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If you need to build an app tailored to your specific needs, you need Power Apps. Microsoft Power Apps lets you create an app instantly without coding. These low-code app development platforms have shocked the world with their level of customization. Build an app that does not make you feel that you are trying to fit in, but actually makes everything according to you/

But the start always seems difficult. This is why you need Microsoft PowerApps consulting services to navigate all the steps and get the app made. Never compromise on getting your needs fulfilled. 

There are various plans to choose from, but you must be wondering which is the best one. Also, keep your budget in mind. 

Data is what you need to trust, and Microsoft’s recent data shows that organizations save 74% by adopting Power Apps. Additionally, it was reported that those companies achieved a 188% return on investment over 3 years.

Let’s see what Power Apps has to offer. 

What is Power Apps?

It is a platform that offers custom application development for businesses without significant upfront costs. Microsoft Power Apps can integrate with other Microsoft products and applications like SharePoint, Teams, and Dynamics 365.

Microsoft Power Apps is a low-code application platform that enables users to build custom business apps quickly and with minimal coding. It integrates smoothly with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural fit for organizations already using tools like SharePoint, Teams, and Dynamics 365. Power Apps is built on three core components:

  • Canvas Apps: Create an interface the way you like with drag and drop elements. Set the buttons, forms, and media, and create customized interfaces. 
  • Model-Driven Apps:  Create model-driven apps that rely on data. Just define your data models and business rules, and let Power Apps do the rest by creating your data-driven application. It saves you from having to create everything from scratch.
  • Power Pages: It is a secure website that allows external users to access a self-service portal through a browser. Partners or customers access the pages through proper authentication. 

A recent study states that the world will see the creation of over 500 million digital apps and services by the end of 2025, with 70% built using low-code/no-code tools. This shows the potential of Power Apps.

Power Apps Pricing Plans

Power Apps Pricing Monthly Pricing Best For Key Features Consideration
Power Apps Free Trial $0 (Trial for 30 days) Curious users, students, and early testers Basic canvas/model-driven app building, standard connectors, limited environment Not for production or sharing, Trial expires after 30 days
Developer Plan $0 (Ongoing) Prototypers, consultants, internal devs Access to Dataverse, Power Automate, premium connectors, and real-time testing Apps cannot be published or shared outside the development environment
Per App Plan $5/user/app/month Small teams with 1-2 core apps 1 app or portal per user, premium connectors, limited Dataverse Cost scales with the number of users and apps. Not ideal for app-heavy platforms
Per User Plan $20/user/month Enterprises and departments using many apps Unlimited apps per user, Power Pages, full Dataverse access, premium features Higher upfront cost per user, but best value for organizations with multiple needs
Pay-As-You-Go Usage-based billing via Azure Seasonal work, pilots, event-driven use cases Pay only when the app is used, full feature access, and Azure integration Azure subscription required; usage must be closely tracked.

Power Apps isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s actually a good thing. Microsoft offers a range of pricing models designed to meet different user needs, usage patterns, and budget levels. From free trials and developer environments to user-based and consumption-based plans, there’s a licensing path for almost every organization.

Here’s an in-depth look at Power Apps cost:

1.    Free Plan

The Free Plan is perfect for anyone curious about the platform and looking to dip their toes into low-code development.

Who it’s for: Developers, consultants, and power users.

Includes: 

  • Advanced app-building tools.
  • Premium connectors, 
  • Power Automate, 
  • Dataverse

If you are someone who wants to see how Power Apps work, then you must choose this plan to explore the prototype and see what’s working for you.

2.    Developer Plan

The Developer Plan is a free environment that offers the full Power Apps experience, minus the ability to go live with production apps.

Who it’s for: Developers, consultants, and power users experimenting with advanced features.

What you get: Full access to premium connectors, Power Automate, Dataverse, and advanced app-building tools.

What’s missing: You can’t share apps or use them in production.

This plan is ideal for testing, prototyping, and learning advanced functionality before choosing a paid plan for deployment.

3.    Per App Plan ($5/User/App/Month)

Who it’s for: Fulfills specific app needs

Includes:

  • A custom app 
  • Premium connectors 
  • Limited Dataverse storage.

Look for:

  • Per-user charges 

This plan is suitable for fulfilling the custom need for a single app as it’s an affordable solution.

4.    Per User Plan ($20/User/Month)

For businesses requiring multiple apps and complex environments. 

Who it’s for: For multiple teams with distinct needs

Includes:

  • Custom apps and Power Pages
  • Full premium features 
  • Increased Dataverse capacity.

