Microsoft Power Apps vs Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs ServiceNow comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Power Apps, Oracle Application Express (APEX), and ServiceNow based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Oracle, ServiceNow and others in Rapid Application Development Software.
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Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Microsoft PowerApps's most valuable features we found are that it's very similar to the other Microsoft products, you can do the basic automation quite quickly. The interface is similar to the other Microsoft products which makes it easy to navigate around because we are used to Microsoft products.""Overall, the tool is very democratic. It's easy for anyone to use. You don't have to be a professional or well-versed in technology.""The model that allows you to establish flow automation is getting a lot of traction from the customer side. It offers a lot of flexibility.""It's a very workable solution because it's an automated way of making applications. You have a template, you have the application know-how,""The solution works great and is stable.""The product is very user-friendly.""For all no-code platforms that let you create a front end, you can click together something very quick.""I like how fast I can develop an application and put it in production with PowerApps. I think the integration is also excellent. The platforms is growing, so they are constantly adding more connectors on all these things."

More Microsoft Power Apps Pros →

"One standout feature of Oracle APEX is its seamless integration with backend procedures, allowing for quick updates without changing the front-end interface.""Oracle APEX allows our company to complete webpage projects easily in a fast turnaround time.""The autonomous database is valuable and provides the main structure for code development.""What I like best about Oracle Application Express (APEX) is that it doesn't require hard coding for reporting and building applications. It's a GUI-based application builder that even end-users with little development and language knowledge can develop applications on Oracle Application Express (APEX). The software is also very user-friendly, which I find valuable.""It provides attractive GUIs allowing professionally-styled applications without the need to know HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.""This is a good application for quickly creating public applications.""Oracle APEX's reporting features are simple yet powerful. The ability to quickly create CRUD screens has simplified many RAD discovery processes, while the APEX environment allows the product owners and dev teams to quickly understand the complex solutions and employ usage statistics to identify areas requiring improvement. The option to add external JavaScript tools in screen development enables the development of complicated mobile or web usage scenarios in rare cases where the APEX UX is not enough.""I like the way that it automatically goes into the spreadsheets and the users can deal with it."

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"It's great for keeping everyone informed in the company - not just IT. Everyone becomes aware of change requests and incidents so the entire company is on the same page.""In the Service Portal, the widget concept - and the way we have developed our widget - is pretty simple. We can leverage a lot on top of it.""It facilitates the monitoring of major incidents and provides insights into the effort expended to resolve each incident.""One feature of ServiceNow that is important is the workflow engine. From my perspective [as a consultant] the power to be able to structure processes, represent workforce management for organizations, and the visibility provided by the reporting are additional top features.""Some of the valuable features I have found the solution to have are it can serve many different types of businesses, it has strong platform capabilities, provides application development, built-in predictive intelligence, and performance analytics reports.""It enables us to meet SLAs, track issues across the environment, and report those issues.""It's great to do statuses or to review tasks.""The most valuable features of the solution are the ease of use and the sensor for ticketing systems."

More ServiceNow Pros →

Cons
"Microsoft PowerApps can improve the number of bugs that are present. When you are using the different applications it is not accurate.""The notion people have is that no code equals no knowledge, and that's simply not true. Even though you don't have to write codes, you still have to know what you're doing.""In an upcoming release, I would like to see custom APIs, better integration with other solutions, and more connectors available.""There is room for improvement in error handling and debugging.""Technical support could be faster, and more accurate.""When we talk of integrating with external applications, that's one area where, even today, I had to loop in my code developers. If this area can be streamlined so that my techno-functional consultants, who are on-site, can immediately start working on something without the assistance of developers, that would be ideal.""The area where this product can be improved is the documentation. When we get stuck it's with the documentation when we are not able to find the codes we need.""The solution must provide more integration with third-party applications."

More Microsoft Power Apps Cons →

"Maybe there are other technologies that offer what APEX cannot.""When exporting, we can't export dynamic reports, only static reports. For example, when we want to export charts or tables it is only exported as a static report so we can't drop down on these reports; however, we can see this information when we are on the dashboard itself.""Better connection and integration with non-Oracle databases is needed.""During the upcoming versions, we can modify the current configuration.""I would like to see easier integration into active directory authentication. Also, maybe integration of JavaScript frameworks would resolve some issues.""There is a bit of a learning curve involved when first using the solution.""Visual Builder and APEX should meld in one product.""The problem of sending emails arises when Oracle Application Express (APEX) is inside Oracle Cloud Infrastructure since it is a bit complicated or difficult to understand where to take care of the setup part to be able to just send out emails properly."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) Cons →

