Slack and Microsoft Teams are the two team chat platforms most businesses choose between, and the decision is less about chat than about everything around it. Slack is a dedicated messaging platform built to connect with thousands of other tools. Teams is the communication layer of Microsoft 365, tightly tied to Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive and Office files, and often already included in what a company pays for. This guide compares them on what actually decides the choice: cost, the ecosystem you already use, meetings, integrations, administration and how your team works day to day.
Quick verdict. Choose Microsoft Teams if your company already runs on Microsoft 365, works mostly in Office files and wants chat, meetings and calling at the lowest extra cost. Choose Slack if your team works across many different tools, collaborates often with external partners, and values the best messaging experience and the largest integration ecosystem. For a company on Google Workspace, Slack is usually the natural fit.
At a Glance
| Slack | Microsoft Teams | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Dedicated team messaging platform | Chat, meetings and calling inside Microsoft 365 |
| Free plan | Yes, with limited message history | Limited free option; the classic free version has been retired |
| Paid entry plan | Pro, about $7.25 to $8.75 per user per month | Teams Essentials, about $4 per user per month billed annually |
| Bundled option | Not bundled with an office suite | Included in many Microsoft 365 business plans, from about $6 to $7 per user per month (Business Basic) |
| Business tier | Business+, about $12.50 to $15 per user per month | Microsoft 365 Business Standard and above |
| Enterprise | Enterprise+ (formerly Enterprise Grid), quote-based | Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans |
| Strongest at | Messaging experience, integrations, external collaboration | Microsoft 365 integration, meetings, value for Microsoft customers |
Prices vary by billing cycle, region and contract, and third-party sources disagree on some Slack figures, so ranges are shown. Microsoft also sells some Microsoft 365 plans with and without Teams depending on region and plan. Check both vendors' pricing pages before you budget.
The PURIST Fit Score: How We Compare Them
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging experience | Channels, threads, search, speed and how pleasant daily use feels | 25% |
| Ecosystem fit | How well it works with the suite and tools the company already uses | 25% |
| True cost | Real cost per user, including what is already paid for in a suite | 30% |
| Integrations and automation | App directory, workflows, APIs and external collaboration | 20% |
The Head-to-Head Comparison
| Platform | Messaging experience | Ecosystem fit | True cost | Integrations and automation | PURIST Fit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | 10/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 10/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Microsoft Teams | 7/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8.3/10 |
Teams edges ahead on our framework because, for a typical company that already pays for Microsoft 365, its extra cost is close to zero. Slack wins clearly on the messaging experience and integrations, and it moves ahead for companies outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Messaging, channels and threads
Slack's channels, threads, reactions, mentions and search remain the reference for team messaging. Conversations are fast to scan, easy to organize and easy to find later. Teams offers channels, threaded conversations and chats with similar capabilities, but the experience is more tied to teams and files, and many users find it heavier for quick back-and-forth messaging.
Meetings and calling
Teams is a full meeting platform, with scheduled meetings, webinars, large meetings, recording, transcription and phone system options on the right plans, all connected to Outlook calendars. Slack offers huddles for quick audio and video conversations and clips for asynchronous video, and integrates with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams for formal meetings. If meetings are central to your work, Teams covers more natively.
Files and documents
Teams stores files in SharePoint and OneDrive and lets people co-edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint directly inside channels, which is a strong advantage for Office-centric teams. Slack shares files in conversations and integrates with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and Box, and offers canvases for lightweight shared documents.
Integrations and apps
Slack's app directory is one of the largest of any business platform, and its APIs, webhooks and workflow tools make it a common hub for notifications from other systems. Teams has a large app store, deep integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Automate, and the major business apps, but third-party coverage is generally narrower than Slack's.
External collaboration
Slack Connect lets you share channels with clients, partners and suppliers across organizations, which many agencies and B2B companies rely on. Teams supports guest access and shared channels with other Microsoft 365 organizations, which works well when everyone is on Microsoft.
Workflow automation
Slack's Workflow Builder automates simple processes such as requests, approvals and standups. Teams connects to Power Automate for workflows across Microsoft 365. Both connect to automation platforms such as n8n for cross-tool workflows.
AI features
Both vendors sell AI assistants that summarize channels and meetings, search across content and draft messages, usually as paid add-ons or on higher plans. These features change quickly, so test them on your own data during a trial and confirm the current price.
Security, compliance and administration
Teams inherits Microsoft 365's identity, compliance and data governance tools, which is a major advantage for regulated industries and IT teams already managing Microsoft. Slack offers enterprise security, data residency options and compliance features on its higher plans, with strong controls for organizations that standardize on it.
