If you scroll through Salesforce community threads, you’ll find mixed opinions about Chatter. One Reddit user even said, “Chatter is kind of the worst”, while another replied, “It keeps communication about that one thing in that one place.” A third added, “Depends on the implementation, I guess.” And that last point is key: how you set up and use Chatter makes all the difference.
At its core, Salesforce Chatter is a built-in collaboration tool designed to help teams communicate directly within Salesforce. It lets you share updates, files, and ideas in opportunities, cases, and projects, just right where the work happens, instead of losing context in long email threads or chat logs.
In this article, we’ll explain what is Chatter in Salesforce, go through its main features and benefits, and show you how to set it up and customize it for your organization.
Definition of Chatter in Salesforce
Chatter Salesforce is a built-in enterprise network that helps employees communicate and collaborate without leaving Salesforce. It allows users to post updates, comment, share files, and tag colleagues directly within records like opportunities, cases, or accounts.
Chatter’s main goal is to keep work-related communication tied to the data and processes it refers to. Instead of scattered email threads or lost messages, every discussion stays connected to the specific record or project. This makes it easier for teams to stay aligned, share insights, and make decisions faster.
Salesforce Chatter licence is included in most editions and can be used both on desktop and mobile devices, making it accessible for office-based and remote teams alike.
If you’re wondering how to use Chatter in Salesforce, start by exploring feed posts, groups, and record-based discussions. The tool works best when teams use it daily for sharing updates and feedback directly on opportunities or service cases.
Salesforce Chatter features
Often called Chatterbox Salesforce by users, this built-in tool functions like a private social network inside your CRM. Here are the main features that make it useful for daily collaboration.
Salesforce Chatter feed and posts
Every user has a personal feed similar to a social media timeline. You can publish updates, ask questions, share announcements, or tag teammates using the “@” mention. Posts can also be linked directly to Salesforce records, so everyone involved in an opportunity, case, or project can see the context right away.
Chatter Groups
Chatter group in Salesforce is a space for focused discussions. You can create groups for departments, specific clients, or projects. There are three types: public (open to everyone in the company), private (invite-only), and unlisted (hidden but accessible with a direct link). Groups help reduce clutter in main feeds and keep communication organized.
File sharing
Chatter lets users upload and share files, documents, and presentations directly in posts or comments. Files can also be linked to records or stored in group libraries, ensuring that everyone has access to the latest version without digging through emails.
Salesforce Chatter notifications
Chatter sends alerts when someone mentions you, comments on your post, or updates a record you follow. Users can customize notification frequency and choose between in-app alerts or email digests to maintain visibility on important updates without constant checking.
Search and filters
The search function allows you to find people, posts, groups, or files across your organization. Filters can narrow results by date, author, or topic, making it easy to locate past discussions or documents related to a specific deal or issue.
Salesforce Chatter integration
One of Chatter’s biggest advantages is that it works directly with Salesforce data. Each record, such as a lead, account, or opportunity, has its own Chatter feed. Team members can discuss that record, attach files, and tag others who should be involved. Chatter keeps all communication tied to the exact place where it’s needed.
Developers can use the Salesforce Chatter API to automate posts, pull feed data, or connect Chatter with external apps. The Chatter API enables custom workflows and advanced reporting through REST calls.
Topics and hashtags
Posts can be grouped by topics using hashtags (for example, #MarketingCampaign or #Q4Goals). You can organize discussions across different groups and records, allowing users to track all conversations related to a single theme in one view.
Nine benefits of Salesforce Chatter
To understand how to use Salesforce Chatter effectively, focus on consistency. Encourage teams to post updates on records instead of emails, use hashtags for clarity, and track group activity regularly. Let’s take a look at how Salesforce Chatter helps teams to improve collaboration and operations:
1. Faster decision-making
Managers and teams can discuss deals, service cases, or projects in real time. Every relevant update or comment stays attached to the related Salesforce record, helping everyone make informed decisions quickly.
