How to Use Group Filter in GoHighLevel Communities Smartlists

If you manage online communities and also organize work in tools like ClickUp, you will appreciate how GoHighLevel streamlines member segmentation. This guide explains step by step how to use the group filter inside Communities Smartlists so you can quickly find and manage the exact members you need.

The Communities feature in GoHighLevel lets you create member groups and then filter them in Smartlists. By combining group filters with other conditions, you gain precise control over your audience and engagement strategy.

What Is the Communities Group Filter in GoHighLevel?

Inside the Communities section of GoHighLevel, Smartlists allow you to display a filtered view of your members. The group filter is a condition you can apply to show only contacts who belong to specific community groups.

In practice, this means you can:

• See all members of one or more groups in a single view.
• Exclude members who are not in a selected group.
• Combine group filters with other Smartlist conditions like tags or status.

Using the group filter in GoHighLevel Communities makes it easier to run targeted outreach, track progress, and maintain clean data.

Where to Find the Communities Group Filter in GoHighLevel

To start using the group filter, you first need to access the Communities Smartlist screen in your GoHighLevel account.

1. Log in to your GoHighLevel account.
2. Navigate to the Communities section from the left-side navigation menu.
3. Open the Members or Smartlists area (depending on your account layout).
4. Locate the Smartlist filters panel at the top of the member list.

Within the filter controls, you will find the option to add a condition based on member groups. This is the group filter you will use throughout this tutorial.

How to Add a Group Filter in a GoHighLevel Smartlist

Follow these steps to add a group-based condition to your Communities Smartlist in GoHighLevel:

1. On the Communities members screen, click on the Filters or Smartlist condition button.
2. Select the field or condition related to Group or Groups from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose the operator, such as is, is not, contains, or other available options (the exact wording may vary).
4. From the value dropdown, select one or more existing community groups you have created.
5. Apply or save the filter so the Smartlist updates with the matching members.

Once applied, the Smartlist in GoHighLevel will show only the community members who meet your group filter criteria.

Understanding Group Filter Options in GoHighLevel

The power of the Communities group filter in GoHighLevel comes from its ability to support different filtering operators. While the exact labels may differ by account version, the typical logic includes:

• Is in group – Shows only members who belong to the selected group(s).
• Is not in group – Excludes members who are part of the selected group(s).
• Contains any of – Members appear if they are in at least one of the selected groups.
• Contains all of – Members appear only if they are in every group you selected (when supported).

By choosing the correct operator, you can create highly targeted Smartlists in GoHighLevel that reflect your specific community structure.

Using Multiple Group Filters in GoHighLevel Communities

You are not limited to a single group condition. GoHighLevel Smartlists often allow you to stack several conditions together for more advanced segmentation.

For example, you might want to:

• Include members in Group A but exclude those in Group B.
• Show members in any of three promotional groups for a special campaign.
• Combine group membership with tag-based filters, such as Group = VIP and Tag = Active.

This layered approach in GoHighLevel lets you fine-tune your audience for communications, offers, or analytics.

Practical Use Cases for Group Filters in GoHighLevel

Here are common ways teams use group filters in their Communities Smartlists:

1. Segment VIP or Premium Members in GoHighLevel

If you have a VIP or premium group, apply a group filter to see only those contacts. You can then:

• Send tailored announcements.
• Offer exclusive discounts.
• Monitor engagement specifically for high-value members.

2. Filter by Program or Course Cohort in GoHighLevel

Many communities use GoHighLevel to manage different courses or programs. Using group filters, you can list all members of a particular cohort, such as:

• “Course A – Spring Cohort”
• “Course B – Coaching Group”
• “Mastermind – 2025 Members”

This makes it simple to communicate with the right group at the right time.

3. Clean Up Inactive Groups in GoHighLevel

You can also use group filters to audit member lists. Filter by a specific group and review whether members are still supposed to be in that group. Then you can update their group membership, add tags, or remove them if needed.

Best Practices for Managing Groups and Filters in GoHighLevel

To get the most out of Communities Smartlists and group filters in GoHighLevel, follow these practical tips:

• Use clear group names: Name groups based on program, level, or purpose (for example, “Onboarding – Week 1” or “VIP – Lifetime”).
• Document your structure: Keep a simple reference list in your project tool or documentation so your team knows which groups exist.
• Review groups regularly: Periodically filter each group in GoHighLevel to confirm the members still belong there.
• Combine with other fields: Use tags, custom fields, or statuses alongside group filters for more granular segmentation.

Step‑By‑Step Example: Creating a Smartlist with Group Filters in GoHighLevel

Use this example workflow to build a practical Smartlist using the Communities group filter in GoHighLevel.

1. Open Communities: From the left menu in GoHighLevel, click Communities.
2. Go to Members or Smartlists: Choose the area where you can see your list of community members.
3. Add a new Smartlist: Click to create a new Smartlist or edit an existing one.
4. Set the group condition: In the filters panel, choose the Group field.
5. Choose the operator: Select an operator like is or contains any of.
6. Select groups: Pick the relevant community group names from the dropdown.
7. Add extra filters (optional): Include tags, contact status, or other conditions to refine your audience.
8. Save the Smartlist: Give the Smartlist a descriptive name and save it for reuse.

After saving, you can open this Smartlist anytime in GoHighLevel to instantly see your filtered community segment.

Troubleshooting Group Filters in GoHighLevel

If your Smartlist does not show the expected members, verify the following:

• Members are correctly assigned to the intended groups in Communities.
• You selected the right operator (for example, is vs. is not).
• No conflicting filters are applied that might exclude the members you expect.
• The Smartlist has been saved or updated after changes.

When in doubt, remove extra filters and test with a single group condition to confirm your configuration in GoHighLevel.

Learn More About Communities in GoHighLevel

For additional technical detail about using group filters in Communities Smartlists, review the official documentation provided by the platform: Communities: How to Use Group Filter in Smartlist.

If you want strategic help implementing GoHighLevel across your marketing systems, you can also explore consulting and implementation resources at Consultevo.

By following the steps in this guide and applying group filters thoughtfully, you can transform how you organize, target, and engage your community members inside GoHighLevel Communities.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your GHL , work with ConsultEvo — trusted GoHighLevel Partners.

Scale GoHighLevel

“`