#PowerPlatformTip 90: ‘Power Platform Community Developer Plan’

TL;DR: Use the free Power Platform Developer Plan to build, test, and share Power Apps and Power Automate solutions in your own Dataverse environments, ideal for learning and prototyping.

💡 Challenge

As developers or Power Platform enthusiasts, finding a cost-free space for developing and testing Power Apps and Power Automate flows can be challenging.

✅ Solution

Use the free Power Platform Developer Plan (formerly the Community Plan). It gives you your own Dataverse-enabled environments to build, test, and share Power Apps and Power Automate solutions at no cost, perfect for learning, prototyping, and innovation.

🔧 How It’s Done

Here’s how to do it:

1. Sign up for the plan.
   🔸 Register on the Power Apps Developer Plan website or through Visual Studio Dev Essentials, using a Microsoft-backed work or school email address: https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/developerplan/
2. Know what’s included.
   🔸 Free, dedicated environments for development and testing.
   🔸 Dataverse included, plus a wide range of data sources and tools such as Azure and Dynamics 365.
   🔸 Up to three developer environments for more comprehensive testing.
3. Understand the limits.
   🔸 Capacity limits apply (e.g. flow runs per month and Dataverse database size).
   🔸 Inactive environments may be deleted after a period of inactivity, so use them regularly.
   🔸 AI Builder and RPA are not included but can be trialed separately.
4. Transfer resources when ready.
   🔸 Export your apps and flows from the developer environment to other environments for wider use.

🎉 Result

You get a robust, flexible, and free environment for your app and flow development, fostering innovation and collaboration.

⚠️ Important Note: The Developer Plan is intended for development and testing, not production use. If you hit capacity limits or need production deployment, consider Power Apps’ paid plans.

🌟 Key Advantages

🔸 Cost-Efficient: Completely free for development and testing.

🔸 Developer-Friendly: Supports a wide range of data sources and tools, including Azure and Dynamics 365.

🔸 Dataverse Included: Build on a managed, scalable data platform with up to three environments.

🎥 Video Tutorial

🛠️ FAQ

1. Who can sign up for the Developer Plan?

Anyone with a Microsoft-backed work or school email address can register for the free Power Platform Developer Plan.

2. Can I transfer my apps and flows to other environments?

Yes, you can export resources from the Developer Plan environment to other environments.

3. Does the subscription expire if unused?

Inactive environments are deleted after a period of inactivity, but active use keeps your free plan alive.