Salesforce Licenses

Salesforce licenses define what a user can access and do within the platform. Choosing the right license ensures the right people have the right tools without overspending. In this post, we’ll explore the main types of Salesforce licenses and what they include.

1. Salesforce User Licenses

These are full-access licenses that allow users to use standard Salesforce apps and custom apps.

a. Salesforce License

• Full access to Sales and Service Cloud apps
• Can use custom apps
• Supports Apex and Visualforce

b. Salesforce Platform License

• Access to custom apps only (no access to standard CRM features like Leads or Opportunities)
• Ideal for internal tools and workflows

c. Force.com – One App License

• Limited to one custom app
• Cost-effective for users with narrow needs

2. Chatter Licenses

Chatter licenses focus on internal collaboration.

a. Chatter Free

• For users who only need to use Chatter
• No access to CRM data or standard objects

b. Chatter Only (Chatter Plus)

• Can access accounts, contacts, reports, and dashboards
• Cannot access Opportunities or Cases

3. Community Licenses

For external users like customers or partners.

a. Customer Community

• Basic access to support articles, cases, and self-service portals

b. Customer Community Plus

• Adds reports, dashboards, and advanced sharing
• Suitable for B2C portals

c. Partner Community

• Full access to leads, opportunities, and dashboards
• Ideal for B2B partners and resellers

4. Feature Licenses

These are add-on licenses that give access to specific features.

• Marketing User – Access to marketing features
• Knowledge User – Access to Salesforce Knowledge base
• Flow User – Use and manage Salesforce Flows
• Offline User – Access Salesforce data offline

License Selection Tips

Why Licenses Matter

Choosing the right license helps:

• Control costs
• Ensure appropriate access
• Maximize platform efficiency