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Salesforce Flows vs Zapier

Salesforce Flows logo

Salesforce Flows

Software

Automation inside Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zapier logo

Zapier

Software

Automate your work across 7,000+ app integrations

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; Zapier the free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • They diverge on capability: Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Zapier covers App integrations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Salesforce Flows and Zapier actually diverge.

Attributes where Salesforce Flows and Zapier differ
AttributeSalesforce FlowsZapier
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsSalesforce Cloud, Web, MobileWeb, Api
Founded19992011

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

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
  • Webhooks

Only in Zapier

  • App integrations
  • Workflow automation
  • Trigger-based actions
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Data formatting
  • Team collaboration
  • 7000+ apps
  • Gmail

Both cover

  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Salesforce Flows

  • Workflow Automationnot Zapier
  • Data Integrationnot Zapier
  • Process Automationnot Zapier
  • App Integrationnot Zapier
  • API Connectivitynot Zapier

Zapier

  • Lead managementnot Salesforce Flows
  • Data synchronizationnot Salesforce Flows
  • Email automationnot Salesforce Flows
  • Social media postingnot Salesforce Flows
  • Customer onboardingnot Salesforce Flows

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

Zapier

  • The free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • Multi-step Zaps, filters, paths, webhooks and the formatter all require a paid plan
  • Premium app connectors are withheld from the free plan
  • Free Zaps poll for new data every 15 minutes against 2 minutes on Professional and 1 minute on Team
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs 50 percent more, so the 2,000-task Professional plan is $73.50 a month instead of $49

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

Zapier

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 tasks/month
    • 5 Zaps
    • Two-step Zaps
  • Starter$19.99/month
    • 750 tasks/month
    • 20 Zaps
    • Multi-step Zaps
  • Professional$49/month
    • 2,000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited Zaps
    • Custom logic

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 Zapier if

  • You need app integrations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Zapier review

Questions people ask

Is Salesforce Flows or Zapier better?
Neither clearly leads. Salesforce Flows starts at Free and Zapier at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salesforce Flows or Zapier?
Salesforce Flows starts at Free and Zapier at Free.
Does Salesforce Flows or Zapier run on more platforms?
Salesforce Flows runs on Salesforce Cloud, Web, Mobile. Zapier runs on Web, Api.
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. Of those, workflow automation and data integration are not what Zapier is typically brought in for.
What can Salesforce Flows do that Zapier cannot?
Salesforce Flows covers Visual flow builder, Approvals, Scheduled actions, Screen flows. Zapier covers App integrations, Workflow automation, Trigger-based actions, Multi-step Zaps. Both handle Conditional logic, Error handling, GDPR, 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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