Microsoft Power Automate vs IBM Robotic Process Automation

Microsoft Power Automate9.3Visit IBM Robotic Process Automation8.7Visit

Higher score Microsoft Power Automate #1 in Process Automation Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Power Automate

vs

IBM Robotic Process Automation #5 in Process Automation Software 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit IBM

• Microsoft Power Automate fits best

  Microsoft-centric workflow and RPA automation

• IBM Robotic Process Automation fits best

  IBM-centric attended and unattended bot automation

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Side by side

Feature	Microsoft Power Automate 9.3/10 Visit ↗	IBM Robotic Process Automation 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.7
Ranking	#1 in Process Automation Software	#5 in Process Automation Software
Best for	Microsoft-centric workflow and RPA automation	IBM-centric attended and unattended bot automation
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$15/user/mo (best)	$981/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	30 days	30 days
Free trial length	30 days	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop	Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows	Windows
Features Microsoft Power Automate 1/4 · IBM Robotic Process Automation 0/4
Visual workflow builder	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Conditional logic	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Approval workflows	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Desktop RPA	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Monthly run limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Included connectors	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment	Not checked yet	Hybrid
Our review
Pros	Connects cloud flows to Microsoft 365, Salesforce, SAP, and custom APIs Combines attended and unattended Windows desktop automation Includes approvals, process mining, AI authoring, and governance tools	Supports both attended and unattended bot execution. Automates browser and PDF workflows with OCR. Includes scheduling, workload management and dashboards.
Cons	The $150 and $215 plans are priced per bot, not per user Process mining storage is a separate add-on Premium connectors and desktop automation require a paid tier	Paid plans start at $981 per month. The listed supported operating system is Windows. The 30-day trial is not a free plan.
Our verdict	Microsoft Power Automate brings cloud workflow automation, Windows desktop RPA, approvals, and process mining into a low-code platform. It suits organizations automating work across Microsoft 365 and other business systems, from… Read the review →	IBM Robotic Process Automation helps organizations automate repetitive business and back-office work with attended and unattended bots. Its low-code IBM RPA Studio supports bot authoring, while the product provides tools to deploy,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Microsoft Power Automate — where it wins

  • Connects cloud flows to Microsoft 365, Salesforce, SAP, and custom APIs
  • Combines attended and unattended Windows desktop automation
  • Includes approvals, process mining, AI authoring, and governance tools

  Where it doesn't

  • The $150 and $215 plans are priced per bot, not per user
  • Process mining storage is a separate add-on
  • Premium connectors and desktop automation require a paid tier

• IBM Robotic Process Automation — where it wins

  • Supports both attended and unattended bot execution.
  • Automates browser and PDF workflows with OCR.
  • Includes scheduling, workload management and dashboards.

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid plans start at $981 per month.
  • The listed supported operating system is Windows.
  • The 30-day trial is not a free plan.

• Microsoft Power Automate9.3/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad automation platform for Microsoft-centric workflows, approvals, and RPA.

  Visit Power AutomateFull verdict →
• IBM Robotic Process Automation8.7/10 · 30-day trial

  Attended and unattended bots for Windows, browser and document workflows, with SaaS or on-premises deployment.

  Visit IBMFull verdict →