ToolScoutHere’s a question most Slack vs Teams articles won’t ask: does your company already pay for Microsoft 365? If yes, you probably already have Teams installed. If no, you probably already use Slack. The switching costs are high enough that most teams never seriously evaluate the alternative.
But maybe you should. Teams has gotten genuinely good at messaging. Slack has gotten genuinely good at video. The gap between them has narrowed in almost every category – except a few where it’s widened. We spent weeks comparing both to find the differences that actually justify switching or staying put.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ||
| Best For | Remote and hybrid teams that run their workflows through integrations and need chat as the connective layer between their SaaS tools | Companies already paying for Microsoft 365 that need chat, video calls, and file collaboration without adding another vendor |
| Pricing From | Free plan available, Pro from $8.75/user/month | Free plan available, Microsoft 365 Business Basic from $6/user/month |
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Key Features |
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Slack Overview
Slack launched in 2013 and quickly became the default messaging tool for startups, tech companies, and digital-first teams. Now owned by Salesforce, Slack has matured into a feature-rich platform with channels, direct messages, huddles (audio/video calls), workflow automation, and over 2,600 integrations.
The core experience revolves around channels. You create channels for projects, teams, topics, or anything else, and conversations stay organized and searchable. Threaded replies keep discussions contained, and the notification system is highly customizable so you only see what matters.
Slack’s free plan supports up to 90 days of message history and one-on-one video calls. The Pro plan at $8.75/user/month unlocks unlimited message history, group video calls, and advanced workflow tools. The Business+ plan at $12.50/user/month adds compliance features and SAML-based single sign-on. Enterprise Grid pricing is custom.
Pros
- Slack Connect lets you create shared channels with up to 250 external organizations, replacing email for vendor and client comms
- Workflow Builder allows non-technical users to create multi-step automations with forms, messages, and third-party app actions — no code needed
- App Directory has 2,600+ integrations with deep native hooks into tools like Jira, Salesforce, GitHub, and Google Workspace
- Huddles launch instant audio calls within any channel or DM with screen sharing and live drawing, replacing ad-hoc Zoom meetings
- Canvas feature provides persistent, editable docs pinned to channels for SOPs, onboarding guides, and project briefs
Cons
- Free plan limits searchable message history to 90 days, effectively erasing institutional knowledge for non-paying teams
- No native project management — everything beyond messaging requires a third-party integration like Asana or Linear
- Per-user pricing means large organizations (500+ seats) pay $4,375+/mo on Pro with no volume discount on self-serve plans
- Huddles support only 50 participants and lack breakout rooms, recording, or calendar scheduling found in Zoom or Teams
Microsoft Teams Overview
Microsoft Teams launched in 2017 as part of Microsoft 365 and has grown into the most widely used business communication platform by user count. Its tight integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and OneDrive makes it the natural choice for organizations already paying for Microsoft 365 licenses.
Teams combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and app integrations in a single interface. Channels function similarly to Slack but with deeper integration into Microsoft’s collaboration tools. You can co-author documents directly within a Teams conversation, schedule meetings through Outlook, and access SharePoint files without leaving the app.
The free version of Teams supports up to 100 participants in meetings with a 60-minute limit and 5 GB of team storage. Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $6/user/month includes Teams alongside Exchange email, OneDrive, and web versions of Office apps. Business Standard at $12.50/user/month adds desktop Office apps. Enterprise E3 is $36/user/month.
Pros
- Bundled at no extra cost with every Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise license, saving $8-12/user vs. adding Slack separately
- Co-author Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in real time without leaving the Teams window via embedded SharePoint tabs
- Meetings support up to 300 participants on free and 1,000 on Business Basic, with live captions in 30+ languages
- Teams Phone System replaces traditional PBX with PSTN calling, call queues, and auto-attendants starting at $8/user/month add-on
- Copilot in Teams generates meeting summaries, action items, and follow-up tasks from transcript data in real time
Cons
- Desktop app regularly consumes 800MB-1.5GB of RAM even when idle, causing slowdowns on machines with 8GB or less
- Notification settings are split across Activity, Chat, Channel, and per-meeting controls with no single unified preferences pane
- Guest access for external collaborators requires Azure AD configuration and cannot share files from private channels
- Mobile app lacks full Whiteboard, Loops, and breakout room creation available on desktop
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Messaging and Channels
Both platforms organize conversations into channels (Teams calls them “channels” within “teams”). Slack’s messaging experience is generally considered more polished. Message formatting is richer, threaded conversations are more intuitive, and the search function is faster and more accurate.
Teams has improved its messaging experience significantly over the past two years. Threaded replies now work more naturally, and the editor supports rich formatting. However, the interface still feels heavier than Slack, partly because Teams tries to pack more functionality into the same window.
Edge: Slack. The messaging experience is cleaner, faster, and more enjoyable for daily communication.
Video and Audio Calls
Teams has a clear advantage in video meetings. The platform supports up to 1,000 participants in meetings and 20,000 in webinar mode. Features include background blur, noise suppression, breakout rooms, live transcription, meeting recordings with auto-generated transcripts, and Copilot AI summaries.
Slack’s huddles are excellent for quick, informal audio or video conversations. They start as audio-first drop-in calls, making them feel more spontaneous than scheduled meetings. However, huddles support up to 50 participants and lack the formal meeting features that Teams provides.
Edge: Teams. For scheduled meetings, webinars, and large group calls, Teams is significantly more capable.
Integrations and App Ecosystem
Slack offers over 2,600 integrations in its app directory, covering everything from project management and CRM to developer tools and HR platforms. The integration experience is generally seamless, with apps posting updates directly into channels and supporting interactive actions.
