Power AutomateBeginner
Power Automate vs plugins: when to use which
A practical decision guide for choosing between cloud flows and C# plugins in Dynamics 365, based on timing, transactions and who maintains it.
What you'll learn
- Choose by timing: synchronous vs after the save
- Know when a transaction matters
- Combine both for rules plus notifications
"Should this be a flow or a plugin?" comes up in almost every D365 project. Here is the checklist I use.
Choose a plugin when
- The logic must run synchronously and block the save (validation, calculated defaults).
- It must be part of the same transaction — if it fails, the record should not save.
- It runs at high volume, where flow runs and API limits would add up.
Choose Power Automate when
- The work can happen a few seconds after the save.
- It talks to other services: Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, approvals.
- Functional consultants should be able to change it without a code deployment.
Quick comparison
| Need | Plugin | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Block the save | Yes | No |
| Runs in transaction | Yes | No |
| Connect to 1,000+ services | Hard | Easy |
| Changed without developers | No | Yes |
Pick by timing first, then by who will maintain it.
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