Slack vs Microsoft Teams 2026: Which is Better for Your Team?
Slack and Microsoft Teams dominate workplace communication. Both are excellent, but serve different needs.
Quick Answer:
- Choose Slack for startups, tech teams, and integration lovers
- Choose Teams for Microsoft 365 users and enterprise
At a Glance
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Tech/Startups | Enterprise/M365 users |
| Free Plan | 90 days history | Unlimited |
| Paid From | $8.75/user/mo | Included with M365 |
| Integrations | 2,400+ | 700+ |
| Video Calls | 15 min (free) | 60 min (free) |
Slack Overview
Slack pioneered modern team chat, replacing email with organized channels.
Key Features
- Channel-based messaging
- Powerful search
- 2,400+ app integrations
- Workflow automation
- Huddles (quick audio calls)
- Canvas (collaborative docs)
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 90-day history, 10 integrations |
| Pro | $8.75/user/mo | Unlimited history, group calls |
| Business+ | $15/user/mo | SAML SSO, compliance |
| Enterprise | Custom | Advanced security |
Microsoft Teams Overview
Teams is Microsoft’s answer to Slack, deeply integrated with Microsoft 365.
Key Features
- Channel messaging
- Video meetings (up to 1,000 participants)
- Full Office 365 integration
- SharePoint file storage
- Whiteboard collaboration
- Live events/webinars
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited messages, 60 min meetings |
| Essentials | $4/user/mo | 30-hour meetings, 10GB storage |
| M365 Business | $12.50/user/mo | Full Office apps + Teams |
| Enterprise E3 | $36/user/mo | Advanced compliance |
Feature Comparison
Messaging
| Aspect | Slack | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Threads | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Reactions | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Standard |
| Search | ✅ Powerful | ✅ Good |
| Formatting | ✅ Markdown | ✅ Rich text |
| @mentions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Winner: Slack — Better threading and search.
Video Meetings
| Aspect | Slack | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Free meeting length | 15 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Max participants | 50 | 1,000 |
| Screen sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Recording | Paid | ✅ Yes |
| Breakout rooms | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Winner: Teams — Far superior for video meetings.
Integrations
| Aspect | Slack | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| App marketplace | 2,400+ | 700+ |
| Google Workspace | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Microsoft 365 | ✅ Good | ✅ Native |
| Developer API | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Automation | ✅ Workflow builder | ✅ Power Automate |
Winner: Slack — More integrations and better for non-Microsoft tools.
File Sharing
| Aspect | Slack | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Storage (free) | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| Storage (paid) | 10-20 GB/user | 1 TB/user |
| File sharing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Real-time editing | Via integrations | ✅ Native Office |
| Version history | Limited | ✅ SharePoint |
Winner: Teams — Much better file management.
Mobile Apps
| Aspect | Slack | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Android | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Notifications | ✅ Customizable | ✅ Standard |
| Offline | Limited | Limited |
Winner: Slack — Slightly better mobile experience.
Pros and Cons
Slack
Pros:
- ✅ Best-in-class UX
- ✅ Powerful integrations
- ✅ Great for async communication
- ✅ Better threading
- ✅ Fun and engaging
Cons:
- ❌ Expensive for large teams
- ❌ Limited free plan (90 days)
- ❌ Weak video calling
- ❌ No native document editing
Microsoft Teams
Pros:
- ✅ Free with Microsoft 365
- ✅ Excellent video meetings
- ✅ Native Office integration
- ✅ Better file storage
- ✅ Enterprise security
Cons:
- ❌ Can feel clunky
- ❌ Slower than Slack
- ❌ Fewer third-party integrations
- ❌ Steeper learning curve
Who Should Use What?
Choose Slack If:
- You’re a startup or tech company
- You need lots of integrations
- Your team prefers async communication
- You don’t use Microsoft 365
- UX is a priority
Choose Teams If:
- You already pay for Microsoft 365
- Video meetings are critical
- You need document collaboration
- Enterprise security matters
- You’re in a regulated industry
Can You Use Both?
Yes, some organizations use:
- Slack for day-to-day chat
- Teams for video meetings
But this creates fragmentation. Pick one for simplicity.
Migration Tips
Slack → Teams
- Export channel history (paid Slack)
- Recreate channel structure
- Set up Microsoft 365 integrations
- Train team on new workflows
Teams → Slack
- Export messages (compliance export)
- Create matching channels
- Set up integrations
- Connect file storage (Google Drive/Dropbox)
Our Verdict
| Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| Best chat experience | Slack |
| Video meetings | Teams |
| File collaboration | Teams |
| Integrations | Slack |
| Microsoft 365 user | Teams |
| Google Workspace user | Slack |
| Startup/Tech | Slack |
| Enterprise | Teams |
Bottom Line
Microsoft 365 users: Choose Teams—it’s included and deeply integrated.
Everyone else: Evaluate your needs. Slack has better UX; Teams has better value if you need video and Office apps.
Last updated: January 2026