Automation & Integration · head to head
Microsoft Power Automate vs Nintex
Microsoft Power Automate
Automation & Integration
Automate tasks across cloud and on-premises apps
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Power Automate free plan limited to 750 flow runs/month and standard connectors only; premium connectors require paid plans; Nintex no pricing, workflow limits or feature comparison is published anywhere on the pricing page
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows, Nintex covers Workflow builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Power Automate and Nintex actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Power Automate | Nintex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud, Desktop | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation & Integration).
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 Microsoft Power Automate
- Automated flows
- Instant flows
- Scheduled flows
- Desktop automation
- Business process flows
- Approval workflows
- 500+ connectors
- Microsoft 365
Only in Nintex
- Workflow builder
- Task automation
- Case management
- Mobile access
- Analytics
- Monitoring
- 300+ apps
- DocuSign
Both cover
- Process mining
- Salesforce
- SharePoint
- Encryption
- SOC2
- HIPAA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Power Automate
- Workflow Automationnot Nintex
- Data Integrationnot Nintex
- Process Automationnot Nintex
- App Integrationnot Nintex
- API Connectivitynot Nintex
Nintex
- Workflow automation and process management across business systemsnot Microsoft Power Automate
- Document generation and e signature within automated processesnot Microsoft Power Automate
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Nintex
- No pricing, workflow limits or feature comparison is published anywhere on the pricing page
- The pricing route is a contact form, so evaluating cost requires engaging sales first
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Nintex
Free- StarterFree
- Limited workflows
- Community support
- Professional$500/month
- Advanced workflows
- Email support
- Enterprise$2000/month
- Unlimited workflows
- Dedicated support
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Nintex if
- You need workflow builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want task automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Power Automate or Nintex better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Power Automate starts at Free and Nintex at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Power Automate or Nintex?
- Microsoft Power Automate starts at Free and Nintex at Free.
- Does Microsoft Power Automate or Nintex run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Power Automate runs on Web, Cloud, Desktop. Nintex runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Microsoft Power Automate for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Microsoft Power Automate best used for?
- Microsoft Power Automate is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration. Of those, workflow automation and data integration are not what Nintex is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Power Automate do that Nintex cannot?
- Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows, Instant flows, Scheduled flows, Desktop automation. Nintex covers Workflow builder, Task automation, Case management, Mobile access. Both handle Process mining, Salesforce, SharePoint, 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.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceMicrosoft 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