Teams integrates deeply with the Microsoft 365 suite and supports over 1,400 third-party apps. The Microsoft ecosystem integration is a major strength — co-authoring Office documents within a chat, viewing SharePoint pages, and managing Planner tasks all happen natively.
For connecting tools outside both ecosystems, platforms like Zapier can automate workflows between Slack, Teams, and hundreds of other business applications.
Edge: Slack for breadth and polish of third-party integrations. Teams for Microsoft 365 integration depth.
File Sharing and Collaboration
Teams leverages SharePoint and OneDrive for file storage and collaboration. Files shared in a Teams channel are automatically stored in a SharePoint library, making them accessible, version-controlled, and searchable. Co-authoring Office documents in real time within a Teams conversation is a genuinely useful feature.
Slack handles file sharing but does not offer the same level of built-in document collaboration. Files are stored within Slack’s own storage (20 GB per member on Pro), and while you can preview many file types inline, editing requires opening files in their native apps.
Edge: Teams. The SharePoint-backed file management and real-time Office document co-authoring are hard to match.
Search and Knowledge Management
Slack’s search is fast and powerful. You can filter by channel, person, date range, and file type. The search results are well-organized and easy to scan. Slack also supports saved searches and keyword alerts.
Teams search has improved but still lags behind Slack in speed and accuracy. Searching across messages, files, and people sometimes returns cluttered results, and filtering options are less granular.
Edge: Slack. Search is a core strength and consistently outperforms Teams in usability.
Pricing and Value
This is where the comparison gets nuanced. Teams is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $6/user/month, which also gives you Exchange email, OneDrive, and web Office apps. If your organization already pays for Microsoft 365, Teams is effectively free.
Slack Pro costs $8.75/user/month for just the messaging platform. When you add up the cost of separate tools for email, file storage, and video conferencing, the total stack often costs more than a Microsoft 365 license that bundles everything.
However, if you do not need Microsoft 365, Slack’s standalone pricing is competitive and the platform’s focused approach avoids paying for features you do not use.
Edge: Teams if you already use Microsoft 365. Slack if you prefer best-of-breed tools and do not need the Microsoft suite.
Security and Compliance
Both platforms offer enterprise-grade security. Teams benefits from Microsoft’s compliance certifications, including SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and FedRAMP. Data residency, DLP policies, and eDiscovery are built into higher-tier Microsoft 365 plans.
Slack offers SOC 2/3, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliance on Enterprise Grid. The Business+ plan adds SAML SSO and data export capabilities. Slack’s Enterprise Key Management lets organizations control their own encryption keys.
Edge: Draw. Both platforms meet enterprise security requirements. Teams has a slight advantage in government and highly regulated industries due to Microsoft’s broader compliance portfolio.
Who Should Choose Slack?
Slack is the better choice for teams that prioritize a clean, fast messaging experience with strong third-party integrations. It is particularly well-suited for:
- Tech companies and startups that rely on developer tools, CI/CD pipelines, and SaaS integrations
- Cross-functional teams that need to connect many different tools into one communication hub
- Remote teams that value quick huddles and spontaneous conversation over formal meetings
- Organizations that prefer best-of-breed tools over an all-in-one suite
If your team uses tools like Asana, Notion, or Trello for project management, Slack integrates cleanly with all of them.
Who Should Choose Teams?
Teams is the better choice for organizations embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. It makes the most sense for:
- Microsoft 365 customers who want to maximize the value of their existing licenses
- Businesses that rely on Office documents for daily work and need real-time co-authoring
- Companies with large meeting needs that require webinar capabilities, breakout rooms, and AI meeting summaries
- Regulated industries that need Microsoft’s compliance certifications and data governance tools
Our Verdict
The honest answer hasn’t changed much: if your company runs on Microsoft 365, use Teams. You’re already paying for it, the document collaboration is unmatched, and the video meetings are best-in-class.
If you don’t live in the Microsoft ecosystem, Slack is the better daily driver. The messaging is faster, the search actually works, and the integration library connects to everything. It’s a focused tool that does its core job exceptionally well.
What about running both? Some companies do – Teams for meetings and document work, Slack for day-to-day chat. It’s not ideal, but it’s not crazy either if your team has strong preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack or Teams better for small business?
For small businesses without existing Microsoft 365 licenses, Slack is typically the better choice due to its simplicity, integrations, and free plan. For small businesses already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams offers better value since it is included in the subscription. Both platforms support small teams effectively, so the decision often comes down to which ecosystem you are already invested in.
Can Slack and Microsoft Teams work together?
Yes. Microsoft and Slack have improved interoperability in recent years. You can use third-party automation tools like Zapier to sync messages and notifications between the two platforms. Some organizations run both, using Teams for meetings and document collaboration while using Slack for day-to-day messaging and third-party integrations. However, running both adds cost and can fragment conversations.
Is Microsoft Teams really free?
Microsoft offers a free version of Teams with chat, video meetings (up to 60 minutes with 100 participants), and 5 GB of team storage. However, this free version does not include Exchange email, Office apps, or advanced admin controls. The full Teams experience requires a Microsoft 365 subscription starting at $6/user/month. For comparison, Slack’s free plan offers 90 days of searchable message history and one-on-one calls.
Which platform has better security?
Both platforms meet enterprise security standards including SOC 2 compliance, data encryption in transit and at rest, and two-factor authentication. Teams has a slight edge in highly regulated environments due to Microsoft’s extensive compliance certifications including FedRAMP and GCC High for government agencies. Slack’s Enterprise Grid plan offers comparable security features including Enterprise Key Management for encryption key control. For most small and mid-sized businesses, both platforms provide adequate security.