We’ve previously talked about Power Automate pricing, so we thought it’s time to talk about Power Apps and its pricing structure. If you’re here, you’re most likely already using Power Apps and now you wonder:
- Do I get anything without additional charge by having a Microsoft 365?
- Which type of apps will require a license?
- Who do I need to buy a license for?
In this blog, we will go over these questions and much more!
Table of Contents
First, the basics.
Power Apps licensing requirements depend on the type of app you’re using. Microsoft Power Apps can be of two types:
- Canvas Apps.
- High customization
- Can connect to multiple data sources such SharePoint, SQL Server or Dataverse.
- Development is focused on the “You get what you see” framework.
- Model-driven apps.
- Interface simulates a transactional system or a spreadsheet.
- Out-of-the-box customization can be limited.
- Dataverse as only data source.
- Data model is developed first, the app comes next.
Licensing for Canvas Apps
Canvas apps can connect to multiple data sources and there is a wide variety of features or controls you can use to build solutions. The data source you connect to and the type of controls you use will define if your app requires licenses or not.
When can you use Power Apps without additional charge?
- If you use Standard connectors and controls only
- If you have a Microsoft 365 account, you don’t require additional licensing for standard connectors.
- Example of standard controls: text input, button, combobox.
- Example of Standard connectors: SharePoint, Excel Online and Office 365 Users
When do you need a license?
When you use Premium connectors and controls
– Power Apps license is required for everyone that uses an app with premium features.
– Example of Premium connectors: Dataverse, Salesforce, SQL Server.
– Example of Premium controls: Map and Address input
- When you use Custom connectors
– If you created a custom connector in Microsoft Power Platform Services and you are using it from Power Apps, your app will become premium and require additional licenses as a result.
- When you connect your app to a flow that uses a premium connector
– If you created a flow that is triggered inside the app, and this flow has any premium action, your app will require additional licensing to be purchased due to this linked flow.
– Example of premium actions: Fill out a Microsoft Word template
Note that most premium connectors and controls will have the “premium” icon next to them, so this will help you know which connectors make an app premium. Just keep in mind that the Dataverse connector doesn’t have this icon but it’s still premium.
Who needs a license?
All users that will interact with the premium app will require a license. So if you will have 100 people using the app, you will need to purchase 100 licenses for all of them + licensing for your developer.
Licensing for Model-Driven Apps
Model-Driven apps are connected to Dataverse, which is a premium connector across all Microsoft Power Platform, so, as a premium connector, it will always require additional licensing to be purchased,
Who needs a license?
All users that will interact with the model-drive app will require a license. So if you will have 100 people using the app, you will need to purchase 100 licenses for all of them + licensing for your developer.
How much does a Power Apps license cost?
There are different types of licenses available, the one you should pick depends on the number of apps your team will use and if all of them will use it every month.
Below is a summary of all licenses you can purchase:
Use case time!
| Use case | Licensing requirement |
|---|---|
| You developed a Canvas app connected to SharePoint | SharePoint is a free data source, so you just need to have a Microsoft 365 account |
| You developed a Canvas app connected to Excel Online but it also calls a Power Automate workflow that is filling out a Microsoft Word Template | Excel Online is a free data source, but since your app is connected to a flow that uses premium actions, you require a Power Apps license for everyone who will consume the app. |
| You are using a model-driven app | All model-driven apps are “premium”, so you require a Power Apps license for everyone who will consume the app. |
| You are using a Canvas app that brings data from SQL Server | SQL Server is a premium data source; you require a Power Apps license for everyone who will consume the app. |
| You are using a Canvas app that brings data from a custom connector you developed internally | Custom connectors are a premium data source; you require a Power Apps license for everyone who will consume the app. |