What’s the difference between a canvas app and a model-driven app?

Power Apps was launched to help organisations build business apps quickly, no matter their user's coding experience. It gives users two options when building their applications - either through a Canvas App or Model-Driven App with Power Apps. The basic differences between these two are: 

CANVAS APP

  • It provides users with a blank canvas where you can drag and drop components in any information to design a user interface. 
  • It provides users with much more intuitive user experience than model-driven apps since users don't have to worry about how data is structured within the canvas app. 
  • It offers better flexibility for developers to change their apps' look and feel. 
  • It has over 350 connectors, empowering users to have more functionalities. 
  • It requires Power Platform license and the necessary roles and permission in Data Verse to be able to implement and develop on a Canvas App. 
  • Its logic implementation is app-specific and can be done through Excel-like formula and conditional checks. 

MODEL-DRIVEN APP

  • It enables users to design and develop component-focused apps to implement an end-to-end business process. 
  • How the design and view of the app is based on the governing components used in the application. 
  • It can only connect with only one data connector, and that is the Data Verse. 
  • It requires Dynamics 365 product license (e.g. Business Central or Finance & Supply Chain) to implement and develop on a Model-Driven App. 
  • It has flexible logic implementation which includes business rules, workflows, actions, and plug-ins. 

See how Microsoft Power Apps work in this YouTube playlist