Power Automate: Licensing and Costs
Licensing models, standalone plans, user and flow pricing, and Power Automate Desktop considerations.
Overview of Power Automate Licensing
Microsoft Power Automate is a low-code automation platform that enables the creation of cloud and desktop flows to orchestrate activities across applications and services. Its licensing structure reflects the diversity of use cases—from individual productivity to enterprise-scale automation. Understanding the licensing model is crucial to optimizing costs and maintaining compliance with Microsoft agreements.
Licenses are divided into several categories, each addressing specific usage scenarios. They may be included with Microsoft 365 or Dynamics 365 packages or purchased separately as standalone plans, granting access to premium connectors and extended Dataverse capabilities.
| License Type | Description | Indicative Price (USD/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Power Automate for Microsoft 365 | Included in Office 365 plans; allows building flows using standard connectors (e.g., SharePoint, Outlook, Teams). | Included with Office 365 plan |
| Power Automate for Dynamics 365 | Included with Dynamics 365 licenses for process automation within those applications. | Included with Dynamics 365 plan |
| Standalone per User Plan | Allows creation and usage of unlimited flows with access to premium connectors and Dataverse capacity. | From $15 per user/month |
| Per Flow Plan | License based on a fixed number of flows, suitable for shared business automations. | From $100 for 5 flows/month |
| Power Automate Desktop | Separate license for RPA desktop automation, including installable components and dedicated runtime. | From $15 per user/month (additional licenses required) |
| Process Advisor | Service for analyzing business processes and identifying automation opportunities, based on Power Automate Desktop. | Included in premium plans |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. For the most up-to-date details, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.
Power Automate Desktop Licensing and Execution Modes
Power Automate Desktop extends the platform’s capabilities by enabling automation of legacy processes or applications without APIs. The technology includes local components such as the configuration tool, browser extensions, and runtime application. Licensing for Power Automate Desktop is separate from cloud flow licenses and should be evaluated carefully for production use.
Two execution modes are available:
- Attended mode: The user initiates and supervises flows on a local computer; ideal for development and testing.
- Unattended mode: Flows run automatically without human intervention; requires dedicated runtime infrastructure and specific licenses.
For more details, see the official Power Automate Licensing Types guide.
Estimating Enterprise Implementation Costs
When planning for Power Automate adoption, several cost factors must be considered: number of users, active flow volume, use of premium connectors, and presence of desktop flows. Below is an example monthly estimate for a mid-sized organization:
| Scenario | Number of Users | License Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal automation with standard connectors | 50 | Power Automate for Microsoft 365 | Included |
| Critical flows using premium connectors | 20 | Standalone per User | 20 x $15 = $300/month |
| Unattended RPA automation | 5 machines | Power Automate Desktop + runtime | $75/month + infrastructure |
For complex calculations, use the Microsoft Pricing Calculator or the AI Builder Calculator to estimate the impact of service credits and AI Builder units.
Additional Licenses and Related Components
Beyond main plans, Microsoft offers add-ons to expand Power Automate capabilities:
- AI Builder units: Packages of 1,000,000 service credits, approximately $500 per unit.
- Additional Dataverse capacity: Useful for large-scale data scenarios.
- Power Pages and Power Virtual Agents: Licenses based on chatbot sessions or portal visits, often used in automated workflows.
Each add-on should be planned according to expected usage volume and automation type. Organizations integrating Power Automate with Dynamics 365, AI Builder, and Power Pages must consider license overlaps and synergies.
Frequently Asked Questions about Power Automate Licensing
Can I use Power Automate with my Microsoft 365 license?
Yes, but with limitations. Microsoft 365 licenses allow creating flows using standard connectors only. To access premium connectors or Dataverse, a standalone plan is required.
What is the difference between per-user and per-flow licenses?
The per-user license allows unlimited flows for a single user, while the per-flow license covers a defined number of shared organizational automations, ideal for centralized processes.
Is Power Automate Desktop included in standard plans?
No. Power Automate Desktop requires additional licenses, especially for unattended execution. Free versions can be used for development and testing but not for production.
Where can I find updated pricing?
Up-to-date pricing information is available in the official Microsoft documentation and on the Power Automate website.
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