Microsoft Power Automate vs Pipedream (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Microsoft Power Automate
From $15/mo against from $29/mo
Free plan
Pipedream
Only Pipedream has one
Higher rating
Pipedream
4.3 against 4.6
Same job?
Yes
Both are Automation tools

Side by side

Compared on	Microsoft Power Automate	Pipedream
Our rating	4.3	4.6Better
Starts at	$15/moBetter	$29/mo
Free plan	No	YesBetter
Category	Automation	Automation
Plans	Premium$15/user/mo, paid yearly Process$150/bot/mo, paid yearly Hosted Process$215/bot/mo, paid yearly Process Mining add-on$5,000/tenant/mo, paid yearly	Free$0 Basic$45/mo, or $29/mo billed yearly Advanced$74/mo, or $49/mo billed yearly Connect$150/mo, or $99/mo billed yearly BusinessCustom pricing
Key features	Cloud flows for SaaS app integration Desktop RPA for legacy software automation AI-generated steps layered into traditional flows Deep integration with Power Apps, Power BI, and Dataverse 30-day free trial	Inline Node.js, Python, Go, and Bash code in any workflow step No-code options available alongside full code access Built specifically with developers as the primary audience Free plan with unlimited workflow testing Wide API and app trigger support
Pros	Combines cloud integration and desktop RPA in one platform Deep ties to the broader Power Platform ecosystem AI steps add generative capability to traditional automation	Genuine first-class code access, not a limited escape hatch Appeals directly to developers frustrated by purely visual tools Free plan allows unlimited workflow testing before paying
Cons	Per-user pricing adds up for larger teams Full value depends on Microsoft 365 and Power Platform adoption Desktop RPA setup can be more involved than pure cloud automation	Less approachable for non-technical users than pure no-code platforms Full value requires comfort writing real code Production usage costs scale with actual execution volume
Company	Microsoft, founded 2016	Pipedream, Inc., founded 2019

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 2026-09-24. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Power Automate better than Pipedream?

In our reviews Microsoft Power Automate scores 4.3 and Pipedream scores 4.6. The better pick depends on the job. Microsoft Power Automate: Cloud flows and desktop RPA under one Microsoft roof. Pipedream: Real code inline, built by and for developers.

Which is cheaper, Microsoft Power Automate or Pipedream?

Microsoft Power Automate has the lower starting price: from $15/mo for Microsoft Power Automate and from $29/mo for Pipedream.

Do Microsoft Power Automate and Pipedream have free plans?

Only Pipedream has a free plan.

More comparisons

Microsoft Power Automate compared with

All Microsoft Power Automate alternatives

Pipedream compared with

All Pipedream alternatives