Slack vs Microsoft Teams

Compare Slack and Microsoft Teams pricing, features, pros and cons. Updated for 2026.

Slack Async-first team chat with deep integration ecosystem vs Microsoft Teams Chat, meetings, and collaboration bundled with Microsoft 365

Pricing

Tier Slack Microsoft Teams
Free tier Free (Unlimited) Free (Up to 100)
Starter $7.25 / user/month (Pro) $4 / user/month (Essentials)
Business / Pro $12.5 / user/month (Business+) $6 / user/month (Microsoft 365 Business Basic)
Enterprise Enterprise Grid $12.5 / user/month (Business Standard)

Feature matrix

Feature Slack Microsoft Teams
Task management ✗ Via Planner
Gantt / timeline ✗ ✗
Time tracking ✗ ✗
Automations ✓ Via Power Automate
Guest users ✓ ✓
API access ✓ ✓
Single sign-on (SSO) Business+ plan ✓
Mobile app ✓ ✓
Offline mode ✗ Limited
Integrations 2,600 1,500

Pros & cons

Slack

Pros

  • Largest app and integration ecosystem in chat
  • Excellent search across channels and DMs
  • Huddles and Canvas reduce meeting overhead
  • Polished cross-platform clients

Cons

  • Free tier history is now limited to 90 days
  • Pricing per active user adds up fast
  • Video calling is weaker than Teams/Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Pros

  • Bundled with Microsoft 365 (cheap if you already pay for it)
  • Strong video meetings and webinars
  • Tight Office, SharePoint, and OneDrive integration
  • Enterprise-grade SSO and compliance

Cons

  • Heavier client, slower than Slack
  • Channel/threading model is less intuitive
  • Less rich third-party app ecosystem

Best for

Slack

Tech-forward teams that live in chat and integrations

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft 365 shops and enterprises with strong compliance needs

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Slack or Microsoft Teams?

Both Slack and Microsoft Teams offer a free tier, so the cheaper option depends on which paid features you need. Compare the paid tiers in the table above.

Is Slack better than Microsoft Teams?

It depends on what you're optimizing for. Slack is best for tech-forward teams that live in chat and integrations, while Microsoft Teams is best for microsoft 365 shops and enterprises with strong compliance needs. If your priorities map to the first, pick Slack; if they map to the second, pick Microsoft Teams.

Which is better for small teams?

Both are workable for small teams. Slack suits tech-forward teams that live in chat and integrations; Microsoft Teams suits microsoft 365 shops and enterprises with strong compliance needs.

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