Microsoft Power Automate vs Zapier (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 $19.99/mo
Free plan
Zapier
Only Zapier has one
Higher rating
Zapier
4.3 against 4.5
Same job?
Yes
Both are Automation tools

Side by side

Compared on	Microsoft Power Automate	Zapier
Our rating	4.3	4.5Better
Starts at	$15/moBetter	$19.99/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 Professional$29.99/mo, or $19.99/mo billed yearly Team$103.50/mo, or $69/mo billed yearly EnterpriseCustom 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	Largest app integration library in this category Original popularizer of the trigger-action automation pattern AI-assisted Zap creation and generative workflow steps Multi-step workflows with conditional logic Free tier for basic automation needs
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	Largest integration library gives the best odds of supporting any given app Long operating history with a mature, well-documented product Extensive community content and third-party guides available
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	Per-task pricing can grow higher-priced at higher automation volume More basic than technical alternatives for deeply complex branching logic Simpler visual style offers less data visibility than flow-diagram competitors
Company	Microsoft, founded 2016	Zapier, founded 2011

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 Zapier?

In our reviews Microsoft Power Automate scores 4.3 and Zapier scores 4.5. The better pick depends on the job. Microsoft Power Automate: Cloud flows and desktop RPA under one Microsoft roof. Zapier: Still the widest app library after more than a decade.

Which is cheaper, Microsoft Power Automate or Zapier?

Microsoft Power Automate has the lower starting price: from $15/mo for Microsoft Power Automate and from $19.99/mo for Zapier.

Do Microsoft Power Automate and Zapier have free plans?

Only Zapier has a free plan.

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