Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
This is the comparison that defines how modern teams communicate. Slack pioneered channel-based messaging and has the best third-party integrations. Microsoft Teams comes bundled with Microsoft 365 and dominates enterprise. Having used both extensively, I can tell you the 'better' choice depends entirely on your existing tech stack and company culture—not the software itself.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Slack
Real-time messaging that replaced email for modern teams
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (9.3/10 vs 8.3/10)
Microsoft Teams
Chat, calls, and collaboration baked into Microsoft 365
Best for you if:
| At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Communication | Communication |
Rating | 93/100 | 83/100 |
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 93 | 83 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CommunicationProductivity | CommunicationProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
Slack
Strengths
- +Superior user experience and design polish
- +Best-in-class third-party app integrations (2,600+)
- +Faster, more responsive interface
- +Better for cross-company collaboration (Slack Connect)
- +Stronger developer and startup ecosystem
Weaknesses
- -Gets expensive at scale ($8.75-15/user/month)
- -Video calling is decent but not best-in-class
- -No bundled office suite or document creation
- -Can become chaotic without good channel hygiene
Best For
Tech companies, startups, agencies, and teams who prioritize communication quality over cost and don't need deep Microsoft Office integration.
Slack remains the gold standard for team chat. Its focus on communication shows—the UX is simply better than Teams. The integration ecosystem is unmatched. But that focus comes with a price: you're paying specifically for chat, while Teams bundles chat with everything else.
Microsoft Teams
Strengths
- +Included with Microsoft 365 (essentially free if you have M365)
- +Deep integration with Office apps, SharePoint, OneDrive
- +Strong video conferencing (rivaling Zoom)
- +Better for very large organizations (10,000+ users)
- +Native enterprise security and compliance features
Weaknesses
- -Cluttered, less intuitive interface
- -Slower and more resource-heavy than Slack
- -Third-party integrations are less polished
- -Can feel enterprise-y and bureaucratic
Best For
Organizations already using Microsoft 365, large enterprises needing unified communications, and teams where Office document collaboration is central.
Teams wins on value when you're already paying for Microsoft 365. The all-in-one approach makes sense for many organizations. But the software itself is clunkier than Slack—it tries to do everything and doesn't do chat as well as a focused chat tool.
Head-to-Head Comparison
User Experience
Slack winsSlack is noticeably faster and more intuitive. The interface is cleaner, search is better, and everything feels more polished. Teams has improved but still feels like enterprise software designed by committee.
Integrations
Slack winsSlack's 2,600+ app directory is deeper and better implemented. Teams has grown its ecosystem but integrations often feel like afterthoughts. If you use many third-party tools, Slack connects better.
Video Conferencing
Microsoft Teams winsTeams has invested heavily in video and it shows. Features like Together Mode, breakout rooms, and large meeting support rival Zoom. Slack's Huddles are good for quick calls but not full meetings.
Document Collaboration
Microsoft Teams winsTeams' integration with Office 365 is seamless. Create and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly in Teams. Slack requires switching to Google Docs or other apps.
Value for Money
Microsoft Teams winsIf you have Microsoft 365, Teams is effectively free. At scale, Slack costs $8.75-15/user/month while Teams comes bundled. For a 500-person company, that's $52,000-90,000/year for Slack alone.
External Collaboration
Slack winsSlack Connect makes working with clients, vendors, and partners seamless in shared channels. Teams external access works but feels more awkward—you're really sharing your Teams instance.
Migration Considerations
Migrating from Slack to Teams (or vice versa) is disruptive. Both tools have export features but channel history doesn't transfer cleanly. Plan 2-4 weeks for transition. The bigger challenge is changing user habits. If your team loves Slack's UX, forcing them to Teams will face resistance. Consider running both in parallel during transition.
Who Should Use What?
Bootstrapped or small team?
When every dollar counts, Slack lets you get started without pulling out your credit card.
We'd pick: Slack
Growing fast?
Your team doubled last quarter and you need tools that won't break when you add 50 more people. Slack handles scale better in our testing.
We'd pick: Slack
Enterprise with complex needs?
You need SSO, compliance certifications, and a support team that picks up the phone. Both have enterprise tiers—compare their security features.
We'd pick: Slack
Still not sure? Answer these 3 questions
How much can you spend?
Tight budget? Start free with Slack, upgrade when you're ready.
Do you care what other users think?
Both have similar review counts. Read a few before you commit.
Expert opinion or crowd wisdom?
Our team rated Slack higher (93/100). But the community has upvoted Microsoft Teams more (0 votes). Pick your source of truth.
Key Takeaways
What Slack Does Better
- Higher overall score (93/100)
- Our recommendation for most use cases
Consider Microsoft Teams If
- You want to start free and scale later
- Its specific features better match your workflow
- You prefer its interface or design approach
The Bottom Line
Here's my honest take: if you're choosing fresh with no Microsoft 365 commitment, Slack is the better communication tool. But if you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem, the cost savings and integration benefits of Teams are real. Don't switch to Teams just to save money if your team's productivity depends on Slack's superior UX—that's a false economy. Do switch if you're paying for both M365 and Slack and not using Slack's unique features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Slack and Microsoft Teams integrate with each other?
Poorly. There are third-party tools that bridge them, but native integration is limited. Most companies pick one as primary and use the other sparingly for external partners who prefer it. Running both internally is possible but creates friction and information silos.
Which is more secure, Slack or Teams?
Both meet enterprise security standards (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA-eligible). Teams has an edge in heavily regulated industries because it inherits Microsoft 365's compliance certifications. Slack Enterprise Grid matches most compliance needs. For most companies, both are secure enough—security shouldn't be the deciding factor.
Why do developers prefer Slack?
Better integrations with developer tools (GitHub, Jira, PagerDuty), faster interface, and cultural fit with tech companies. Slack was built by developers and it shows. Teams works fine for development teams but feels more corporate.
Is Microsoft Teams really free?
Teams has a free tier with basic features. But the version most people mean—fully-featured Teams with Office integration—requires Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6/user/month) or higher. So it's 'free' if you're paying for Microsoft 365 anyway, not free outright.