Why are the numbers in an activity check different from the subscriber extracts?

When running an extract, the results shown in the notification tab match exactly your target expression. For example, if you look for anyone subscribed to list 1234, the extract will return anyone who is subscribed to that list, regardless of their global subscription status or invalid flag.

An activity check, however, runs a mock send preparation and therefore includes the extra validation layers required before an actual send. This includes checking the global subscription status and whether the subscriber’s email or phone number is valid.

Understanding the difference

Activity checks simulate the actual broadcast process, which means they apply all delivery criteria that would be applied during a live send, including:

• Validation of subscriber contact information
• Verification of global subscription status
• Removal of invalid subscriber records

This explains why the numbers you see in an activity check may be lower than those in a subscriber extract for the same target expression.

Why this matters

This difference is important because:

1. Activity checks provide a more accurate estimate of your actual reach.
2. They help identify potential delivery issues before broadcast.
3. They ensure your campaign metrics and forecasts are based on deliverable contacts.

For more detailed information on reading and interpreting activity checks, see How do I read my Activity Check?.