Every Salesforce developer has, at some point, made the mistake of using Custom Settings where Metadata should’ve been, and vice versa. Not because the documentation isn’t clear, but because real-world applications don’t follow documentation logic. Salesforce treats these two elements very differently behind the scenes-especially when it comes to caching, testing, and packaging.
That’s why most developers upgrading through a Salesforce Course Online in 2025 are now being taught to think of Custom Settings and Metadata Types as two separate technologies with separate lifecycles, not just similar tools with a name change.
Key Takeaways
- Custom Metadata is slower but deployable, test-friendly, and scalable.
- Custom Settings are faster but manual and not CI/CD friendly.
- Avoid mixing both in one logic layer to keep your application clean.
- Metadata Types are preferred in 2025’s Git-based, multi-org Salesforce development workflows.
Custom Metadata vs Custom Settings
Salesforce caches Custom Settings in memory. That makes them faster to access, especially if you’re using Hierarchy settings or org-wide defaults in Apex triggers or flows. They’re good for high-read, low-change data.
Custom Metadata, however, doesn’t load into memory automatically. You access it through SOQL, which makes it slightly slower but more stable and deployable across orgs.
The difference gets critical when you enter CI/CD pipelines. Custom Settings need data deployment tools, like Data Loader or script-based post-deploy jobs. Custom Metadata records are part of your codebase and deploy like classes or triggers. If you’re managing multiple sandboxes or AppExchange packages, that changes everything.
Core Technical Comparison
| Feature | Custom Settings | Custom Metadata Types |
| Access Speed | Cached, faster | Queried, slightly slower |
| Deployment Method | Manual or Data Loader | Included in metadata deployments |
| Visibility Control | Limited (public/private) | Supports protected records in packages |
| Test Class Accessibility | Not available by default | Accessible without setup |
| Use in Packages | Difficult to manage | Ideal for managed packages |
| CI/CD Friendliness | Requires external data load | Git-friendly, version-controlled |
This is why many projects transitioning to Salesforce Commerce Cloud Training now prefer metadata-first design. Once configure becomes deployable, managing regional pricing rules, tax slabs, or UI logic toggles becomes scalable.
Use Cases That Aren’t in Salesforce Docs
Let’s say you’re building a field-level restriction logic for different business units. You need a flag that says: “Hide Discount Field for BU = Pharma”. If you use Custom Settings, the admin must manually ensure data is added in every sandbox. Miss one, and your code breaks.
Use Custom Metadata instead. You can version the config and deploy it with your test cases. This makes sandbox refreshes clean, stable, and rollback-friendly.
Here’s another case: A startup in Noida created a role-based PDF generation app. They used Custom Settings to store PDF format rules per user type. It worked-until they were released to production. No settings data had been deployed. Users saw blank pages.
They’ve now shifted to Custom Metadata with record-level control, where each format config is deployed with the code. No surprises, no manual uploads.
Developer Mistakes That Still Happen
- Using Custom Settings in packages and wondering why records aren’t deploying
- Adding logic to metadata without querying in Apex (which throws null errors)
- Treating Custom Settings like test-friendly data (they’re not available in Apex tests by default)
- Hardcoding logic in flows that reference Settings instead of querying Metadata
Also, developers often think of metadata types as “heavier.” That’s a myth. While they need a SOQL call, the real-time difference is milliseconds-insignificant compared to the risk of broken deployments.
When to Use What (Decision Pointers)
Here’s a quick logic framework:
Use Custom Settings when:
- You need runtime speed
- Config is likely to change often
- Data is org- or user-specific and not shared across orgs
Use Custom Metadata when:
- You want to deploy config with code
- You need test data available in Apex classes
- You’re building managed packages or modular apps
Conclusion
Choosing between Custom Metadata Types and Custom Settings isn’t just a best practice-it’s part of building sustainable Salesforce applications. In scalable dev cycles, especially in fast-moving cities like Noida, Metadata wins because it supports clean, versioned, and stable deployments. Salesforce Course in Noida modules now train developers on metadata-first architecture due to local deployment patterns and sandbox issues.
