Salesforce has been the go-to option for many businesses and organizations.
Salesforce consulting services have helped automate workflows, develop a robust structure, and reorganize operations for many businesses. Overall, Salesforce is a convenient option for companies trying to flourish globally.
But did you know that there are not one but two unique versions of Salesforce?
Choosing the proper Salesforce framework can be the guiding light for your operations:
Salesforce Lightning – plug-and-play framework for businesses to leverage Lightning Web Components (LWC) and AI.
Salesforce Classic – a text-heavy design with low visual enhancements.
Coming back to the question: which Salesforce version is right for your business?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the different aspects of Salesforce Lightning Vs. Salesforce Classic. Let’s get started.
The entirety of Salesforce’s new highlights is recently developed for the Lightning UI. Salesforce Classic exists generally in a “with no guarantees” state for those organizations that can’t yet do the switch. This might be because of modified interfaces, work processes, or simply the overall trouble of doing a major switch with a large number of users.
A couple of years prior, it seemed well and good for more modest organizations to avoid Lightning since the list of capabilities wasn’t as full-grown as possible by means of Classic. That is turning out to be less and less the case, as most key features have now Salesforce Lightning Migration from Classic.
Despite the fact that we are looking at Lightning as an interface, it’s in reality significantly more than that. It’s a complete structure that developers can use for current Salesforce Custom App Development. Third-party apps reconciliations are simpler, and you can likewise assemble custom segments for the CRM platform’s web interface.
Looking at the significant feature differences between Classic and Lightning resembles hitting a moving objective, with new updates happening constantly. Here’s a brief glance at a couple of the greatest advantages Lightning offers over Classic:
Workspace page layout – Lightning empowers users to configuration new sorts of pages, from App Pages to Home Pages to Record Pages, while Classic simply offers one essential kind of page.
Before the introduction of Lightning, Salesforce Classic was the most popular interface during the 2000s.
As the name suggests, the Classic version of Salesforce is nowhere near the modern web UI. It is very compact and text-centric, giving little to no attention to icons and graphics.
Here are the features that made Salesforce Classic an excellent option for users:
Pros:
Cons:
In short, Classic remains in use today by organizations that rely on legacy customizations or prefer its straightforward interface. Some teams continue with Classic to avoid the effort and costs associated with migrating to Lightning.
Salesforce Classic is commonly referred to as the original UI for long-time users of the platform. They prefer the Classic version for many reasons, some of them being:
The Lightning Experience offers a clean, modern interface that improves clarity and usability. Tabs are visually organized into app-style pages, and record layouts are streamlined for quick access to critical info.
Unlike Classic, where nested menus often confuse users, Lightning’s dynamic UI adapts to the context, displaying highlights and related details based on the record in view. This visual upgrade reduces learning curves and accelerates user adoption, particularly benefiting new team members or mobile-first staff.
One of Lightning’s game-changers is the App Builder, which empowers admins (and some power users) to create custom page layouts using a drag-and-drop system. Want a sidebar with performance charts, a feed of recent activity, or a custom component for your team?
Just drag it in; no coding is required. This flexibility enables builders to tailor the CRM to various user roles, automate insights, and rapidly iterate new screens without waiting for developer cycles.
Lightning supports intelligent features powered by Salesforce Einstein AI, such as lead scoring, opportunity insights, and automated email replies. Salesforce Einstein AI guiding users to the best following actions, predicting deal outcomes, and highlighting stalled sales cycles significantly boost efficiency.
Many new features, including Kanban boards, Dynamic Forms, and Flow Builder, are exclusive to Lightning. Salesforce is investing in innovation for this platform, with third-party developers building components for automation, analytics, and mobile applications.
As a result, migrations empower companies with ongoing enhancements, expanded integration options (e.g., Slack, Tableau), and a future-ready CRM environment.
Feature Category | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
User Interface (UI) | Modern, customizable UI | Traditional, simple UI |
Customization | Drag-and-drop Lightning App Builder | Limited customization |
Speed & Performance | Optimized for advanced workflows | Faster for simple tasks |
Reporting & Dashboards | Advanced, real-time analytics s | Basic capabilities |
Mobile Experience | Fully mobile-optimized | Less responsive |
AI & Automation | Built-in Einstein AI | Not available |
Support & Updates | Actively enhanced by Salesforce | Actively enhanced by Salesforce |
Salesforce has signaled that Lightning is the future; it focuses every new feature, update, and ecosystem expansion on Lightning Experience. Classic still runs, but updates are mostly legacy fixes.
By encouraging Lightning adoption, Salesforce ensures customers benefit from AI, usability improvements, and a more extensible, app-driven architecture. That’s why making the switch isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a long-term investment in productivity.
Modern, Responsive UI: Designed for ease of use, with a clean layout and app-style navigation.