"The contract module is quite rudimentary and doesn't support contract line items.""System deployment and automation capabilities could be within the platform, similar to competitors.""Most people are discussing UIs, but I'm a developer. I would say 80-90% of the people would appreciate that, that's easy for them, but from a developer perspective, it's hard for me, because for me it's clunky""Once a change request has been created once it's been approved and been submitted, there is no way to go in on that particular change request and submit an additional task.""It's not user-friendly by default, but it can be customized to be customer-friendly.""The interface is not user-friendly.""The pricing of the solution could be better. It's a bit high.""The ability to embed help information onto the screens."

More ServiceNow Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "If you start to use any premium connectors that are not stored in a SharePoint list or on an Excel workbook, then it costs $4 per user per month. If you want unlimited, it's about $16 per month for unlimited apps, and unlimited connectors."
  • "The company has a subscription where you can use certain features for free, but there are features that require a premium subscription to use."
  • "The enterprise-level costs a great deal of money, and you have to purchase additional licenses to scale it."
  • "We use the Office 365 package, and Microsoft PowerApps is a part of the package. We don't pay any separate price for this. There are no additional costs. We just pay for the Office 365 package."
  • "There are two licensing costs, one is pay-as-you-go, or you can develop it for one year."
  • "This is not an expensive product and there are no licensing fees."
  • "It is not expensive. There is no licensing cost."
  • "The pricing is too expensive and the licensing system is complicated. There are many pages of instruction on how to do the calculations for the price."
  • More Microsoft Power Apps Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "APEX itslelf is a free product, but you will need to license peripheral components."
  • "When buying the data license, APEX is included."
  • "We have a full Oracle E-Business Suite license, and we use that license to develop applications. There's no license required for developing Oracle applications."
  • "There is a trial version available that can be used free of charge."
  • "Pricing is expensive, overall on an enterprise system but we consider that it gives corresponding value in the product."
  • "It's a free solution with no additional costs."
  • "We have an Oracle basic product license, and then we can use Oracle APEX for free. We have many licenses for Oracle for approximately 20 processors."
  • "The solution is free."
  • More Oracle Application Express (APEX) Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The first impact for the customer is that it is expensive, but do not forget that it is a solution that includes infrastructure; a single cost, easy to justify."
  • "It has a higher cost compared to local/regional solutions."
  • "We know that ServiceNow is not cheap, it's more expensive than other solutions. But we are trying to increase our ability to handle tickets so that the cost per ticket is less."
  • "It's sold as a less expensive solution, but it has to be highly modified. That's where you get into the cost."
  • "ServiceNow pricing is an art, not a science. The deal depends on how commercially savvy you are, which does make it something that is quite difficult to get right. It is most definitely an opportunity area for ServiceNow to improve and have more visibility around pricing of the different products within the platform."
  • "ServiceNow is a leader and its pricing is quite good, quite competitive... Sometimes some plugins are not priced reasonably but, generally, the platform itself, its modules, are priced reasonably."
  • "Isn't pricing always too much? We really do chafe at the ITIL licensing. ITOM is also pretty expensive."
  • "Initially, the licensing model ServiceNow came up with was very good. But now, from a licensing perspective, they are changing their model day by day. It is becoming a bit expensive for customers."
  • More ServiceNow Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: I think it depends on your use case. If your organization uses Microsoft Enterprise products, PowerApps will work… more »
    Top Answer:Hi Netanya I will choose ServiceNow because ServiceNow is a very good tool compared to Microsoft PowerApp.  Because… more »
    Top Answer:Microsoft Azure App Service is helpful if you need to set up temporary servers for customers to run their programs in… more »
    Top Answer:One standout feature of Oracle APEX is its seamless integration with backend procedures, allowing for quick updates… more »
    Top Answer:The solution is moderately priced, where it is neither cheap nor expensive. The solution's pricing depends on how it is… more »
    Top Answer:One area for improvement in Oracle APEX is its workflow orchestration capabilities. While it excels in forms and… more »
    Top Answer:The short answer is that OutSystems is far better for 2 main reasons. Firstly, with Service Now you are locked into that… more »
    Top Answer:The most impactful feature in our day-to-day operations is the ticket status, which provides crucial visibility into the… more »
    Top Answer:The pricing is reasonable and affordable, making it suitable for businesses ranging from small to large scale.
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    Also Known As
    PowerApps, MS PowerApps
    Oracle APEX
    Learn More
    Overview

    Microsoft Power Apps is a rapid application development software and low-code development platform. The solution consists of a suite of apps, services, connectors, and a data platform. It provides an environment for building custom apps which is suitable for different businesses.

