Azure Logic Apps vs. Microsoft Power Automate vs. Zapier

Microsoft Azure Logic Apps was a perfect solution for us to integrate the apps and products we used in our business to create automated workflows which were also complex and very advanced. This was a very new feature for us, and also it reduced our software costs massively and also saved us a lot of time. With the crisis, we were in back then Azure turned out to be the best cost-friendly solution because we only had to pay for what we used!

Incentivized

Very useful RPA tools for automating processes with minimal coding and drag-and-drop functionality, with a wide variety of triggers, including scheduled time-based triggers and activity-based triggers, such as modifying a file/list in SharePoint to run a Power Automate flow. Very easy-to-use UI with native integration with every Microsoft product, and a very low automation failure rate for deployed workflows.

Incentivized

If you have processes that are now managed and controlled using a spreadsheet, Zapier will give you a lot more control over what is happening and will help you increase productivity by eliminating simple steps such as sending emails and sharing information with your colleagues. It frees time for very transactional activities.

Incentivized

• Connecting to different services using OOB connectors
• Support for HTTP connectors which enables user to leverage RestAPIs
• Readability, i.e., it looks just like a Visio diagram. Even managers or HRs can have a look and get to know what's happening
• It's a Programmer's Lego. It's fun connecting them at the same time getting the work done

Incentivized

• Sending confirmation email to clients and user once the flow is triggered.
• Fetching or Dumping files from one location to another if the flow is triggered.
• Schedule flow helps to send alerts and triggers the flow at a specific interval of time to carry out the required task.
• Power Automate also be used to convert any file format to a specific file format and save it to the required location

Incentivized

• Ease of use - multiple people in the organization can set up and run Zaps per their specific use cases without much training.
• Connectivity - Zapier is able to connect to multiple applications we use on a regular basis.
• Functionality - Zapier provides embedded functionality within the app itself (email, data conversion), but also appropriate triggers and actions for apps it connects to.
• Versatile - Zapier can execute complicated and simple tasks and thus has many use cases.

Incentivized

• It falls short of alerting capabilities.
• Microsoft Azure should be unclouded with its pricing. We don't always know how much an inclusion will affect the monthly price. So we have to speculate where we are with the price and if we can afford to include another asset.

Incentivized

• Steep learning curve.
• It can be slow to develop simple solutions compared to other automation platforms such as Smarsheet.
• Troubleshooting and developing can be frustrating without proper access to edit the code directly.
• Only able to edit through the GUI and with expressions.
• Many ways to do the same thing can be frustrating when you need to rework your flow.

Incentivized

• Being able to turn off one leg of a Zap without having to delete it or turn the whole Zap off
• Not all fields populate when using certain aspects of Salesforce, but that could be an SF issue
• Communication when support is actually needed basically doesn't happen

Incentivized

The tool is very useful when used with its various native connectors, taking great advantage of the integration between the components and systems of the Office365 universe. However, its cost is still high, and automation using more advanced components containing AI resources becomes unfeasible for some companies. Due to the financial crisis that many companies are currently experiencing, investment in automation systems or tools is taking a back seat.

Incentivized

Zapier is now very much an integral part of our business and we could not operate without it!

Incentivized

I found them easy to use and adapt to different scenarios, from Azure management to link processes between REST APIs. Together with Function Apps, they're probably the most useful resource type for Azure. Today, I use them in production, and that's a key component: stable, secure, easy to manage, and maintain.

Incentivized

Power Automate features a clean and intuitive user interface that allows users to create, manage, and monitor workflows easily. The UI is designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical users, with drag-and-drop functionality for building workflows. Power Automate supports integration with a wide range of Microsoft and third-party applications. This flexibility in integration allows users to automate workflows across various systems, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.

Incentivized

The interface is very user-friendly, and there are also many tools to help a brand-new user get started. For example, you can put your Zap idea into the AI bot, and it will basically build a shell of your Zap to get started on. The format for each step within a Zap is also very helpful (set up the connection/app, set up the fields/details, then test).

