GHL Smart List Filters 2.0: Faster and Fully Custom

GoHighLevel didn’t just tweak the UI, they rebuilt the engine. SmartLists 2.0 delivers a brand-new framework under the hood, powering filtering, sorting, and column management across your entire CRM. And yes, it finally remembers your setup.

Here’s what’s been added or overhauled:

1. Persistent Layouts That Actually Save
Column layouts, sorting orders, and filter configurations now stick. Leave the page, switch SmartLists, or even log out, your custom view will still be there when you return.

2. Inline Field Management Drawer
The new “Manage Fields” drawer is accessible right from your SmartList. No more digging into settings, just open the drawer and drag fields into the layout, reorder columns, and save. Simple.

3. Real-Time Visual Feedback
You’ll now see clear visual alerts when your layout has unsaved changes. Plus, hover previews and smoother animations make adjustments feel cleaner and more modern.

4. Upgraded CRM List View
Typography, spacing, responsiveness, all optimized for better readability and faster load performance. It looks cleaner, loads quicker, and acts like the rest of the modern GHL UI.

Everything here makes your day-to-day CRM work easier and more efficient. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a few dozen contacts or thousands, SmartLists 2.0 is built to keep up.

This is where SmartLists 2.0 really flexes its muscle, the filtering logic is now seriously advanced, giving you true power-user control without the headaches.

Here’s what’s new in filtering:

1. Nested AND/OR Logic
You can now combine multiple conditions with nested logic. Want to find contacts who were tagged in a campaign AND opened an email OR booked a call? Easy. Build it with grouped conditions that mirror how your brain thinks, no workaround needed.

2. Multi-Field Filters
SmartLists now support filtering across any combo of standard and custom fields. That means you can stack rules like “Company Name contains ‘Media'” AND “Lead Score is above 50” AND “Tag = Webinar Registered”, all in one SmartList.

3. Group Filters for Complex Segments
GHL added filter grouping that visually separates logic blocks. This keeps complex logic from turning into a confusing wall of rules. You’ll stay organized and actually enjoy building your filters.

4. Quick Search Between Lists
Can’t remember where you saved that list? Now you can type and jump straight to it, no more endless scrolling through dropdowns.

5. Unified Sorting Experience
All SmartLists now follow the same sort interface and behavior, with consistent ascending/descending options. It works how you’d expect, across Contacts, Companies, Opportunities, and more.

Powerful enough for your techiest team member, simple enough that no one needs a how-to video. This is how filtering should’ve worked all along.

Speed is no longer a wishlist item, it’s baked into SmartLists 2.0.

If you’ve ever waited too long for a contact list to load, or dealt with filters timing out on large datasets, that pain is over. GHL’s backend team delivered a series of optimizations that make filtering, sorting, and list switching noticeably faster, even for accounts with tens of thousands of contacts.

Here’s how the new engine performs:

1. Optimized Pagination & Queries
SmartLists 2.0 introduces better query batching and pagination logic, which means it pulls just what’s needed, when it’s needed, reducing the load time by up to 40%.

2. Batched Metadata Calls
Instead of pulling every field’s metadata individually, the new framework batches these into a single efficient request. You’ll notice faster loading especially when switching between different SmartLists or editing filters.

3. Debounced Filtering
Filters now wait briefly before triggering a reload, avoiding that frustrating “reload storm” when making multiple changes. It’s smoother, smarter, and easier on your API limits.

4. Faster Cross-Module List Loading
Contacts, Opportunities, Companies, Tasks, and even Custom Objects all benefit from the SmartList framework. One engine powers them all, and it’s tuned for performance.

5. Better Error Handling & Feedback
Got a slow filter or broken condition? You’ll see clear toast notifications and visual hints, not silent failures or spinning wheels.

With these under-the-hood upgrades, SmartLists aren’t just more powerful, they’re faster, leaner, and finally built for real CRM scale.

SmartLists 2.0 isn’t just more powerful, it’s easier to use than ever. You can filter, sort, customize, and share SmartLists in just a few clicks. Whether you’re building a prospecting list, segmenting customers, or organizing internal workflows, here’s how to make the most of it:

1.1 From your GHL dashboard, click Contacts in the left-hand menu.
1.2 You’ll land in the updated list view powered by SmartLists 2.0.

