Cross filters versus field filters
Key Takeaway
Use a field filter to check the value of a field. Use a cross filter with WITH or WITHOUT to keep parent records that do or don't have related child records. You can combine both in one report, and each one narrows the results further.
Report filters narrow which records a report shows. A field filter checks the value of a field, such as Billing State/Province equals TX. A cross filter checks related child records instead, such as whether an account has any opportunities. To choose between them, ask what the requirement checks: a field value, or the presence of related records.
Filter types in a report
Reports have several filter types: standard filters, field filters, cross filters and row limit filters. Each type narrows report data in a different way, so you pick the type that matches the question the report must answer.