Microsoft Teams
Review · Communication & Messaging · Freemium
About Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive collaboration platform that combines chat, video conferencing, file storage, and application integration. Built deeply into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, it's the go-to choice for organizations already using Microsoft products.
Teams offers persistent chat, online meetings, and document collaboration with real-time co-authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The platform supports up to 10,000 participants in a single meeting, making it suitable for large organizations and webinars.
With features like Together mode, breakout rooms, and live captions, Teams provides an inclusive meeting experience. IT administrators benefit from advanced security, compliance, and management capabilities built into the Microsoft cloud infrastructure.
Our Take on Microsoft Teams
Verdict: Microsoft Teams is the obvious choice for remote teams already on Microsoft 365. Chat, meetings, files and Office apps live together, often in a licence you already pay for. Standalone, Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month (annual), about half of Slack Pro. The trade-off is a heavier app and a less pleasant chat experience.
Pricing
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Teams (free) | $0 | Group meetings up to 60 minutes, 100 participants; 1:1 calls unlimited |
| Teams Essentials | $4/user/mo (annual) | Meetings up to 30 hours, more storage, no Office apps |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | ~$7/user/mo | Teams plus web Office apps, email and OneDrive |
Microsoft sells Microsoft 365 with and without Teams in some regions. Check which version your business is on before buying Teams separately.
Against Slack: 20 users on Teams Essentials cost $960/year. 20 users on Slack Pro (annual) cost $1,740/year.
Why remote teams use Teams
- Microsoft 365 integration. Co-edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint inside chats and meetings.
- Meetings at scale, with webinars and town halls on higher tiers.
- Compliance and admin controls IT teams already know.
Where it falls short
- Heavier, slower app than Slack.
- Chat organisation (teams, channels, chats) confuses new users.
- Fewer third-party integrations than Slack in practice.
Choose Teams if
- Your company runs on Microsoft 365
- Cost matters and you want chat plus meetings in one licence
Avoid Teams if
- Your stack is Google Workspace. Use Google Chat and Google Meet
- Developer integrations and chat UX are priorities. Use Slack
Compare: Slack vs Microsoft Teams. More in communication tools.
Sources (checked 2026-10-09)
Key Features
- ✓Deep Microsoft 365 integration
- ✓Video meetings up to 300 participants
- ✓Real-time document collaboration
- ✓Together mode and breakout rooms
- ✓Advanced IT admin controls
- ✓Enterprise security and compliance
Pricing
Free
$0
- • Group meetings up to 60 min
- • 100 participants
Teams Essentials
$4/user/mo (annual)
- • Meetings up to 30 hours
- • More storage
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
~$7/user/mo
- • Teams + web Office apps
- • Email and OneDrive
Other Communication & Messaging Tools
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Yes, Microsoft Teams offers a free version with unlimited chat, up to 100 participants in meetings, and 5GB of cloud storage per user.
Do I need Microsoft 365 to use Teams?
No, you can use the free version of Teams without Microsoft 365. However, paid plans unlock desktop Office apps, more storage, and advanced features.
How many people can join a Teams meeting?
Microsoft Teams supports up to 300 participants on most plans, and up to 10,000 for view-only broadcast meetings.
Quick Verdict
Chat, video calls, and file sharing integrated with Microsoft 365
88/100 · Excellent
Pros
- ✓Seamless Microsoft 365 integration
- ✓Generous free tier
- ✓Excellent for large organizations
Cons
- ✗Can be overwhelming with many features
- ✗Resource-intensive desktop app
- ✗Better value if already using Microsoft 365
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