Microsoft Teams

What is Microsoft Teams (for meetings)?

Microsoft Teams is Microsoft's meetings and collaboration hub combining video meetings with chat and Microsoft 365, often included with Microsoft 365, the natural choice for Microsoft centric organisations. For video, it provides video meetings and webinars, screen sharing, recording and transcription, and background effects, alongside its team chat and calling, all integrated with Microsoft 365 (Outlook scheduling, Office apps, SharePoint), and often included in Microsoft 365 plans. For the vast number of organisations on Microsoft 365, Teams is the natural, often already owned meetings platform, combining video with chat and the Microsoft ecosystem. For the Microsoft ecosystem, Teams is a leading choice for meetings.

Microsoft Teams' distinction is combining meetings with chat in the Microsoft ecosystem, often bundled. Beyond meetings, it unifies chat, calling and Microsoft 365, so Microsoft organisations get video, collaboration and the suite in one hub, and because it is included in Microsoft 365, many already have it, which drove its massive meetings 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 video meetings combined with chat and calling 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 meeting experience and webinars, where Zoom fits, Google Workspace organisations, where Google Meet fits, or those wanting free, self hosted meetings, where Jitsi fits.

Key features

The core strengths are video meetings and webinars, screen sharing, recording and transcription, and background effects, alongside team chat and calling, all deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Office apps, SharePoint), with Copilot AI. Teams offers meetings within a full collaboration hub and Microsoft ecosystem fit. Its combination of meetings and chat, Microsoft integration and bundling are its defining advantages.

Microsoft Teams pricing

Microsoft Teams has a free plan (meetings and chat), 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 meetings 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 (Outlook scheduling, Office apps, SharePoint, OneDrive), plus apps, bots and Copilot AI. Its deep Microsoft 365 integration, which ties meetings, chat and files to the Microsoft tools organisations already use, is a signature strength, the core reason Microsoft organisations use it for meetings.

Teams and the Microsoft ecosystem

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

Ease of use and support

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

Is Microsoft Teams worth it (for meetings)?

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