    Microsoft Power Apps allows users to not only build applications, but also connect them to Microsoft's other sources, including the underlying data platform Microsoft Dataverse, as well as online and on-premise sources such as SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365. The applications built using Microsoft Power Apps have a responsive design that makes them suitable for work in browsers and on mobile applications on different devices.

    The no-code side of the product makes it suitable for complete beginners to app building, allowing them to easily create fully functional applications with many features. The solution also has a specialized platform for developers where specialists can access data and metadata, create custom connectors, integrate with external data, and apply business logic. The solution allows users to create three types of apps: canvas, model-driven, and portal. They are made using:

    • Power Apps Studio: Canvas apps are designed through Power Apps Studio. This app designer is suitable for complete beginners, as the app creation process resembles the building of presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint.

    • App Designer: Model-driven apps are created through App Designer. The creation process allows users to define the sitemap and add components to build the application.

    • Power Apps Portals Studio: This is a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) design tool. It is suitable for portal applications, as it allows users to add and configure web pages, forms, components, and lists.

    Microsoft Power Apps Features

    The three different design tools of the solution, Power Apps Studio, App Designer, and Power Apps Portals Studio, come with various features which allow users to utilize the tools. Some of these features include:

    • Common Data Service (CDS): The data storage feature of the solution allows users to store and manage the data used for business applications securely. The data within the feature is stored among a set of entities, including a base set of standard entities as well as user-made custom ones, using Power Query. The data within CDS can be used to build apps.

    • Cloud connectivity: Microsoft Power Apps has the ability to connect with various types of cloud services. It can connect with MS CDS, as well as SQL, DropBox, and Google Drive.

    • Sharing feature: The tool has a feature for sharing built applications. Users can share the app they have created with users within the same organization as them.

    • Role-based feature: The product allows organizations to assign their employees roles within the platform. This is done to create customization based on the assigned roles, potentially eliminating issues that a completely free access can create.

    • AI automation: The tool has a feature that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI). It provides users with an AI builder and pre-built AI components to facilitate the application building process.

    • APIs feature: Microsoft Power Apps facilitates the app-building process through application program interfaces (APIs).

    • Collaboration support: The tool supports collaboration within the organization in the application building process. Through this feature, multiple employees can contribute to the creation of an app.

    Microsoft Power Apps Benefits

    The product brings various benefits to organizations and individuals who utilize it. Some of the biggest advantages of Microsoft Power Apps include:

    • The solution saves time for organizations by eliminating manual coding and providing ready-to-use solutions.

    • Applications built on the product can be made compatible with various platforms, including the web, Windows, Android, and iOS.

    • The premium connectors and wide integration of the platform allow developers to use data from Microsoft and from third-party services to build their applications.

    • The no-code capability enhances mobility and innovations within companies.

    • The AI feature of the product allows companies to increase their productivity through prebuilt AI scenarios.

    • The tool offers various ways to follow the data from the created applications, allowing companies to benefit from the reports of the performance of their apps.

    • Professional developers receive a platform to follow crucial metrics and access the application development in detail.

    • Power Apps can be connected across the entire Microsoft Power Platform, allowing organizations to utilize all features that the provider offers.

    Reviews from Real Users

    An IT Specialist (INFOSEC) at a government appreciates this tool because it is low-code, low learning curve, and reduces manpower.

    Rafael T., a data engineer at NTT Security, likes Microsoft Power Apps, because it is great for making apps quickly, has helpful support, and integrates with Power BI.

    Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a low-code development platform that enables users to build enterprise apps securely and scalably. APEX, which offers world-class features, can be deployed anywhere. As part of the Oracle Database, developers can develop superior apps 20x more quickly by using all of the tools provided in a single, extensible platform.

    Oracle APEX, a cloud platform that has been around for over 20 years, eliminates complexities associated with app building while delivering results faster and at a lower cost. The low-code aspect offers developers a visual approach to app development that accelerates the development process. Oracle APEX also provides a lively, global, and growing community of developers that can connect and share resources with each other.

