Custom Portal vs Microsoft Power Apps
Compare fully customizable portal development against Microsoft's low-code Power Apps platform for your enterprise application needs.
Feature Comparison
See how the solutions compare across key features.
| Feature | Custom Portal | Power Apps |
|---|---|---|
Custom UI/UX Design Power Apps has template-based design limitations | ||
Complex Business Logic Power Fx has limitations vs full programming languages | ||
Performance at Scale Power Apps can slow with complex data operations | ||
Non-Microsoft Integrations Power Apps optimized for Microsoft ecosystem | ||
Offline Capabilities Power Apps offline limited to canvas apps | ||
White-Label/Multi-Tenant Cannot white-label Power Apps | ||
Custom Authentication Power Apps tied to Azure AD primarily | ||
Advanced Reporting Power BI integration available but separate cost | ||
Rapid Prototyping Power Apps excels at quick app creation | ||
Microsoft 365 Integration Native integration with full Microsoft stack | ||
Citizen Developer Friendly Non-developers can build basic apps | ||
Built-in Connectors 500+ pre-built connectors available |
Hitting Power Apps Limits?
Discover how custom portal development can provide the flexibility and performance your organization needs.
Cost Comparison
Compare total cost of ownership and implementation costs.
Custom Portal
Power Apps (Premium)
Varies based on usage
over 5 years compared to Power Apps (Premium)
Pros & Cons
A balanced comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Custom Portal
- Complete UI/UX customization freedom
- No per-user licensing at scale
- Integration with any system or API
- Full control over performance optimization
- White-label and multi-tenant capabilities
- Custom security and compliance implementation
- Higher upfront development cost
- 2-4 month typical implementation
- Requires development team for changes
- No built-in connector library
Power Apps
- Rapid app development (days to weeks)
- Deep Microsoft 365 integration
- 500+ pre-built connectors
- Citizen developers can build apps
- Built-in AI Builder features
- Automatic mobile responsiveness
- Per-user licensing costs at scale ($20/user/month)
- Limited custom UI design options
- Performance issues with complex data
- Vendor lock-in to Microsoft ecosystem
- Power Fx language limitations
- Cannot white-label applications
See Custom Portals in Action
View examples of enterprise portals we've built that outperform low-code solutions.
Which Solution is Right for You?
Consider these factors when making your decision
Choose Custom Portal if you...
You need highly customized user experiences
Your organization has 100+ portal users
Integration with non-Microsoft systems is critical
White-labeling or multi-tenant is required
Complex business logic beyond Power Fx capabilities
Performance and scalability are top priorities
Choose Power Apps if you...
You're deeply invested in Microsoft 365
Rapid development timeline is critical
Business users need to build/modify apps
User base is under 50 people
Standard business processes without complex logic
Budget favors subscription over upfront investment
Migration Path
Our structured migration process ensures a smooth transition from Power Apps to Custom Portal.
Document existing Power Apps, data sources, and business logic
Identify limitations and gather enhanced requirements
Design custom portal architecture and UX
Build portal with enhanced features
Migrate data and integrate systems
User acceptance testing and production deployment
Total Migration Timeline
8-16 weeks
- Zero downtime migration
- Complete data preservation
- Staff training included
- Post-migration support
Related Solutions
Explore our custom solutions that can help your business.
Related Insights
Explore more articles to help inform your decision.
Ready to Build a Better Portal?
Let our team show you how a custom portal can provide superior user experience, performance, and long-term cost savings compared to Power Apps.