> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hifunnel.gitbook.io/hifunnel-help-center/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hifunnel.gitbook.io/hifunnel-help-center/documentation/contacts/manage-your-contacts/difference-between-a-customer-a-contact-and-a-subscriber.md).

# Difference Between a Customer, a Contact, and a Subscriber?

### First, what is a contact?

To make sense of **contacts**, **customers**, and **subscribers** in Hifunnel, start with where these labels live: the **Contacts** tab.

Inside the Contacts tab, your list includes default [segments](/hifunnel-help-center/documentation/contacts/manage-your-contacts/how-to-segment-your-contacts.md#what-is-segmenting) such as:

* **All**: Everyone in your Contacts list, including customers, subscribers, and people who have unsubscribed or never subscribed.
* **Customers**: Contacts who have **purchased an Offer** from your site or have been **granted an Offer**.
* **Subscribed**: Contacts who have given permission to receive your **marketing emails**.

A **contact** can be anyone in your Contacts tab, whether they’re subscribed, unsubscribed, have purchased an Offer, or have been granted access. The difference comes down to their **customer status** and/or **subscription status**.

### What is a customer?

A **customer** is a contact who has either **completed a purchase** or has been **granted an Offer** on your site.

In the Contacts tab, customers can be recognized by a **blue checkmark** on their avatar.

A customer can also be a **subscriber** if they’re subscribed to receive your marketing emails. Likewise, a subscriber may also be a customer if they have access to your Offer(s).

The emails a customer receives depend on how they got access to an Offer:

* **Purchased an Offer**: The customer receives a **Purchase Confirmation Email** with a confirmation message and a link to your site’s **Login Page**.
* **Granted an Offer**: The customer receives an **Offer Grant Confirmation** email with a confirmation message and a link to your **Login Page**, plus a **Member Welcome Email** that includes login credentials for a new customer. If the Offer is granted to an existing customer, they will only receive the **Offer Grant Confirmation** email.

{% hint style="info" %}
Note: Your customer may receive additional emails if they are enabled in the <mark style="color:red;">**Offer After Purchase**</mark> settings.
{% endhint %}

### What is a subscriber?

A **subscriber** is a contact who has explicitly agreed to receive your <mark style="color:red;">**marketing emails**</mark>.

Subscribers can be added to your site through:

* a <mark style="color:red;">**form submission**</mark>, or
* an <mark style="color:red;">imported onto your site</mark>.

Subscribers may also be customers, but they don’t have to be. As long as they’ve provided the correct permission to receive marketing emails, they count as subscribers.

Keep in mind: not every contact in your Contacts tab is always a subscriber. A contact won’t be considered a subscriber if they:

* <mark style="color:red;">manually unsubscribe</mark>,
* trigger a <mark style="color:orange;">hard-bounced email</mark>,
* don’t <mark style="color:red;">confirm a double opt-in form</mark>,
* or were <mark style="color:red;">imported without selecting</mark> <mark style="color:red;">**Subscribe to marketing emails**</mark>.

If any of the above applies, the contact won’t receive your marketing emails.

You can view a contact’s subscription status directly from the Contacts tab.

{% hint style="success" %}
Tip: When a contact shows as **Unsubscribed**, Hifunnel can also display what action triggered the unsubscribe.
{% endhint %}