What Is Power Automate? Microsoft's Automation Tool Explained
7 min read · By Hamza Amir · Updated November 2, 2026
Power Automate is Microsoft's workflow automation tool. It connects apps and services so routine work runs on its own: saving email attachments to SharePoint, sending approvals in Teams, copying form responses into Excel, or clicking through an old desktop app that has no API. It is part of Microsoft's Power Platform, alongside Power Apps and Power BI.
According to Microsoft's documentation, Power Automate offers three types of flows: cloud flows that run automatically, instantly, or on a schedule; desktop flows that automate tasks on the web or desktop; and generative actions, which are in preview. Microsoft's pricing page lists the Premium plan at $15 per user per month, billed yearly.
Key takeaways
- Power Automate is Microsoft's tool for automating workflows across apps and desktops.
- Cloud flows handle app-to-app work; desktop flows automate screens (RPA).
- The free license covers standard connectors; Premium is $15 per user per month, billed yearly.
- It is strongest for teams already on Microsoft 365.
- Need it built for you? Claim a free automation.
What is Power Automate used for?
Common business uses:
- Approvals: route expense, leave, or document approvals through Teams or Outlook.
- File handling: save attachments to SharePoint or OneDrive and rename them consistently.
- Data entry: move form responses or emails into Excel, SharePoint lists, or Dataverse.
- Notifications: alert a channel when a deal closes or a ticket is escalated.
- Legacy apps: use desktop flows to click through older software that has no API.
Power Automate flow types
Microsoft describes three kinds of flows:
| Flow type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud flow | Runs automatically, instantly, or on a schedule between connected services | New Forms response creates a SharePoint item |
| Desktop flow | Automates tasks on the web or desktop (robotic process automation) | Copy invoice data into an old accounting app |
| Generative actions (preview) | Uses AI to plan and carry out steps | Draft a reply from an email's content |
Microsoft also includes process mining, which analyzes event data from your systems to show how a process really runs and where it slows down.
Want an automation like this built for you, free?
Pick one of 10 ready automations, like instant lead replies, review requests, or invoice follow-ups, or describe your own. We build it on your tools at no cost.
How much does Power Automate cost?
From Microsoft's pricing and licensing pages (checked November 2, 2026): the free license lets you create and run cloud flows without sharing and run desktop flows locally, using standard connectors only. Power Automate Premium is listed at $15 per user per month, billed yearly, and adds premium connectors, process and task mining, AI Builder, managed environments, and Dataverse storage. Unattended bots are licensed separately; Microsoft lists Power Automate Process at $150 per bot per month, billed yearly.
Prices can vary by region and agreement, so confirm in your Microsoft admin center before buying.
Power Apps vs Power Automate
They work together but do different jobs. Power Apps builds the screens people use: forms, mobile apps, and internal tools. Power Automate runs the work behind them: approvals, data syncing, and notifications. A typical pattern is a Power App where staff submit a request and a Power Automate flow that routes it for approval and updates the records.
Power Automate vs Zapier, Make, and n8n
If your company runs on Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Excel, Power Automate is usually the natural first choice. Outside Microsoft's ecosystem, other tools are often easier or cheaper. Zapier is the simplest to learn, Make is visual and budget friendly, and n8n bills per workflow run and can be self-hosted. See n8n vs Zapier, what is Make.com, and Zapier alternatives.
Is Power Automate right for your business?
Choose Power Automate when most of your work lives in Microsoft 365 and you need approvals, file handling, or desktop automation for legacy apps. Look elsewhere when your stack is mostly non-Microsoft SaaS, when you need deep AI agent workflows, or when per-user licensing would get expensive.
Not sure which tool fits? Our workflow automation service designs the process first and picks the tool second, or claim one automation free to see the result.
Power Automate is Microsoft's workflow automation tool. It connects apps and services so tasks like approvals, file handling, data entry, and notifications run automatically, and it can automate desktop apps through desktop flows.
Want this built on your systems?
Get a free automation teardown. We'll map the top 3 workflows we'd automate in your business and what they'd save, in 20 minutes, no commitment.
Response time
≤ 4 business hours
Coverage
USA · UK · EU
Team
10 engineers · 1 PM