Look for: Increased per-user charges 

Ideal for: multiple apps regularly.

Suitable if you are using Microsoft products and need to fulfill high development demands.

5.    Pay-As-You-Go Plan

The most flexible plan that you pay for when in use. Moreover, it saves you from hidden costs. 

Who it’s for: Enterprises that can’t determine exact needs and need an app to fulfill the needs for temporary projects (like events or seasonal campaigns).

Includes:

  • Complete  feature 
  • Pay only when a user is using the app.

Look for:

  • Azure subscription setup
  • Control costs while monitoring the usage

Good for Users who want to test  without a monthly subscription plan

Need Help Navigating the Power Apps Solutions?

Get expert guidance to choose the right plan for your business.

Also Read: Power Apps App Development in 2025

Additional Costs & Add-Ons

Add On Services And Pricing Tiers of power apps

Power Apps offers robust low-code capabilities right out of the box, but many businesses find they need more than the base plan provides. From extra storage to advanced automation and AI, several optional add-ons can enhance functionality, but they also add to your overall cost. Below is a closer look at the most common add-ons and how they may affect your Power Apps budget:

1.    Dataverse Capacity Add-On

Microsoft Dataverse is the centralized data platform used by Power Apps, enabling you to store and manage data used by business applications securely. As your applications grow and store more information, you may exceed your allocated storage, especially with file attachments, logs, or high-volume datasets. Here are the following Microsoft Dataverse pricing:

Included Storage (as of 2025 updates):

  • Per App Plan: Includes 250MB database + 400MB file storage per license.
  • Per User Plan: Includes 250MB database + 2GB file storage per user license.

Additional storage must be purchased if your apps exceed this baseline.

Add-On Pricing (2025):

  • Database Storage: $40/GB/month
  • File Storage: $2/GB/month
  • Log Storage: $10/GB/month

Tips:

  • Monitor usage in the Power Platform Admin Center.
  • Use external storage (e.g., SharePoint, Azure Blob) where possible to offset Dataverse storage costs.

Dataverse is powerful and secure, but storage growth can occur quickly, especially in enterprise use cases with document-heavy processes, such as HR, legal, or project management.

2.    Power Automate Licensing

Power Automate licensing refers to the licensing plan for the automation workflows. It caters to the simplest workflows to complex robotic process automation (RPA). The licensing benefits users so they can get it per user, per bot, or per usage. Microsoft also offers add-ons like RPAs and AI builder models as per the needs of businesses. It caters to the needs of small, medium, and large teams with its flexible plans.  

Types of Automation

  • Standard Flows: As the name suggests, you can get all your basic services, such as Excel, SharePoint, and Teams.
  • Premium Flows: Use connectors like Salesforce, Oracle, or SQL Server. While some access is bundled in Per User/Per App plans, organizations with advanced workflows may need standalone Power Automate licensing.

Pricing

  • Per User Plan with Attended RPA: $40/user/month (For users who launch their own desktop-based flows).
  • Per Flow Plan: $100/month for five flows, which can be shared across multiple users.
  • Unattended RPA (bots): $150/month per bot (Best for automating repetitive desktop tasks without user interaction).

When to consider it

  • For complex processes over multiple platforms
  • Power Apps’ dependency on backend systems
  • To acquire AI models and live business logic

Monitor your workflow executions and get your Power Automate license merged to Power Apps to erase redundancy and save costs.

3.    AI Builder Credits

Power Apps integrates with AI Builder to make your app and workflows intelligent. Complete all your tasks. 

One of the standout features of Power Apps is its seamless integration with AI Builder, a powerful tool that enables users to embed artificial intelligence directly into their applications. 

There is a certain usage capacity that you get in the form of credits. Every license has specific credits that are consumed when users use features. Moreover, you can acquire extra credits for more automations. 

  • Form Processing: Extract structured information by scanning invoices, receipts, or PDFs.  
  • Object Detection: Easy inventory management and quality control with AI models that  detect images
  • Text Classification: Classifies and categorizes text for routing customer support tickets to the appropriate department.
  • Prediction Models: Look into the future with prediction models that identify trends. 

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Use your AI Builder credits within the monthly cycle as they expire.
  • Different consumption rates for each model type.
  • Sharing of credits across multiple departments for flexible usage.

4. Premium and Custom Connectors

Premium Connectors enable the Power Apps interface to connect to advanced systems:

  • A Microsoft Power Apps Premium license (Per App or Per User plan), or
  • Add-on access for eligible Microsoft 365 integrated plans.

