Salesforce Lightning vs Classic – In-Depth CRM Versions Compared

Choosing between salesforce lightning vs classic can be confusing for businesses that want the best from their CRM. The differences in features, updates, and usability make the decision even harder, especially for teams still relying on classic. This MOR Software’s guide will break down both versions, compare their strengths, and help you decide which interface truly supports long-term growth.

What Is Salesforce Lightning?

Salesforce lightning vs classic has been a major topic for businesses choosing a CRM interface. Lightning is the modern, component-driven edition of salesforce, designed with a cleaner layout, improved navigation, and tools like activity timelines and custom branding options. It also grants full access to salesforce Einstein AI capabilities, making it easier to automate processes and strengthen the sales pipeline.

In short, salesforce lightning is the refreshed version of salesforce classic, first released in 2015. New Salesforce customers start with lightning by default, while existing users of classic can switch at no extra cost, gaining the benefits of the sfdc lightning experience.

Main Features Of Salesforce Lightning

When comparing salesforce lightning vs classic, the feature gap keeps widening since lightning is constantly updated. Below is an overview of some of the most valuable improvements lightning brings compared to classic.

App Development Tools

Lightning includes strong app-building options that give sales teams greater control of their pipelines. These applications can even be built without writing code, allowing non-technical staff to create effective tools that streamline daily tasks. This makes salesforce workflow a clear choice for teams aiming to move faster.

Home Page Enhancements

Both versions display events, calendars, and dashboards, but lightning goes further. Its homepage also highlights real-time news, top deals, and a performance chart, delivering an immediate snapshot of sales activity and priorities.

Forecasting Improvements

Classic covers only basic revenue and quantity forecasts. In contrast, lightning supports a much broader range, including product-based forecasts, schedule dates, territory-level views, forecast sharing, and more. It accommodates customizable formats by currency or number, and applies across Opportunity, Opportunity Product, Opportunity Split, and Line Item Schedule.

Stronger Security Layers

Lightning introduces lightning locker, which creates an added security boundary between interface components. It also includes updated permission controls and stronger authentication measures. These upgrades highlight how lightning vs classic salesforce differs in safeguarding data and user access.

Activity Timeline Function

A built-in timeline in lightning allows users to view and track past activities tied to each account or lead. This capability is not available in classic, making activity tracking a smoother experience in lightning.

Flexible Workspace Layouts

Lightning lets users build multiple types of pages, including App Pages, Home Pages, and Record Pages. Classic only supports a single standard page type, limiting flexibility in customizing workspaces.

Mobile Optimization Benefits

Designed for responsiveness, salesforce lightning adjusts seamlessly across browsers and mobile devices. This ensures sales teams can access data and work effectively while on the move.

AI And Einstein Capabilities

Compared to classic, lightning offers deeper salesforce integration. With Einstein tools, teams gain access to lead scoring and opportunity scoring, helping them prioritize outreach and allocate marketing or support resources more effectively. This distinction in salesforce classic vs salesforce lightning often influences organizations to adopt lightning.

What Is Salesforce Classic?

Before the launch of lightning, salesforce classic was the default interface for the platform. At first glance, it becomes clear that classic doesn’t resemble a modern web UI. The design is dense, text-heavy, and gives limited attention to visuals and icons, which makes it feel dated.

Existing graphics are often small and lack high resolution. Because of this, the interface makes it harder to quickly absorb information, and moving through different menus or tabs can feel cumbersome.

Today, classic is primarily used by organizations that have relied on it for years and have not shifted to lightning. New salesforce customers start directly on lightning, although they can still switch to classic anytime from the user menu at the top-right corner. This is why businesses comparing lightning vs salesforce classic often question how long classic will remain relevant.

Salesforce Classic End-Of-Life Timeline

Classic was extremely popular in the early 2000s and continues to have a loyal user base. That said, salesforce has not released a specific retirement date. The last official update was rolled out in spring 2019, and its mobile app was removed in 2017.

These signals show that salesforce lightning vs classic is not just a matter of preference but also of long-term planning. Since classic may be discontinued in the near future, choosing it for new projects could be a risky investment.

Salesforce Lightning vs Classic: Key Differences

When making a salesforce comparison, it’s clear that long-time users may feel comfortable with classic, which can make onboarding faster. Still, this benefit is only temporary. Lightning is the version that continues to receive updates, improvements, and long-term support. Below are the main contrasts between the two versions:

• Salesforce lightning delivers a modern interface that is far more user-friendly compared to classic.
• Salesforce classic vs salesforce lightning shows no difference in price, both are offered at the same cost.
• Salesforce lightning includes a wider set of features, while classic remains limited.
• Lightning provides deeper Einstein AI functionality than classic.
• Lightning receives ongoing updates, whereas classic has not been updated since 2023.

In short, classic presents an older layout, while lightning gives a clean, modern user experience. Choosing lightning also unlocks stronger features, smarter dashboards, and advanced tools, without any added expense.

>>> If you’re looking for a salesforce implementation guide that skips the fluff and solves real business pain, you’re in the right place. MOR Software brings clarity to your Salesforce journey so you can move faster and smarter from day one.

Why Businesses Should Switch To Salesforce Lightning?

For most organizations, salesforce lightning vs classic ends with one clear winner. Lightning is designed for speed, ease of use, and remains the future of the platform. The interface is more intuitive, navigation is faster, and salesforce continues to invest heavily in lightning development. Official salesforce data migration tools highlights the benefits:

• 25% higher productivity
• 50% faster time to build apps
• 341% return on investment

Classic can still function for long-time users who prefer familiarity, but its uncertain future makes it a risky choice. Salesforce has not confirmed an official retirement date, yet support for the classic interface is expected to phase out eventually.

