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Automation & Integration · head to head

Salesforce Flows vs Automate.io

Salesforce Flows logo

Salesforce Flows

Automation & Integration

Automation inside Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Automate.io logo

Automate.io

Automation & Integration

Connect and automate your cloud applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Salesforce Flows not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing; Automate.io no longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • They diverge on capability: Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Automate.io covers Multi-step automations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Salesforce Flows and Automate.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Salesforce Flows and Automate.io differ
AttributeSalesforce FlowsAutomate.io
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsSalesforce Cloud, Web, MobileWeb, Mobile
Founded19992014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation & Integration).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Salesforce Flows

  • Visual flow builder
  • Approvals
  • Scheduled actions
  • Screen flows
  • Multi-step workflows
  • Salesforce native
  • External APIs
  • Third-party apps

Only in Automate.io

  • Multi-step automations
  • Data mapping
  • Scheduling
  • API integrations
  • 500+ apps
  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Both cover

  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Webhooks
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Salesforce Flows

  • Workflow Automation
  • Data Integration
  • Process Automation
  • App Integration
  • API Connectivity

Automate.io

  • Workflow Automation
  • Data Integration
  • Process Automation
  • App Integration
  • API Connectivity

Both are used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration, api connectivity, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Salesforce Flows

  • Not suitable for highly complex scenarios with intricate decision-making or bulk data processing
  • No automatic record locking, causing conflicts when multiple users update same records
  • Limited error handling compared to Apex
  • Requires Enterprise edition or higher for full capabilities
  • Auto-launched Flows cannot display screens to users
  • Complex dependency management and configuration challenges when deploying between environments

Automate.io

  • No longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • Existing automations were not portable to Notion, so users had to rebuild elsewhere

Pricing, plan by plan

Salesforce Flows

Free
  • Salesforce FreeFree
    • 2 user licenses
    • Basic workflows
    • Limited automation
  • Starter$25/user/month
    • Sales flows
    • Lead routing
    • Email marketing analytics
  • Professional$100/user/month
    • Sales quoting
    • Forecasting
    • AppExchange access
  • Enterprise$165/user/month
    • Full Flow Builder
    • Custom objects
    • Sandboxes

Automate.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 tasks/month
    • 2 automations
  • Starter$15/month
    • 5000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited automations
    • Email support
  • Professional$50/month
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose Salesforce Flows if

  • You need visual flow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want approvals.
Salesforce Flows review

Choose Automate.io if

  • You need multi-step automations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want data mapping.
Automate.io review

Questions people ask

Is Salesforce Flows or Automate.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Salesforce Flows starts at Free and Automate.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salesforce Flows or Automate.io?
Salesforce Flows starts at Free and Automate.io at Free.
Does Salesforce Flows or Automate.io run on more platforms?
Salesforce Flows runs on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile. Automate.io runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Salesforce Flows for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Salesforce Flows best used for?
Salesforce Flows is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration.
What can Salesforce Flows do that Automate.io cannot?
Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Approvals, Scheduled actions, Screen flows. Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Data mapping, Scheduling, API integrations. Both handle Conditional logic, Error handling, Webhooks, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Salesforce Flows: Which Salesforce editions include Flows?

Salesforce Flow Builder is included in Enterprise Edition ($165/user/month) and above. Professional Edition lacks advanced automation capabilities and Flow Builder access. Starter and lower editions have limited Flow support.

Source
Salesforce Flows: What are the main limitations of Salesforce Flows?

Flows are limited by DML operations (max 150 data elements that modify data), SOQL queries (max 100 data elements that retrieve data), and are not designed for bulk processing. Auto-launched Flows do not support screens and have limited error handling compared to Apex.

Source
Salesforce Flows: Can Salesforce Flows integrate with external systems?

Yes, through MuleSoft connectors and Salesforce API Catalog. Pre-built connectors exist for systems like Asana, and admins can create custom connectors. Complex integrations may still require Apex or third-party platforms.

Source
Salesforce Flows: When was Salesforce Flow redesigned?

Flow Builder was introduced in Spring '19 as a replacement for the previous Flow Designer, providing a more familiar interface similar to other Salesforce Lightning Builder tools.

Source
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