The Real Cost Comparison Nobody Publishes
The real question is what you already pay for. Here is the approximate monthly cost for a 25-person team in common situations.
| Situation | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Company already on Microsoft 365 with Teams | about $180 to $220 extra (Pro) | Already included |
| Company on Google Workspace | about $180 to $220 (Pro) | about $100 (Teams Essentials) |
| Need advanced admin and compliance | about $310 to $375 (Business+) | Included in higher Microsoft 365 plans |
| No office suite yet | about $180 to $220 (Pro) plus a suite | about $150 to $175 (Business Basic, includes email and web Office apps) |
For Microsoft 365 companies, adding Slack is a deliberate extra cost that is justified only if its messaging and integrations clearly improve how the team works. For everyone else, the comparison is much closer than the headline prices suggest.
Hidden Costs and Contract Traps
Slack's free plan limits how far back you can see messages and files, which pushes most teams to a paid plan once history matters.
AI assistants are often extra on both platforms. Budget for them separately if you plan to use them.
Running both tools is a common, expensive habit: Teams comes with Microsoft 365, and some departments add Slack. Decide on one primary platform, or set clear rules for which tool is used for what.
Migration between the two is possible but rarely moves everything cleanly. Plan which channels and history matter before you switch.
Which Platform Fits Which Business
- Company standardized on Microsoft 365 and Office files: Microsoft Teams.
- Company on Google Workspace: Slack.
- Agencies and B2B companies that work in shared channels with clients: Slack, thanks to Slack Connect.
- Teams that live in meetings and calls: Microsoft Teams.
- Engineering, product and remote-first teams with many tools: Slack.
- Regulated industries with Microsoft-based IT: Microsoft Teams.
If you are also rethinking your whole office suite, our Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 vs Zoho Workplace comparison covers the suite decision, and our Google Workspace alternatives guide covers all-in-one options.
Where n8n Fits in the Picture
Team chat becomes far more useful when other systems talk to it: a new lead posts to the sales channel, a failed payment alerts finance, an approval request arrives with buttons, a daily summary lands every morning. n8n connects to both Slack and Microsoft Teams, so the same workflows can post to either platform and survive a later switch. See our guide to Slack automation workflows for practical examples.
How to Choose in Five Questions
- 1 Which office suite does the company use, and will that change in the next three years?
- 2 Is Teams already included in what you pay for?
- 3 How much do you collaborate in shared channels with clients and partners?
- 4 Are meetings and calling central, or is most communication written?
- 5 Which tools must post into your chat platform, and does each have a native integration?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack better than Microsoft Teams?
For messaging experience, integrations and external collaboration, Slack is generally stronger. For companies on Microsoft 365, Teams usually wins on cost, meetings and integration with Office files.
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Teams is included in many Microsoft 365 business plans, and Teams Essentials is sold on its own at about $4 per user per month billed annually. The classic free version of Teams has been retired, and Microsoft offers a more limited free option for personal use.
How much does Slack cost per user?
Slack Pro costs roughly $7.25 to $8.75 per user per month depending on billing, and Business+ roughly $12.50 to $15. Enterprise+ is quote-based. Check Slack's pricing page for current figures in your region.
Can Slack and Teams work together?
Yes, through integrations and automation platforms, and some companies run both. It usually works best to choose one primary platform and connect the other only where needed.
Which is better for external clients?
Slack, through Slack Connect shared channels. Teams works well for external collaboration when the other organization also uses Microsoft 365.
Which is better for video meetings?
Microsoft Teams, which includes full meetings, webinars and calling options. Slack's huddles are designed for quick conversations, and Slack integrates with Zoom, Google Meet and Teams for formal meetings.
Which has more integrations?
Slack has one of the largest app directories in business software. Teams has a large app store and the deepest integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Automate.
Can I automate workflows between Slack or Teams and my other tools?
Yes. Both have built-in workflow tools, and an automation platform such as n8n can connect either one to your CRM, helpdesk, billing and internal systems.
Sources and Further Reading
Pricing reflects publicly listed plans and third-party pricing guides at the time of writing; Slack figures are shown as ranges because sources differ. Confirm current prices on Slack and Microsoft Teams before you buy.
To connect your team chat to your CRM, billing and daily reports so the right people get the right alerts, book a free automation audit.
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Purist Team
The PURIST editorial team covers automation, AI agents, and operations strategy for businesses scaling with n8n, Make, and Claude AI.
