Finding the right is a critical step for any organization looking to scale its robotic process automation (RPA). Microsoft offers several tiers ranging from a completely free version for basic local automation to enterprise-grade plans that support unattended bots running on virtual machines. Core License Options for 2026 Price (approx.) Key Capabilities Free Individuals Attended flows on a local PC; standard connectors only. Premium $15/user/month Power Users Attended RPA, premium connectors, AI Builder credits. Process $150/bot/month Scaled RPA Unattended RPA (runs without human login). Hosted Process $215/bot/month Unattended RPA on a Microsoft-managed VM . 1. Power Automate Free License
Disclaimer: This paper reflects publicly available Microsoft licensing terms as of April 2026. Licensing policies may change. For binding guidance, consult your Microsoft reseller or legal team.
The landscape of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has shifted significantly since Microsoft’s introduction of Power Automate Desktop. Historically, RPA was a niche, high-cost utility reserved for specific enterprise workflows. Microsoft disrupted this market by integrating RPA capabilities directly into the Windows operating system and the broader Power Platform ecosystem. power automate desktop license
Large-scale background tasks like overnight data entry, bulk invoicing, or server-side legacy integrations. Power Automate Hosted Process ($215 /bot/month) This is the "Infrastructure-as-a-Service" model.
Power Automate Desktop is uniquely accessible because of its free inclusion in Windows, but organizations often outgrow that tier quickly. The key inflection points are: Finding the right is a critical step for
For mission-critical processes (e.g., Payroll, ERP integration), do not rely on Attended bots running on a user's laptop. The risk of the user turning off their PC or going on vacation is too high.
Below are the main benefits: * Integration. Power Automate is designed to connect with over 400 applications and services, enablin... Blog BotCity Show all Plan Best For Notable Constraints Free (Windows 10/11) Individuals automating local, attended tasks. No cloud triggers, scheduling, or sharing. Power Automate Premium Users needing both API and UI automation (RPA). Limited by action logs per run (10,000 max). Unattended RPA Add-on Running flows on a server without user interaction. Requires a base per-user or per-flow license. Reviewer Verdicts Gartner Peer Insights | Power User productivity
| Feature | Windows Built-in (Free) | Per-User with Attended RPA | Unattended RPA Add-on | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Personal productivity, local PC tasks. | Power User productivity, personal automation. | Enterprise scale, server-side automation. | | Execution Context | User must be present/interactive. | User must be present/interactive. | Runs in background; no user required. | | Cloud Integration | None (No Cloud Flow triggers). | Full Cloud Flow integration. | Full Cloud Flow integration. | | Machine State | Screen must be unlocked. | Screen must be unlocked. | Screen can be locked/logged off. | | Management | Local Console only. | Centralized Web Portal. | Centralized Web Portal + Queues. | | Cost Factor | Included in Windows OS. | Monthly subscription per user. | Monthly subscription per bot capacity. |