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Updates for Azure Logic Apps vs Power Automate and Functions
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articles/azure-functions/functions-compare-logic-apps-ms-flow-webjobs.md

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title: Integration and automation platform options in Azure
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description: "Compare Microsoft cloud services that are optimized for integration tasks: Power Automate, Logic Apps, Functions, and WebJobs."
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ms.topic: overview
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ms.date: 06/09/2023
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ms.date: 02/07/2025
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ms.custom: mvc
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#Customer intent: As a developer, I want to understand the choices that Azure offers for hosting and executing my business logic so that I can choose the right set of Azure services.
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---
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* [Azure Functions](https://azure.microsoft.com/services/functions/)
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* [Azure App Service WebJobs](../app-service/webjobs-create.md)
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All of these services can solve integration problems and automate business processes. They can all define input, actions, conditions, and output. You can run each of them on a schedule or trigger. Each service has unique advantages, and this article explains the differences.
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All of these services can solve integration problems and automate business processes. They can all define input, actions, conditions, and output. You can run each of them on a schedule or trigger. Each service has unique advantages, and this article explains the differences.
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>[!NOTE]
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>If you're looking for a more general comparison between Azure Functions and other Azure compute options:
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>+ [Criteria for choosing an Azure compute service](/azure/architecture/guide/technology-choices/compute-comparison)
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>+ [Choosing an Azure compute option for microservices](/azure/architecture/microservices/design/compute-options)
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> [!NOTE]
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>
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>For a summary and comparison of automation service options in Azure:
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>+ [Choose the Automation services in Azure](../automation/automation-services.md)
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## Compare Microsoft Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps
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Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps are both *designer-first* integration services that can create workflows. Both services integrate with various SaaS and enterprise applications.
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> If you're looking for a more general comparison between Azure Functions and other Azure compute options, see the following articles:
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>
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> - [Criteria for choosing an Azure compute service](/azure/architecture/guide/technology-choices/compute-comparison)
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> - [Choosing an Azure compute option for microservices](/azure/architecture/microservices/design/compute-options)
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>
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> For a summary and comparison of automation service options in Azure,
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> see [Choose the Automation services in Azure](../automation/automation-services.md).
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Power Automate is built on the Azure Logic Apps platform. Both provide similar workflow designers and [connectors](/connectors/connector-reference/).
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## Compare Azure Logic Apps and Microsoft Power Automate
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Power Automate empowers any office worker to perform simple integrations (for example, an approval process on a SharePoint Document Library) without going through developers or IT. Logic Apps can also enable advanced integrations (for example, B2B processes) where enterprise-level Azure DevOps and security practices are required. It's typical for a business workflow to grow in complexity over time.
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These services are both *designer-first* integration platforms where you can build and run automated workflows. Both platforms integrate with various Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and enterprise applications. Both provide similar workflow designers, and while [their connectors share some overlap](/connectors/connector-reference/), each platform also offers their own unique connectors.
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The following table helps you determine whether Power Automate or Logic Apps is best for a particular integration:
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Power Automate empowers business users, office workers, and citizen developers to build simple integrations, such as an approval workflow for a SharePoint document library, without having to work with IT or developers or to write code. Azure Logic Apps supports integrations ranging from little-to-no-code scenarios to more advanced, codeful, and complex workflows, such as B2B processes or those that require enterprise-level interactions with Azure DevOps. A business workflow can also grow from simple to complext over time.
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| | Power Automate | Logic Apps |
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| --- | --- | --- |
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| **Users** |Office workers, business users, SharePoint administrators |Pro integrators and developers, IT pros |
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| **Scenarios** |Self-service |Advanced integrations |
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| **Design tool** |In-browser and mobile app, UI only |In-browser, [Visual Studio Code](../logic-apps/quickstart-create-logic-apps-visual-studio-code.md), and [Visual Studio](../logic-apps/quickstart-create-logic-apps-with-visual-studio.md) with code view available |
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| **Application lifecycle management (ALM)** |Power Platform [provides tools](/power-platform/alm/tools-apps-used-alm) that integrate with DevOps and [GitHub Actions](/power-platform/alm/devops-github-actions) to let you build automated pipelines in the ALM cycle. |Azure DevOps: source control, testing, support, automation, and manageability in [Azure Resource Manager](../logic-apps/logic-apps-azure-resource-manager-templates-overview.md) |
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| **Admin experience** |Manage Power Automate environments and data loss prevention (DLP) policies, track licensing: [Admin center](https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com) |Manage resource groups, connections, access management, and logging: [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com) |
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| **Security** |Microsoft 365 security audit logs, DLP, [encryption at rest](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_at_rest#Encryption) for sensitive data |Security assurance of Azure: [Azure security](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/trustcenter/Security/AzureSecurity), [Microsoft Defender for Cloud](https://azure.microsoft.com/services/security-center/), [audit logs](/azure/security/fundamentals/log-audit) |
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To help you determine whether you want to use Azure Logic Apps or Power Automate for a specific integration, see the [Capability comparison table](/azure/logic-apps/power-automate-migration#compare-capability-details).
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## Compare Azure Functions and Azure Logic Apps
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Functions and Logic Apps are Azure services that enable serverless workloads. Azure Functions is a serverless compute service, whereas Azure Logic Apps is a serverless workflow integration platform. Both can create complex *orchestrations*. An orchestration is a collection of functions, or *actions* in Azure Logic Apps, that you can run to complete a complex task. For example, to process a batch of orders, you might execute many instances of a function in parallel, wait for all instances to finish, and then execute a function that computes a result on the aggregate.
