TL;DR: Microsoft Power Automate publishes clear per-user and capacity tiers inside Microsoft 365. UiPath and Automation Anywhere offer free community or trial starts then move to published or quote models. Blue Prism is primarily enterprise/quote-led. Order follows published $0 / list prices first.
Robotic process automation (RPA) software uses software bots to perform repetitive digital tasks across applications. In 2026 the category ranges from citizen-developer desktop automation to full enterprise orchestrated bot fleets with AI and process mining.
Every entry uses the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, primary strength, and the main limitation. The order below is not a quality ranking. Public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
RPA software compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Primary strength | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Power Automate | Per-user and capacity plans published with Microsoft 365 | Citizen automation inside Microsoft ecosystem | Teams already on Microsoft 365 needing desktop and cloud flows | Visit β |
| UiPath | Community free; Business and Enterprise published / quote | Full enterprise RPA platform and AI | Organizations building scaled bot programs | Visit β |
| Automation Anywhere | Community / trial; cloud and enterprise options | Cloud-native RPA and intelligent automation | Teams preferring cloud delivery and attended/unattended bots | Visit β |
| Blue Prism | Primarily quote-based enterprise | Enterprise digital workforce and governance | Large regulated organizations with strict control needs | Visit β |
| UiPath / Power Automate hybrids | See respective published tiers | Combined Microsoft + specialized RPA | Mixed Microsoft and pure-play RPA environments | Visit β |
Microsoft Power Automate, UiPath, and Automation Anywhere published community and commercial models were reviewed on 23 September 2026. Blue Prism is largely quote-led. Confirm current seat, capacity, and orchestration pricing on the live vendor pages.
One platform publishes clear Microsoft-linked tiers. Pure-play RPA leaders offer free community starts then commercial or quote models.
Citizen automation vs enterprise bot fleets
Citizen tools let business users automate personal and team tasks inside familiar apps. Enterprise RPA adds centralized orchestration, credential vaults, process mining, and AI document understanding. Match the tool to the number of bots, governance requirements, and whether Microsoft 365 is the primary environment.
The 5 providers in detail
1. Microsoft Power Automate
Best for: Organizations already on Microsoft 365 that want desktop and cloud automation without a separate RPA platform.
| Published pricing | Per-user and capacity plans published with Microsoft |
| Free plan / trial | Included capabilities with certain Microsoft 365 licenses; trials available |
| Core focus | Cloud flows, desktop flows, AI Builder, Microsoft ecosystem |
| Main limitation | Deepest value inside Microsoft applications and data |
- Published pricing tied to familiar Microsoft licensing.
- Low barrier for citizen developers already using Office and Teams.
- Strong connectors to Microsoft and many third-party services.
View Power Automate pricing β
2. UiPath
Best for: Organizations building a full digital workforce with attended and unattended bots, process mining, and AI.
| Published pricing | Community free; commercial plans published or quote |
| Free plan / trial | UiPath Community free for individuals and small teams |
| Core focus | Enterprise RPA, orchestration, Document Understanding, AI |
| Main limitation | Enterprise scale requires commercial licensing and governance |
- Mature platform with broad bot and AI capabilities.
- Clear free Community path for learning and small projects.
- Strong partner and marketplace ecosystem.
3. Automation Anywhere
Best for: Teams that prefer cloud-native RPA delivery with attended and unattended automation and intelligent document processing.
| Published pricing | Community / trial; cloud and enterprise commercial options |
| Free plan / trial | Community edition and trials available |
| Core focus | Cloud RPA, bots, IQ Bot / document AI |
| Main limitation | Enterprise features and scale move to commercial terms |
- Cloud-first architecture reduces infrastructure burden.
- Free or trial paths for evaluation.
- Focus on intelligent automation beyond pure screen scraping.
4. Blue Prism
Best for: Large regulated enterprises that need strict control, auditability, and a digital workforce model.
| Published pricing | Primarily quote-based |
| Free plan / trial | Sales-led evaluation |
| Core focus | Enterprise RPA, digital workers, governance |
| Main limitation | Implementation and commercial model are enterprise-scale |
- Strong governance and control orientation.
- Suited to highly regulated industries.
- Expect formal scoping and quote process.
Request Blue Prism information β
5. Hybrid Microsoft + pure-play approaches
Best for: Organizations that keep simple flows in Power Automate and reserve specialized RPA for complex or multi-system processes.
| Published pricing | Combine Power Automate published tiers with pure-play commercial licenses |
| Free plan / trial | Use Community and Microsoft free tiers for pilots |
| Core focus | Right-tool selection by process complexity |
| Main limitation | Requires clear process ownership and integration discipline |
- Avoids forcing every automation into one platform.
- Leverages existing Microsoft investment for lightweight work.
- Reserves specialized RPA budget for high-value complex bots.
Kurums Match
I am on Microsoft 365 and need simple team automations
Power Automate with published per-user or capacity plans is the most direct fit.
I want to build a full enterprise bot program
UiPath or Automation Anywhere offer Community starts then commercial platforms for scale.
I need maximum governance for a regulated environment
Blue Prism is positioned for that control model; plan for a quote and implementation.
I want to mix simple flows and specialized bots
Use Power Automate for citizen work and a pure-play RPA platform for complex multi-system processes.
Buying tip
Start with process discovery or mining rather than bot count. Measure hours saved and error reduction on a few high-volume processes before expanding licenses.
How this comparison was put together
Official pricing and product pages for Microsoft Power Automate, UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and Blue Prism were reviewed on 23 September 2026. Only publicly stated free or list models are shown; quote-led offerings are labeled. Order follows published accessibility.
FAQ
Is Power Automate free with Microsoft 365?
Certain Microsoft 365 licenses include limited Power Automate capabilities. Higher volume or premium connectors usually require additional per-user or capacity licenses; check the current Microsoft pricing page.
What is the difference between attended and unattended bots?
Attended bots run with a human present (often on a desktop). Unattended bots run on servers or in the cloud without a user session. Enterprise platforms support both.
Do I need process mining first?
Process mining or discovery helps identify high-ROI candidates and reduces the risk of automating broken processes. Many RPA vendors now include or partner for these capabilities.
How do I govern citizen automation?
Establish clear ownership, credential policies, and a center of excellence even for low-code tools. Uncontrolled desktop scripts can create operational risk.
Related: Best AI Workflow Automation in 2026 Β· Best ITSM Software in 2026
Last updated: 23 September 2026. Pricing and features change; always verify on the vendor site.
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