> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getjurni.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Experiment and Experience Session Counts Do Not Match

> Understand why an experiment variant and its underlying experience can show different session counts, and how to diagnose the difference.

An experience used inside an experiment can show a different session total from the experiment variant. Before treating that as a tracking issue, compare the reporting scope and confirm **all traffic entered through the experiment**.

## The most common causes

### Different date ranges

The experience view and the experiment view may not be using the same reporting period. One surface can show a broader or all-time total while the experiment is filtered to a specific date range.

Always align the date range before comparing the counts.

### Traffic reached the experience directly

If someone uses the direct experience URL instead of the experiment's Smart Link, those sessions can appear on the experience without belonging to the experiment variant.

This commonly happens when:

* An ad agency uses the direct landing-page URL
* A preview or QA link is shared broadly
* An old campaign still points directly to the experience
* The experience was live before it was added to the experiment

### Internal QA traffic

Manual testing can also create small differences, especially immediately after launch.

## How to diagnose the difference

<Steps>
  <Step title="Align the reporting period">
    Set the same start and end dates on the experience and experiment views.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the campaign destination">
    Confirm every live ad or campaign uses the intended experiment Smart Link rather than the direct experience URL.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compare the size of the difference">
    A one- or two-session difference may be QA traffic. A large or growing difference usually points to another traffic source.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check older links">
    Review active ads, emails, creator links, and redirects that may still reference the underlying experience directly.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  If the experience is only intended to receive experiment traffic, the direct page URL should not be used as a live campaign destination.
</Info>

## Related guides

* How Experiment Traffic Is Assigned
* Smart Links
* Analytics Overview
* Filtering Data on Experiences


## Related topics

- [Filtering Data on Experiences](/analytics-reporting/filtering-experiences.md)
- [Jurni Metrics Glossary](/data-dictionary/metrics-glossary.md)
- [Troubleshoot Experiment Traffic Assignment](/experiments/traffic-troubleshoot.md)
- [Check your campaign link before launch](/publishing/check-campaign-link.md)
- [Read Experiment Results](/experiments/reading-results.md)