2. Centralized communication
All updates, questions, and files are stored within Salesforce, making it easier to find information when needed. Team members can view a complete discussion history without searching through inboxes or chat logs.
3. Better knowledge sharing
Chatter acts as a shared knowledge base. Employees can post insights, best practices, and lessons learned where others can see and reuse them later. Centralized data reduces repeated questions and helps new team members learn faster.
4. Improved collaboration across departments
Sales, marketing, service, and operations teams can stay aligned through shared groups and feeds. Collaboration around records ensures that everyone sees the same data and context, reducing misunderstandings and duplicated work.
5. Reduced email and meeting overload
Chatter cuts down on unnecessary emails and status meetings. Conversations happen in context, and people only receive alerts for topics or records they follow, which saves time and keeps attention on important tasks.
6. Higher transparency and accountability
Leaders can see who contributed to a discussion, what decisions were made, and how tasks progress. Feed tracking in Salesforce helps track responsibilities and ensures that important actions are followed through.
7. Document sharing and storage
Chatter supports direct document uploads, previews, and version tracking. Files can be attached to posts, comments, or Salesforce records, allowing teams to access the latest documents instantly. Version control prevents confusion and ensures everyone works with up-to-date materials. Our team also uses Documate to generate invoices, quotes, and contracts in Salesforce.
8. Customization with apps from AppExchange
Companies can extend Chatter’s functionality by integrating third-party apps available on Salesforce AppExchange. Examples include tools for advanced document management, analytics dashboards, or workflow automation. Customization options make it possible to align Chatter with specific team needs and business processes.
9. Stronger engagement in remote and hybrid teams
Employees working from different locations can stay connected by using Chatter to share updates, ask questions, and recognize achievements. Regular activity keeps everyone informed and involved, regardless of distance.
How to enable Chatter in Salesforce
Take four simple steps to set up and enable Chatter Salesforce.
Step 1: Locate Chatter
- Navigate to “Setup” by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of your Salesforce screen.
- In the Quick Find box, type “Chatter Settings” and select the Chatter Settings page.
- Under “Chatter”, click “Enable” and choose the desired options for user accessibility and email notifications.
- Ensure to save your settings after enabling Chatter for your organization.
- Users can access Chatter directly from their Chatter login Salesforce page or via the Salesforce mobile app once it’s enabled by the admin (see step 4).
Step 2: Customize Chatter settings
- Access the “Chatter Settings” from the Setup menu.
- Customize the “Chatter Settings” by determining policies such as who can see Chatter feeds and what types of files can be shared.
- Define Salesforce Chatter groups by setting up criteria, assigning group managers, and configuring group email settings.
- Manage Chatter Permissions for different user profiles through the “Profiles” setting to control who can create, view, and manage Chatter content.
Step 3: Set up Chatter feed in Salesforce
- Navigate to an object where you want to enable Chatter (such as a Lead record).
- Click on the Chatter tab and select the customization options for each feed section.
- You can select which fields and actions are displayed on the feed for easy collaboration and decision-making.
- Ensure that you activate Chatter Feeds in your overall Salesforce strategy by introducing new features to your team gradually for user adoption.
- You can also enable Chatter on custom objects by turning on feed tracking in Object Manager to discuss specific records created for your business processes.
Step 4: Salesforce Chatter integration
- To enable Chatter in the Salesforce Mobile App, go to your Salesforce account and enable Chatter for Mobile.
- Adjustable settings for Chatter in Salesforce Communities allow you to set user visibility different from what you’ve set for the standard organization.
- Language options are also available, so you can configure the Output Language Code to customize the Chatter feed language for multilingual teams and clients.
Customization options in Salesforce Chatter
Salesforce Chatter can be easily adapted to match your company’s structure, communication style, and workflow. Admins can adjust visibility settings, notifications, and features so that users only see what’s relevant to their roles. Here are some of the main customization options available.
Group configuration
Admins can create and manage different types of groups, and each can be used for departments, projects, or topics. Group roles, member permissions, and post moderation settings can be customized to control who can post, comment, or manage files.
