As one of the longest-standing CRM (customer relationship management) platforms, Salesforce continues to attract a growing number of merchants switching from other systems. Nevertheless, many still find themselves stuck trying to figure out how to upload CSV to Salesforce.
No worries; we’re here to make it easy! In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, including:
- How to import data into Salesforce from Excel (basic)
- Steps to upload CSV via Data Import Wizard
- Advanced import with LitExtension
- Six bonus apps to import data into Salesforce
Ready? Keep scrolling!
How to Upload CSV to Salesforce for Contacts and Leads
Are you looking to import JUST contacts and leads into Salesforce? There's a handy built-in tool for Professional and Enterprise edition users that allows uploads of up to 50,000 records at a time. All it takes is a quick chat with your Salesforce admin to turn on the Basic Data Import feature. Once it's enabled, follow their guidance to learn how to import contacts into Salesforce from CSV.
That said, this option does come with some obvious limitations — it doesn’t support the Essentials, Starter, or Pro Suite editions and is restricted to only two data types. So, if you need another more inclusive built-in approach to upload CSV to Salesforce, the Data Import Wizard below is a better alternative to consider.
How to Upload CSV to Salesforce with Data Import Wizard
Just like the Contacts/Leads import tool, the Data Import Wizard allows you to upload up to 50,000 records at once. But this time, it’s not just limited to contacts and leads! You can import four more data types, including person accounts, campaign members, solutions, and custom objects. Plus, this solution is accessible across all Salesforce editions except Personal.
Of course, six data types are far from enough to cover the basic needs of a medium or large store. But if you still decide to try it out, here’s what you need to do to upload CSV to Salesforce:
Step 1. Create the import file
First, create a clean bulk upload Salesforce file to prevent errors and duplicate data. Check out a sample Salesforce import CSV here.
Next, go to “Salesforce Setup” > “Quick Find” and type “Data Import Wizard” in the box. Click “Launch Wizard” on the welcome page.
Step 2. Choose the data to import
Now, select the type of Salesforce import data:
- Click “Standard Objects” if you want to import accounts, leads, contacts, and Campaign Members. For other data types, choose “Custom Objects.”
- Choose “Add new and update existing records” to import new items and update existing ones simultaneously. For records updates only (no new items), tick”Update existing records.”
- If desired, specify matching criteria (e.g., by Name, which is case-sensitive for custom objects).
Once done, drag and drop your CSV file (from Step 1) into the upload area and choose a value separator (tab or comma).
Step 3. Map your data fields
After you upload the CSV file, the Data Import Wizard will automatically map as many fields as possible to Salesforce fields. Review and adjust them if necessary.
For the remaining unmapped fields, click “Map” next to the field and manually select up to 10 Salesforce fields to link. Or, save unmapped data in the “Contact Note” or “Account Note” fields.
Step 4. Start your Salesforce data import
Finally, confirm your mappings on the “Review” page (and return to make changes if needed), then click “Start Import” to begin your Salesforce bulk upload.
Don't forget to monitor the progress in one of the three following sections:
- The “Recent Import Jobs” chart on the Data Import Wizard homepage
- “Bulk Data Load Jobs” in Setup (though this section is not available in Professional Edition)
- Updates tabs (for Non-admins).
And that's it — your Salesforce CSV import is underway!
Import Data to Salesforce with LitExtension
The Data Import Wizard is a huge step from the Basic Import tool for Contacts and Leads when you need to upload CSV to Salesforce.
However, as mentioned earlier, imports of just six data types will definitely fall short when it comes to medium or large stores. Worse, each step only has up to two customization options at best. For more complex import or migration demands, the Wizard just won't cut it!
That's why LitExtension All-in-One is a much smarter and more inclusive choice. You can easily import customer data, orders, product variants, passwords, and a wide range of other intricate data types. Plus, with over 12 years of experience, we take little time to tailor the Salesforce migration to your unique needs. Why settle for less when you can have it all?
