Salesforce offers a wide range of UI customization options, from point-and-click tools to fully coded solutions. Whether you're an admin, a low-code developer, or a full-stack Salesforce dev, choosing the right tool can make or break your project's success.
Let's break down the 7 essential UI development tools in Salesforce — with examples, pros, cons, and when to use each.
Screen Flows (Flow Builder)
Use Case:
Ideal for creating guided, step-by-step experiences for data entry, approvals, or automations.
Pros:
- No-code/low-code
- Works seamlessly with Salesforce records
- Reusable subflows
- Easily embeddable in Lightning Pages
Cons:
- Limited design and layout control
- Complex logic may require Apex
Best For:
Example:
Create a Contact using a Screen Flow
Lightning Web Components (LWC)
Use Case:
The go-to choice for building fast, dynamic, and responsive custom UI components using modern JavaScript.
Pros:
- High performance
- Reusable and modular
- Easy Apex and Lightning Data Service integration
- Supported on mobile and Experience Cloud
Cons:
- Requires JavaScript and HTML knowledge
- Not as full-featured (yet) as Aura in some areas
Best For:
Example:
LWC Calculator
Aura Components
Use Case:
Legacy component framework for Salesforce developers before LWC.
Pros:
- Still widely used and supported
- Supports dynamic component creation
- Good for legacy environments
Cons:
- Slower than LWC
- More verbose and harder to learn
Best For:
OmniStudio (Vlocity)
Use Case:
No-code/low-code platform for industry-specific experiences (e.g., telecom, insurance, health).
Pros:
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Built-in integrations and data raptors
- Reusable OmniScripts and FlexCards
Cons:
- Requires additional licensing
- Learning curve for non-Vlocity users
Best For:
Dynamic Forms
Use Case:
Fine-grained field control on record pages — conditionally display fields based on logic.
Pros:
- Point-and-click configuration
- Performance boost over traditional layouts
- Conditional field visibility
Cons:
- Currently limited to custom objects
- Not suited for complex logic
Best For:
Example:
Show 'VIP Info' only if Is_VIP__c = true
Lightning Pages (App Builder)
Use Case:
Drag-and-drop page editor for configuring app pages, record pages, and home pages.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Supports standard, LWC, and Aura components
- Filters by user, app, or record
Cons:
- Limited layout control
- Depends on component reusability
Best For:
Example:
Account Lightning Page with account details, opportunities chart, and Chatter feed
Visualforce Pages
Use Case:
Legacy framework offering full control over layout and behavior using Apex and HTML-like tags.
Pros:
- Deep Apex integration
- Full-page control
- Good for PDFs and legacy interfaces
Cons:
- Not responsive or modern
- Slower than LWC
Best For:
Example:
Collect user contact info
Final Thoughts
Every Salesforce UI tool has its strengths — the key is knowing when and why to use each.
- Need speed and flexibility? → Go LWC
- Want guided forms without code? → Use Screen Flows
- Stuck in legacy land? → Aura or Visualforce may still be right
- Industry-specific flows? → Explore OmniStudio
- Custom layouts with no code? → Dynamic Forms + Lightning Pages are your best friends
The smartest devs and admins know how to mix these tools to build clean, performant, and scalable user experiences.