Slack vs. Microsoft Teams - A User Interface Comparison

As remote work became the norm, companies turned to messaging apps to enable collaboration and communication. Slack and Microsoft Teams are undoubtedly among the most popular communication platforms, with active monthly user counts of 16M and 145M, respectively. While both apps serve essentially the same purpose, their user interfaces are quite different. In this blog post, we are going to compare Slack and Microsoft Teams based on their user interface (UI) design without any bias.

Slack - A Minimalist’s Dream

Slack boasts a sleek and minimal design that appeals to users who prefer simplicity. The iconography is straightforward, and the color palette is pleasing to the eye. The UI is divided into five main sections: the sidebar, header, menu bar, chat, and message textbox. Moreover, Slack allows customization features, such as setting themes and adding emojis. It also has a considerable number of integrations that help users to save, organize, and access files from different apps.

However, Slack's UI might have a drawback for users who crave structure and organization. The communication is mostly long-form and chaotic, and it’s not ideal for quick, straightforward chats. The overall look of the UI may seem unremarkable to some users who prefer apps with more popping colors and dynamic imagery.

Microsoft Teams - Power-Packed but Cluttered

Teams churns a lot of functions, features, and tools within its UI. It operates within the larger scope of the Office 365 suite of apps, so its design language follows the Office suite's theme. The hub for its UI is the app bar on the left side, which lists all of the core functions that Teams offer, namely Teams, Chat, Meetings, Calls, Files, and more. Each of these core functions opens a window in the main pane, and they can prompt more windows to open, leading to a cluttered UI.

The UI's busiest section is the chat function window, containing adaptive cards, GIFs, emojis, and other multimodal forms of communication that allow for a more comprehensive and interactive messaging experience. Teams also offers an array of third-party integrations that help to streamline processes and project management.

However, the issue with the Teams UI is that it can be overwhelming for users. The tabs and windows can be confusing and challenging to navigate, leading to a high learning curve for new users. The various functions may also shift the focus away from the primary purpose of communication and collaboration.

Comparison

References

1. Toms Guide. (2021). Slack vs. Microsoft Teams. https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/face-off/slack-vs-microsoft-teams
2. Tech Republic. (2021). Slack vs. Microsoft Teams: A feature comparison. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/slack-vs-microsoft-teams-a-feature-comparison/