Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Which Team Communication Tool is Best in 2025?
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Quick Verdict
🏆 Best Overall: Slack - Best messaging, most integrations, best UX
💼 Best for Microsoft Shops: Teams - Free with Office 365, integrated with Office apps
🔌 Most Integrations: Slack - 2,000+ vs Teams' 500+
💰 Best Value: Teams - Free or included with Office 365
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free - $12.50/user/month | Free (limited) or Office 365 |
| Free Plan | 90-day message history | Full features (100 people) |
| Video Calls | ✅ Up to 150 people | ✅ Up to 300 people |
| Integrations | 2,000+ | 500+ |
| Best For | Messaging focus | Microsoft ecosystem |
Slack Overview
Slack is the leading team messaging platform with 750,000+ active teams. Founded in 2011, it revolutionized workplace communication with focused messaging, channels, and integrations. Slack is best when team communication is central to your workflow.
Key Features
- ✅ Organized channels and direct messages
- ✅ Rich search across all messages
- ✅ 2,000+ app integrations
- ✅ File sharing and collaboration
- ✅ Video calls (up to 150 people)
- ✅ Mobile app with full features
Microsoft Teams Overview
Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365 suite with 300+ million users. It combines chat, video, files, and Office app integration. Teams is best for organizations already using Microsoft ecosystem.
Key Features
- ✅ Integrated Office 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- ✅ Video calls (up to 300 people)
- ✅ Channels and team organization
- ✅ File storage with OneDrive/SharePoint
- ✅ Free version available
- ✅ Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration
Frequently Asked Questions
Should companies migrate from Slack to Teams?
If heavily invested in Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365), Teams makes sense for integration. Otherwise, Slack is better for communication focus. Both are solid choices depending on needs.
Can I use both Slack and Teams?
Yes, many organizations use both. Slack for external collaborations/partners, Teams for internal Microsoft integration. But maintaining two systems creates duplicate work.
Which is better for remote teams?
Both work well for remote teams. Slack has slightly better UX for messaging. Teams has better video calling (up to 300 people). Choose based on integration needs.
What about Slack's message history limit on free plan?
Slack free plan keeps only 90 days of message history. For most small teams, this is sufficient. Upgrade to Pro ($8/user/month) for unlimited history.
Final Recommendation
Best Overall: Slack
Slack is the best team communication tool. Best-in-class messaging, 2,000+ integrations, excellent mobile app. Worth $8-15/user/month for teams serious about communication.
Try Slack Free →But Choose Teams If:
You're already paying for Office 365 and use Microsoft tools heavily. Teams is included, integrates with Office apps, and has larger video calls (300 vs 150).
Try Microsoft Teams Free →