These connectors matter the most because they eliminate manual work and support complex workflows with advanced platforms. It boosts efficiency by breaking data silos with full flexibility. 

Premium connectors can connect to:

  • CRM tools
  • Outdated inventory systems

5. Power Pages (Portals)

There are people outside your organization who will use apps. All of these are valuable customers associated with your business. Customers, vendors, contractors, or partners use web portals to interact with your business. Power Pages help you create portals with complete authentication and compliance. 

This portal allows customers to submit support tickets, partners to access shared resources, and users to register for events, etc. Moreover, knowledge-based communities are built for discussions.

Licensing & Pricing

Power Pages prices depend on user type and volume:

  • $200/month for 100 authenticated users

The users are charged per month for the app they use. 

  • $75/month for 500 anonymous users

These are anonymous users who can browse the site and get 0.5 GB data capacity and four GB file capacity. 

Additionally, businesses can scale as the number of users grows and can manage the budget accordingly.

Need to build budget-friendly custom apps?

Contact our Power Apps consultants.

6. Microsoft Copilot Studio (Formerly Power Virtual Agents)

Create your AI-powered copilots (bots). These bots are deployed on multiple channels like Teams, SharePoint, etc. These are highly capable copilots using conversational and AI generative capabilities, business logic, and context-aware responses to improve user interaction. They actually offer a solution that integrates directly with Power Apps and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. 

It saves a lot of time spent on catering to each customer with automation. From automating routine tasks to providing exclusive, smarter, and self-service experiences, it’s a significant platform that doesn’t require you to spend a lot. 

  • Create  bots that converse
  • Low-code development
  • Budget-friendly
  • AI-generated responses 
  • Multi-channel use
  • Custom API  with GPT-powered interactions.
  • Low-code development

Pricing

  • $200/month for 2,000 sessions
  • Additional sessions increase costs accordingly  
  • Scale monthly active sessions

Also Read: Top Power Apps Examples and Use Cases

Calculating Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

At first glance, Microsoft Power Apps appears to offer competitive pricing, but the actual investment can increase depending on how your organization deploys and scales it. That’s why it is important to calculate the total cost of ownership. It helps you plan beyond license fees to capture the real financial footprint of the platform over time.

Moreover, connecting Power Apps to Dynamics 365 and other external systems might influence the cost. Consult a certified Dynamics 365 Partner to manage costs and optimize processes.

Here’s a further look at the key components that influence the total cost of owning and scaling Power Apps:

Add-Ons and Extra Capacity

The base Power Apps license cost might be affordable, but real-world usage often demands more. This includes:

  • Dataverse Storage: You may need to purchase additional database, file, or log storage as your apps scale.
  • AI Builder Credits: Advanced AI features are billed separately and consumed rapidly in document-heavy or prediction-based use cases.
  • Power Automate: If you rely heavily on workflow automation or RPA, expect to invest in standalone automation licenses.
  • Power Pages: External-facing websites (like customer portals) add another layer of cost, especially when accessed by hundreds or thousands of users.

Governance and Security

Managing access, permissions, compliance, and data governance becomes increasingly important (and expensive) as your Power Apps environment grows. Organizations with complex data policies or strict regulatory requirements must:

  • Develop governance frameworks
  • Implement security roles and data loss prevention (DLP) policies
  • Use premium monitoring tools or third-party platforms

According to Microsoft’s Power Platform Adoption report, many large enterprises have had to dedicate internal or external resources to governance within the first year of deployment.

Support and Maintenance

Even with a low-code platform, applications need ongoing updates, performance monitoring, bug fixing, and optimization. Depending on your internal expertise, you may need:

  • Microsoft Premier or Unified Support services
  • Third-party consultants or managed service providers (MSPs)
  • Dedicated internal resources for app support

Support costs vary based on the complexity and criticality of your apps. For example, apps used for financial operations or supply chain processes typically require higher service levels.

Training and Enablement

Power Apps is designed to empower citizen developers. However, users still require training to use it effectively. Costs here can include:

  • Subscriptions to learning platforms (e.g., LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight)
  • In-house training sessions or workshops
  • Time investment from IT or development leads

A 2025 study found that organizations investing in user training experienced productivity gains of 2.3 percent those that did not.

Integration Costs

When businesses are looking to get their apps built or buy a system, they should consider integration costs. These costs add to the system and its budget. 

