PPlatformAppStores

Microsoft AppSource

Cloud

Microsoft Corporation · Cloud & infra marketplaces

Best for: SaaS and business-app ISVs targeting Microsoft 365, Dynamics, and Power Platform customers.

Overview

Microsoft AppSource distributes business-focused apps, add-ins, and consulting offers across Dynamics 365, Power BI, Power Apps, and Azure. It shares certification infrastructure with the commercial Azure Marketplace, giving ISVs a route into Microsoft's enterprise customer base with transactable billing through Azure invoices.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Enroll as a commercial marketplace publisher in Microsoft Partner Center and set up payout/tax profiles
  2. 2Register your app in Microsoft Entra ID and, for transactable SaaS, integrate the SaaS Fulfillment (v2) API from a backend service
  3. 3Build a landing page and webhook to handle subscription activation, updates, and cancellation; add Metering Service calls for usage billing
  4. 4Create the offer in Partner Center with AppSource-focused listing content (business-app value, lead management, trial/CTA)
  5. 5Submit the offer for Microsoft certification, then publish once it passes validation

Key APIs & SDKs

Microsoft Partner Center (commercial marketplace)
SaaS Fulfillment API v2 (Subscription + Operations)
Marketplace Metering Service API
Microsoft Entra ID (app registration / OAuth service-to-service)
Marketplace landing page + webhook integration

Integration types

Embedded app
Connector
Workflow action

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: OAuth 2.0
  • Also supports: API key
  • Security review: Required
  • Microsoft certification covering security, compliance, and technical validation.
  • Microsoft runs multi-level certification (publisher eligibility, listing quality, technical/package validation); typically about 2-4 weeks on a clean first submission, live within roughly an hour after certification.
  • Microsoft Graph and Dataverse throttling limits apply per tenant.
Auth docs Store policies

Monetization

Usage-based
Paid app
Listing fee
Onboarding
Partner Center registration fee
Commission
20% marketplace service fee on transactable offers
Merchant of Record
Microsoft acts as MoR for transactable offers

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Purpose-built for business-application discovery aimed at Microsoft 365/Dynamics/Power Platform buyers
  • Built-in lead management and trial/CTA flows for line-of-business apps
  • Shares Partner Center tooling and transactable APIs with Azure Marketplace
  • Strong for co-sell with Microsoft field teams

Cons

  • Certification can be slow and iterative for first-time publishers
  • Transactable SaaS requires non-trivial fulfillment/metering backend work
  • Best suited to business apps rather than raw infrastructure offerings