Without further ado, let us show you how to import data into Salesforce with LitExtension:
Step 1. Consultant by LitExtension experts
The first step is to get in touch with our team to schedule a consultation. During this session, we’ll explore all your specific import and migration needs, including categories, orders, products, customer information, or even custom features from your current eCommerce store.
Once your requirements have been thoroughly discussed and finalized, you only need to sign the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and complete your payment. We will take over the process from there.
Step 2. Data mapping and setting by experts
Next, our experts will do the following to prepare your new Salesforce store for migration:
- Configuring necessary redirects
- Securing your data with backups
- Organizing and optimizing your data for a clean transfer
- Installing additional extensions if required
- Adjusting advanced settings to match your needs
Throughout this step, we’ll offer unlimited demo migrations to give you full visibility into the progress and let you provide input whenever necessary.
Step 3. Perform full Salesforce migration
Once everything is ready, we proceed with the full-scale migration. You’ll receive regular updates from us, and any concerns or questions will be addressed promptly — always within 12 hours. Best of all, additional customization options (such as 301 redirects or recent transfers) are covered at no extra charge!
Ongoing Support Beyond Migration
After the migration is complete, our team will thoroughly review your new store to ensure it’s running smoothly and fully aligned with the goals we have established in the first step.
Furthermore, our support doesn’t stop there:
- Within 30 days after the migration is completed, we’ll offer re-migrations (free) and recent data updates (free if the new data accounts for less than 5% of the total).
- For 90 days, you’ll benefit from unlimited smart updates to your existing data. Again, this service is completely free.
Ready to Migrate to Salesforce?
LitExtension provides a well-optimized service to transfer all your data accurately.
Bonus: 6 Apps to Upload CSV to Salesforce
Aside from LitExtension, you might want to consider installing one of the six third-party apps below to import CSV into Salesforce. Although they certainly cannot match the top-notch results you'd get with LitExtension, these apps still offer more flexibility and customization than Salesforce's basic import tools or the Import Wizard!
We've put all six apps through their paces during the past three months. Here's a quick rundown of their pros and cons to help you decide which to use to upload CSV to Salesforce:
App Name | Pros | Cons |
Dataloader.io (4.5/5) | - Drag-and-drop design with excellent usability | - Limited data capacity |
Lingk.io (4.0/5) | - Advanced data transformation capabilities | - Low-code platform requires SQL knowledge |
Skyvia (4.0/5) | - Fully cloud-based with no local installation required - Supports data integration, backup, and import/export - Easy-to-use interface with scheduling capabilities | - The free version has limited features - Can be slow for processing very large datasets |
Workbench (3.8/5) | - Supports comprehensive operations (query, import, export, delete, etc.) | - Limited to community support |
Jitterbit Cloud Data Loader (3.5/5) | - Handles diverse operations like queries, upserts, and bulk data processing | - Requires local installation |
SimpleImport (3.3/5) | - Free version available | - Lacks scalability for large-scale data imports |
Upload CSV to Salesforce: FAQs
Can you upload a CSV file to Salesforce?
Yes. You can upload a CSV file to Salesforce using the Basic Data Import (for contacts and leads) or Data Import Wizard.
How do I upload an Excel spreadsheet to Salesforce?
Launch Data Import Wizard, choose the data you want to import, and then drag your prepared Excel spreadsheet to the upload area. Please refer back to our guide above for more detailed instructions.
Which CSV format to use for Salesforce?
Salesforce supports comma-delimited CSV formats only as of our writing.
Final Words
All in all, Salesforce's built-in importer is a solid option if you want to upload CSV to Salesforce. Nevertheless, given its clear limitations for complex needs, we highly recommend LitExtension as the ultimate alternative.
With over 12 years of expertise and 300,000+ successful migrations across 100+ countries, we're here to ensure your Salesforce migration is not just smooth but completely hassle-free. Trust us to handle ALL the heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business!
For more information, check out our Salesforce guide and join our Facebook community.
