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Microsoft Power Automate
What it is
Microsoft Power Automate is an enterprise automation service for coordinating business processes across cloud and desktop environments. Its cloud flows automate apps, data, and services running online or on premises, while desktop flows use prebuilt or custom interface actions for legacy systems in attended or unattended modes. The service supports multi-step workflows, conditional logic, and webhook triggers. Copilot can create, edit, and extend automations from natural-language instructions, and built-in AI models handle document and image processing, prediction, and analysis. Task and process mining help identify automation opportunities. More than 1,400 certified connectors include Dynamics 365, SAP, and Salesforce, with custom connectors available. Native Microsoft 365 experiences include Teams, Excel, and SharePoint. Administrators can use Managed Environments, data-loss prevention, and Purview audit searches. Power Automate runs in current Edge, Safari, Chrome, and Firefox browsers, with a Windows 10/11 desktop app. Pricing starts at $15/user/mo billed annually, with a 30-day trial and no free plan.
For and against
For
- Cloud and desktop automation modes
- More than 1,400 certified connectors
- Natural-language Copilot assistance
- Microsoft 365 integrations
- Process mining tools
Against
- No free plan
- Paid plans billed annually
- Flow counts depend on license
- Mobile app is being deprecated
The verdict
Power Automate combines low-code cloud and desktop workflows with connectors, AI assistance, and process-mining tools. Its paid licensing and license-dependent limits should be considered, especially as the standalone mobile app reaches end of support.
Who it suits
It suits organizations automating cloud services, desktop applications, and legacy systems. Teams needing Microsoft 365 connections, process analysis, or administrative controls may find its features relevant.
Plans and prices
Power Automate Premium
Cloud flows · attended desktop flows · process and task mining with 50 MB data stored · Dataverse 250 MB database and 2 GB file
Read 11 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
Power Automate Process
Cloud flows · unattended desktop flows · Dataverse 50 MB database and 200 MB file
Read 11 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
Power Automate Hosted Process
50 MB Dataverse database · 200 MB Dataverse file capacity
Read 20 Sep 2026 · microsoft.com
Power Automate Process Mining add-on
100 GB data storage · 2 GB Dataverse database · 1 TB Dataverse file capacity
Read 20 Sep 2026 · microsoft.com
Power Automate free trial
30-day trial · UI-based cloud flows · standard connectors
Read 11 Oct 2026 · microsoft.com
On the record
- AI features
- Copilot supports creating, editing, and extending process automation with natural language, and built-in AI models support document and image processing, prediction, and analysis.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Browser and desktop availability
- Power Automate works in current versions of Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, and its desktop app is available for Windows 10 and 11.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Cloud automation
- Cloud flows automate apps, data, and services running in the cloud or on-premises.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Compliance and auditing
- Administrators can search Power Automate events such as flow creation, edits, deletions, and permission changes in Microsoft Purview Audit Log Search.learn.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Conditional logic
- Yesmicrosoft.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Connectors
- More than 1,400 prebuilt, certified connectors include Dynamics 365, SAP, and Salesforce, and users can build custom connectors for cloud applications.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Desktop automation
- Desktop flows use prebuilt or custom user-interface actions to automate legacy systems, with attended and unattended modes available.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- License-dependent flow count
- The number of flows a user can have depends on the license held.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Microsoft 365 integrations
- Power Automate has native experiences in Microsoft 365 apps including Teams, Excel, and SharePoint.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Mobile app status
- The standalone Power Automate mobile app for iOS and Android reached end of support on August 31, 2026, and is being deprecated.learn.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Multi-step workflows
- Yesmicrosoft.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- On-premises connections
- Power Automate is a cloud service and can connect securely to on-premises services through its on-premises data gateway.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Process mining
- Task and process mining can help identify business process and automation opportunities.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Power Automate is an enterprise-oriented automation solution that uses low-code and AI-powered robotic process automation to optimize business processes.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Security controls
- Microsoft lists Managed Environments and data loss prevention among the features administrators can use to help keep data secure.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Microsoft offers business support plans and lists contact availability Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 3 PM Pacific Time.microsoft.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Webhook triggers
- Yesmicrosoft.com · read 20 Sep 2026
