[Beta]{class="badge informative" title="This feature is currently in a limited beta release"}
Variant split paths
Use a Variant split paths node to distribute accounts randomly across two or more journey paths based on percentage allocations that you define. This node is useful for exploratory testing of different messaging, timing, or engagement tactics across segments of your account audience, without applying conditional rules. It is not suitable for controlled A/B experiments that require consistent per-account path assignment.
Comparison to split paths compare-split-paths
Both Split paths and Variant split paths divide accounts into multiple journey branches, but they use different mechanisms:
Split by account split-by-account
When an account reaches a variant split paths node, the node assigns it to exactly one path based on configured percentages. The assignment uses a quota-based algorithm that tracks how many accounts have been assigned to each path and adjusts over time to maintain the configured ratios.
- Each account is assigned to exactly one path.
- Assignment is random and quota-based. The algorithm adjusts allocations dynamically to approach the configured percentages across the overall population.
- The node supports 2 to 20 paths. Each path has a configurable name and an integer percentage from 1 to 99. The sum of all path percentages must equal exactly 100%.
Distribution algorithm distribution-algorithm
The variant split paths node uses a quota-based random assignment algorithm. When an account reaches the node, the system evaluates the existing account assignments for each path and routes the account to the path that is furthest below its configured quota. There are two key properties for the algorithm:
- Distribution closely tracks the configured percentages at all account volumes. Because the algorithm actively maintains quota counts, actual distribution only varies by at most one account per path due to rounding when totals do not divide evenly.
- The algorithm uses a pessimistic lock during quota evaluation to serialize assignments, which ensures accurate count tracking under concurrent execution.
Limitations limitations
Review these limitations before using variant split paths in your journeys.
Split by people split-by-people
In an account journey, you can also use a variant split paths node to distribute the people within accounts randomly across percentage-based paths. This split type is useful when you want to test different content or experiences at the person level as accounts continue to move through the journey. The variant split paths by people node operates with the following guardrails:
- The node functions as a grouped node, which is a split-merge combination. The split paths automatically close at a corresponding merge node so that all people can move forward without losing their account context.
- Each person in the account is assigned to exactly one path based on the configured percentages.
- The same quota-based algorithm used for accounts applies to people. The path assignment is not deterministic and the same person may follow a different path on re-entry.
- Only Take an action nodes for people are supported within the paths. The paths cannot be split further.
Distribution behavior across people
People within an account are processed as a batch. The number assigned to each path is calculated as floor(percentage / 100 × people_in_account), and the last configured path receives all remaining people. This means:
- When an account has an odd number of people, the last path receives one more person than earlier paths.
- For accounts with a single person, that person is always assigned to the first path regardless of configured percentages.
- For accounts with very few people (fewer than 10), the per-account distribution may differ noticeably from the configured percentages. Distribution converges toward the configured ratios when measured across many accounts.
Add a variant split paths node add-variant-split-paths-node
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Navigate to the journey map.
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Click the plus ( + ) icon on a path and choose Variant split paths.
The added node has two paths to start.
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In the node properties on the right, choose either Accounts or People for the split.
If you are using the People type, a Close variant split paths node is automatically inserted to close the grouped split.
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Review or update the Label for each path.
Path labels appear as edge labels on the journey canvas and help distinguish paths in journey analytics.
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Set the Percentage for each path.
Values must be integers from 1 to 99.
The running total indicator shows the sum of all path percentages. The total must equal exactly 100% before you can publish the journey. An error state is displayed when the total does not equal 100%.
To distribute percentages evenly across all paths, click Distribute evenly. The system calculates equal shares and adjusts any rounding to ensure the total equals 100%.
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To define additional paths, click Add path for each one.
The node supports up to 20 paths. As you add more paths, adjust the Percentage so that the total equals 100%.
You can remove a path by clicking the Delete (
Validation rules validation-rules
The following rules apply to variant split path configuration. Violations block journey publish.