Microsoft Power Apps vs OutSystems comparison

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34,175 views|27,083 comparisons
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16,466 views|8,971 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jul 10, 2022

We performed a comparison between Microsoft PowerApps and OutSystems based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Microsoft BI and OutSystems users say the initial setup of both products is straightforward and quite easy.
  • Features: Users of both solutions are happy with their stability and scalability, and mention that they allow you to build apps very quickly.

    Microsoft PowerApps users find that the solution is simple to use and flexible. Users would like to see more RPA functionalities and better documentation.

    OutSystems users like that the solution offers good mobile features and integrates well with content management platforms. Users mention that the solution could benefit from stronger workflow-based automation and that out-of-the-box performance could be improved.
  • Pricing: Microsoft PowerApps users find the pricing to be reasonable. In contrast, OutSystems users agree that the solution is costly.
  • Service and Support: Users of both solutions have good experiences with support. However, some OutSystems users say response time could be improved.

Comparison Results: Users of both solutions seem to be satisfied with their ease of deployment, features, and overall technical support. However, users seem to favor Microsoft PowerApps slightly because it is more affordable.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Power Apps vs. OutSystems Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"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.""The support is the most valuable feature.""The solution is easy to use and map.""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.""We particularly like the workflow connectors in the forms, for information introduction purposes.""If you want something that you can use for cellphones, multiple tablets, and things like that, you can use PowerApps for the front end. It gathers all the information, and the information goes somewhere else.""Overall the solution is reliable.""Can design apps quickly and can connect to any database."

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"I find it to be a genuinely cool and effective platform for my development needs.""Once built, web/mobile components can be reused in all new developments. In addition, the OutSystems Forge is very useful. We can exchange components and even already-built applications, reducing costs to build specific solutions.""Refactoring with TrueChange is very simple.""We can quickly develop an application using the tool.""The scratch coding is useful. The solution is easy to understand.""I really like the one-click publish feature in OutSystems. In other development tools/languages, it's not as easy. I also like how easily I can manage all my projects in one place.""Scalability proved to be an exceptionally beneficial feature.""It is much easier to develop applications with the product’s IDE."

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Cons
"It has to improve the threshold limit where it can handle data beyond 5000 items.""We would like to see the period for viewing executions within this solution to be extended beyond its current limit of 28 days. We would prefer to be able to offer our customers an infinite amount of history to search.""It is not enough user friendly. It also doesn't integrate very well with SQL Server.""If the price was reduced and the quality of the user interfaces was improved it would be beneficial.""There is room for improvement in error handling and debugging.""The solution must provide more integration with third-party applications.""I have always felt that you need an IT background to use this solution.""The set up of the solution could be simpler."

More Microsoft Power Apps Cons →

"It needs improvement in the AI capability.""We have performance issues while fetching bulk data.""The new version could be improved.""Its ability to create and run automated tasks could be better.""The resource availability needs to be increased.""The initial setup is a little difficult.""There are many tutorials available but they are very basic and good for learning the platform. To develop an enterprise-grade application, advanced tutorials need to be developed to help IT professionals design/develop high-quality/performance applications.""In OutSystems, cloud management is an area of concern where improvements are required."

More OutSystems 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 →

  • "OutSystems was open to a deal that worked for both sides."
  • "It is still very expensive, so small companies can’t generally afford it... Still, the time saving on development and delivery is worth the value."
  • "You should contact OutSystems for more details but my opinion is that it is not for small business budgets."
  • "Pricing could be a concern. You have to pay yearly, even after you have completed your development."
  • "For a single application, it's too expensive."
  • "OutSystems is a good solution, but it's not cheap."
  • "I think the pricing for OutSystems is comparable with similar solutions. I would place it somewhere in the middle. We pay for the bundle and don't pay anything extra in terms of licensing and other fees."
  • "The subscription is billed on a yearly basis."
  • More OutSystems 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 better in your environment. Similarly, if you have a Salesforce integration in… more »
    Top Answer:Hi Netanya I will choose ServiceNow because ServiceNow is a very good tool compared to Microsoft PowerApp.  Because ServiceNow has a very strong module (Performance Analysis) reporting which will… more »
    Top Answer:Microsoft Azure App Service is helpful if you need to set up temporary servers for customers to run their programs in locations that other cloud providers do not cater to. When servers are closer to… 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 platform for good. The business model is to lock in and then keep pumping the… more »
    Top Answer:I cannot really name an industry in which OutSystems cannot be beneficial. Who does not want to make top-notch applications that work in no time? And OutsyStems does exactly that. The low-code… more »
    Top Answer: We started using OutSystems fairly recently, so we are still on the free version of it. My company is still testing how we like the platform, but so far, we have been satisfied with it and will… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    34,175
    Comparisons
    27,083
    Reviews
    35
    Average Words per Review
    562
    Rating
    7.8
    Views
    16,466
    Comparisons
    8,971
    Reviews
    26
    Average Words per Review
    481
    Rating
    8.5
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    PowerApps, MS PowerApps
    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.

