Slack vs Microsoft Teams 2026: The Ultimate Communication Tool Showdown
Slack vs Teams — we compare pricing, features, integrations, video calling, and real-world performance to help you choose the best communication platform for your team.
The Slack vs Microsoft Teams debate is one of the most important decisions a growing company makes. Your communication platform shapes how your team collaborates, how information flows, and ultimately, how productive everyone is.
We used both platforms extensively for 3 months across different team types. Here's our data-driven comparison.
TL;DR — Quick Verdict
Choose Slack if you're a tech company, startup, or team that relies heavily on integrations and needs the best async communication experience.
Choose Teams if you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem, need enterprise-grade video conferencing, or want the best value for money with bundled productivity tools.
| Category | Slack | Teams | Winner | |----------|-------|-------|--------| | Messaging UX | 5/5 | 3.5/5 | Slack | | Video Calls | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | Teams | | Integrations | 5/5 | 4/5 | Slack | | Pricing Value | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | Teams | | File Sharing | 4/5 | 5/5 | Teams | | Search | 4.5/5 | 3/5 | Slack | | Ease of Use | 5/5 | 3.5/5 | Slack |
Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Plan | Slack | Microsoft Teams | |------|-------|----------------| | Free | $0 (90-day history) | $0 (basic features) | | Starter | $9/user/mo (Pro) | $4/user/mo (Essentials) | | Mid-Tier | $15/user/mo (Business+) | $6/user/mo (Business Basic*) | | Enterprise | Custom | $13/user/mo (Business Standard*) |
*Microsoft 365 Business plans include email, OneDrive, and Office apps in addition to Teams.
Messaging Experience
Slack Wins ✅
Slack's channel organization, threading, and message formatting are best-in-class. The @mentions, reactions, and scheduled messages feel polished. Channel sidebar organization with custom sections makes managing 50+ channels manageable.
Teams Falls Behind
Teams' chat interface feels cluttered by comparison. Threading is less intuitive, and navigating between chats and channels requires more clicks. The notification system can be overwhelming without careful configuration.
Video Conferencing
Teams Wins ✅
Teams supports meetings up to 1,000 participants with Together Mode, background effects, breakout rooms, and live transcription. The recording quality and integration with Outlook calendar is seamless.
Slack's Huddles Are Good, But Limited
Huddles are perfect for quick, informal calls (like tapping someone on the shoulder). But for scheduled meetings, webinars, or large group calls, Slack can't compete with Teams — or even Zoom.
Integrations
Slack Wins ✅
With 2,600+ apps in its marketplace, Slack has the deepest integration ecosystem of any communication tool. The GitHub, Jira, and Notion integrations are particularly powerful for tech teams. Custom bots via Slack API are easier to build than Teams equivalents.
Teams Has Enough
Teams integrates well within the Microsoft ecosystem (SharePoint, OneDrive, Power Automate) and has 1,000+ third-party apps. However, third-party integrations often feel less native than Slack's.
Our Verdict
For tech companies and startups: Slack is the clear winner. Its UX, integrations, and developer-friendliness make it the productivity hub of choice.
For enterprises on Microsoft 365: Teams is the smarter investment. You're already paying for it, the video conferencing is industry-leading, and the Office integration is seamless.
The hybrid approach: Many organizations use Slack for daily communication and Teams/Zoom for video meetings. This works well if the added complexity is acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack better than Microsoft Teams?
It depends on your ecosystem. Slack excels in integrations (2,600+ apps) and developer experience. Teams is better for organizations already using Microsoft 365 and those needing robust video conferencing.
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Yes, Teams offers a free plan. It's also included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6/user/month), which adds email, storage, and the full Office suite — making it exceptional value.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Microsoft Teams?
Teams is generally cheaper. Slack Pro costs $9/user/month for just chat. Teams is included free with Microsoft 365 ($6/user/month), which also includes email, OneDrive, and Office apps.
Can you use Slack and Teams together?
Yes, many organizations use both — Slack for daily team communication and Teams for video calls and cross-company meetings. However, this approach adds complexity and cost.
Which has better video calling, Slack or Teams?
Microsoft Teams wins on video conferencing with features like Together Mode, breakout rooms, and support for meetings up to 1,000 participants. Slack's Huddles are great for quick calls but limited for large meetings.