| Power Platform | Ultimate Forms | |
|---|---|---|
Design and Integration | ||
| Design Environment |
X
Separate designers for Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and SharePoint.
|
✓
Fully integrated into SharePoint. Configure directly from any list or library.
|
| Integration |
X
Requires Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI alongside SharePoint
|
✓
Single integrated solution for SharePoint forms, automation, printing, alerts, dashboards, and more
|
Layout | ||
| Form layout |
X
Sections, drag-n-drop design
|
✓
Tabs, tab permissions, sections, accordions, multi-column layouts, custom fragments
|
| Look and feel |
X
Designer-controlled styling with custom CSS support
|
✓
Configuration-based styling, themes, defaults and more
|
| SP UI integration |
X
Distinct application interface
|
✓
100% native SharePoint interface
|
Permissions | ||
| Tabs |
✓
Groups. Tabs require separate screens or views
|
✓
Tabs with nested groups and collapsible sections
|
| Tab permissions |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Configured using UI-driven rules (no code). Inherited by contained columns and components.
|
| Column permissions |
✓
Configured using custom code expressions
|
✓
Configured using UI-driven rules (no code)
|
| Section permissions |
X
Configured using custom code expressions. No inheritance
|
✓
Configured using UI-driven rules (no code). Inherited by contained columns and components.
|
Data Structure | ||
| Storage |
X
Implemented via data connections
|
✓
Completely integrated in SharePoint API
|
| Repeating sections |
X
Stored inside the parent item, not visible in views
|
✓
Real items in related lists, visible in forms and views
|
| Related items summary |
X
Limited to data within the form
|
✓
Automatic summaries with filtering across related items. Allows updates outside of the form
|
Column Types | ||
| Support for built-in column types |
X
Some SharePoint column types have limited or modified support
|
✓
Supports all SharePoint column types
|
| Support for custom column types |
X
None
|
✓
All custom column types supported
|
| Custom column types provided |
X
None
|
✓
Additional advanced column types: associated items, cascading lookup, color choice, KPIs, document link, electronic signature, etc.
|
Validation and Defaults | ||
| Default values |
X
Common to all users
|
✓
Based on user/group, URL, content type, or conditions
|
| Validation rules |
X
Based on custom coding, formulas and patterns
|
✓
Condition-based validation through UI configuration
|
| Validating related items |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Based on related SharePoint items and summary values
|
Actions | ||
| Types of actions |
X
Via Power Automate workflow
|
✓
A wide variety built-in actions, including create/update/delete items, permissions, email, printing, and 3rd party app integrations
|
| Execution |
X
On value change, add/update/delete, on timer, and manual (command bar button)
|
✓
On value change, add/update/delete, on timer, manual (command bar button and form integration)
|
Lookups | ||
| Cascading |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Yes, unlimited levels
|
| Add new value |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Yes, in-line or through pop-up
|
| Filter values |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Yes, multiple filters
|
Signatures | ||
| Signature type |
✓
Very limited and required custom development
|
✓
Electronic, using a custom column type (no code)
|
| Signature providers |
✓
Pen
|
✓
Entra ID / Active directory, touchscreen/mouse/pen, declarative
|
| Displayed in |
X
Forms only
|
✓
Forms, views, print-outs
|
Printing | ||
| Print templates |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Multiple user-defined reusable print templates with automatic or manual selection
|
| Export/email |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Convert to PDF, Word, or Excel and email, with attachments
|
| UI integration |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Print from forms and views, print multiple items at once, automate via Actions
|
External Data | ||
| Data sources |
X
MS SQL only, web services OOTB, custom development needed for more
|
✓
Any DB type, web services, REST APIs, Salesforce, Dataverse, Planner, SMS, etc.
|
| Filter external data |
✓
Yes
|
✓
Yes
|
| Automatic import/export |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Emails, web service, REST, any DB, SMS, Salesforce, Dataverse, Excel, Planner, text files
|
Color-coding | ||
| Type |
X
Limited support without custom development
|
✓
Background color, font color, icons (with or without text)
|
| Displayed in |
X
Limited support without custom development
|
✓
Forms, views, calendars*, print-outs
|
Item IDs | ||
| Templates |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Multiple, automatically selected
|
| Format |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
Combination of text, column values, functions, numerator
|
| Applied |
X
Not supported without custom development
|
✓
New item, modified item
|
Approvals | ||
| Designer |
X
Power Automate flows (custom development)
|
✓
Integrated in Form Designer, UI configuration only, no code
|
| Format |
X
Traditional flowchart development (expertise required)
|
✓
UI configuration only for all cases, including sequential/parallel, notifications, reminders, delegation, and escalation
|
| UI Integration |
X
Separate screen
|
✓
Fully integrated into the form, complete with decision making, delegation, status and log
|
Dashboards | ||
| SharePoint Integration |
X
Requires Power BI
|
✓
Interactive dashboards built directly in SharePoint
|
Calendars | ||
| SharePoint Integration |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Interactive color-coded calendars with multiple data sources and filtering
|
| Gantt Charts |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Built-in interactive Gantt charts
|
Charts | ||
| SharePoint Integration |
X
Not supported
|
✓
Interactive, multiple types, built into SharePoint
|
Charts | ||
| Configuration |
X
Power Automate required
|
✓
Built-in configurable email alerts, notifications, reminders and digest mode
|
| Flexibility |
X
Power Automate expertise required
|
✓
Configured directly by end users with conditions, repeat and custom email templates
|
Data Import | ||
| Configuration |
X
Power Automate required
|
✓
Built-in, UI configuration
|
| Connectors |
X
Premium connectors at extra cost
|
✓
All connectors already included
|
Deployment | ||
| Installation |
X
Multiple Microsoft services
|
✓
Single SharePoint solution
|
| Templates |
X
Limited support with custom development
|
✓
Integrated support for site creation and configuration, even between tenants (no code)
|