Microsoft’s Power Platform—comprising Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Pages—has earned a reputation as a powerful enabler of digital transformation. It allows businesses to build apps, automate workflows, and analyse data with low-code simplicity. However, for all its capability, one recurring concern among our prospects and customers is the lack of clarity and predictability in pricing.
While the technology is compelling and delivers efficiency at scale, cost uncertainty remains a significant pain point. Licensing intricacies, usage-based pricing, and frequent changes to Microsoft’s commercial model often leave businesses struggling to forecast their spend.
At AMO Consultancy, our agnostic delivery capability means we work not only with Microsoft technologies but also with other low-code/no-code platforms. In this blog, we will unpack the challenges of Power Platform pricing and the value of considering complementary alternatives with simpler, more transparent models.
Microsoft offers various licensing models, which are often difficult to navigate:
While flexible, this patchwork of models can make it hard for finance and IT leaders to determine the true cost of ownership, especially for growing environments or when usage patterns shift.
Several increases and policy shifts have added to the complexity:
These updates show how frequent pricing changes can impact budgeting, even after implementation. Regular scrutiny of Microsoft’s commercial terms is necessary to avoid unexpected hikes.
Many of our customers are asking the same question: “Can we trust our forecasts when our licensing costs are this variable?”
The answer often depends on how Power Platform is deployed and governed. While usage-based pricing can be optimised, the effort required to manage that is not always viable for smaller teams or lean IT functions.
Unlike Microsoft’s Power Platform, other low-code/no-code and BPM platforms offer straightforward, predictable pricing models. Typically, these are based on:
This transparency allows businesses to forecast costs with confidence, allocate budgets more effectively, and avoid unexpected surprises tied to spikes in usage or changes to licensing terms.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that many businesses already own Power Platform entitlements through their Microsoft 365 subscriptions. These include:
Instead of going all-in on premium Microsoft licensing, a smart strategy is to leverage these included capabilities where appropriate and augment the ecosystem with external platforms that offer:
This hybrid architecture often provides the best of both worlds—capitalising on existing investments while maintaining cost control and agility.
While Power Platform has immense potential and undoubtedly delivers value, but only when deployed with a clear understanding of its cost model. As an agnostic digital consultancy company, AMO Consultancy helps clients navigate these complexities and make informed platform decisions.
By combining:
If your organisation is evaluating its automation or app development strategy, we are here to advise on the optimal platform mix that aligns with both your operational goals and your budget.
We gather information about your needs and objectives of your apps. Unsure about the app you need? We will carefully assess your top challenges and provide expert guidance on the perfect solution tailored to your success.
We create wireframes and an interactive prototype to visualise the app flow and make changes as per your feedback.
Estimation of the project deliverables including the resources, time, and costs involved.
Showcasing POC to relevant stakeholders illustrating the functionalities and potential of the app to meet business objectives.
