# Selecting the Best Power Apps Experience

**1\. Canvas App**  
• **When to use:**  
• You need **full design freedom** (pixel-perfect UI).  
• App is **task-focused** (e.g., expense reporting, leave requests, inspections).  
• You want to connect to **multiple data sources** (SharePoint, Dataverse, SQL, Excel, APIs).  
• **Strengths:**  
• Highly customizable UI (drag-and-drop).  
• Can be embedded in Teams, SharePoint, or Power BI.  
• Best for **frontline workers or specific process automation**.  
• **Limitations:**  
• Complex relational data is harder to manage.  
• Security & role-based control not as strong as Model-driven.  
  
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**2\. Model-driven App**  
• **When to use:**  
• Your business runs on **structured, relational data** (Dataverse).  
• You want **ready-made UI** (grids, forms, views, dashboards).  
• You need **role-based security and business rules**.  
• **Strengths:**  
• Faster to build (less design effort).  
• Great for **CRM, Case Management, IT Helpdesk, Sales Tracking, etc.**  
• Built-in charts, dashboards, business process flows.  
• **Limitations:**  
• UI is opinionated (less flexible for branding).  
• Only works with Dataverse.  
  
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**3\. Power Pages (Power Portal)**  
• **When to use:**  
• You need to provide **external access** (customers, vendors, partners).  
• You want to expose Dataverse data securely.  
• Use cases like **customer service portal, partner portal, training portal, supplier portal**.  
• **Strengths:**  
• External + internal users can collaborate.  
• Secure authentication (Azure AD, Microsoft, LinkedIn, etc.).  
• Can integrate with workflows & automation.  
• **Limitations:**  
• Requires licensing for external users.  
• UI customization is more web-design oriented.  
  
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✅ **Quick Rule of Thumb:**  
• **Internal app, custom UI → Canvas**  
• **Internal app, structured data, workflows → Model-driven**  
• **External users (customers/partners) → Power Pages**