につれて doesn't focus on the link between the two actions, just that they are both proceeding at the same time. にしたがって is more specifically a response to the first action/change.
In brief, に従って strongly implies causation between the two parts, e.g. in 練習に従って上手くなってきた。=got better with practice, I got better exactly because I practiced.
With につれて, the change can just happen together over time, e.g. in 夜になるにつれて、悲しくなってきた。=got sad as night came, it wasn't necessarily the night itself that made me sad.
Excluding the second usage of に従って (you can't say 命令につれて), I can't think of any instance where this change results in a "significant" change in meaning, but one definitely sounds more natural than the other in certain cases.
In brief, に従って strongly implies causation between the two parts, e.g. in 練習に従って上手くなってきた。=got better with practice, I got better exactly because I practiced.
With につれて, the change can just happen together over time, e.g. in 夜になるにつれて、悲しくなってきた。=got sad as night came, it wasn't necessarily the night itself that made me sad.
Excluding the second usage of に従って (you can't say 命令につれて), I can't think of any instance where this change results in a "significant" change in meaning, but one definitely sounds more natural than the other in certain cases.
Thanks for the response. I have some follow up questions to make sure my understanding is correct.
If one was to say the "The price of bitcoin changes with the ebb and flow of the tides."
"潮の干満に連れてビットコインの値段が変わります"
Does this subtly suggest that the change is coincidental ? (Is this valid even though the directions of the tides changes?)
"潮の干満に従ってビットコインの値段が変わります"
Does this suggest there actually is a link between the price of bit coin and the tides ?
In most cases, につれて and に従って are interchangable. I only answered when one can be used but not the other...
につれて can also be used where there is causation, e.g.: 需要が増すにつれて物価は上昇する。=As demand increases, prices rise. So I wouldn't say につれて suggests 'coincidental'.
As for your second sentence, since there is no clear connection between tides and Bitcoin prices, it ends up sounding very odd unlike, say, 潮の干満に従って水位が異なります。=The water level varies with the ebb and flow of the tides (and yes, you can use につれて/に従って, even if the direction changes). につれて (or とともに) work better here instead.
