Automation is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Power Automate, part of the Microsoft Power Platform, enables organisations to automate repetitive tasks and integrate applications, improving business efficiency. By automating workflows, businesses can save valuable time, reduce human error, and streamline operations.
The demand for workflow automation is surging, as organisations strive to increase productivity, cut costs, and improve service delivery. In fact, a recent Gartner poll indicates that more than 80% of companies plan to maintain or increase their investment in automation solutions. boost operational efficiency.
However, understanding the different Power Automate licensing options is essential to choose the right plan that aligns with your organisation’s needs and goals.
What Is Power Automate?
Power Automate is a cloud-based platform that helps businesses automate workflows across various apps and services, such as SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and thousands of third-party applications. It enables users to create automated workflows for tasks like data entry, approvals, notifications, and integrations between systems, without needing to write complex code.
Key Use Cases:
- Automating repetitive tasks like data entry and document approvals
- Integrating data between multiple systems (CRM, ERP, etc.)
- Creating custom workflows for employee onboarding, IT support, and more
Integration Capabilities: Power Automate can connect with over 300 different services and apps, such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and Google Drive, ensuring seamless collaboration and data flow across your organisation.
Licensing Options for Power Automate
When selecting the right Power Automate license, it’s important to evaluate the needs of your organisation, whether you’re a small team, a growing enterprise, or a global corporation. Below is an overview of each licensing tier:
Power Automate Free Plan
Overview: The Free plan is an entry-level option for individuals or small teams looking to explore the basic capabilities of Power Automate.
Key Features:
- Ability to create automated workflows for personal productivity
- Limited to 750 runs per month
- Supports integration with Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive)
Cost:
- Free
Limitations:
- Limited number of workflows
- No premium connectors like Salesforce or third-party apps
- No support for advanced features like business process flows or custom connectors
Who Is It For:
- Small teams or individual users
- Basic automation needs with Microsoft apps
- Ideal for testing and experimentation
Power Automate Per User Plan
Overview: The per-user plan offers more robust automation capabilities for organisations of varying sizes. It is designed for individual users who need to automate workflows beyond the basic functions.
Key Features:
- Unlimited workflow runs
- Access to premium connectors (e.g., Salesforce, Oracle)
- Ability to create and use custom connectors
- Runs on cloud-based workflows (instant, scheduled, and business process flows)
- Integration with multiple Microsoft and third-party applications
Cost:
- Starts at $15 per user/month
Limitations:
- Limited to workflows for a single user (does not include team workflows)
- Not suited for organisations that require enterprise-scale automations or advanced analytics
Who Is It For:
- Small to medium-sized organizations
- Departments with complex workflow needs (e.g., HR, finance, marketing)
- Companies looking to integrate with third-party apps for automation
Power Automate Per Flow Plan
Overview: The per-flow plan is suitable for businesses that need to deploy workflows across multiple users within a department or the entire organisation. It offers advanced capabilities for larger-scale automation needs.
Key Features:
- Unlimited flow runs for any user within the organisation
- Access to premium connectors and custom connectors
- Support for business process flows
- More granular control overflow management and monitoring
- Centralised management for flow governance
Cost:
- Starts at $500 per flow/month (for up to 5 flows)
Limitations:
- Costs can scale quickly with multiple flows
- Limited to the flows it’s purchased for (additional flows require additional licenses)
- Suitable for organisations with more complex, multi-user workflows
Who Is It For:
- Medium to large enterprises with multiple users
- Organizations that need cross-departmental or enterprise-wide workflows
- Companies focused on high-volume automation at scale
Power Automate Desktop (RPA)
Overview: The Power Automate Desktop plan allows organizations to leverage robotic process automation (RPA) to automate tasks that require interaction with local systems and legacy applications.
Key Features:
- Access to desktop-based automation
- Supports both attended and unattended automation
- Automated tasks in legacy systems without APIs
- Integration with Power Automate cloud flows for hybrid automation
- Designed for businesses automating manual, repetitive tasks on desktop applications
Cost:
- Free for individual users
- Premium pricing for enterprise deployment (starts at $40 per user/month)
Limitations:
- Primarily focused on automating tasks on desktops, not cloud workflows
- Requires local resources for automation
Who Is It For:
- Organizations automating manual desktop tasks (e.g., data entry)
- Companies using legacy systems requiring RPA solutions
- Enterprises in need of hybrid cloud and desktop automation
Conclusion
Choosing the right Power Automate license can significantly impact your organisation’s ability to automate workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and scale operations. Understanding the different plans available helps ensure that you invest in the best solution for your team’s needs and budget.
If you’re exploring options and want to speak to an expert about which solution is right for your organisation, then get in touch with our Power Automate Consultants to help guide you through the selection process.
