Microsoft Teams vs Slack
Detailed comparison — pricing, features, pros & cons
Microsoft Teams — Microsoft Teams is an enterprise collaboration platform integrating chat, video, and Microsoft 365. It works best for Enterprise organizations using Microsoft 365 and Teams needing integrated video conferencing and chat.
Slack — Slack is a messaging program designed specifically for office and team communities. It works best for Remote team communication and daily collaboration and Engineering teams integrating with GitHub and Jira.
This comparison covers pricing, key strengths and limitations, and what each tool does best to help you choose the right fit for your workflow.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Slack |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free / $4/user/mo | Free / $7.25/user/mo |
| Category | Community Growth | Community Growth |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deep integration with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook)
- Included free with many Microsoft 365 business subscriptions
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance features
- Video calls support up to 1,000 participants
Cons
- Interface can feel cluttered compared to Slack
- Performance issues on older hardware
- Best value only if already in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Pros
- Channel-based organization keeps conversations separated by project, team, or topic
- 2,600+ integrations including GitHub, Jira, Salesforce, and PagerDuty
- Huddles (quick audio with optional screen share) replace ad-hoc Zoom calls for short discussions
- Workflow Builder automates routine notifications and approval workflows without code
Cons
- Free plan caps message history at 90 days — older conversations become inaccessible
- Notification volume creates distraction and context-switching for many users
- Business+ ($12.50/user/mo) required for SSO and compliance retention policies
Who Is It For?
Microsoft Teams is best for
- Enterprise organizations using Microsoft 365
- Teams needing integrated video conferencing and chat
- Companies requiring strict security and compliance
- Organizations wanting a single platform for all collaboration
Read full Microsoft Teams review → Slack is best for
- Remote team communication and daily collaboration
- Engineering teams integrating with GitHub and Jira
- Companies needing searchable message history and compliance
- Teams replacing email for internal project coordination
Read full Slack review → Which Tool Should You Choose?
- Enterprise organizations using Microsoft 365
- Teams needing integrated video conferencing and chat
- Companies requiring strict security and compliance
- Organizations wanting a single platform for all collaboration
- Remote team communication and daily collaboration
- Engineering teams integrating with GitHub and Jira
- Companies needing searchable message history and compliance
- Teams replacing email for internal project coordination
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Teams better than Slack? +
Slack scores 4.6/5 vs Microsoft Teams's 4.4/5 in our editorial ratings, making it the higher-rated option overall. Slack is especially strong for Remote team communication and daily collaboration.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Slack? +
Both tools offer free access. Microsoft Teams is freemium. Paid plans start from Free / $4/user/mo. Slack is freemium. Paid plans start from Free / $7.25/user/mo.
What is the main difference between Microsoft Teams and Slack? +
Microsoft Teams is an enterprise collaboration platform integrating chat, video, and Microsoft 365. Slack is a messaging program designed specifically for office and team communities. The key distinction is focus: Microsoft Teams is best suited for Enterprise organizations using Microsoft 365, while Slack works better for Remote team communication and daily collaboration.
Verdict
Based on our editorial ratings, Slack scores higher (4.6/5 vs 4.4/5). Slack is particularly well-suited for Remote team communication and daily collaboration. That said, Microsoft Teams remains a strong choice if enterprise organizations using microsoft 365 is your priority.