    Features of Oracle Application Express (APEX)

    App building requires complexities and expert knowledge in vast web technologies. With Oracle APEX, these complexities involved with multi-faceted applications are reduced, and developers are provided with the rich features they need to fix business problems and create solutions. These features include:

    • Data: Oracle APEX offers revolutionary functionality to enable developers to turn data into information, no matter where that data is from. Under this functionality, you can display, chart, manipulate, and process data effortlessly and accurately.
    • Accessibility: Developers can build highly accessible and inclusive web apps for users with various abilities and requirements. Oracle APEX aims to provide a good user experience for everybody, with accessibility bug fixes and continuous improvements of their testing strategies.
    • Globalization: Oracle APEX provides the ability to create a framework to maintain well-performing applications in multiple languages and environments.
    • Smart Filters and Search: users can rapidly reduce searched data and remove clutter with search terms and filter suggestions for a more simplified user experience.
    • Security: Oracle APEX empowers web application builders to develop apps without compromising on security. Despite the constant increase of attacks and modification of web standards, developers can stay focused on their tasks without leaving applications exposed.
    • Monitoring: Monitoring and logging are built into Oracle APEX, which provides valuable insight into how users interact with your applications, as well as any hacking attempts, application errors, and performance issues.
    • User Interface: Developers can build modern web applications that are responsive, easily customizable, highly accessible, and simple to maintain with Universal Theme, a user interface for Application Express.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Oracle Application Express is a favorite among developers looking to create web applications quickly and securely for many reasons, which include its ease of use and the ability to quickly create public applications

    A senior database developer at a tech services company notes, "This is a good application for quickly creating public applications."

    Alvaro L., an intelligence coordinator at Grupo Orbis, writes, "Oracle Application Express is easy to use, people don't have to be developers to use it."

    ServiceNow is a cloud-based task-management platform that specializes in IT operations management (ITOM), IT services management (ITSM), and IT business management (ITBM). ServiceNow allows users to manage their teams, projects, and customer interactions using a variety of different plugins and apps with which it easily integrates.

    ServiceNow offers prebuilt applications to support any process, as well as a framework and tools that allow you to build your own.

    ServiceNow’s service management solutions include change, request, incident, problem, and cost management, as well as HR, IT, field service, and facilities management solutions. They also cover business management solutions such as vendor performance management, financial management, performance analytics and project portfolio suite, as well as governance, risk, and compliance.

    “The Smarter Way to Workflow”

    ServiceNow’s activities, processes, and tasks are overseen as part of a comprehensive managed workflow that supports such features as real-time collaboration, communication, and resource sharing. ServiceNow’s suite of products allow for operation using serverless computing, and include the categories of Business Apps, Customer Service, HR, IT, and Security.

    ServiceNow can be used to support most workflows because of the wide range of tools it offers. These include on-suite ticketing tools, predictive modeling to manage workflows, and benchmarking for the tracking of progress. ServiceNow can assist with artificial intelligence and machine learning processes and can be used to organize the cases of a help/service desk as well as for instance management and problem management. It also smoothly integrates with many legacy systems.

    ServiceNow offers service management software for industries including:

    Cloud services
    Education
    Financial services
    Government
    Healthcare
    Manufacturing
    Telecommunications

    Reviews from Real Users

    PeerSpot users prefer ServiceNow to its competitors because of its scalability, stability, and ease of use. It helps everyone in the company to be on the same page by creating a single source of record across all departments. One user stated that “I’ve definitely used over 20 project management solutions, but they can't be compared with ServiceNow.” Another said that “ServiceNow is an industry leader in multiple areas and provides an excellent ROI.

    Sample Customers
    TransAlta, Rackspace, Telstra
    Hepart AG, pharmasol, SATLOG, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne
    AAA, AstraZeneca, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Broadcom, Christus Health, Epicor, Equinix, GE Capital, Intuit, KPMG, Loyola Marymount University, OshKosh, Quantas, RedHat, Royal Bank of Scotland, Swiss Re, U.S. Department of Energy, Safeway, Yale University, and Zillow    
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company25%
    Manufacturing Company13%
    Insurance Company9%
    Construction Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company12%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Government10%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    REVIEWERS
    Healthcare Company13%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Energy/Utilities Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization26%
    Government10%
    Computer Software Company9%
    Financial Services Firm7%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Healthcare Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization22%
    Computer Software Company11%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise68%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise32%
    Large Enterprise51%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise64%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise29%
    Large Enterprise56%
    Buyer's Guide
    Rapid Application Development Software
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Oracle, ServiceNow and others in Rapid Application Development Software. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.