Licensing Confusion

[jfoxbxe]

I'm reviewing what type of licensing set up I need to have to be able to create some custom entities and connect it to a master data management app through Power Apps. There's a bit of confusion when reading through the guidelines, even on the Microsoft documentation:

https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/

This page shows that Plan 1 can create custom entities

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2085130&clcid=0x409

This licensing guide shows that Plan 1 can create update read and delete custom entities

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-create-entity

This page shows that Plan 2 is required to create custom entities

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-entity-licenses

This page has licensing examples and shows that if the user wants to create a custom entity or a database, they would need Plan 2

So what is it? I want to create a couple custom entities in the existing database. Do I need Plan 1 or Plan 2?

[Pstork1]

Like you everything I've read up to now suggests that you can CONSUME CDS entities in a Canvas App with a Plan 1 license, but creating entities required a Plan 2 license.  Model driven apps have always required a Plan 2 license to either create or consume.  But as you point out the comparison chart on the PowerApps licensing page now says you can create entities with Plan 1. So I'm as confused as you are. I could swear that the licensing page didn't read this way in the past.

[jfoxbxe]

What's worse is the actual licensing guideline, appendix B, clearly states that Plan 1 can create custom entities.

[timl]

Just tagging some of the guys at Microsoft who might be able to assist, or to forward this to someone that can provide a more definitive answer...

@rc @CWesener @Mr-Dang-MSFT 

[Pstork1]

I just got a reply back from a contact at Microsoft.

Plan 1 users can create CDS entities as long as they aren't a Complex entity.  Here's the definition for complex entities.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-complex-entities 

Essentially it boils down to real-time workflows and code plug-ins.

They are looking at the content to clarify this particular licensing question.

[jfoxbxe]

That's good news. I have however tried creating entities using my Plan 1 license on my current tenant and was hit with a permissions issue, assumed it was related to the licensing thing. I'll work with my admin and see what's up.

[Pstork1]

I've seen the same thing in the past.  As I mentioned in a previous reply I always thought a P2 license was required to create CDS entitites. But MS says differently.  Now that may be a change that is currently rolling out.  I'm not sure and its tough to test because I have users with the base license and the P2 license, but nobody who has the actual P1 license.

[TopShelf-MSFT · Accepted solution]

@Pstork1  @jfoxbxe  @timl the document error has been fixed!

@TopShelf-MSFT @Mr-Dang-MSFT 

[jfoxbxe]

@TopShelf-MSFT

 If she needs to create a database or create a custom entity, she would need a PowerApps Plan 2 license.

This is still being said over at this page:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-entity-licenses

Is it correct?

[Pstork1]

That article speaks specifically about complex entities. Complex entities as defined by the article require a P2 license. Entities that are not Complex can be created and used with just a P1. That was the clarification that came out of this question.