Microsoft Teams

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is Microsoft's collaboration hub combining chat, meetings, calling and Microsoft 365 integration, often included with Microsoft 365, the natural choice for Microsoft centric organisations. It brings together team chat (channels and direct messages), video meetings and webinars, calling, file collaboration through SharePoint and OneDrive, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and apps, in one hub, and is included in Microsoft 365 business and enterprise plans. For the vast number of organisations on Microsoft 365, Teams is the natural, often already owned collaboration platform, combining chat and meetings with the Microsoft ecosystem. For the Microsoft ecosystem, Teams is a leading choice.

Microsoft Teams' distinction is combining chat, meetings and calling in the Microsoft ecosystem, often bundled. Beyond chat, it includes strong video meetings and calling, and ties deeply into Microsoft 365 and files, so Microsoft organisations get collaboration in one hub within their stack, and because it is included in Microsoft 365, many already have it, which drove its massive adoption. That integration, breadth and bundling set it apart for Microsoft organisations.

Who Microsoft Teams is best for

Microsoft Teams is best for organisations on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings and calling combined and integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, especially since it is often included in their plan. It suits Microsoft centric organisations. It is a weaker fit for teams wanting the best standalone chat experience and richest integrations, where Slack fits, Google Workspace organisations, where Google Chat fits, community and informal use, where Discord fits, or self hosted needs, where Mattermost fits.

Key features

The core strengths are team chat (channels and direct messages), video meetings and webinars, calling, file collaboration via SharePoint and OneDrive, and deep Microsoft 365 integration (Office apps, Outlook), in one hub, with apps and bots and Copilot AI. Teams offers strong video, enterprise features and Microsoft ecosystem fit. Its combination of chat and meetings, Microsoft integration and bundling are its defining advantages.

Microsoft Teams pricing

Microsoft Teams has a free plan, a paid Teams Essentials from around 4 US dollars per user a month, and is included in Microsoft 365 business and enterprise plans, so many organisations get it bundled at no extra cost, with Copilot and advanced features as add ons. Pricing is very favourable within the Microsoft stack. Confirm details via the Teams options page.

Integrations and ecosystem

Microsoft Teams integrates natively with Microsoft 365 (Office apps, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook), plus a store of apps and bots and Copilot AI. Its deep Microsoft 365 integration, which ties chat, meetings and files to the Microsoft tools organisations already use, is a signature strength and the core reason Microsoft organisations adopt it, though its third party integration ecosystem is narrower than Slack's.

Teams and the Microsoft ecosystem

Combining chat and meetings in the Microsoft ecosystem, often bundled, is the signature strength: Teams unites chat, video meetings and calling with deep Microsoft 365 and file integration in one hub, and is included in Microsoft 365, so Microsoft organisations get collaboration within their stack, often already owned. For them, this is the main reason to use Teams.

Ease of use and support

Microsoft Teams is well rated for combining chat and meetings, Microsoft integration, video and value, with Microsoft support, though reviewers note it can feel heavier and less polished for pure chat than Slack. Its G2 reviews praise Microsoft integration, meetings and bundling, with chat experience and complexity the main considerations.

Is Microsoft Teams worth it?

For organisations on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings and calling combined and integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, often included in their plan, Microsoft Teams is a strong, cost effective choice. The main caution is that pure chat experience is less polished than Slack, so teams wanting best of breed chat may prefer Slack, Google ones Google Chat, and community use Discord, but for the Microsoft ecosystem Teams leads.