How to create a Chatter group in Salesforce
Follow these steps to create Chatter groups in Salesforce in a few minutes:
1. Go to the Chatter tab
Open Salesforce and select the Chatter tab from the main navigation bar. If you’re not sure where the Chatter tab is in Salesforce, open the App Launcher (grid icon) and search for “Chatter.”
2. Open the Groups section
In the left sidebar, click Groups. You’ll see a list of all groups you can access.
3. Click “New Group”
Select the New Group button to start creating a new one.
4. Enter basic details
Fill in the required fields:
- Group Name: keep it short and clear (for example, “Marketing Team” or “Q4 Campaign”).
- Description: explain the group’s purpose so members know what discussions belong there.
- Group Image (optional): upload an image or icon that represents the group.
5. Choose the group type
Select who can see and join the group:
- Public: open to everyone in the company.
- Private: members can join only by invitation.
- Unlisted: hidden from search and visible only to invited members.
6. Set permissions
Decide whether members can post and add files, or if only the group owner can do so. You can also allow external users (like partners) if your Salesforce org has Chatter External enabled.
7. Add members
Use the search box to find and invite colleagues. You can add more members later if needed.
8. Save the group
Click Save & Done. Your new Chatter group is ready to use.
9. Start posting
Share your first update, upload a file, or create a pinned post to explain the group’s purpose and guidelines.
Feed tracking Salesforce
Feed tracking lets you decide which changes on Salesforce records should appear in Chatter feeds. For example, updates to Opportunity Stage or Case Status can trigger automatic feed posts. Salesforce feed tracking helps users stay informed about key updates without being overwhelmed by unnecessary alerts.
Admins can also create a Salesforce report on Chatter posts to monitor engagement levels, top contributors, and most active groups. Reporting on Chatter activity helps track collaboration trends across departments.
Chatter email notifications and digests
Each user can control how and when to receive updates by email. Options include individual post alerts, daily or weekly digests, and event-based notifications. Proper setup ensures employees receive timely information without information overload.
Custom actions and quick links
Admins can add custom SFDC Chatter actions to make it easier for users to complete common tasks, such as creating new leads, logging activities, or requesting approvals directly from the feed. Quick actions can also be customized by profile or record type.
Topics and hashtags
Chatter supports topic management, which allows admins to create predefined hashtags for key business themes. For example, #CustomerSuccess or #NewLaunch. Consistent topic naming improves search accuracy and helps users find related posts faster.
Layout and branding
Companies can personalize the look of Chatter by adding their logo, adjusting color schemes, and organizing components in Lightning App Builder. Branding helps employees recognize the internal communication space as part of the company’s environment.
Salesforce Chatter license types
Every user has a Chatter account automatically created when Chatter is enabled. Access depends on the license type (Free, Plus, or External).
Salesforce offers special licenses for Chatter beyond the standard user licenses for users who only need collaboration features and little to no access to full Salesforce features. These licenses let organizations include more participants in Chatter at a lower cost.
Which Salesforce Chatter licence works for you?
- Every standard Salesforce user license already includes Salesforce Chatter free license.
- Chatter Free and Chatter External licenses are available in many Salesforce editions (e.g. Enterprise, Unlimited).
- Some licenses have limits on how many can be assigned per standard Salesforce license (for example, a limit to how many Chatter Free or External licenses can relate).
- Administrators can upgrade users from Chatter Free to a more capable license if needed.
How Salesforce Chatter works in practice
Salesforce Chatter becomes most valuable when it’s part of daily work rather than an extra communication channel. Here’s how different teams use it in practice.
Sales teams
Sales reps use SFDC Chatter to discuss deals directly on opportunity records. Instead of sending emails, they post updates, mention managers for approval, or ask for input from product experts. For example, a rep can tag a finance manager for pricing clarification or attach a quote document right in the opportunity feed. Everyone involved sees the full discussion and the latest file version in one place.
Customer service teams
Support agents can talk through complex cases without leaving Salesforce Service Cloud. Chatter allows them to request help from senior agents, notify developers about recurring issues, or share screenshots of customer problems. All related communication stays visible on the case record, helping teams resolve issues faster and maintain service quality.