Some of the integrations they might need are:

  • Custom API Development: If you require custom connections rather than prebuilt ones, it may increase your costs. 
  • Premium Connector Licensing: Third-party enterprise tools integrations also add to the cost
  • Data Transformation and Migration Tools: Data migration  or ETL service.
  • Adding forms or any additional workflow
  • OneDrive, Excel, and Outlook
  • Extend CRM and ERP capabilities with little effort

Organizations already using ERP platforms like Dynamics 365 Business Central, need to collaborate with a certified Business Central Partner to integrate Power Apps and unlock powerful automation and reporting.

Looking to Maximize ROI with Microsoft Power Apps?

Work with our experts to unlock the platform’s full potential.

Is Power Apps Worth It?

advantages of using Power Apps

With a high digital transformation agenda in every company, organizations are constantly seeking ways to modernize operations without increasing costs. Microsoft Power Apps promises to bridge the gap between business needs and IT resources.

So, is it worth it? Here’s a quick comparison table to check out:

It Works Best If It May Not Be Ideal If
You’re a Microsoft-centric business looking for speed and scalability. Your team works mostly outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
You want to reduce reliance on custom dev teams or external agencies. You need advanced offline functionality or native mobile UX.
You need to empower business units to solve their own challenges. Budget limitations restrict access to premium plans or add-ons.
You’re aiming to automate processes and integrate with enterprise data.

Now, let’s take a closer look at why it is the best choice:

1.    Real-World Impact Backed by Data

The numbers showcase a compelling picture. According to recent reports:

These figures demonstrate how Power Apps serves as a business enabler, delivering tangible returns.

2.    Built for Agility

Traditional app development can take months and cost tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars. Power Apps flips the script by enabling users to build fully functional business apps with drag-and-drop simplicity. You can design apps to:

  • Track employee attendance
  • Automate leave approvals
  • Manage field inspections
  • Connect forms to live databases

This accessibility leads to faster iteration, quicker time to value, and more innovation happening within teams, not just from central IT.

3.    Deep Integration with the Microsoft Stack

One of Power Apps’ greatest advantages is its tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. If your company is already invested in Microsoft 365, Teams, Dynamics 365, or Azure, Power Apps allows you to:

  • Surface SharePoint lists in a mobile-friendly app
  • Launch forms or approval workflows within Teams
  • Connect securely to OneDrive, Excel, and Outlook
  • Extend CRM and ERP capabilities with little effort

4.    Extensible, Scalable, and AI-Ready

Power Apps doesn’t stagnate your growth as it’s a scalable platform. All businesses grow and need a system that supports scalability. You can create as many applications as you need with AI and custom-built apps.

  • Embed Dataverse 
  • Power Automate 
  • AI builder
  • Microsoft Copilot Studio 

5.    The Cost-Benefit Equation

It is also important to understand how the pricing works, as it may become overwhelming.

The cost fluctuates with:

  • Adding multiple apps or users (where a $20/user/month Per User Plan is better)
  • For more Dataverse storage 
  • Getting  premium connectors or third-party integrations
  • Integrating AI or RPA

How to Choose the Right Power Apps Plan

You always need some guidance or expertise to make the right decision when choosing something. The same goes for choosing the right Power Apps plan. The most significant point is to analyze your needs and align them with your budget.

  • Standard Microsoft services: Free  plan
  • Premium integrations: Paid plan (Per App or Per User)
  • Automation or AI? Power Automate licensing and AI Builder credits.

1.    Understand Your App Usage Needs

Start by asking, “How many apps will you build and how many users need access?” If you need just one or two apps (e.g., a leave request form or asset tracker), the Per App Plan at $5/user/app/month is a cost-effective entry point.

If users need access to multiple apps or portals, the Per User Plan at $20/user/month offers unlimited access, which is more economical at scale. For irregular or seasonal app usage, the Pay-As-You-Go model through Azure lets you pay only when users actually run the app.

2.    Evaluate Required Features and Integrations

Not all apps are created equal. Some require premium connectors (e.g., Salesforce, Oracle, SAP), Dataverse for relational data, or Power Automate for advanced workflows.

Here’s what to consider:

  • Using standard Microsoft services only (Excel, SharePoint, Teams): Free or basic plan may suffice.
  • Need premium integrations or data modeling? You’ll need a paid plan (Per App or Per User) with access to Dataverse and premium connectors.
  • Need strong automation or AI? Factor in Power Automate licensing and AI Builder credits as part of your total cost.

3.    Know Your User Types

The access defines user roles:

If you are looking to test Power Apps, you must choose the free plan. This plan gives you an overview of the system. At the same time, you don’t get access to run the apps in a production environment.

A Microsoft 365 user can access Power Apps with standard features and custom connectors, but lacks premium connectors.  

