# AppExchange and AgentExchange apps and packages

*Platform Administrator Study Guide · Productivity and Collaboration · Last updated September 26, 2026 · https://certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator/productivity-and-collaboration/appexchange-apps-and-packages*

When to extend an org from the Salesforce marketplace, how managed, unmanaged, and unlocked packages differ, who can publish listings, and how to evaluate and install packages that bring flows, prompt templates, and agent actions.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Administrator
- Exam section: Productivity and Collaboration
- Study guide: https://certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> Identify use cases for AppExchange applications (awareness of managed or unmanaged packages, who is allowed to publish, prompts on AgentExchange, flows).

## What the exam expects

- Recognize when a marketplace solution beats a custom build, and where to find partner-built apps, agents, and components (AppExchange, now branded AgentExchange).
- Distinguish managed, unmanaged, and unlocked packages by editability, upgrades, and effect on org limits.
- State who is allowed to publish a listing: Salesforce partners in the Partner Program whose solutions pass the security review.
- Know that packages can carry flows, prompt templates, agent actions, and agent topics, and where to look for reusable Agentforce building blocks.
- Evaluate and install a package safely: read the listing, test first, and choose who gets access during installation.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace name | AgentExchange in current Salesforce content (formerly AppExchange) | [Get Started with AgentExchange](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_overview) |
| Install permission | Download AppExchange Packages | [Install a Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.distribution_installing_packages.htm&type=5) |
| Managed package code | Can't be viewed or changed by the installer | [Install AgentExchange Packages](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install) |
| Managed package upgrades | Published by the provider; upgrades exist for managed packages only | [Upgrade Managed Packages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.distribution_upgrading_packages.htm&type=5) |
| Unmanaged package | Customizable; no upgrades, reinstall to update | [Install AgentExchange Packages](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install) |
| Unmanaged components | Count against app, tab, and object limits | [Install AgentExchange Packages](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install) |
| Unlocked packages | For internal business apps | [Packaging Release Notes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=release-notes.rn_packaging.htm&language=en_US&release=242&type=5) |
| Publishing prerequisite | Salesforce Partner Program membership plus AppExchange security review | [ISVforce Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.packagingGuide.meta/packagingGuide/packaging_intro.htm) |
| Access options at install | Admins only, all users, or specific profiles | [Install AgentExchange Packages](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install) |
| Test Drive | Read-only Developer Edition org with the package | [Explore AgentExchange Listings](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_listings) |
| Testing rule | Test in a Developer Edition org or sandbox before production | [Install AgentExchange Packages](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install) |
| Agentforce components | Agent actions, agent topics, and prompt templates are packageable | [Packageable Components](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2_dev.meta/pkg2_dev/packaging_packageable_components.htm) |
| Packaged permission sets | Not editable; clone them instead | [Install a Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.distribution_installing_packages.htm&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why can only a managed package receive a vendor's new versions? → Salesforce supports upgrades for managed packages only; an unmanaged package becomes your editable metadata, so a new version means uninstalling and reinstalling ([Upgrade Your Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.distribution_upgrading_packages.htm&type=5))
- What must a company do before it can list an app on the marketplace? → Join the Salesforce Partner Program, build the solution with managed packages and pass the security review ([ISVforce Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.packagingGuide.meta/packagingGuide/packaging_intro.htm))
- When would you pick Install for Admins Only, Install for All Users or Install for Specific Profiles? → Admins Only to configure and test first, All Users when everyone should use it, Specific Profiles when only named profiles should get access ([Install a Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.distribution_installing_packages.htm&type=5))
- Which listing details and trial options help an admin reduce risk before installing? → Package type, contents, security review date, requirements and reviews; then a Test Drive, a Trialforce trial or a sandbox install ([Explore AgentExchange Listings](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_listings))
- Which Agentforce building blocks can a partner deliver in a managed package? → Agent actions, agent topics and prompt templates, alongside flows and flow tests ([Components Available in Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2_dev.meta/pkg2_dev/packaging_packageable_components.htm))

## Sources

- [Install a Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.distribution_installing_packages.htm&type=5)
- [Install AgentExchange Packages (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_install)
- [Packaging (Release Notes)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=release-notes.rn_packaging.htm&language=en_US&release=242&type=5)
- [Before You Install an AppExchange Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.pkg_subscriber_before_install.htm&type=5)
- [Upgrade Your Managed Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.distribution_upgrading_packages.htm&type=5)
- [ISVforce Guide: Build and Distribute AppExchange Solutions](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.packagingGuide.meta/packagingGuide/packaging_intro.htm)
- [Explore AgentExchange Listings (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_listings)
- [Get Started with AgentExchange (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/appexchange_basics/appexchange_basics_overview)
- [Components Available in Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2_dev.meta/pkg2_dev/packaging_packageable_components.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 6 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Administrator pack (USD $19): https://certifyforce.com/practice-exams