Salesforce.com refers to the SaaS business applications — Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud — finished apps that customers configure and use. Force.com (now called Lightning Platform) refers to the PaaS layer underneath — the developer platform where you build custom apps with Apex, Lightning Web Components, custom objects, flows, and the same database. Both run on the exact same infrastructure; the distinction is what you’re consuming: a finished CRM app or a platform to build on.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Salesforce.com (SaaS) | Force.com / Lightning Platform (PaaS) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Software as a Service | Platform as a Service |
| What it provides | Finished CRM applications | Tools to build custom applications |
| Who uses it | End users in sales, service, marketing | Developers and admins building apps |
| Core objects available | Full CRM: Lead, Opportunity, Case, Account, Contact, Campaign, etc. | Custom objects + a limited set of standards (usually Account, Contact) |
| License examples | Salesforce, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud licenses | Lightning Platform Starter / Plus (formerly Force.com Employee Apps) |
| Branding (current) | Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, etc. | Lightning Platform |
| Audience | Business users buying CRM software | IT teams building custom apps without managing infrastructure |
The shared infrastructure
Both share:
- The same multi-tenant database.
- The same security model — profiles, permission sets, sharing rules, FLS.
- The same automation tools — Flow, Apex, validation rules.
- The same UI framework — Lightning Experience, LWC.
- The same APIs — REST, SOAP, Bulk, Streaming.
- The same release cycle — Spring, Summer, Winter.
When you log into a Lightning Platform org and a Sales Cloud org, the experience looks nearly identical. The difference is what objects, tabs, and features are licensed for that org.
Why the distinction matters commercially
License pricing reflects the split:
- Sales Cloud / Service Cloud licenses are more expensive — you’re paying for the CRM data model plus the platform.
- Lightning Platform licenses are cheaper — you only get a small subset of standard objects, and you bring your own data model via custom objects.
A typical pattern: an enterprise uses Sales Cloud for its salesforce automation but also wants a custom internal app (HR onboarding, vendor management). The internal app’s users get Platform licenses — much cheaper than full Salesforce licenses — and live in the same org.
Quick interview answer
“Salesforce.com is the SaaS layer — finished business apps like Sales Cloud and Service Cloud. Force.com, now called Lightning Platform, is the PaaS layer underneath where you build custom apps with Apex, LWC, and custom objects. Same infrastructure, same security model, different consumption: finished app vs platform to build on. Force.com was rebranded Lightning Platform around 2018.”
Verified against: Salesforce Help — Lightning Platform and Trailhead — Salesforce Platform Basics. Last reviewed 2026-05-17.