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These Azure services enable you to build and run serverless workloads. Azure Functions is a serverless compute service, while Azure Logic Apps is a serverless workflow integration platform. Both can create complex *orchestrations*. An orchestration is a collection of functions, which are called *actions* in Azure Logic Apps, that you can run to complete a complex task. For example, to process a batch of orders, you might execute many instances of a function in parallel, wait for all instances to finish, and then execute a function that computes a result on the aggregate.
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For Azure Functions, you develop orchestrations by writing code and using the [Durable Functions extension](durable/durable-functions-overview.md). For Azure Logic Apps, you create orchestrations by using a GUI or editing configuration files.
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For Azure Functions, you develop orchestrations by writing code and using the [Durable Functions extension](durable/durable-functions-overview.md). For Azure Logic Apps, you create orchestrations by using a visual designer or by editing Azure Resource Manager templates.
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You can mix and match services when you build an orchestration, such as calling functions from logic app workflows and calling logic app workflows from functions. Choose how to build each orchestration based on the services' capabilities or your personal preference. The following table lists some key differences between these services:
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| | Durable Functions | Azure Logic Apps |
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| --- | --- | --- |
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| | Durable Functions | Azure Logic Apps |
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| --- | ----------------- | ---------------- |
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| **Development** | Code-first (imperative) | Designer-first (declarative) |
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| **Connectivity** | [About a dozen built-in binding types](functions-triggers-bindings.md#supported-bindings), write code for custom bindings | [Large collection of connectors](/connectors/connector-reference/connector-reference-logicapps-connectors), [Enterprise Integration Pack for B2B scenarios](../logic-apps/logic-apps-enterprise-integration-overview.md), [build custom connectors](/connectors/custom-connectors/) |
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| **Actions** | Each activity is an Azure function; write code for activity functions |[Large collection of ready-made actions](/connectors/connector-reference/connector-reference-logicapps-connectors)|
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| **Monitoring** | [Azure Application Insights](/azure/azure-monitor/app/app-insights-overview) | [Azure portal](../logic-apps/quickstart-create-example-consumption-workflow.md), [Azure Monitor Logs](../logic-apps/monitor-workflows-collect-diagnostic-data.md), [Microsoft Defender for Cloud](../logic-apps/healthy-unhealthy-resource.md) |
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| **Management** | [REST API](durable/durable-functions-http-api.md), [Visual Studio](/visualstudio/azure/vs-azure-tools-resources-managing-with-cloud-explorer) | [Azure portal](../logic-apps/quickstart-create-example-consumption-workflow.md), [REST API](/rest/api/logic/), [PowerShell](/powershell/module/az.logicapp), [Visual Studio](../logic-apps/manage-logic-apps-with-visual-studio.md) |
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| **Execution context** | Can run [locally](./functions-kubernetes-keda.md) or in the cloud | Runs in Azure, locally, or on premises. For more information, see [What is Azure Logic Apps](../logic-apps/logic-apps-overview.md#resource-environment-differences). |
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| **Connectivity** | - [A dozen built-in binding types](functions-triggers-bindings.md#supported-bindings) <br>- Write code for custom bindings | - [1,400+ prebuilt connectors with triggers and actions](/connectors/connector-reference/connector-reference-logicapps-connectors) <br>- [Enterprise Integration Pack for B2B scenarios](../logic-apps/logic-apps-enterprise-integration-overview.md) <br>- [Custom connectors](/connectors/custom-connectors/) |
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| **Actions** | Each activity is an Azure function; write code for activity functions | [1,400+ prebuilt connectors with triggers and actions](/connectors/connector-reference/connector-reference-logicapps-connectors) |
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| **Monitoring** | [Azure Application Insights](/azure/azure-monitor/app/app-insights-overview) | - [Azure portal](../logic-apps/view-workflow-status-run-history.md) <br>- [Azure Monitor Logs](../logic-apps/monitor-workflows-collect-diagnostic-data.md) <br>- [Microsoft Defender for Cloud](../logic-apps/healthy-unhealthy-resource.md) <br>- [Azure Application Insights for Standard workflows](/azure/logic-apps/create-single-tenant-workflows-azure-portal#enable-or-open-application-insights-after-deployment) <br>- [Health Check for Standard workflows](/azure/logic-apps/monitor-health-standard-workflows) <br><br>For more information, see [Monitor workflows in Azure Logic Apps](/azure/logic-apps/monitor-logic-apps-overview). |
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| **Management** | - [REST API](durable/durable-functions-http-api.md) <br>- [Visual Studio](/visualstudio/azure/vs-azure-tools-resources-managing-with-cloud-explorer) | - [Azure portal](../logic-apps/quickstart-create-example-consumption-workflow.md) <br>- [Visual Studio Code]() <br>- [REST API](/rest/api/logic/) <br>- [PowerShell](/powershell/module/az.logicapp) <br>- [Azure CLI (Standard workflows)](/cli/azure/logicapp) - [Azure CLI (Consumption workflows)](/cli/azure/logic) |
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| **Execution context** | Can run [locally](./functions-kubernetes-keda.md) or in the cloud | Can run in Azure, locally in Visual Studio Code, or in partially connected environments. For more information, see [What is Azure Logic Apps](../logic-apps/logic-apps-overview.md#resource-environment-differences)? |
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