Slack Workflow Builder automates everyday tasks inside Slack, and you can start from a template or build a workflow from scratch. As of October 2026 it's available on paid plans, and by default anyone except Frontline Members can build one.
Here's the catch. The most useful workflows reach outside Slack through connector steps, and those need you to sign in to the third-party account. If your workspace requires app approval, a connector step may sit waiting for an admin before it'll run. So the workflow you build in ten minutes can stall on a permission you didn't know existed.
Who can build, use and manage a workflow
| Person | What they can do, by default |
|---|---|
| Full Members | Create workflows |
| Members and guests | Use workflows |
| Frontline Members | Can't build workflows |
| The creator and workflow managers | View activity, edit, delete, change who can use it, download form responses |
| Admins | Manage access and features, control connector and custom steps, view published workflows on the workflow dashboard |
The split between building and using matters. A guest from outside your team can run a workflow you share with them, but they won't be the one building it. And because the creator and any workflow managers can change who can use it after publishing, you don't need to get the audience right first time.
What starts a workflow
Every workflow needs a starting point, and Slack gives you two broad kinds.
| Start | How it runs |
|---|---|
| A schedule | Starts automatically at the time you set |
| A link | Starts when someone clicks it, and the link can be shared anywhere in Slack, including canvases |
| An emoji reaction | Starts when someone reacts to a message |
| Joining a channel | Starts when someone joins |
| Creating a channel | Starts when a channel is created |
Link-started workflows are the flexible ones. Drop the link in a canvas that explains a process, and the canvas becomes the place people both read the instructions and kick off the request. Workflows also support conditional branches, so one workflow can go different ways depending on the answers it collects.
Connector steps and app approval
Connector steps do tasks in third-party services, which is how a workflow does something beyond posting a message in Slack. Each one needs you to authenticate the third-party account. If your workspace requires app approval, the connector step may need approval too.
If you're an admin, this is one of your levers. Admins can control which connector and custom steps are available, so you decide which outside services your team's workflows can touch. If you're not an admin and a connector step won't run, app approval is the first thing to ask about.
After you publish
A published workflow isn't fire and forget. The creator and any workflow managers can see its activity, split into in progress, completed and errors, which is where you'd spot a connector step that keeps failing. From the same place they can edit it, delete it, change who can use it and download form responses, which is handy when a workflow collects requests and you want them in one file.
People find published workflows under Agents & tools in the sidebar, which some workspaces show as Automations, in the Workflows tab of a channel or DM, or through search.
What admins control
- Who has access to Workflow Builder and which of its features are available.
- Which connector steps and custom steps people can use.
- Whether external organisations can use your workflows in Slack Connect.
- A workflow dashboard listing the published workflows in the workspace.
That dashboard is worth a look every so often. If anyone can build, workflows pile up, and the dashboard is the one place an admin can see what's live across the workspace.
How to build your first workflow
- Open Agents & tools in the sidebar, or Automations if that's what your workspace shows.
- Choose a template, or start from scratch.
- Pick how it starts: a schedule, a link, an emoji reaction, someone joining a channel or a new channel.
- Add your steps, including connector steps, and sign in to any third-party account they need.
- Publish it, then share the link in a channel, DM or canvas.
My verdict on Slack Workflow Builder
I'd use it if you're on a paid plan and the same request lands in Slack every week, such as a form people fill in or a checklist new starters need. Start with a template and just one connector step, and check the activity view for errors in the first few days. I'd skip it if you're on the free plan, because it's a paid plan feature, and I'd talk to your admin first if your workspace requires app approval. If you're not sure which plan you're on, here's whether Slack is free, and the paid tiers are laid out in this guide to Slack plans.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Slack Workflow Builder free?
No. As of October 2026 Workflow Builder is available on paid plans.
Who can build workflows in Slack?
By default anyone except Frontline Members. Full Members create workflows, and members and guests can use them.
What is a connector step in Slack Workflow Builder?
A step that does a task in a third-party service. It needs you to authenticate the third-party account and may need approval if your workspace requires app approval.
Where do I find Workflow Builder in Slack?
Under Agents & tools in the sidebar, or Automations, in the Workflows tab of a channel or DM, or by searching.
Can I download the answers a workflow form collects?
Yes. The creator and workflow managers can download form responses after publishing.
What can start a Slack workflow?
A schedule, a link, an emoji reaction, someone joining a channel, or a channel being created.
Can external organisations use my workflows in Slack Connect?
Admins can allow or block external organisations from using workflows in Slack Connect.
