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Microsoft Power Automate vs Slack Workflow Builder

Microsoft Power Automate logo

Microsoft Power Automate

Software

Automate tasks across cloud and on-premises apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Slack Workflow Builder logo

Slack Workflow Builder

Software

Automation for team collaboration

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Power Automate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Slack Workflow Builder limited to Pro and above pricing tiers, requiring paid Slack subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows, Slack Workflow Builder covers Workflow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Power Automate and Slack Workflow Builder actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Power Automate and Slack Workflow Builder differ
AttributeMicrosoft Power AutomateSlack Workflow Builder
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, DesktopWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Founded20162013

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Process mining
  • Business process flows
  • Approval workflows
  • 500+ connectors

Only in Slack Workflow Builder

  • Workflow builder
  • App integrations
  • Scheduled workflows
  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Notifications
  • Analytics
  • 1000+ apps

Both cover

  • Encryption

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Power Automate

  • Workflow Automation
  • Data Integration
  • Process Automation
  • App Integration
  • API Connectivity

Slack Workflow Builder

  • Workflow Automation
  • Data Integration
  • Process Automation
  • App Integration
  • API Connectivity

Both are used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration, api connectivity, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Slack Workflow Builder

  • Limited to Pro and above pricing tiers, requiring paid Slack subscription
  • Maximum 15 conditional branches per workflow, limiting complex logic paths
  • Connectors must be explicitly configured per integration type
  • No native web interface for non-Slack users

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

Slack Workflow Builder

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack Workflow Builder review.

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.
Microsoft Power Automate review

Choose Slack Workflow Builder if

  • You need workflow builder.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want app integrations.
Slack Workflow Builder review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Power Automate or Slack Workflow Builder better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Power Automate starts at Free and Slack Workflow Builder at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Power Automate or Slack Workflow Builder?
Microsoft Power Automate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Power Automate and On request for Slack Workflow Builder.
Does Microsoft Power Automate or Slack Workflow Builder run on more platforms?
Microsoft Power Automate runs on Web, Cloud, Desktop. Slack Workflow Builder runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Power Automate for free?
Yes. Microsoft Power Automate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Slack Workflow Builder starts at On request.
What is Microsoft Power Automate best used for?
Microsoft Power Automate is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration.
What can Microsoft Power Automate do that Slack Workflow Builder cannot?
Microsoft Power Automate covers Automated flows, Instant flows, Scheduled flows, Desktop automation. Slack Workflow Builder covers Workflow builder, App integrations, Scheduled workflows, Conditional logic. 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
Slack Workflow Builder: Is Slack Workflow Builder included in all Slack plans?

No, Workflow Builder is only available in Slack Pro, Business+, and Enterprise plans. It is not included in the Free plan.

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
Slack Workflow Builder: Can Workflow Builder connect to external applications?

Yes, Workflow Builder supports connectors that translate actions in Slack to instant results in third-party tools, allowing workflows to interact with your full application stack.

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
Slack Workflow Builder: What is the maximum complexity of Slack Workflows?

Workflows support conditional logic with up to 15 conditions, enabling complex decision paths for automation.

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
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