Customizable Dashboards: Dynamic dashboards and drag-and-drop layouts with Lightning App Builder.
AI-Powered Features: Built-in access to Salesforce Einstein for predictive analytics and thoughtful recommendations.
Better Mobile Experience: Natively optimized for mobile use via the Salesforce mobile app.
Component-Based Architecture: Faster development and deployment of custom solutions with reusable components.
Future-Proof: All new features and innovations are developed exclusively for Lightning.
Learning Curve: Users accustomed to Classic may need training to adapt.
Initial Performance Lags: Heavier UI can feel slower if not optimized.
Migration Effort: Transitioning from Classic can be time-consuming and requires planning.
Familiar Interface: Long-time users feel comfortable with the traditional UI.
Simpler Navigation: Less visually complex, which some users find easier to use for basic tasks.
Lower Resource Usage: Lightweight pages can perform faster on older hardware.
Outdated UI: Lacks modern user experience features like dynamic pages and flexible layouts.
No New Features: Salesforce no longer rolls out updates or enhancements for Classic.
Limited Mobile Support: Not built for modern mobile usability.
Restrictive Customization: Lacks the component-based structure that empowers flexible development.
Migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning isn’t just a UI upgrade; it’s a step toward future-proofing your CRM infrastructure. As Salesforce continues to phase out enhancements to Classic and invests in Lightning-exclusive features, transitioning becomes a strategic necessity for long-term agility and innovation.
Salesforce is actively sunsetting Classic in favor of Lightning, which offers advanced tools like Lightning App Builder, Einstein AI, and enhanced mobile support.
Businesses that delay migration risk missing out on productivity gains, future integrations, and ongoing support. Lightning is also more aligned with modern UX expectations, making adoption easier for new users.
An experienced Salesforce development company can:
With the proper planning and expert guidance, your move to Salesforce Lightning can become a seamless transformation rather than a disruptive shift.
On the off chance that you have Salesforce Cloud Service Provider, they are likely acquainted with Classic. That could be a benefit if your team is getting back to Salesforce, and the attention is on getting fully operational quickly. Be that as it may, this is just a transient arrangement as Lightning is the stage with the most dynamic help. Indeed, you may find that Salesforce consequently changes you to Lightning following a couple of days or weeks on Salesforce Classic.
For by far most of the users, Lightning is the best approach, particularly if your organization is pristine to Salesforce. The interface is considerably more conceivable, and quicker, and it is the eventual fate of the Salesforce stage. Exemplary, in the interim, can work for teams getting back to Salesforce or those unfit to move yet.
In the event that you do pick Classic, know there’s a little vulnerability about its future. Salesforce still can’t seem to declare an end date for Classic interface support.
The overall agreement online is that Classic will be around for quite a long time, however, as Salesforce shuts any current element gaps and proceeds with help for enormous ventures. There’s no assurance that is the situation, in any case, so pick carefully. It would be a genuine agony to get chosen Classic just to need to pivot a year after the fact and move to the new platform.
At last, new clients should stay with Lightning except if there is some unmistakable component benefit to going with Classic. That being said, you’ll need to move to the more up-to-date interface when those critical purposes behind utilizing Classic are settled in Lightning.
When determining which platform is the right fit for an eCommerce business, it is important to consider the specific needs and scale of the business. Salesforce Commerce Cloud is an ideal choice for businesses looking to unify their operations on a single platform. It offers advanced features and robust capabilities, making it suitable for medium to large-scale enterprises. On the other hand, Shopify is a great option for small-scale businesses due to its user-friendly interface and affordability. While both platforms cater to eCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s comprehensive functionality makes it better suited for businesses seeking a unified and advanced solution, whereas Shopify’s simplicity and cost-effectiveness make it a favorable choice for smaller businesses.
In case you’re not yet a Salesforce user and need to get familiar with the product, then, at that point contact Solvios Technology. Based out of the USA, Solvios Technology is one of the best Salesforce App Development Company. In case you’re ready for action as of now with Salesforce, you ought to reach out to your Salesforce Cloud Service Provider to ensure that whatever benefits you’ve discovered will be copied in Lightning sometime in the future.
Our expert team can help you navigate every step of the journey. Contact Us for a free Salesforce consultation today.
As of 2025, the choice between Salesforce Lightning and Classic is no longer a debate; it’s a decision about progress. Lightning offers a modern interface, customizable dashboards, AI-driven insights, and mobile-friendly capabilities that Classic simply cannot match. With Salesforce no longer updating Classic features, staying with the legacy system risks stagnation and inefficiency.
For businesses still operating on Classic, the message is clear: it’s time to reassess your current workflows and prepare for a complete migration. The longer the delay, the greater the cost of lost opportunities and technical debt.
These applications are acquiring enormous prevalence by offering hands-on enterprise mobility solutions for organizations around the globe.
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