Simply put, new customers should start with lightning, and even current classic users should plan their transition. When comparing classic vs lightning salesforce, any short-term advantage in sticking with classic is outweighed by lightning’s growth and long-term value. Tools like salesforce’s free Readiness check can also help teams evaluate immediate gains and prepare for adjustments during migration.

Salesforce Lightning vs Classic UIs Compared

When evaluating salesforce lightning vs classic, the user interface alone makes a strong case for lightning. It delivers a modern, web-based design that is visually appealing, faster to navigate, and consistently updated. This allows teams to access data more clearly, close deals faster, and make better use of CRM solutions.

Lightning’s interface combines readable text with icons and graphics that give a quick snapshot of key business information. In contrast, classic relies heavily on text and offers far fewer visual cues. The difference is obvious the moment you switch between the two versions.

Take the opportunity record as an example. In lightning, a highlights panel at the top shows key action buttons and the current stage of the deal. Classic instead requires users to scan through the “Opportunity Details” section, buried in text, to determine the status. This is one of many reasons why companies comparing salesforce classic vs lightning often choose the newer version.

In summary:

• Lightning’s UI is far more modern compared to classic.
• Lightning’s features and usability surpass classic.
• Classic remains text-heavy with minimal visuals, making navigation slower.

Even on the Home tab, lightning presents charts, lists, and metrics that give instant visibility into business performance. Classic mainly shows a feed of posts, emails, and tasks, which lacks the same clarity or decision-making value.

Salesforce Lightning vs Classic: Cost Comparison

Here’s some good news: salesforce lightning vs classic shows no difference in base pricing. Both interfaces start at $25 per user, per month, and long-time classic users can switch to lightning without purchasing a new license. New salesforce customers are automatically guided toward lightning as the recommended interface.

Of course, migration can introduce additional expenses. Moving from classic to lightning often requires staff training, as well as an internal audit to confirm that all needed features work correctly in the new environment. This is why many businesses evaluate salesforce lightning vs salesforce classic factor in transition costs, not just subscription fees.

Still, the investment is worthwhile. A Forrester report revealed that lightning saved each user an hour of work weekly. Combined with reduced support needs and faster development cycles, the switch from classic delivers an estimated three-year ROI of 341% and a payback time of just 14 months.

In short:

• Both versions cost the same at the license level.
• Moving to lightning from classic generates stronger ROI through productivity gains.

What’s New In Salesforce Lightning?

Since 2023, salesforce classic has stopped receiving updates, and its usefulness continues to decline. In the Summer ’24 release, Salesforce confirmed that classic no longer works in mobile browsers. Users must rely on the mobile app, further highlighting the shift away from classic support.

By contrast, lightning continues to evolve with each release. In 2023, salesforce introduced Einstein GPT, their generative AI designed to improve customer and client interactions throughout the platform. 

“We’re announcing Einstein GPT, the world’s first generative AI for CRM. I think the future is really bright here. It’s creating a tremendous amount of opportunities for innovation within our ecosystem of products as well as our broader ecosystem.” – Patrick Stokes, EVP and GM for platform at Salesforce

In November 2024, Salesforce rolled out the Winter 2025 release, delivering several standout upgrades, including:

• AI-powered CRM customization – New workflows, AI automation options, and UX refinements make tailoring processes in lightning simpler than ever.
• Security and privacy improvements – Expanded encryption, advanced data access settings, and compliance tools strengthen protection for sensitive information.
• Predictive sales forecasting – Einstein AI enhancements now allow users to forecast customer purchasing behavior more accurately by analyzing past activity.

Einstein AI In Salesforce Lightning: A Closer Look

Einstein AI stands out as a defining part of the lightning experience. It automatically handles data preparation, modeling, and infrastructure updates, ensuring analytics remain nearly real-time. It supports apps with functions like image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive guidance for the next best action on leads and accounts.

Classic has only limited access to Einstein, while lightning includes exclusive features such as opportunity insights, account insights, automated contact creation, and the Einstein Bot Builder. For businesses comparing lightning vs classic salesforce, these AI-driven tools are often the deciding factor.

Key Takeaway For Businesses On Salesforce Lightning vs Classic

Salesforce classic is on its way out. With no new updates and limited functionality, its role in the CRM space continues to shrink. In contrast, salesforce lightning vs classic shows that lightning is the clear future-ready platform. It brings stronger AI capabilities, better security standards, and productivity tools designed to scale with modern business needs.

Even though salesforce classic vs salesforce lightning costs the same at the license level, lightning offers a far higher return on investment through faster processes and smarter features. New salesforce users should start with lightning immediately, and companies still on classic should prepare their migration strategy sooner rather than later.

At MOR Software, we specialize in helping businesses make that transition smooth and effective. Our salesforce consulting services guide organizations through every stage, from planning and migration to salesforce customization. By combining technical expertise with real-world industry knowledge, we ensure your CRM investment works harder for your business and drives measurable growth

Conclusion

In the end, the salesforce lightning vs classic comparison points clearly to lightning as the future. Classic is fading fast, while lightning evolves with AI, stronger security, and productivity gains that drive measurable ROI. Both cost the same, yet lightning delivers far greater long-term value. If your business is still on classic, now is the time to prepare the switch. MOR Software can guide your migration and tailor salesforce to your needs. Contact our team to start the conversation today.