Our verdict · 8.2/10 Excellent
Excellent value if you live in Microsoft 365. Licensing is confusing and premium connectors add cost.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Microsoft 365 organisations.
- Strongest area: Security & privacy (8.8/10). Weakest: Ease of use (7.0/10).
- Price: Included with some Microsoft 365 plans; Premium from around $15 / user / month — free trial available.
- Watch out for: Confusing licensing.
What is Microsoft Power Automate?
Power Automate automates workflows between Microsoft 365 and hundreds of other apps, and adds robotic process automation (RPA) for desktop tasks. Standard connectors are included with many Microsoft 365 plans; premium connectors and RPA need paid licences.
Microsoft Power Automate is made by Microsoft and is reviewed here as a automation platform. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 8.2 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Microsoft Power Automate if
- Microsoft 365 organisations
- Approval and document workflows
- Desktop RPA needs
Not for you if
- Google Workspace teams
- Users wanting simple pricing
Key features
Automate between apps.
RPA for desktop and legacy apps.
Built-in approval flows.
Describe a flow in natural language.
- SharePoint
- Outlook
- Teams
- Dynamics 365
- Salesforce
Pros & cons
What we like
- Deep Microsoft 365 integration
- Desktop RPA
- AI Builder and Copilot features
- Enterprise governance
Watch out for
- Confusing licensing
- Premium connectors cost extra
- Steeper learning curve
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| With Microsoft 365 | Free | Standard connectors |
| Premium | ≈ $15 / user / mo | Monthly |
| Process | ≈ $150 / mo | Per bot / month |
Pricing watch-out: Premium connectors and RPA licensed separately.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked October 31, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked October 31, 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 8.6 | 2.20 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 7.0 | 1.10 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 8.2 | 1.20 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.4 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 20% | 8.8 | 1.80 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 8.6 | 1.30 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for AI tools products | 8.2 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Microsoft Power Automate against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Microsoft’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any automation platform
Check Microsoft Power Automate against the same list we use for every automation platform — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Connectors for your specific apps and events
- Clear pricing unit and volume estimate
- Error handling and alerts
- Multi-step logic and branching
- Self-hosting option if data residency matters
See every ranked option in Workflow Automation.
Microsoft Power Automate alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Make≈ $9/mo vs $150/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Has a free plan
ZapierMicrosoft Power Automate has no free plan; Zapier does - Easier to useZapierEase-of-use score 9.4 vs 7.0
- Better integrationsZapierIntegrations score 9.8 vs 8.6
- Higher overall scoreZapierOverall 8.7 vs 8.2
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Microsoft Power Automate. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
The largest library of app integrations for no-code automation.
Visual automation with powerful logic at a lower cost per operation.
Source-available automation you can self-host, with code when you need it.
Head-to-head comparisons
Featured in: Best Workflow Automation Software for Small Business, Best Zapier Alternatives, Zapier vs Make vs n8n vs Power Automate
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Microsoft Power Automate FAQ
Is Power Automate included in Microsoft 365?
Standard cloud flows are included with many Microsoft 365 plans; premium features need extra licences.
Can it automate desktop apps?
Yes, desktop flows (RPA) can automate Windows applications.
Does Microsoft Power Automate have a free plan?
No, Microsoft Power Automate does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at Included with some Microsoft 365 plans; Premium from around $15 / user / month (indicative).
Who is Microsoft Power Automate best for?
Microsoft Power Automate is best for: microsoft 365 organisations; approval and document workflows; desktop RPA needs.
How much does Microsoft Power Automate cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Premium) works out at roughly $150 per month, or about $1,800 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the Microsoft Power Automate score calculated?
The 8.2/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for AI products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Power Automate?
Popular alternatives include Zapier, Make, n8n. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.