meets the filter criteria, they are added or removed from the list automatically.

Static Lists are static lists that are populated by list imports and flow steps. For example, you can create a Static List of people who attended a webinar, or who filled out a form, or who were manually added by you. Static Lists do not change unless you manually add or remove people from them, or use a flow step to do so. People on Static Lists remain in the list until they are removed.

Smart Lists and Static Lists have different use cases and advantages. Smart Lists are useful for creating dynamic segments that reflect the current state of your database, and for targeting people based on their behavior and attributes. Static Lists are useful for creating fixed segments that reflect a specific point in time, and for tracking the performance of specific campaigns or activities.

Smart Lists and Static Lists can also be used in different ways within Adobe Marketo Engage. Smart Lists can be used in Smart Campaign filters, triggers, and choices, as well as in email and landing page personalization. Static Lists can be used in Smart Campaign filters and choices, as well as in email and landing page personalization, but not in triggers. References:

Understanding Static Lists

Smart Lists 101: A Deep Dive into one of the most important Adobe Marketo Engage Features