Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Which Team Chat Tool is Right for You?
Compare Microsoft Teams and Slack for team communication. See pricing, features, and which platform works best for your team size and workflow.
Updated 2026-09 · 2026
Microsoft Teams
Enterprise chat bundled with Microsoft 365
Strengths
- +Included free with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
- +Deep integration with Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- +Built-in video conferencing with up to 300 participants
Weaknesses
- -Interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming
- -Slower performance compared to Slack
- -Search functionality less intuitive
Best for
Organizations already using Microsoft 365 or enterprises needing tight Office integration
Slack
Fast, searchable team communication platform
Strengths
- +Intuitive, clean interface with minimal learning curve
- +Superior search functionality across messages and files
- +Extensive third-party app integrations (2,600+)
Weaknesses
- -Free plan limited to 90 days of message history
- -More expensive than Teams for paid plans
- -Video calls require separate integration or paid plan
Best for
Tech-savvy teams prioritizing speed, search, and app integrations over Office suite integration
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Message History | Unlimited | 90 days only |
| Starting Price (Paid) | $4/user/month | $7.25/user/month |
| Video Conferencing | Built-in, up to 300 participants | Built-in on paid plans, up to 50 participants |
| File Storage (Free) | 2GB per user | 5GB total for team |
| Third-Party Integrations | ~700 apps | 2,600+ apps |
| Office Suite Integration | Native, seamless | Via third-party apps |
| Search Quality | Basic, slower | Advanced, very fast |
| Screen Sharing | Included on all plans | Included on all plans |
| Guest Access | Yes, with limitations | Yes, multi-channel guests on paid |
| Mobile App Quality | Good, but heavier | Excellent, lightweight |
| Custom Workflows/Automation | Power Automate integration | Workflow Builder (paid plans) |
| Enterprise Security | Enterprise-grade, extensive compliance | Enterprise-grade on Enterprise Grid |
The Verdict
If you're already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is the obvious choice—it's essentially free and integrates seamlessly with Office apps. For teams prioritizing speed, search, and best-in-class integrations, Slack justifies its higher price. Small teams on a budget should start with Teams' free plan for unlimited history, while tech startups typically prefer Slack's superior UX.
How to export your data from Teams
JSON, CSV, TAR, ZIP (containing JSON) · verified against official docs
How to export your data from Slack
JSON, TXT, CSV · verified against official docs
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