Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams: Pricing, Features & Review

Companies already paying for Microsoft 365 that need chat, video calls, and file collaboration without adding another vendor

Communication ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 Free plan available, Microsoft 365 Business Basic from $6/user/month Visit Official Site

What Is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a communication tool. It's positioned for companies already paying for microsoft 365 that need chat, video calls, and file collaboration without adding another vendor. Pricing starts at Free plan available, Microsoft 365 Business Basic from $6/user/month. Based on our evaluation across pricing, features, ease of use, integrations, and support, we rate it 4.2/5.

This profile summarizes the key facts: pricing tiers, the strongest features, and the trade-offs to weigh before committing. For a hands-on opinion-led review, see the related articles section at the bottom.

Microsoft Teams Pros and Cons

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

Microsoft Teams Key Features

Microsoft Teams ships with the following core capabilities. Feature availability depends on your plan tier.

  • Persistent chat threads organized by Teams and Channels with @mentions, priority notifications, and message pinning
  • Video conferencing with Together Mode, virtual backgrounds, live reactions, and recording to OneDrive or SharePoint
  • Teams Loops for real-time co-editing of tables, checklists, and notes that sync across Outlook and Teams
  • Power Automate integration for building no-code workflows triggered by Teams messages, approvals, or channel posts
  • Breakout rooms with automatic or manual participant assignment and timer controls
  • Walkie Talkie push-to-talk feature for frontline workers on mobile devices
  • Shifts scheduling module for hourly workforce management with swap requests and time-clock integration

Microsoft Teams Pricing

Microsoft Teams starts at Free plan available, Microsoft 365 Business Basic from $6/user/month. Pricing changes frequently, so verify the latest tiers directly on the official Microsoft Teams pricing page before purchasing. Our linked review articles include full per-tier breakdowns at the time of writing.

Who Is Microsoft Teams Best For?

Companies already paying for Microsoft 365 that need chat, video calls, and file collaboration without adding another vendor. If your situation differs significantly, the related comparisons below help you weigh Microsoft Teams against the leading alternatives in communication.

Microsoft Teams Reviews & Comparisons on ToolScout

roundups Best Collaboration Tools for Remote Teams in 2026 roundups Best Team Communication Tools in 2026 comparisons Slack Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools That Cost Less and Do More roundups Best Video Conferencing Software for Business in 2026 comparisons Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Which Is Better for Your Business in 2026?

Sources & References

Pricing and feature information last verified January 0001. Software vendors update plans frequently — always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site before purchase. See our review methodology.