Microsoft Power Automate review
A Microsoft-focused automation platform combining cloud flows, desktop RPA, governance, and Copilot.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Microsoft Power Automate is a low-code platform for automating cloud applications, data, services, desktop applications, and websites. It suits organizations that already work across Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, Forms, and Dataverse, as well as teams that need robotic process automation. Cloud flows can run on scheduled, automated, or instant triggers, while desktop flows support attended and unattended automation.
Pricing is structured around users and bots. The free trial lasts 30 days and includes UI-based cloud flows and standard connectors. Power Automate Premium costs $15 per user per month with annual billing and adds cloud flows, attended desktop flows, process and task mining, plus standard, premium, and custom connectors. Power Automate Process costs $150 per bot per month with annual billing for cloud flows, unattended desktop flows, and automation for core enterprise processes. Power Automate Hosted Process costs $215 per bot per month with annual billing and adds a Microsoft-hosted virtual machine. This makes the plan choice important: user-based automation fits individual makers and attended RPA, while bot-based tiers target unattended workloads.
Its strongest fit is the Microsoft ecosystem, but the platform also supports custom connectors with webhook-based and polling triggers, conditional actions, branching logic, monitoring, governance, and data-loss-prevention controls. Copilot features assist with automation authoring and analysis, while process and task mining extend its scope beyond basic task routing. Teams that need Microsoft-connected workflows, desktop RPA, or enterprise process controls should consider Power Automate. Organizations seeking a free ongoing plan or a simpler automation tool may find its paid tiers and bot-based structure less suitable.
Microsoft Power Automate pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Combines cloud flows with attended and unattended desktop RPA
- Connects with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Excel, and Dataverse
- Adds process mining, governance, DLP controls, and Copilot assistance
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan beyond the 30-day trial
- Advanced automation can require separate bot-based pricing
- Microsoft-centric teams get the clearest ecosystem fit
Microsoft Power Automate fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update