2.1 Click the “More Filters” button.
2.2 Select standard or custom fields to start building your filter.

2.3 Use the “Add Group” button to add nested AND/OR logic.

2.4 Combine multiple conditions using the visual logic builder.

3.1 Click the “Manage Fields” drawer (top right).
3.2 Drag and drop columns into your desired order.
3.3 Use checkboxes to show/hide specific fields.
3.4 Resize columns directly by dragging the edge.

4.1 Happy with how your list looks? Hit Save as SmartList up top.
4.2 Give it a name that actually means something — like “Clients to Call This Week.”
4.3 Your layout, sorting, and filters are now saved — and persistent.

5.1 Click “Manage SmartLists” from the dropdown menu.
5.2 Find the list you want to share and click the Share icon.
5.3 Use the new Share & Permissions panel to assign View or Edit access to specific users.

6.1 Use the dropdown in the top-left of the SmartLists view.
6.2 Use the Quick Search bar to instantly jump between saved views.
6.3 Each SmartList loads with its own saved layout and filters.

That’s it. With just a few steps, you’ve built a high-performance, fully customized, team-shareable SmartList that sticks around exactly the way you left it.

If you’re managing multiple clients, team members, or sub-accounts, SmartLists 2.0 isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a workflow accelerator.

Here’s how agencies can squeeze every ounce of value out of the new Smart List Filters system:

1. Build “Master” SmartLists for Your Team
Create a baseline SmartList layout with pre-applied filters like lead source, tags, or sales stage. Then share it with team members using the new Share & Permissions panel. Now everyone’s working off the same playbook.

2. Lock Down Edit Rights
In the past, anyone could accidentally overwrite a shared list. Not anymore. Assign View-only access to prevent accidental layout or logic changes, and give Edit rights only to managers or lead gen admins.

3. Clone and Repurpose for Client Campaigns
Running a campaign for multiple clients? Clone a SmartList, change one filter (like location or tag), and boom, instant campaign-ready segmentation. This saves hours of rebuild time for your VA or SDR.

4. Create “Role-Based” SmartLists
Build separate SmartLists for sales reps, account managers, and onboarding teams. Each one sees just the data they need, sorted and filtered their way. Pair this with user roles for ultimate control.

5. Use SmartLists Across Custom Objects
Don’t forget, this isn’t just for Contacts. Use SmartLists in Opportunities, Tasks, Companies, and Custom Objects too. Your agency can now standardize filtering and list views across the entire CRM.

6. Train Clients with Saved SmartLists
Doing client onboarding? Build out example SmartLists (e.g., “Leads Past 30 Days,” “Unengaged Contacts,” etc.) and walk them through each one. You’ll look like a hero and reduce client support questions.

SmartLists 2.0 isn’t just a shiny new feature, it’s a foundational shift in how you organize and operate inside GoHighLevel.

Filtering isn’t just another checkbox now, it’s a tool you can actually use to get ahead. You can build the exact lists you need, keep your layouts how you like them, and work with your team without the usual hiccups.

Here’s what this update really delivers:

More Speed = Less Waiting
Lists load quicker, filters work smoother, and the interface just moves better, so you can stop clicking around and start getting stuff done.

More Clarity = Fewer Mistakes
Drag-and-drop fields, clean visual layouts, and logic grouping make your SmartLists easier to read, and harder to mess up. It’s like turning on the lights in your CRM.

More Control = Better Collaboration
Now your team can work from the same lists without accidentally messing up each other’s views, thanks to new sharing options and layout settings.

More Consistency = Less Confusion
It doesn’t matter if you’re working in Contacts, Tasks, or Opportunities, SmartLists now behave the same in every section.

SmartLists 2.0 gives you the power to scale your CRM with confidence, and get real work done without digging through clutter or recreating filters every week.

SmartLists 2.0 is more than just a facelift. It’s a complete rethink of how GoHighLevel users, especially busy agency teams, organize, filter, and action their CRM data.

You’re no longer stuck with clunky filters, inconsistent views, or shared Smart List Filters that don’t behave. Now you’ve got persistent layouts, smart filtering logic, faster load times, and powerful customization tools all working together to streamline your CRM experience.

Here’s the real win: Smart List Filters 2.0 gives you a flexible system that grows with you. Whether you’re managing leads, sales pipelines, client onboarding, or custom workflows, it’s all faster, cleaner, and built for scaling.

So go ahead, clone those master lists, delegate access, create those filters you used to avoid, and actually enjoy managing your CRM again.

Want more help?
Check out GHL’s Help Docs or hit up our Growth Garage community for bonus templates, training, and SmartList hacks.