Our verdict · 8.4/10 Excellent
The obvious choice for Microsoft 365 businesses. Can feel heavier than Slack, and the structure of teams and channels needs planning.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Microsoft 365 organisations.
- Strongest area: Security & privacy (9.0/10). Weakest: Ease of use (7.6/10).
- Price: Free; Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month — free plan available.
- Watch out for: Can feel heavy and complex.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams combines chat, channels, video meetings, calling and file collaboration, built on SharePoint and OneDrive. It is included in most Microsoft 365 business plans in many regions and is available standalone in others, with deep Office integration.
Microsoft Teams is made by Microsoft and is reviewed here as a collaboration tool. It is priced on a freemium basis, and our editorial score is 8.4 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Microsoft Teams if
- Microsoft 365 organisations
- Teams needing chat plus meetings
- Businesses with compliance needs
Not for you if
- Google Workspace teams
- Teams wanting a lightweight chat app
Key features
Team conversations with threads.
Video meetings and webinars.
SharePoint-backed file collaboration.
AI assistance with an add-on licence.
- Microsoft 365
- SharePoint
- Planner
- Salesforce
- Asana
Pros & cons
What we like
- Included with many Microsoft 365 plans
- Meetings, chat and files in one
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Office co-authoring
Watch out for
- Can feel heavy and complex
- Search less loved than Slack
- Channel sprawl without governance
Pricing & true cost
| 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 |
Pricing watch-out: Bundling varies by region; check current Microsoft 365 plans.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked October 31, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Steep tier jump. Moving from Microsoft 365 Business Basic to Microsoft 365 Business Standard raises the per-user price from $6 to $12.5 (2.1×). Check which features force the upgrade.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked October 31, 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 8.8 | 2.20 | |
| Ease of use | 20% | 7.6 | 1.50 | |
| Value for money | 20% | 8.8 | 1.80 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.8 | 0.80 | |
| Security & privacy | 10% | 9.0 | 0.90 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 8.4 | 1.30 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for business software products | 8.4 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Microsoft Teams against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Microsoft’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any collaboration tool
Check Microsoft Teams against the same list we use for every collaboration tool — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Fast, reliable search
- Permissions per space or channel
- Integrations with your core apps
- History and retention on free/paid tiers
- SSO and admin controls if needed
See every ranked option in Collaboration & Docs.
Microsoft Teams alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Easier to useGWGoogle WorkspaceEase-of-use score 9.0 vs 7.6
- Better integrations
SlackIntegrations score 9.8 vs 8.4 - Higher overall scoreGWGoogle WorkspaceOverall 8.7 vs 8.4
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Microsoft Teams. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
The team messaging platform with the deepest integration ecosystem.
Email, docs, drive, meetings and chat in one browser-first suite.
Reliable video meetings, now with chat, docs, whiteboards and AI.
Head-to-head comparisons
Featured in: Best Team Collaboration Tools for Small Business
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Microsoft Teams FAQ
Is Microsoft Teams free?
There is a limited free version; business features come with paid plans.
Is Teams included in Microsoft 365?
In many regions yes; in some regions it is sold separately. Check current plans.
Does Microsoft Teams have a free plan?
Yes. Microsoft Teams offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Teams Essentials from around $4 / user / month (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is Microsoft Teams best for?
Microsoft Teams is best for: microsoft 365 organisations; teams needing chat plus meetings; businesses with compliance needs.
How much does Microsoft Teams cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Teams Essentials) works out at roughly $40 per month, or about $480 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the Microsoft Teams score calculated?
The 8.4/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for software products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Teams?
Popular alternatives include Slack, Google Workspace, Zoom Workplace. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.