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Understanding Different Types of Power Apps

Updated: June 18th, 2025 by Ivan Farafonov

If you are looking to develop modern and multifunctional business applications without coding, then you have probably heard of Power Apps. In general, this is a solution from Microsoft for creating apps with minimal or no code. It provides a visual designer, formulas similar to those in Excel, and ready-made connectors to databases (SharePoint, SQL, Dataverse, Dynamics 365, etc.) instead of code formulas, making it accessible even to non-technical users.

To understand the power and popularity of the MS Power Apps environment, let’s look at the latest statistics from Microsoft. The corporation notes that 25 million users take advantage of solutions created with Microsoft Power Apps every month. The results are impressive: professional developers have reported a 50% reduction in application development time, and users save 250 hours per person on high-impact use cases.

As of today, Microsoft officially recognizes two main types of Power Apps: Canvas apps and Model-driven apps. Previously, Power Apps Portals were also included, but this type is no longer part of Power Apps, as it has evolved into Power Pages, a separate product for creating external websites. It is integrated with Power Platform, but has its architecture and functionality.

Let’s explore app types available in Microsoft PowerApps, their features, and how to use them to get the best results.

Canvas Apps

Let’s start with the overview of Canvas Apps. This is one of the two main types of PowerApps, which allows you to create fully customized interfaces without code. They are built on the principle of canvas design, where the developers literally draw their application, placing elements (text fields, lists, buttons, images, galleries, and charts) in an arbitrary order on the screen. This allows you to adapt the appearance and behavior of the application to specific user needs or business operations.

Canvas applications are created in Power Apps Studio. This is a web environment based on drag-and-drop and formulas similar to those used in Excel. For example, you can use logical functions, operators, and mathematical operations to display certain text or create dynamic conditions. It makes the platform convenient even for non-developers. Moreover, you can connect over 500 ready-made connectors to Microsoft 365 (Excel, Outlook, Teams), SharePoint, SQL Server, Dataverse, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Dropbox, and other external or internal systems.

Canvas Apps Benefits

Let’s consider the advantages of Canvas over other app types:

Complete visual freedom. You decide how your app will look, including button placement, colors, styles, and logic.
Templates for a quick start. Power Apps offers dozens of ready-made templates for typical scenarios.
500+ connectors to external systems.
Formulas, just like in Excel. Easy-to-understand formulas are used to write logic, allowing you to create complex scenarios without programming (If, Filter, LookUp, Patch, etc.).
Integration with camera, GPS, signature, barcode. Supports built-in device functions, so you can take photos, scan QR/barcodes, read geolocation, or add an electronic signature.
Offline mode. Canvas applications can be configured to work without the Internet (with subsequent synchronization), which is convenient for field staff.

Best Use Cases for Canvas Applications

The best way to use Canvas Apps is to create applications where visual flexibility, control over interface design, and custom user interaction logic are critical. They are most relevant in cases where you need to create a lightweight, customized, role-based interface for a specific group of users or a scenario that does not fit into a rigid data model. This includes:

Model-Driven Apps

The second Power App type is Model-driven apps. It is built on a data model rather than a manually designed interface. In such applications, the logic, structure, and interaction of elements are determined by data stored in Microsoft Dataverse. The interface is created automatically based on entities, relationships, forms, views, and business processes configured by the developer or administrator.

Model-driven apps are used when it is important to work with large amounts of related data organized in records and tables. Creating an application is not about drawing screens but designing the right model: what tables will be, how they are related, what forms the user sees, what actions are allowed, and what business rules apply. After that, Power Apps automatically generates a UI with support for filters, navigation, lists, view forms, dashboards, charts, graphs, and even built-in processes.

Since everything is based on Dataverse, the applications have high security, flexibility, and integration. They support access control at the field, record, or role level.

