Our verdict
If you live in Microsoft 365, Teams is usually the sensible default. If chat quality and integrations matter most, Slack is worth paying for.
Slack is the chat tool many teams love for its speed, search and integrations. Microsoft Teams bundles chat with meetings and files and is included in many Microsoft 365 plans.
Choose Slack if…
- You want the best chat experience
- You rely on many third-party integrations
- You use Google Workspace
Choose Microsoft Teams if…
- You already pay for Microsoft 365
- You want chat, meetings and files in one
- You need Microsoft compliance tools
Side by side
| Criterion | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.6 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Ease of use | 9.0 | 7.6 |
| Value for money | 7.6 | 8.8 |
| Support & reliability | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Security & privacy | 8.4 | 9.0 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 9.8 | 8.4 |
| Starting price (indicative) | Free with limited history; paid from around $7–9 / user / month | Free; Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Teams that live in chat | Microsoft 365 organisations |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 90-day history | Yes, limited |
| Video meetings | Huddles; Zoom etc. for larger | Full meetings and webinars |
| Integrations | Very large app directory | Microsoft 365 plus app store |
| External collaboration | Slack Connect | Shared channels and guests |
| Search | Excellent | Good |
| Best for | Chat-first teams | Microsoft 365 organisations |
Pricing compared
Slack
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 90-day message history |
| Pro | ≈ $7.25 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Business+ | ≈ $12.50 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Enterprise Grid | Custom quote | — |
Microsoft Teams
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Limited |
| Teams Essentials | ≈ $4 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | ≈ $6 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | ≈ $12.50 / user / mo | Billed annually |
| Team size | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seats | $36 (Pro) | $20 (Teams Essentials) |
| 10 seats | $73 (Pro) | $40 (Teams Essentials) |
| 25 seats | $181 (Pro) | $100 (Teams Essentials) |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Cost
Teams is often bundled with Microsoft 365; Slack is a separate subscription.
Experience
Slack is widely considered faster and more pleasant for chat; Teams is broader but heavier.
Ecosystem
Slack integrates with thousands of apps; Teams integrates deeply with Microsoft 365.
Pros & cons
Slack
- Excellent usability
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Shared channels with partners
- Free plan history limits
- Can become noisy
Microsoft Teams
- Included with many Microsoft 365 plans
- Meetings, chat and files in one
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Can feel heavy and complex
- Search less loved than Slack
Key features of each
Slack
- Channels. Organise conversations by topic or team.
- Huddles. Lightweight audio and video calls.
- Slack Connect. Shared channels with other organisations.
- Workflow Builder. No-code automations inside Slack.
Integrates with: Google Workspace, Asana, Zoom, Salesforce, GitHub, Zapier.
Microsoft Teams
- Chat & channels. Team conversations with threads.
- Meetings. Video meetings and webinars.
- Files. SharePoint-backed file collaboration.
- Copilot. AI assistance with an add-on licence.
Integrates with: Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Planner, Salesforce, Asana.
Who should avoid each
Skip Slack if…
- Teams already paying for Microsoft Teams
- Very cost-sensitive teams
Best for: Teams that live in chat; Companies with many integrated tools; Working with external partners via shared channels.
Skip Microsoft Teams if…
- Google Workspace teams
- Teams wanting a lightweight chat app
Best for: Microsoft 365 organisations; Teams needing chat plus meetings; Businesses with compliance needs.
Switching between Slack and Microsoft Teams
Migration difficulty: Moderate
Message history migration is limited; most teams export what they need and start fresh in the new tool.
- Decide which channels to recreate.
- Export key history if your plan allows.
- Set up channel conventions in the new tool.
- Reconnect integrations and bots.
- Set a date to stop posting in the old tool.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Slack | 8.8 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 8.63 |
| 2. Microsoft Teams | 8.8 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 8.42 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Teams free with Microsoft 365?
It is included in many Microsoft 365 business plans in many regions; check current bundling.
Can Slack and Teams work together?
Some integrations allow limited interoperability, but most teams pick one.
Does Slack or Microsoft Teams have a free plan?
Slack has a free plan; Microsoft Teams has a free plan. Indicative starting prices: Slack — Free with limited history; paid from around $7–9 / user / month; Microsoft Teams — Free; Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month.
Which is cheaper for a team of 10, Slack or Microsoft Teams?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users costs about $73 per month on Slack (Pro) and about $40 on Microsoft Teams (Teams Essentials), so Microsoft Teams is cheaper at that size. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded — and the plan you actually need may be higher.
Which scores higher in our review, Slack or Microsoft Teams?
Slack scores 8.6/10 and Microsoft Teams 8.4/10 on our weighted rubric. Slack leads on 3 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
