Microsoft Teams vs Slack
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings.
Detailed Comparison
Overview
Microsoft Teams is the collaboration hub in Microsoft 365, combining chat, video meetings, file storage, and deep Office integration. It's designed for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, with 320 million+ monthly active users.
Slack is the leading channel-based messaging platform, known for its intuitive interface, extensive app directory (2,600+ integrations), and strong developer community. It pioneered the modern workplace chat model and has 20 million+ daily active users.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Slack |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 participants, 60-min meetings, 5GB storage | 90-day message history, 10 integrations, 1:1 calls |
| Video meetings | Up to 1,000 participants (paid) | Up to 15 participants (free), 50 (paid) |
| Screen sharing | Yes, with remote control | Yes, with remote control |
| Channels | Public, private, shared | Public, private, shared, cross-org |
| Thread support | Yes | Yes (industry-leading) |
| File sharing | 10GB (free), 1TB (paid) via SharePoint | 5GB total (free), 10GB/file (paid) |
| Integrations | 700+ Microsoft & third-party apps | 2,600+ apps and workflows |
| Workflow automation | Power Automate integration | Workflow Builder (no-code) |
| Search | Full message and file search | Full search with filters (paid) |
| Mobile apps | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Guest access | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance | HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, FedRAMP | HIPAA, SOC 2, SOC 3, GDPR |
Pricing
Microsoft Teams pricing is bundled with Microsoft 365:
- Free: 100 participants, 60-minute meetings, 5GB cloud storage
- Essentials: $4/user/mo — 300 participants, 30-hour meetings, 10GB storage
- Business Basic: $6/user/mo — web versions of Office apps, 1TB OneDrive
- Business Standard: $12.50/user/mo — desktop Office apps, webinars, phone system
Slack pricing:
- Free: 90-day message history, 10 integrations, 1:1 voice/video calls
- Pro: $7.25/user/mo (annual) — unlimited history, unlimited integrations, group calls
- Business+: $15/user/mo (annual) — SAML SSO, data exports, 24/7 support
- Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing — unlimited workspaces, HIPAA compliance, DLP
When to Choose Microsoft Teams
Choose Microsoft Teams if:
- Your organization uses Microsoft 365: Teams integrates natively with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and OneDrive. Co-authoring documents in real time is seamless.
- You need large meetings: Teams supports up to 1,000 participants in a meeting, far exceeding Slack's limits.
- Compliance is critical: Teams offers FedRAMP, HIPAA, and government cloud options that Slack doesn't match.
- You want built-in phone system: Teams Phone replaces your PBX with calling plans and direct routing.
- Budget matters: At $4/user/mo for Essentials, Teams is cheaper than Slack Pro ($7.25/user/mo) for basic chat and meetings.
When to Choose Slack
Choose Slack if:
- You use many third-party tools: Slack's 2,600+ integrations dwarf Teams' 700+. If you use GitHub, Jira, Linear, Notion, or hundreds of other tools, Slack connects them better.
- Developer experience matters: Slack's API, Bolt SDK, and Workflow Builder make it the platform of choice for engineering teams building custom automations.
- You value search and organization: Slack's threading model, channel organization, and search filters are more intuitive than Teams' nested structure.
- Cross-org collaboration: Slack Connect lets you work with external partners, clients, and vendors in shared channels — a smoother experience than Teams' guest access.
- You want a faster, lighter app: Slack uses less memory and loads faster than Teams, especially on macOS.
Verdict
Microsoft Teams wins on price, video conferencing, and Microsoft 365 integration. If your organization is already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is essentially free — you're leaving money on the table by not using it.
Slack wins on integrations, developer experience, and ease of use. If your stack is diverse and your team values a clean, fast interface, Slack is worth the extra cost.
Bottom line: Microsoft 365 shops should default to Teams. Everyone else should start with Slack.