Difference between model driven apps and canvas apps

[Vaibhav_Shukla]

Hello Everyone,

Could you tell me about, in which case we will create a model-driven app and in which condition we will create a canvas app ??

Thanks 

Vaibhav

[renatoromao · Accepted solution]

 Hi @Vaibhav_Shukla ,

You will use model-driven apps when you will use forms and views created on Power Apps inside the Dynamics 365. The model-driven app means apps created to support deployment into Dynamics 365.

If you need to create apps to use on tablets, mobile phones, computer or other devices, you can create canvas apps. The canvas app means apps created to support deployment into MS Teams, use like apps (Apple store, Play store), Web site, Internal system, SharePoint Online, and many tools. Canvas app is apart of any tool, you can generate a URL and share to someone in your company and they open with credentials and use your app.

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Vaibhav_Shukla ,

Could you please share a bit more about your scenario?

Do you want to know the difference between canvas app and Model-Driven app?

If you want to know the difference between canvas app and Model-Driven app, please check and see if the following blog or video would help in your scenario:

https://www.clientsfirst-us.com/microsoft-powerapps-canvas-vs-model-driven-apps/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhIlC1mSO_4

In terms of data source connection, canvas app could connect to multiple data sources (e.g. Excel, SQL Server, CDS, SharePoint List, ... etc), but Model-Driven app could only use CDS Entity as data source.

Best regards,

[poweractivate]

@renatoromao we believe that as of January 1, 2020 (and even earlier such as October), that Model Driven Apps are not limited to Dynamics 365. The Common Data Service and PowerApps plans, such as the Per User and Per App plan released in around October 2019, support Model Driven Apps even without a Dynamics 365 license. In fact, in the official PowerApps Licensing guide updated for January 2020, you may find the literal words "Run custom apps (both canvas and model driven)" and you can find a copy of the licensing guide attached to this post, or download it from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2085130, as authorized uses under the Per App and Per User plan for PowerApps. Also we don't believe it is true that Model Driven Apps are not responsive to mobile. We believe it is somewhat misleading to claim this, because to our understanding, Model Driven Apps are also responsive to mobile devices, including even when run from a browser on a mobile device for instance, the Model Driven App UI will respond to different sizes such as mobile devices. Therefore, we believe Model Driven Apps are responsive to mobile. 

[poweractivate · Accepted solution]

@Vaibhav_Shukla Here is when you would create Model Driven Apps as opposed to Canvas Apps:

Model Driven Apps versus Power Apps

in Power Apps Editor

Here is an example how they look like from the Power Apps editor (i.e. when you are still developing or editing the app in Power Apps Studio i.e. Power Apps Editor in the web browser) this is how they look as of October 7, 2022

Model Driven App

Canvas App

Model Driven Apps versus Canvas Apps at Runtime

Here is an example how they look like at runtime (i.e. when you click "Play" from the list of Apps) from the Power Apps editor, this is how they look as of October 7, 2022:

Model Driven App

Canvas App

Model Driven Apps versus Power Apps:

an overview

The below content I wrote in 2020 - there may have been significant changes since then. Some things below may still apply though in general.

Model-driven app design is considered a component-focused approach to app development. In other words, model-driven app design is different from canvas app development because in a canvas app the designer has a lot of control over the specific app layout. However, with model-driven apps, a lot of the layout is pretty much determined for you, and this layout is largely designated by the components you add to the app itself.

*Notice the characteristic appearance of a Model Driven App, with options on the left side.*

Note that a Model driven app is usually viewable on computers, tablets and mobile devices just like a Canvas app, and that includes when navigating to the Model Driven App from a mobile browser like Chrome. It is not necessarily true that Canvas apps are to be selected *instead of Model Driven Apps* for use cases where mobile responsiveness is desired - because Model Driven apps are responsive to mobile devices too. Also, note that Model Driven Apps are for Common Data Service (as of January 1, 2020) and do not necessarily currently require a Dynamics 365 license, and can be used under one of the new PowerApps licenses released in around October 2019 as well (i.e. the new Per User or Per App PowerApps Plans). So it is similarly not necessarily true that Model Driven Apps are "only for use with Dynamics 365" - because Model Driven Apps are not only for Dynamics 365 users, they are now for anyone with a valid PowerApps plan - even a non-Dynamics-365 plan!

Canvas Apps

With Canvas Apps you do something different. You design the app by pretty much dragging and dropping elements onto a canvas, kind of like you would design a slide in PowerPoint. With Model Driven Apps you use a different kind of designer geared more towards modeling business processes. With Canvas apps you can create Excel-like expressions for specifying the logic and working with the data. With Canvas apps you have the power to integrate your organization, business and enterprise data from a wide variety of Microsoft sources as well as a varety of third-party data sources. You can also share your Canvas app so that your users can run it either in a browser or on a mobile device using the PowerApps app, and you can even embed your app so that users can run it in places like Power BI, Teams, SharePoint and more.

If you don't really need a very specific custom design and your data is already in Common Data Service, you may want to generate a model-driven app from your current business data and existing processes rather than build a Canvas app. With this type of app you can model a variety of useful views, forms, as well as other components, and the default user interface would end up automatically adjusting to phones, laptops, and other devices.

*Notice the characteristic "appy" appearance of a PowerApps Canvas App. Note that there is not always a blue banner or bar at the top of a PowerApps Canvas App like the example pictured here - there typically is one due to typical user interface design but there does not have to be one. By contrast, a Model Driven App almost always has the options going down the left side and a number of other specific characteristics that usually cannot be changed in most Model Driven Apps.*

Note: Some content in the above makes certain reference to contents of the following official Microsoft documentation:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/getting-started
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/model-driven-apps/model-driven-app-overview

Hope this helps!