Other Integration Options

Several Microsoft technologies might replace or be combined with Azure Logic Apps for application integration projects.

BizTalk Server is a mature software platform for application integration. Unlike Logic Apps, it can be deployed on-premises. It has a base of developers, administrators, and third-party add-ons, although some BizTalk experts are now targeting Logic Apps as well. BizTalk Server also has stronger industry-specific messaging, including HL7 for healthcare and SWIFT for finance. Reliable messaging and routing components are built in to BizTalk Server, which can simplify design compared to Logic Apps, which relies on the separate Azure Service Bus service. Consequently, BizTalk Server could be a better choice for internal application integration and some business-to-business projects. However, Logic Apps and BizTalk Server can interconnect, so a Logic Apps workflow can rely on BizTalk Server components or vice versa.

Flow is a Microsoft-hosted workflow service that uses the same engine, graphical designer, and connector technology as Logic Apps. Flow does not use Visual Studio plug-ins for development or Azure management tools like Logic Apps, and it does not offer some connectors (such as the EDI connectors) that Logic Apps has. However, unlike Logic Apps, Flow integrates with the PowerApps business application development service, and Flow and PowerApps developers can customize applications such as SharePoint and Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. Flow also has some options for user interaction (such as manually triggered workflows) that Logic Apps does not. Consequently, developers might choose Flow to customize Microsoft applications for users, while using Logic Apps for business-to-business integration or integration with third-party cloud services. Because Logic Apps and Flow use the same workflow platform and designer, developers can export workflows from Flow into Logic Apps if they bump into limitations in Flow.