Looking to connect your Salesforce CRM with other apps and systems automatically? Using n8n Salesforce integration, you can easily automate lead management, follow-up tasks, and CRM workflows—without writing complex code. Whether you're capturing leads via web forms, enriching them using APIs, or syncing them with external apps like Google Sheets or email, n8n gives you total control over the logic in one visual platform.
n8n is a powerful open-source automation tool that makes it easy to create customized workflows for Salesforce, offering much more flexibility than typical no-code platforms. In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up the connection between n8n and Salesforce, show you real-life workflow examples, and share tips to enhance your CRM automation strategy.
Why Automate Salesforce with n8n?
Salesforce is a robust CRM system, but its built-in automation tools can be expensive, and integrating them with external services often requires more developer work. n8n allows you to:
- Automate lead capture, qualification, and assignment processes
- Connect Salesforce with other platforms like Gmail, Slack, or Google Sheets
- Set up alerts when lead status changes
- Sync customer data between tools in real-time
Unlike other tools, n8n gives you full data control and flexibility, especially if you're self-hosting.
Tip: If you're debating between tools, see our comparison of n8n vs Zapier for insight into power user features like custom logic and HTTP requests.
Prerequisites
Before starting with your n8n Salesforce integration, ensure you have:
- Access to a Salesforce account (standard or developer)
- An n8n instance running (either cloud or self-hosted)
- API access enabled in Salesforce
- A Salesforce user with proper permissions to create connected apps
If you're new to n8n, you can follow our guide on how to install n8n in Docker or on Windows before proceeding.
Step-by-Step: Connect Salesforce with n8n
Create a Salesforce Connected App
- Login to Salesforce, click the gear icon, and select Setup.
- In the left sidebar, search for App Manager and open it.
- Click New Connected App.
- Fill in basic information:
- App Name:
n8n Integration - Contact Email: your email
- App Name:
- Enable OAuth Settings:
- Check Enable OAuth Settings
- Set Callback URL to:
https://api.n8n.io/oauth2/callback(or your self-hosted URL) - Select Scopes:
Access and manage your data (api)Perform requests on your behalf at any time (refresh_token, offline_access)
- Save and wait a few minutes for the app to be activated.
Retrieve Your Credentials
Once your connected app is created:
- Consumer Key: Found under API (Enable OAuth Settings)
- Consumer Secret: Requires clicking View and confirming
These will be used in n8n to authenticate with Salesforce.
Add Salesforce Credentials to n8n
- Open your n8n workflow editor.
- Click Credentials → + New Credential → Salesforce OAuth2 API.
- Paste in the:
- Consumer Key
- Consumer Secret
- Callback URL (
https://api.n8n.io/oauth2/callbackor custom if self-hosted)
- Click Connect OAuth2 Account. Sign in with your Salesforce credentials.
- Save once authenticated.
Sample Workflow: Create a Lead in Salesforce from a Web Form
Let’s say you collect leads from a Typeform or website and want them added to Salesforce as new leads.
Workflow Overview
Here’s a simple flow using n8n:
- Trigger Node: Webhook (listens for form submissions)
- Transform Data: Optional Set Node or Function to clean data
- Salesforce Node: Operation: Create Record → Object: Lead
Example Lead Fields
| Field | Type | Sample Value |
|---|---|---|
| FirstName | Text | John |
| LastName | Text | Doe |
| Company | Text | Example Inc |
| john@example.com | ||
| LeadSource | Dropdown | Web |
With this setup, every time someone submits a form, n8n automatically pushes their data into Salesforce as a new lead.
Advanced Use Case: Auto-Qualify and Alert Sales Team
Let’s improve this further:
- Webhook: Form receives a submission
- HTTP Request: Use enrichment API (like Clearbit) to gather more lead data
- IF Node: Check company size or job title
- Salesforce Node: Create only if qualified
- Slack/Email Node: Notify your sales team for warm leads
This kind of logic is difficult to implement using Salesforce natively or with rigid automation tools—but it’s effortless in n8n.
Common Nodes Paired With Salesforce in n8n
To enhance your n8n Salesforce integration, consider these nodes:
- Google Sheets: Sync records for reporting or backups (Google Apps integration guide)
- Gmail & Outlook: Send emails when lead actions occur
- Slack/Discord: Post alert messages in channels when a lead status changes
- HTTP Request: Call external APIs for enrichment or validation
Tips for Better CRM Automation
- Use Tags or LeadSource: Helps filter leads for segmentation
- Schedule Periodic Checks: Trigger every hour to sync updates from custom objects
- Use Data Store Node: Caches previous runs, avoids creating duplicates
- Handle Errors Gracefully: Use n8n’s error workflow features to catch and retry failed Salesforce calls (see error handling guide)
Limitations to Watch For
Although n8n is powerful, consider:
- Salesforce API limits can throttle large imports
- Some complex record types (e.g., nested objects) may require manual API configuration using HTTP nodes
- Permission errors: Always match credentials to object access
For large-scale data syncs, monitor your workflows to avoid hitting platform constraints.
FAQ
What can I automate in Salesforce using n8n?
You can automate lead creation, contact updates, opportunity tracking, notification alerts, and data syncs with Google Sheets, Slack, or other databases. n8n gives you full control over conditional logic and API interactions for these tasks.
How does n8n connect to Salesforce securely?
n8n uses OAuth 2.0 to connect securely with Salesforce. OAuth tokens are stored safely, and you won't need to hard-code passwords or sensitive data into workflows.
Can I send data both into and out of Salesforce using n8n?
Yes. You can create, update, delete, or query Salesforce data with n8n. The "Get Record" and "Create/Update Record" operations allow full bi-directional syncs between Salesforce and external tools.
What should I do if the Salesforce node is missing some objects?
Use the generic HTTP Request node to interact with Salesforce's REST API directly. This is handy when you're dealing with custom objects or special record types not listed by default.
Is it better to use n8n over Zapier for integrating with Salesforce?
If you need granular logic, custom API calls, or want to self-host for data privacy, n8n is a better fit. Tools like Make.com or Zapier are more plug-and-play but limited in flexibility.
By leveraging the n8n Salesforce integration, you unlock the power to fully control your CRM workflows, automate lead pipelines, and connect your CRM with the rest of your business stack—with zero vendor lock-in.