Microsoft Teams costs significantly less for organizations already using Microsoft 365 (bundled at $6-12.50/user/month vs Slack's $8.25/user/month), while Slack offers superior search functionality, faster message delivery, and a more intuitive interface favored by design-focused teams.
Slack vs Microsoft Teams — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Microsoft Teams if your organization uses Microsoft 365, values tight Office document collaboration, and prioritizes cost-effectiveness—Teams' bundled pricing saves 40-60% versus Slack for most enterprises. Choose Slack if you need superior search capabilities, prefer a cleaner interface, work in a non-Microsoft ecosystem, or value faster real-time performance for high-volume communication teams.
Cloud-based team messaging platform with advanced search and customization.
Cloud-based unified communications platform integrated with Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Slack vs Microsoft Teams — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Slack vs Microsoft Teams with 210 attributes.
Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
Annual Subscription Cost (Pro, 100 users)
Maximum video call participants (free tier)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Pro/Standard)
Maximum Free Tier Group Meeting Duration
Advanced Chat Features (Channels, Threading, Workflows)
3-Year Total Cost of Ownership (1,000 users)
Enterprise Deployment Adoption (500+ seat orgs)
3-Year TCO Advantage for 1,000 Users with M365
Free Tier Meeting Duration for Group Calls
Global Enterprise Video Conferencing Market Share (2024)
Annual TCO (1,000 users, 3-year average)
Slack vs Microsoft Teams — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Slack vs Microsoft Teams.
Is Slack or Teams cheaper for enterprise organizations?
Teams is substantially cheaper for organizations using Microsoft 365. If you're already paying for Microsoft 365 ($6-12.50/user/month), Teams is bundled at no additional cost. Slack's Pro plan costs $8.25/user/month standalone, making Teams 60-100% cheaper for Microsoft shops. However, for non-Microsoft environments or teams that don't use Office 365, both tools cost similarly.
Can I search old messages in both platforms?
Slack provides instant full-text search across all messages in paid plans. Teams Free tier only indexes the last 3 months of messages; older conversations require a paid plan for searchability. If historical message search is critical, Slack's advantage is significant. Teams Standard users get full search, but at higher cost than Slack Pro.
Which platform integrates better with Microsoft Office documents?
Teams has native, deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and SharePoint, allowing real-time co-editing without leaving the app. Slack can integrate with Microsoft 365 via APIs and third-party apps, but requires switching to Office web apps or desktop clients for document collaboration. Teams wins decisively for Microsoft-heavy workflows.
Which platform has better real-time performance?
Slack delivers messages with <100ms latency, creating near-instantaneous communication. Teams averages 200-300ms latency, which is perceptible in fast-paced conversations but acceptable for most business use. If your team relies on rapid-fire messaging (trading floors, fast-moving startups), Slack's speed advantage matters. For typical business communication, both are acceptable.
What happens to my chat history if I downgrade from paid to free?
Slack: Downgrading to free tier limits searchable history to the last 90 days, but older messages remain visible in conversations. Teams: Free tier has unlimited history, so no data loss on downgrade. Teams is more forgiving for cost-conscious organizations that may downgrade.