Incentivized

Azure Logic Apps are backed by Azure and Microsoft. There is a wealth of information on the internet about both of these platforms. In addition to this Microsoft has a huge bush to using this platform and have offered many solutions and support options to the user. The only drawback is that it is a fairly new platform so the 3rd party information tends to be lacking.

Incentivized

both Community support and Microsoft official support typically respond to (and resolve) reported issues in a VERY expedient manner, usually going above and beyond for education and bugfixing. I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of support I had been provided in the past.

Incentivized

Before we purchased Zapier, I contacted support and asked them if Zapier could support my intended workflow (this is actually a selection on their support form - awesome). Within 2 hours, I was contacted by a support team member who seemed sure it would work, but granted me premium access for 2 weeks to try it out for myself. Sure enough, it did! Ever since then, support has replied rapidly to any problems I have experienced and answered my questions within a few sentences.

Incentivized

after reviewing the main features of Power Automate, the Microsoft trainer focused on some of our real life use cases implementation, from simple to more advanced.

Incentivized

although it was productive, it is more difficult to stay focused and in a 7 hours a day online training (including screen share issues and the fact that the trainer just can't precisely show the exact location of your mistake)

Incentivized

Overall, our experience implementing Microsoft Power Automate has been positive, with a relatively low barrier to entry and a fast time-to-value—especially because it integrates natively with Microsoft 365, which we were already using extensively. With Respect to migration, I had a very good experience where existing workflows were reviewed and simplified. Unnecessary steps were removed. Business rules were reimplemented using Power Automate logic. We migrated Approval workflows, email-based notifications, SharePoint-centric processes, and simple integrations.

Incentivized

This is very dependent on the line of work you are in and the unique company requirements, as is the case with everything. We utilize Azure Logic Apps for all of our computing solutions within our domain, and it has always worked flawlessly. One of the simplest clouds to set up and use is by far the most popular.

Incentivized

Microsoft Power Automate is worlds ahead of Zapier in so many ways. The looping, DOM access, and flow controls are much better. I feel that accessing different data within previous connectors used in a flow is much easier in Microsoft Power Automate as well. The custom connector creation process is a lot more pleasant in Microsoft Power Automate. The DateTime data type is handles MUCH better in Microsoft Power Automate, which is reason enough to use it.

Incentivized

We actually utilize both Integromat and Zapier at our company, for all the reasons detailed in this review. Though Zapier is excellent for simple client integrations, we often run into internal use cases that require complexity that Zapier cannot provide. Specifically working with API calls (not just webhooks), complex multi-step integrations with Routing/parsing/etc, and large volume integrations. Integromat is perfect for these use cases, but doesn’t provide the simplicity and account scalability that Zapier offers.

Incentivized

I have not done any participations

Incentivized

Microsoft's professional services provide hands-on support throughout the implementation lifecycle of Power Automate.This includes initial setup, configuration, integration with existing systems, testing, and deployment. They ensure that workflows are correctly designed, optimized for performance, and aligned with security best practices.

Incentivized

• Moving to Serverless Computing obviously makes the organization get rid of dependent Infra.
• ROI can be seen immediately as the required infra can be decommissioned after a successful quarter run.
• Being deployed as a single entity or single app on Azure Logic Apps, Organizations need to be more careful with controls applied to meet compliance and security posture.

Incentivized

• You can automate a lot of process very easy like automatic mails for status updates and such. This will save a lot of time and is more accurate, faster and up-to-date than a user can be.
• Task approval is centralized and automatic reminders save us a lot of time.
• The ROI is good if you have a lot of use cases and things to automate

Incentivized

• It has saved me the money in hiring an administrative assistant
• It also saved me the time it took to do these tasks
• It also allowed me to automate things that increased my lead generation
• It also allowed me to automate several processes

Incentivized