Salesforce API Essentials – API Docs, Rate Limits, Integration & More

Salesforce delivers comprehensive CRM and cloud platform solutions for sales, service, marketing, and commerce. Explore essential information for building Salesforce API integrations and webhooks.

Limitations to Salesforce API

• API limits vary dramatically by license type. Developer orgs get limited daily API calls while Enterprise editions offer millions. Growing teams often hit walls unexpectedly.
• Complex data relationships require multiple queries. Salesforce’s object model means fetching related records (accounts with contacts, opportunities with line items) often needs separate API calls, creating performance bottlenecks.
• Governor limits restrict processing power. Apex code execution, SOQL queries, and DML operations have strict limits that can halt integrations during peak usage or bulk operations.
• Sandbox refresh cycles disrupt development. Production data refreshes to sandboxes happen on schedules that can break ongoing integration testing and development workflows.

Popular third party Salesforce API integrations

1. Coefficient – Integration for Spreadsheets

Coefficient is a powerful spreadsheet add-on designed for non-technical users and spreadsheet lovers who want to access real-time business data and automate workflows directly from their spreadsheets. 

With seamless Salesforce integration, Coefficient enables users to build live reports, automate notifications, and push or pull Salesforce data without leaving the spreadsheet interface.

Pricing (as of August 2025) 

• Free: $0/month (for individuals exploring live data possibilities).
• Starter: $49/month (for solo builders; max 5 users).
• Pro: $99/user/month (for small teams; includes automation, larger data pulls, instant answers).
• Enterprise: Custom (volume discounts; advanced controls/security/support).

Pros

• Extremely easy for non-technical users to connect, automate, and work with Salesforce data in spreadsheets
• No-code automations for report refreshes, alerting via Slack/email, and pushing data back to Salesforce systems
• Rich AI assistant helps build dashboards, explain trends, and write SQL without technical expertise

Cons

• Advanced reporting or automation features require a paid plan; free tier is limited
• Heavily oriented toward spreadsheet-centric workflows (may require switching context for non-spreadsheet users)
• May not match the deep customization or API flexibility needed by larger enterprise IT teams

2. Zapier

Zapier is a no-code automation and integration platform that connects Salesforce with thousands of other web apps. 

It’s best known for automating repetitive workflows by triggering actions in Salesforce (like creating leads or sending notifications) based on events in other apps, making it attractive for small and medium-sized businesses seeking quick wins.

Pricing (as of August 2025)

Zapier has a free plan with limitations (100 tasks/month, 5 workflows), while paid plans unlock advanced features and scale at higher price points; detailed breakdowns are available on their website.

Pros

• No-code interface enables anyone to set up automations and integrations between Salesforce and over 5,000 apps
• Massive template library and community support for common sales, marketing, and customer operations automations
• Ideal for quick setup of everyday business workflows involving Salesforce and popular cloud tools

Cons

• Free version has strict limits on tasks and workflow complexity
• Not suitable for complex, multi-step logic or high-scale enterprise scenarios
• More advanced integrations may require moving to pricier paid tiers or technical platforms

3. MuleSoft Anypoint Platform

MuleSoft (owned by Salesforce) is an advanced integration platform that allows organizations to build and manage complex API and data integrations between Salesforce and virtually any other enterprise system. MuleSoft is best suited for organizations needing secure, large-scale, or custom workflows and deep system connectivity across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.

Pricing (as of August 2025) 

MuleSoft’s pricing is available upon request and typically reflects an enterprise, usage-based model. There is a free Community Edition with feature/restriction limits, while full-featured plans (with enterprise support and scalability) require custom quotes.

Pros

• Best for organizations that need to connect Salesforce to complex, legacy, or high-security systems with advanced authentication and governance
• Scalable for large-volume integrations, real-time sync, and process orchestration across multiple systems
• Offers both no-code options for business users (Composer) and deep customization for developers

Cons

• Requires more technical skill to set up and maintain than no-code tools
• Licensing and implementation costs can be high for smaller teams or simple use cases
• Community/free versions are restricted in capacity and support compared to paid enterprise offerings

Salesforce & Coefficient API Integration Video Tutorials

Transform your Salesforce data workflows

Stop wrestling with complex APIs and manual exports. Coefficient brings your Salesforce data directly into spreadsheets where your team already works. Build live dashboards. Automate reports. Keep everything in sync. No technical skills required.

Get started with Coefficient and unlock the full potential of your Salesforce data.