Automation Tool Features – process builder vs visual workflow vs workflow vs approvals

Here’s a breakdown of all the features and actions that are supported in each automation tool. Use it to determine which tool is best for your business needs.

	Process Builder	Visual Workflow	Workflow	Approvals
Complexity	Multiple if/then statements	Complex	A single if/then statement	A single if/then statement
Visual designer
Browser support	All (Chrome recommended)	All (Safari not recommended)	All	All
Starts when	Record is changed Invoked by another process	User clicks button or link User accesses custom tab Process starts Apex is called	Record is changed	User clicks button or link Process or flow starts that includes a Submit for Approval action Apex is called
Supports time-based actions
Supports user interaction
Supported Actions
Call Apex code
Create records			Tasks only	Tasks only
Invoke processes
Delete records
Launch a flow			(Pilot)1
Post to Chatter
Send email	(Email alerts only)		(Email alerts only)	(Email alerts only)
Send outbound messages without code
Submit for approval
Update fields	Any related record	Any record	The record or its parent	The record or its parent

¹The Process Builder has superseded flow trigger workflow actions, previously available in a pilot program. Orgs that are using flow trigger workflow actions can continue to create and edit them, but they aren’t available for new orgs