Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Which Communication and Collaboration Tool is Better for Remote Teams?
The rise of remote work has led to the increasing importance of communication and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack. Both tools offer a variety of features that can help teams stay connected and productive, but which one is better? In this post, we will provide a factual and unbiased comparison of Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Features
Microsoft Teams and Slack offer many similar features, including:
- Chat
- Video and voice calls
- File sharing
- Screen sharing
- Integrations with other tools
However, there are a few key differences between the two. Microsoft Teams offers more features for collaboration, including real-time collaboration on files in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Teams also has a built-in calendar feature and the ability to schedule meetings directly within the app.
On the other hand, Slack has a more robust set of integrations and a more customizable interface. Slack also offers more extensive searching capabilities and has better options for organizing channels and chats.
Cost
Both Microsoft Teams and Slack offer free versions, but the paid versions offer more features and capabilities. Microsoft Teams is included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which start at $5/user/month for the Business Basic plan. The Business Standard plan, which includes Microsoft Teams, costs $12.50/user/month.
Slack's paid plans start at $6.67/user/month for the Standard plan and $12.50/user/month for the Plus plan, which offers more features and capabilities.
User Base
As of March 2021, Microsoft Teams had over 145 million daily active users, while Slack had roughly 12 million. While Slack has a more significant market share for smaller companies and tech startups, Microsoft Teams is more commonly used in enterprise organizations.
User Satisfaction
User satisfaction ratings for Microsoft Teams and Slack are relatively close. According to G2, Microsoft Teams has a satisfaction rating of 4.3/5 and Slack has a rating of 4.5/5. Both tools have high ratings for ease of use, ease of setup, and quality of support.
So, which tool is better for remote teams? The answer depends on your organization's specific needs and priorities. If you value real-time collaboration and want a built-in calendar and other Microsoft 365 tools, Microsoft Teams may be the better option. However, if customizability and integration with other tools are more important, Slack may be the better choice.
At the end of the day, both tools offer robust communication and collaboration features and can help your remote team stay connected and productive.