Marketing teams
Marketing staff use Chatter to coordinate campaign planning and approvals. They can post draft materials, tag designers or copywriters for review, and get sign-off from managers before launch. By keeping campaign discussions tied to Salesforce records, everyone stays on the same page and can track what has been approved or changed.
HR and internal communication
HR teams use Chatter to make company-wide announcements, share new policies, and welcome new employees. Groups like “Company News” or “New Hires” encourage interaction and help remote teams feel connected. Sales force Chatter also supports file sharing, so HR can attach forms or guides directly to posts.
Project teams
Teams running internal or client projects create dedicated Chatter groups to manage updates, assign tasks, and share documents. Instead of checking multiple tools, everyone tracks progress in one feed that reflects the project’s status and key milestones.
Chatter vs. Slack: what’s the difference?
Chatter and Slack both improve communication inside a company, but they serve different purposes and work best in different contexts. Many organizations use them together for the best results. To help you understand the differences of Chatter vs Slack, we compiled a comparison table:
Chatter and Slack integration
Chatter and Slack can work together to connect Salesforce communication with real-time messaging. The Salesforce for Slack integration lets users share record updates, post messages, and collaborate without switching platforms.
Key capabilities:
- Get automatic Slack notifications about record changes or Chatter posts.
- Send Salesforce updates directly from Slack using slash commands.
- Link Slack messages to Salesforce records to keep context.
- Create and update records from Slack conversations.
Learn more about Salesforce and Slack integration, and a detailed guide on how to integrate Slack and Salesforce.
How Noltic helps companies get more value from Salesforce
Noltic helps organizations customize and integrate Salesforce to match their business goals. With 140+ delivered projects, 400+ Salesforce certifications, and a 5.0 AppExchange rating, our team has deep experience across multiple industries.
We provide end-to-end services, including implementation, data migration, automation, and system integration. Our specialists connect Salesforce with ERP, accounting, or marketing tools, ensuring smooth data flow and better visibility across departments.
By aligning Salesforce with company processes, we help clients improve efficiency, accuracy, and ROI. Whether it’s setting up collaboration tools like Chatter, automating workflows, or building analytics dashboards, Noltic ensures Salesforce becomes a single, reliable platform for growth.
FAQs
Is Salesforce getting rid of Chatter?
Salesforce’s co-founder, Parker Harris, once made headlines by saying, “I’m going to kill Chatter,” which led some to wonder if Chatter would be retired.
Despite that statement, as of 2025, Chatter is still actively supported and used across many Salesforce orgs. No official end-of-life date has been announced, and Salesforce continues to maintain Chatter features alongside Slack integration.
How much does Salesforce Chatter cost?
For users with standard Salesforce licenses (e.g. Sales Cloud, Service Cloud), Chatter is included at no extra cost.
- Chatter Plus (standalone) costs $15 per user per month for users without a full Salesforce license. It includes Chatter features, read-only access to accounts and contacts, and access to dashboards, reports, and up to 10 custom objects.
- Chatter Free is available at no cost for internal users (up to certain limits). It allows group participation, file sharing, and feeds, but does not permit access to standard or custom Salesforce objects.
How to add Chatter to a Lightning page?
- Go to Setup → Lightning App Builder.
- Select or create the record page (e.g. for Opportunity, Case, or custom object).
- From the components panel, drag the Chatter component onto your page layout where you want it to appear.
- Save and Activate the layout so users see the change.
Once added, users can post, comment, and view Chatter feeds directly from that page.
How to enable Chatter for an object in Salesforce?
- In Setup, go to Object Manager and pick the object (standard or custom).
- Click Edit and check Allow Feeds (sometimes labeled “Enable Feed Tracking” or similar).
- Save the settings.
- Return to Setup → Feed Tracking, select that object, and enable tracking on the fields you want (for example, Stage, Status, Owner).
Once enabled, records of that object will show a Chatter feed where users can interact directly on that record.
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