Softwr

Remote Work · head to head

IFTTT vs Microsoft Power Automate

IFTTT logo

IFTTT

Remote Work

Automate almost anything with IFTTT

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Power Automate logo

Microsoft Power Automate

Automation & Integration

Automate tasks across cloud and on-premises apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IFTTT free plan limited to only 2 applets total; Microsoft Power Automate free plan limited to 750 flow runs/month and standard connectors only; premium connectors require paid plans
  • They diverge on capability: IFTTT covers If-then applets, Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IFTTT and Microsoft Power Automate actually diverge.

Attributes where IFTTT and Microsoft Power Automate differ
AttributeIFTTTMicrosoft Power Automate
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Cloud, Desktop
CategoryRemote WorkAutomation & Integration
Founded20112016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in IFTTT

  • If-then applets
  • Webhooks
  • Smart home integration
  • Social media
  • Email notifications
  • Data logging
  • 650+ services
  • Smart home devices

Only in Microsoft Power Automate

  • Automated flows
  • Instant flows
  • Scheduled flows
  • Desktop automation
  • Process mining
  • Business process flows
  • Approval workflows
  • 500+ connectors

Both cover

  • Encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IFTTT

  • Casual automation with up to 2 simple applets via free plannot Microsoft Power Automate
  • Power users requiring 20 applets and multi-action capabilities via Pro plannot Microsoft Power Automate
  • Advanced automation with unlimited applets and AI services via Pro+ plannot Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate

  • Workflow Automationnot IFTTT
  • Data Integrationnot IFTTT
  • Process Automationnot IFTTT
  • App Integrationnot IFTTT
  • API Connectivitynot IFTTT

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IFTTT

  • Free plan limited to only 2 applets total
  • Free plan applets run at standard speed; fastest speeds require Pro tier
  • Free plan excludes webhooks, multi-action applets, and Twitter integrations
  • Free plan limited to 30-day onboarding support; paid plans offer ongoing customer support

Microsoft Power Automate

  • Free plan limited to 750 flow runs/month and standard connectors only; premium connectors require paid plans
  • Not suitable for long-running workflows; can fail unexpectedly without warning
  • Limited to simple linear logic; fails with complex workflows involving multiple stakeholders
  • Tasks cannot automate at scale when requiring more than approximately 60 users

Pricing, plan by plan

IFTTT

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the IFTTT review.

Microsoft Power Automate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 750 flow runs/month
    • Standard connectors only
    • Basic cloud flows
  • Premium$15/user/month
    • Cloud flows (DPA)
    • Attended RPA
    • 250 MB Dataverse database
  • Process$150/bot/month
    • Unattended automation
    • Cloud and desktop flows
    • 50 MB Dataverse database
  • Hosted Process$215/bot/month
    • Microsoft-managed virtual machine
    • Unattended automation
    • Same Dataverse entitlements as Process plan

Which should you pick?

Choose IFTTT if

  • You need if-then applets.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want webhooks.
IFTTT review

Choose Microsoft Power Automate if

  • You need automated flows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, Desktop.
  • You also want instant flows.
Microsoft Power Automate review

Questions people ask

Is IFTTT or Microsoft Power Automate better?
Neither clearly leads. IFTTT starts at Free and Microsoft Power Automate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IFTTT or Microsoft Power Automate?
IFTTT starts at Free and Microsoft Power Automate at Free.
Does IFTTT or Microsoft Power Automate run on more platforms?
IFTTT runs on Web, iOS, Android. Microsoft Power Automate runs on Web, Cloud, Desktop.
Can I use IFTTT for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IFTTT best used for?
IFTTT is most often used for casual automation with up to 2 simple applets via free plan, power users requiring 20 applets and multi-action capabilities via pro plan, advanced automation with unlimited applets and ai services via pro+ plan. Of those, casual automation with up to 2 simple applets via free plan and power users requiring 20 applets and multi-action capabilities via pro plan are not what Microsoft Power Automate is typically brought in for.
What can IFTTT do that Microsoft Power Automate cannot?
IFTTT covers If-then applets, Webhooks, Smart home integration, Social media. Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows, Instant flows, Scheduled flows, Desktop automation. Both handle Encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Power Automate: Is Power Automate included with Microsoft 365?

Yes. If you have an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use Power Automate at no extra cost for flows relying only on standard connectors (SharePoint, Outlook, Teams). Premium connectors (Salesforce, SAP, Oracle) require paid plans.

Source
Microsoft Power Automate: How many flow runs are allowed on the free plan?

Power Automate's free tier (included with Microsoft 365) is limited to 750 flow runs per month and standard connectors only. Out of 900+ total connectors, the free plan only includes Microsoft ecosystem apps and limited third-party apps.

Source
Microsoft Power Automate: What's the difference between Premium and Process plans?

Premium ($15/user/month) provides attended automation with cloud flows and standard RPA. Process plan ($150/bot/month) enables unattended automation where bots run without human intervention on virtual machines for high-volume, repetitive tasks.

Source
Microsoft Power Automate: Does Power Automate support long-running workflows?

No. Power Automate is not suitable for long-lasting workflows because they can run without warning and fail unexpectedly. The platform is built for linear, branching logic (if-then) rather than complex, multi-step business processes involving multiple stakeholders.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on IFTTT

More on Microsoft Power Automate

Keep looking

Other head to heads