Understanding the differences between dataflow types

Dataflows are used to extract, transform, and load data to a storage destination where it can be leveraged for different scenarios. Because not all storage destinations share the same characteristics, some dataflow features and behaviors differ depending on the storage destination the dataflow loads data into. Before you create a dataflow, it's important to understand how the data is going to be used, and choose the storage destination according to the requirements of your solution.

Selecting a storage destination of a dataflow determines the dataflow's type. A dataflow that loads data into Dataverse tables is categorized as a standard dataflow. Dataflows that load data to analytical tables is categorized as an analytical dataflow.

Dataflows created in Power BI are always analytical dataflows. Dataflows created in Power Apps can either be standard or analytical, depending on your selection when creating the dataflow.

Standard dataflows

A standard dataflow loads data to Dataverse tables. Standard dataflows can only be created in Power Apps. One benefit of creating this type of dataflow is that any application that depends on data in Dataverse can work with the data created by standard dataflows. Typical applications that leverage Dataverse tables are Power Apps, Power Automate, AI Builder and Power Virtual Agents.

Standard dataflows versions

We've been working on significant updates to standard dataflows to improve their performance and reliability. These improvements will eventually be available to all standard dataflows. But in the interim, we'll differentiate between existing standard dataflows (version 1) and new standard dataflows (version 2) by adding a version indicator in Power Apps.

Standard dataflow versions feature comparison

The following table lists the major features differences between standard dataflows V1 and V2, and provides information about each feature's behavior in each version.

Feature	Standard V1	Standard V2
Maximum number of dataflows that can be saved with automatic schedule per customer tenant	50	Unlimited
Maximum number of records ingested per query/table	500,000	Unbounded. The maximum number of records that can be ingested per query or table now depends on Dataverse service protection limits at the time of ingestion.
Ingestion speed into Dataverse	Baseline performance	Improved performance by a few factors. Actual results may vary and depend on characteristics of the data ingested, and load on Dataverse service at the time of ingestion.
Incremental Refresh policy	Not supported	Supported
Resiliency	When Dataverse service protection limits are encountered, a record will be retried up to 3 times.	When Dataverse service protection limits are encountered, a record will be retried up to 3 times.
Power Automate integration	Not supported	Supported

Analytical dataflows

An analytical dataflow loads data to storage types optimized for analytics—Azure Data Lake Storage. Microsoft Power Platform environments and Power BI workspaces provide customers with a managed analytical storage location that's bundled with those product licenses. In addition, customers can link their organization’s Azure Data Lake storage account as a destination for dataflows.

Analytical dataflows are capable additional analytical features. For example, integration with Power BI’s AI features or use of computed entities which will be discussed later.

You can create analytical dataflows in Power BI. By default, they'll load data to Power BI’s managed storage. But you can also configure Power BI to store the data in the organization’s Azure Data Lake Storage.

You can also create analytical dataflows in Power Apps and Dynamics 365 customer insights portals. When you're creating a dataflow in Power Apps portal, you can choose between Dataverse managed analytical storage or in your organization’s Azure Data Lake Storage account.

AI Integration

Sometimes, depending on the requirement, you might need to apply some AI and machine learning functions on the data through the dataflow. These functionalities are available in Power BI dataflows and require a Premium workspace.

The following articles discuss how to use AI functions in a dataflow:

• Azure Machine Learning integration in Power BI
• Cognitive Services in Power BI
• Automated Machine Learning in Power BI

Note that the features listed above are Power BI specific and are not available when creating a dataflow in the Power Apps or Dynamics 365 customer insights portals.

Computed tables

One of the reasons to use a computed table is the ability to process large amounts of data. The computed table helps in those scenarios. If you have an table in a dataflow, and another table in the same dataflow uses the first table's output, this action creates a computed table.

The computed table helps with the performance of the data transformations. Instead of re-doing the transformations needed in the first table multiple times, the transformation is done only once in the computed table. Then the result is used multiple times in other tables.

To learn more about computed tables, go to Creating computed tables in dataflows.

Computed tables are available only in an analytical dataflow.

Standard vs. analytical dataflows

The following table lists some differences between a standard table and an analytical table.

Operation	Standard	Analytical
How to create	Power Platform dataflows	Power BI dataflows Power Platform dataflows by selecting the Analytical entities only checkbox when creating the dataflow
Storage options	Dataverse	Power BI provided Azure Data Lake storage for Power BI dataflows, Dataverse provided Azure Data Lake storage for Power Platform dataflows, or customer provided Azure Data Lake storage
Power Query transformations	Yes	Yes
AI functions	No	Yes
Computed table	No	Yes
Can be used in other applications	Yes, through Dataverse	Power BI dataflows: Only in Power BI Power Platform dataflows or Power BI external dataflows: Yes, through Azure Data Lake Storage
Mapping to standard table	Yes	Yes
Incremental load	Default incremental-load Possible to change using the Delete rows that no longer exist in the query output checkbox at the load settings	Default full-load Possible to set up incremental refresh by setting up the incremental refresh in the dataflow settings
Scheduled Refresh	Yes	Yes, the possibility of notifying the dataflow owners upon the failure

Scenarios to use each dataflow type

Here are some sample scenarios and best practice recommendations for each type of dataflow.

Cross-platform usage—standard dataflow

If your plan for building dataflows is to use stored data in multiple platforms (not only Power BI, but also other Microsoft Power Platform services, Dynamics 365, and so on), a standard dataflow is a great choice. Standard dataflows store the data in Dataverse, which you can access through many other platforms and services.

Heavy data transformations on large data tables—analytical dataflow

Analytical dataflows are an excellent option for processing large amounts of data. Analytical dataflows also enhance the computing power behind the transformation. Having the data stored in Azure Data Lake Storage increases the writing speed to a destination. Compared to Dataverse (which might have many rules to check at the time of data storage), Azure Data Lake Storage is faster for read/write transactions on a large amount of data.

AI features—analytical dataflow

If you're planning to use any AI functionality through the data transformation stage, you'll find it helpful to use an analytical dataflow because you can use all the supported AI features with this type of dataflow.