    OutSystems is a platform for low-code application development that unites design, code, and deployment to simplify development so any business can create innovative solutions in a timely manner. There are various use cases an organization can employ with OutSystems, including:

    • Customer portals: Through OutSystems, companies can easily create customer portals and mobile applications and deploy them faster in comparison to manual coding. The platform offers businesses the opportunity to develop secure, scalable, and customized applications that support their and their customers' needs.

    • Internal apps: Using this solution, companies can also build internal applications and portals which can be used for their workforce. Using these, organizations can overcome their internal app backlog, bridge gaps between systems, and facilitate their work process.

    • Core systems: Custom software for running a business can also be developed using OutSystems. The tool shortens the time for developing core systems and delivers them flexible and personalized to each business' needs.

    OutSystems offers faster development and deployment times than hand-coding while delivering unique and personalized solutions to its customers. The main focus of OutSystems is high-performance low code which enables businesses to create functional products that answer their needs. It offers clients the ability to develop enterprise-grade applications with a high level of security.

    The product stands out from its competitors as it offers:

    • Serious applications
    • Serious productivity
    • Serious scalability

    It ensures its clients that the applications built using this platform are as scalable as hand-coded ones while increasing workspace productivity and evolving applications’ capabilities.

    OutSystems Features

    OutSystems has various features through which users can develop and deploy highly efficient applications and other products. Some of the features include:

    • Monitoring: The tool has a feature that allows real-time monitoring of the usage of applications and their performance. All insights are reported to companies via the intuitive interface.

    • APIs: OutSystems is completely scalable through application programming interfaces.

    • Security: The product offers its users a high level of enterprise security for their applications as well as for their data.

    • Mobile: Every application created on OutSystems can be deployed for mobile. The product also provides the option to monitor the performance of applications to detect any issues.

    • DevOps automation: The product facilitates and shortens the development time of applications through various automation which help users create apps without the help of developers, as well as providing developers with additional resources.

    • Agile development: Every company that seeks to perform agile development can benefit from the native support this tool provides.

    • Debugging engine: OutSystems has an integrated debugging engine that can be utilized in the development and deployment processes, shortening the time it takes for developers and businesses to look for issues.

    • Multilingual support feature: Customers can benefit from support in multiple languages, ensuring their questions are answered understandably.

    OutSystems Benefits

    The solution offers a wide array of benefits to companies that utilize it in their application development. Some of these benefits include:

    • Visual development at high speed provides increases productivity for both businesses and users.

    • The option to integrate applications to a large number of systems without additional complications.

    • The product adds automation to all levels of development, including front end, back end, and integration, facilitating the delivery of complex applications.

    • Artificial intelligence (AI) validation ensures the high quality of applications.

    • The tool offers connectivity with more than 400 systems and existing technologies, allowing companies to save money they would otherwise have to invest in new software.

    • The multi-platform solution decreases costs for organizations by removing the need for third-party software.

    • It offers whole-team cross-functional collaboration, which can increase the technological knowledge in a company and raise the overall business expertise.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Harikrishnan R., a technical lead at Netlink Software Group America Inc, likes OutSystems because the tool helps with validation, offers good features, and is reliable.

    An owner at a consultancy thinks OutSystems is versatile with great scalability and great technical support.

    Sample Customers
    TransAlta, Rackspace, Telstra
    Randstad, Warner Brothers, HP, Intel, ING, Banco Popular, Thrivent Financial, Bacardi, Kent State University, Bacardi, FICO, ING, Vodafone, AbbVie, Estafeta, Siemens, Vopak
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company25%
    Manufacturing Company13%
    Insurance Company9%
    Outsourcing Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company12%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government10%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company30%
    Government10%
    Energy/Utilities Company10%
    Consumer Goods Company5%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization26%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business20%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise68%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business34%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise53%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise35%
    Large Enterprise43%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Power Apps vs. OutSystems
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Power Apps vs. OutSystems and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Power Apps is ranked 1st in Rapid Application Development Software with 35 reviews while OutSystems is ranked 4th in Rapid Application Development Software with 30 reviews. Microsoft Power Apps is rated 7.8, while OutSystems is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Microsoft Power Apps writes "Low-code, low learning curve, and reduces manpower". On the other hand, the top reviewer of OutSystems writes "Helps with validation, offers good features, and is reliable". Microsoft Power Apps is most compared with Mendix, Oracle Application Express (APEX), ServiceNow, Appian and Microsoft Azure App Service, whereas OutSystems is most compared with Appian, Mendix, ServiceNow, Oracle Application Express (APEX) and Pega BPM. See our Microsoft Power Apps vs. OutSystems report.

    See our list of best Rapid Application Development Software vendors and best Low-Code Development Platforms vendors.

    We monitor all Rapid Application Development Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.