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PowerApps Licencing Minefield

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Posted on by SSF_DBA

We currently run using Powerapps for 365 on an F1 licence.

I'm building and releasing apps that use the canvas front end, but all utilise the SQL Server connector to our in house datawarehouse.

Trying to wade through the minefield that is the licencing model, but it's all as clear as mud. I'm not using CDS in any form, and I'm not using any premium connectors (no flows req) - so the question is, am I on the right licence?

The reason for posting, is that I tried to access the Analytics option in the dashboard but it said it required Plan2, which set off some alarm bells.

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timl 37,252 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @SSF_DBA

Connecting to an on-premises SQL database via the on-premises gateway requires a Plan 1 or 2 license, whereas connecting to SQL Azure on an Office 365/F1 license will be fine. If you're using the on-premises gateway, that would be the cause of the issue.

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SSF_DBA 5 on at

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Argh - that helps, but doesn't help 🙂

We're about to spin up a managed instance of SQL Server in Azure, and migrate all our warehouse data to the cloud - does this make a difference?

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timl 37,252 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @SSF_DBA

Yes, that would make a difference because connecting to SQL Azure is included in the 365 license.

If you've not seen this, the thread beneath provides some good background reading.

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/General-Discussion/PowerApps-Plan-Change-2-1-2019/td-p/187283

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v-yutliu-msft Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @SSF_DBA ,
Yes, using SQL Server in Azure works in licenseF1.
The license of PowerApps is a little complex.
However, you could choose according to some mainly key functions:
1)F1 can connect to cloud service using standard connetors
can not connect with on-promise data
can not use CDS
2)P1 andP2 can connect to cloud service and on-promise data, can use standard connector and custom connector, can use CDS.
P1 and P2's difference is mainly about model-driven app and environment.

To sum up, whether to use F1 or p1p2 is determined by whether is cloud service and standard connetors.
Distinguish whether is cloud service is easy, just need to see the data is whether in cloud.
Here's a doc about all the standard connectors for your reference:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/10to8/

Best regards,
Community Support Team _ Phoebe Liu

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SSF_DBA 5 on at

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Thanks 🙂

Whilst we will eventually have all our data in the Azure instance, the transformation/real time data capturing will take time to complete fully, so in the interim, we'll be hitting a mixture of cloud based and on premise data. I read somewhere on the forums that existing enterprise customers have until Jan 2020 to move to either F1 or P1P2 for PowerApps - is this still the case?

Obviously we're using a gateway just now (especially for the PowerBI premium apps we're publishing) - so the confusion lies in whether or not we need to go "all in" in terms of a Powerapps licence.

Sorry this probably sounds all over the place - but trying to navigate the licencing choices is a bit tricky! Especially when there's such a massive difference in pricing.

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v-yutliu-msft Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @SSF_DBA ,
The license of PowerApps has changed since February 2019.
Users having no P1 and P2 license could use on-promise data before February 2019.
But in the latest version of license, only users having P1 and P2 license can use on-promise data.
However, existing E3 users who were using the on-premises gateway have dispensation to continue doing so until 31st January 2020, or the expiration of their license whichever is the longer.
So if your license used to use the on-premises gateway(before February 2019), you could continue to use on-promise SQL Server until January 2020.
If the starting date of your license is after February 2019, you could not use on-promise SQL Server now.
In this situation, I suggest you buy P1 or P2 of PowerApps.
Here's a doc about the differences between P1 and P2, you could choose according to your demands:
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/

Best regards,
Community Support Team _ Phoebe Liu

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