Microsoft's enterprise automation platform deeply integrated with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Microsoft Power Automate is an enterprise automation platform offering cloud flows, desktop automation (RPA), and AI Builder capabilities. Integrated with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics 365, and Azure, it provides automation for organizations in the Microsoft ecosystem with 900+ connectors and both attended and unattended RPA modes.
Microsoft Power Automate is a strong fit if its core strengths match your workflow, budget, and support needs. Use the quick signals below before opening the full review.
Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) is the correct automation choice for one specific scenario: organizations that have already invested heavily in the Microsoft technology stack and want automation that is natively integrated with that stack rather than layered on top via a third-party tool. For Microsoft 365 organizations, SharePoint administrators, Dynamics 365 users, and IT teams managing Microsoft infrastructure, Power Automate's depth of native Microsoft integration is unmatched by any third-party automation platform.
Power Automate's native connectors for Microsoft products go far deeper than any third-party tool's Microsoft connectors. SharePoint triggers can fire on specific list column changes, new item creation, or approval status updates with full SharePoint object access. Teams automation handles message creation, channel management, adaptive card interactions, and meeting scheduling natively. Outlook automation manages email, calendar, and contact operations with full Microsoft Graph API access.
For organizations running their operations on SharePoint, Teams, and Dynamics, this integration depth enables automation scenarios that Zapier or Make simply can't replicate — not because Zapier lacks Microsoft connectors, but because third-party connectors can't access the same depth of Microsoft Graph API capabilities as the native first-party implementation.
Power Automate Desktop provides robotic process automation (RPA) for automating legacy desktop applications that lack APIs — the accounting software installed locally, the government portal accessed through a browser, the internal tool with no integration options. This capability has no equivalent in cloud automation tools like Zapier or Make, which require API-based connections.
RPA fills a critical automation gap for organizations with older technology stacks where API-based integration isn't possible. Power Automate's attended RPA mode assists human workers during desktop sessions; unattended mode runs fully automated on dedicated machines without human presence.
Power Automate is included in various Microsoft 365 plans at different capability levels. Many organizations discover they already have meaningful Power Automate access through existing Microsoft licenses without additional purchase. The per-user plan at $15/month adds premium connectors and higher capacity for users whose included license level is insufficient.
Power Automate's interface reflects Microsoft's enterprise product design conventions rather than the consumer-friendly UX that Zapier and Make have established as the no-code automation standard. Building flows requires navigating Microsoft's expression language, connector configuration patterns, and approval workflow structures — all learnable but requiring more investment than Zapier's guided setup process.
Power Automate is the right automation platform for Microsoft-committed organizations. The native Microsoft integration depth, RPA capability, and potential inclusion in existing Microsoft licenses create a compelling case for organizations in the Microsoft ecosystem. For teams using primarily non-Microsoft SaaS tools, Zapier, Make, or n8n provide better cross-platform coverage at comparable or lower cost.
Score: 8.1/10 — Best automation platform for Microsoft 365 organizations; less competitive outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
$15/mo
$180/mo billed annually
$100/mo
$1,200/mo billed annually
Free
Free billed annually
Microsoft Power Automate is best for Microsoft 365 organizations automating SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook workflows, IT teams implementing RPA for desktop application automation, Enterprises already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem maximizing existing licenses.
No. Microsoft Power Automate does not currently list a permanent free plan in ToolRankr data.
Paid plans start at $15/mo.
Microsoft Power Automate is reviewed using ToolRankr's scoring model for ease of use, value, features, support, and overall quality. Affiliate links may earn a commission, but sponsored labels do not change editorial scoring.
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