Definition
A Custom App in Salesforce is an app created by an administrator that bundles a set of tabs (for standard objects, custom objects, Visualforce pages, Lightning components, and other items) under a single label with a custom logo. Custom Apps are defined in the App Manager and appear in the App Launcher. In Classic, Custom Apps can be Classic apps (with a tab bar) or Console apps (with a multi-tab workspace).
Real-World Example
Consider a scenario where an admin at Redwood Financial is working with Custom App to ensure the Salesforce org runs smoothly and securely. They configure Custom App during a scheduled maintenance window, test it in a sandbox first, and then deploy to production. The result is tighter security and a more streamlined experience for all 200 users in the org.
Why Custom App Matters
A Custom App in Salesforce is an administrator-created bundle of tabs, a home page, and optionally a utility bar and logo, grouped under a single app name. Custom Apps appear in the App Launcher alongside standard apps like Sales and Service, and admins assign them to specific user profiles or permission sets to control who sees which apps. In Lightning Experience, Custom Apps are built in the App Manager and can include standard object tabs, custom object tabs, Visualforce pages, Lightning components, and external web tabs.
Custom Apps are how most organizations tailor the Salesforce experience for different teams or roles. Instead of showing every tab in the org to every user (which is overwhelming), admins build a Sales app for sales reps, a Service app for support agents, a Partner app for partner managers, and so on. Each app bundles the tabs and pages that are relevant to its audience. In Classic, Custom Apps came in two flavors: Classic apps (with a tab bar) and Console apps (with the multi-tab workspace model for agents). Lightning merged these concepts into a unified Lightning App model.
How Organizations Use Custom App
- •Redwood Financial — Built three Custom Apps for their org: a Banker app for relationship managers, a Lending app for loan officers, and an Admin app for operations staff. Each app shows only the tabs relevant to its users, making the interface less overwhelming.
- •NovaScale — Uses Custom Apps to separate different business units within a single Salesforce org. Each BU has its own app with its own branding, tabs, and utility bar, so users in one BU don't see data from the others.
- •BrightEdge Solutions — Updates their Custom Apps every quarter to reflect changing priorities. Adding or removing a tab from an app takes minutes and propagates to every user assigned to that app.