4.    Consider Your Growth Plan

Your choice of plan should not only fit today’s requirements but also scale easily with your growth. Ask yourself questions:

  • Will you expand app usage across departments?
  • Are you planning to build multiple apps over time?
  • Do you foresee more data-heavy use cases?

If yes, choosing the Per User Plan or Pay-As-You-Go model can offer more flexibility in the long term. You can even start with Per App and upgrade later if usage increases.

5.    Factor in Total Cost, Not Just Licensing

It’s tempting to choose the cheapest plan, but you need to look at the total cost of ownership (TCO), including:

  • Add-ons like Dataverse storage, AI Builder, or Power Automate
  • Training and support for your team
  • Future upgrades or integrations

A $5 plan may incur costs of $20-30 per user/month if you’re adding storage, AI, or external access. In some cases, consolidating into a higher-tier plan may be more cost-effective.

Collaborate with the Leading Mobile App Developers

Power Apps is a powerful business accelerator backed by Microsoft’s ecosystem. If you’re a startup looking to build a simple internal tool or an enterprise scaling complex workflows across departments, Power Apps gives the flexibility, security, and integration muscle to make it happen.

Looking for a reliable software development solution? Trango Tech specializes in helping businesses plan, build, and scale with Power Apps. Reach out to our expert team today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Power Apps included in Office 365?

It is included in Office 365, but with some limitations. If you’re using Microsoft 365, you already have access to the basic version of Power Apps. This version lets you build and use canvas apps that work with standard connectors like SharePoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive.

It’s great for getting started, especially if you’re looking to digitize internal processes like leave requests, approvals, or team check-ins. You don’t need to pay extra to experiment with low-code app building within that ecosystem. If you want to connect to premium services like Salesforce, Dataverse, or SQL Server, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid Power Apps plan.

How much does a Power Apps deployment cost?

The cost of deploying Power Apps depends on a few key factors, including the license you choose, how complex your app is, and the outsourcing services. At the most basic level, Power Apps license costs start at $5 per user/app/month or $20 per user/month. Microsoft also offers a Pay-As-You-Go model, which only charges you when someone uses the app, billed through Azure. You’ll also need to factor in development costs, integration with external systems, data storage, and maintenance costs.

So, in short, a basic internal app could cost under $10,000 to deploy. Larger projects with custom workflows and third-party integrations might exceed $50,000.

Can I use Power Apps without a license?

You can get started with Power Apps without a paid license, but there are limitations. Microsoft offers a Power Apps Developer Plan, which is completely free and designed for learning, building, and testing apps. It is best for those who want to explore the platform’s capabilities. However, this plan doesn’t allow you to run apps in a production environment or share them with others.

If you’re using Microsoft 365, you might already have access to Power Apps with basic capabilities. For example, users on Microsoft 365 Business or E3/E5 plans can create and use apps connected to standard data sources, such as SharePoint, Excel, and Outlook.

How much is a premium license for Power Automate?

It costs $15 per user per month for advanced features. 

Access to premium connectors, cloud flows, attended RPA, process mining, and 5,000 AI Builder credits per month. 

Great Dataverse storage with 250 MB for data and 2 GB for file capacity per user.

Is Microsoft Power Virtual Agents free?

Yes, Microsoft Power Virtual Agents does offer a free version, but with limitations. If your organization already uses Microsoft 365 or Office 365, you can access Power Virtual Agents for Teams at no extra cost. This version allows you to create and deploy chatbots for internal use within Microsoft Teams.  It is ideal for handling tasks like HR FAQs, IT support, or employee onboarding. However, if you want to build bots that work outside of Teams, such as on websites, mobile apps, or customer-facing platforms, you’ll need a premium license.

The premium edition starts at $1,000 per tenant per month, which includes 2,000 sessions, and additional sessions can be purchased in blocks. So, while Power Virtual Agents can be free for basic internal use, full-scale, external deployment comes at a cost.

About The Author

blog author
Ahsan Shahid

Meet Ahsan, the strategist behind some of the most insightful content on Dynamics 365, Business Central, and enterprise transformation. Armed with a deep understanding of Microsoft’s business applications ecosystem (and a steady supply of coffee!) Ahsan has spent years helping organizations navigate the world of ERP, CRM, and digital modernization. Currently working at Trango Tech, a trusted Dynamics 365 Partner, Ahsan brings real-world expertise to every piece he writes. So grab your favorite drink and get ready to explore the ever-evolving landscape of Dynamics 365 and Business Central with Ahsan as your guide.

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