Model-Driven Apps Benefits

Among the advantages of this type of Microsoft Power Apps, the following are worth highlighting:

Automatically generated interface. You don’t need to manually create each screen, because Model-driven apps generate the UI based on the data structure.
Scalability and working with large amounts of data. Model-driven applications are designed to work with tens of thousands of records and many related tables without losing performance.
Deep access control and security. Access rights can be assigned at the field, form, table, or even individual record level.
Support for built-in charts, analytics, and dashboards without the need to connect third-party BI tools.
Advanced automation with Power Automate. This type supports triggers, business processes, and event-driven flows.
Less manual work. Thanks to automatic interface generation, developers can focus on building the right data model instead of designing screens.
Fast development. Model-driven apps are easy to scale without the risk of disrupting the existing architecture.

Best Use Cases for Model-Driven Apps

Choose Model-driven apps when you need an application where a structured data model, complex logic, many interrelated tables, and clearly defined business processes play a major role. This type of Power Apps is perfect for medium and large organizations that work with large amounts of data, have complex user interaction scenarios, and require centralized control and security.

Model-driven apps are most relevant in the following cases:

Canvas Apps vs Model-Driven Apps Comparison

The choice between types of MS Power Apps depends primarily on the type of tasks you want to solve and the nature of your data. If you need an app with a flexible, fully customizable interface, focused on simple or moderately complex processes, choose Canvas Apps. This way, users get convenient navigation, a bright visual appearance, and access to multiple data sources simultaneously.

Model-driven Apps, on the other hand, are suitable when the main value is logic, scalability, and centralized management of complex structured data. They work with large registries, many related tables, user roles, and complex business processes. If you are creating an enterprise system such as CRM, personnel accounting, contract, or license management, this approach will provide the necessary control, security, and performance.

Consider the comparison in the table:

Feature	Canvas Apps	Model-driven Apps
Design Approach	Pixel-perfect design using drag-and-drop	UI is auto-generated based on the data model
Data Structure	Flexible, no predefined structure	Structured, based on Microsoft Dataverse
Customization	Full control over layout and user experience	Limited visual control, consistent layout
Ease of Use	Easy to start, good for non-developers	Requires planning of the data model and relationships
Best Use Case	Task-specific apps, mobile forms, and simple processes	Enterprise-grade systems, CRMs, and multi-entity workflows
UI Flexibility	High	Low
Data Sources	500+ connectors (SharePoint, SQL, Excel, etc.)	Primarily Dataverse, with support for virtual tables
Business Logic	Formulas similar to Excel	Advanced logic with business rules, workflows, processes
Security	Basic role-based access	Advanced security at record, field, and role level
Offline Support	Available for mobile apps with configuration	Limited, depends on Dataverse features
Analytics	Manual integration (with Power BI)	Built-in charts, dashboards, and KPIs
Development Speed	Fast for simple apps	Slower initially, but scalable for large solutions
Integration with Dynamics	External integration	Native integration with Dynamics 365
Maintenance	Manual updates to UI and logic	Easier to maintain due to standardized structure
Learning Curve	Low to medium	Medium to high

In some cases, you can combine both types. For example, you can use a Model-driven app as a backend for data processing and a Canvas app as a frontend with a highly customized interface for specific roles. This approach allows you to reap the benefits of both types within a single MS Power Apps project.

Need Help with Different Types of MS Power Apps?

If you need help with the implementation of Power Apps solutions, you may hire Power Apps consultant. Experts provide reliable advice and customize tools to your business needs. They will help you determine which type of application (Canvas or Model-driven) suits your current needs, create a data architecture, configure integrations with other Microsoft services, and make the application work for you. Engaging a professional allows you to avoid mistakes during the development phase and ensure stable system operation from day one.

Explore different types of Power Apps with our experts!

By Ivan Farafonov

I'm passionate about sharing my extensive experience in Microsoft and Dynamics 365 technologies. Beyond the technical realm, I excel in recruiting and building high-performing teams, ensuring every project is executed with precision and collaboration. As a contributor to HireDynamicsDevelopers, I share my insights on maximizing Dynamics 365’s potential, blending technical expertise with strategic team development. My passion lies in both technology and fostering talented professionals to achieve outstanding results.