Custom Connector Certification

[Tanito1]

Hello experts,
We are currently evaluating internally whether it makes sense to publish/certify a custom connector for Power BI.
Can you tell me what costs are associated with publication? Does Microsoft charge for this?
And does the source code have to be published? I have seen several connectors that were probably published by external parties (e.g., CData Connect Cloud), but I cannot find their source code on GitHub.

Thank you!

[v-agajavelly]

Hi @Tanito1 ,

Thanks @wardy912 , @Ilgar_Zarbali  for your inputs, @Tanito1 did you get a chance to review the information shared by our super users. They’ve outlined key points around certification costs, source code requirements, and the overall process.

If this addressed your question, please consider marking there post as a solution so others in the community can benefit as well. And if you need any additional clarification, feel free to let us know we’re happy to help.

Thanks,
Akhil.

[Ilgar_Zarbali · Accepted solution]

1-Can you tell me what costs are associated with publication? - There are no direct costs from Microsoft for publishing a Power BI custom connector — only your internal development, testing, and maintenance expenses.
2 - Does Microsoft charge for this? - No, Microsoft does not charge for certification or publication.
3 - And does the source code have to be published? I have seen several connectors that were probably published by external parties (e.g., CData Connect Cloud), but I cannot find their source code on GitHub. - No, the source code doesn’t have to be public. Many certified connectors (like CData’s) are proprietary; you just need to meet Microsoft’s technical and security requirements.

[wardy912]

Hi @Tanito1 

 This is AI generated and unverified, but i hope it helps:

Here’s what you need to know about publishing and certifying a custom connector for Power BI:

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✅ 1. Does Microsoft charge for certification?

No, Microsoft does not charge any fees for registering, certifying, or updating a custom connector—whether you are an independent publisher or a verified publisher. Certification is completely free, even if you update your connector multiple times after certification

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✅ 2. What are the benefits of certification?

• Your connector appears in the official Microsoft connector list and in the Get Data dialog in Power BI Desktop.
• No need for users to change security settings to use your connector.
• Increased visibility through Microsoft blogs, social media, and documentation.
• Technical review and feedback from Microsoft engineers to ensure reliability
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✅ 3. Does the source code have to be published?

No, you are not required to make your connector’s source code public. Many certified connectors (e.g., CData, Adobe Sign) are proprietary and closed-source. Microsoft only requires you to submit the connector package and supporting documentation for certification, not to open-source it

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✅ 4. What are the certification requirements?

Here are the key requirements:

• Authentication: Must support OAuth2, API key, basic auth, or anonymous auth.
• Connector metadata: Title, description, and icon (for verified publishers) must meet naming and branding guidelines.
• Swagger/OpenAPI compliance: Your connector must have a valid OpenAPI definition and proper response schemas.
• Quality checks: Run Microsoft’s Solution Checker to validate compliance.
• Support contact: You must provide a support channel for users.
• Uptime: Recommended 99.9% availability for your API.
• English language quality: All descriptions and summaries must be grammatically correct and clear
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✅ 5. How to submit for certification?

• Sign in to Partner Center and use the Power Query Connector Certification submission process.
• Provide:
  • Connector files (.mez)
  • OpenAPI definition
  • Documentation
  • Test environment credentials for Microsoft validation