Power Apps vs Power Pages: Discover the difference

Businesses are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and streamline operations. Delivering better user experiences has also become essential. In this environment, low-code platforms are becoming essential tools for driving innovation and agility. Microsoft’s Power Platform offers a suite of solutions to support these goals, with Power Apps and Power Pages standing out as two key components. 

In this blog, we break down the key differences between Power Apps and Power Pages, helping you understand where each tool fits and which might be best suited for your business needs. 

What are Power Apps and Power Pages?

Power Apps and Power Pages are part of the Microsoft Power Platform, alongside Power Automate and Power BI. They share the same underlying technology and integrate with Microsoft Dataverse, but their use cases and audiences differ significantly. 

What is Power Apps?

• A low-code platform for building custom business applications  

• Designed for internal and external use across desktop, mobile, and browser  

• Connects to data sources like SharePoint, Microsoft Dataverse, and external APIs 

Power Apps enables organisations to create tailored applications that streamline tasks, automate processes, and improve data management. Whether it’s submitting expenses, tracking inspections, or managing approvals, Power Apps empowers teams to work smarter with tools built specifically for their needs.  

You can explore the vast business benefits of Power apps in our blog. 

There are two types of Power Apps:  

• Canvas Apps – Design fully custom interfaces from scratch, giving you complete control over layout and user experience. 

• Model-Driven Apps – Build data-centric apps automatically generated from your Dataverse data and business processes, ideal for structured workflows. 

Power Apps can be accessed via browser, mobile, or embedded in Microsoft Teams, making them a flexible option for both internal and external business scenarios. 

Key features of Power Apps

• Expert-led low-code development – Leverage Microsoft’s low-code platform with guidance from our certified team, building apps tailored to your processes and delivering measurable business results 

• Canvas & Model-driven apps – Design fully custom layouts or data-driven apps built around your business logic 

• Seamless integration – Connect securely to Dataverse, SharePoint, Excel, SQL, and hundreds of other data sources 

• Cross-platform compatibility – Apps work seamlessly across mobile, tablet, and desktop devices 

• Built-in AI with Copilot – Empower users with intelligent suggestions, predictive analytics, and automated recommendations, all delivered directly within the app experience 

To found out more, check out our expert Power Apps guide. 

Example Power App

Employee Leave Request App  

Purpose: To streamline the process of requesting, approving, and tracking employee leave within an organisation. 

Built With: 

• Canvas App for custom user interface 

• Microsoft Dataverse or SharePoint for data storage 

• Power Automate for workflow automation 

• Power BI for leave analytics  

Key Features: 

• Employees can submit leave requests via a mobile-friendly form 

• Managers receive automated notifications and can approve or reject requests 

• Leave balances are updated in real time 

• HR can view dashboards showing leave trends and usage 

What is Power Pages?

• A low-code platform for building secure, websites and portals for both internal and external users 

• Integrates with Microsoft Dataverse and supports branded web experiences  

• Designed for internal teams, customers, partners, suppliers and others.  

Power Pages allows businesses to create professional websites that enable users to interact with data – whether submitting forms, accessing knowledge bases, or viewing personalised content.  

Key features of Power Pages

• Expert-led low-code portals – Build secure websites and portals with guidance from our certified team, ensuring seamless user experiences and measurable business impact  

• Dataverse-powered data management – Securely connect forms, views, and lists to Microsoft Dataverse for real-time, actionable data  

• Enterprise-grade security & access control – Protect your site with built-in authentication (Azure AD, Microsoft accounts, etc.) and fine-grained role-based permissions  

• Responsive, cross-device design – Ensure websites function smoothly across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices 

• AI & automation ready – Optional AI-driven forms, automated workflows, and predictive analytics to enhance external user experience  

Example of Power Pages

Customer Support Portal 

Purpose: To provide customers with a centralised platform to submit support tickets, track issue resolution, and access help resources. 

Built With:  

• Power Pages for secure, public-facing website  

• Microsoft Dataverse for storing ticket and user data  

• Power Automate for routing and escalation workflows 

• Power Virtual Agents for chatbot support  

• Power BI for support performance analytics  

Key Features:  

• Customers can log support tickets via a guided form  

• Automated email confirmations and status updates  

• Support agents can manage tickets through a secure backend  

• Knowledge base articles available for self-service  

• Dashboards show ticket volume, resolution time, and satisfaction scores 

Uncover more example use cases of Power Pages here in our dedicated blog. 

Power Apps vs Power Pages: Which Should You Choose?

When deciding between Power Apps and Power Pages, consider who will use the solution and the type of interaction required: 

• Power Apps – Ideal for streamlining internal processes such as leave approvals, inspections, or expense submissions. Its app-like, mobile-friendly interface also supports external interactions when required, making workflows simple and efficient. 

• Power Pages – Designed for external engagement through portals like customer support, supplier dashboards, or event registration sites. It also offers capabilities for internal users, providing secure, branded web experiences. 

• Combine both – Capture or share data externally via Power Pages, then manage and act on it internally through Power Apps. Together, they enable seamless workflows and connected, actionable insights. 

How do Power Apps and Power Pages work together?

While they serve different audiences, they can be combined to create end-to-end solutions: 

• A Power Pages portal collects data from users via secure web forms 

• Data is stored in Microsoft Dataverse, instantly accessible to internal teams 

• Users use Power Apps to review, process, or act on the data 

• Power Automate triggers workflows across both platforms 

• Power BI visualises insights from both internal and external interactions 

This integration enables unified experiences: external users engage via a branded website, while internal teams manage operations through tailored apps – all powered by the same data and automation. 

Get in touch!

If you are keen to discover how the power platform could benefit your organisation, contact us at info@pragmatiq.co.uk or give us a call on 01908 038110  to start the conversation.