Slack vs Microsoft Teams for SMBs: Best Team Communication?
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Slack
Microsoft Teams
Slack vs Microsoft Teams for SMBs
Slack and Microsoft Teams dominate team communication. For SMBs, the choice often comes down to your existing software stack.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 90-day history | Unlimited (M365) |
| Paid price | .25/user/mo | /user/mo (M365) |
| M365 integration | Limited | Native |
| Third-party apps | 2,400+ | 900+ |
| Video calls | Huddles | Teams Meetings |
Microsoft Teams Wins for M365 Users
If you already pay for Microsoft 365 (which most SMBs do), Teams is included at no extra cost. That'''s effectively free team communication with deep integration into Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Outlook.
Slack Wins for Developer/Tech Teams
Slack'''s 2,400+ integrations, developer-friendly culture, and threading model make it the preferred tool for tech companies, startups, and teams with complex workflow automation needs.
Our Verdict
Microsoft Teams wins for most SMBs — if you'''re paying for M365, Teams is essentially free. Slack wins for tech-forward teams where integrations and developer tooling matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack free for small teams?
Slack'''s free plan is limited to 90 days of message history and 10 integrations — constraining for ongoing business use. Paid plans start at .25/user/month.
Does Teams include video calling?
Yes — Microsoft Teams includes video meetings, screen sharing, and recording at no extra cost on paid M365 plans.
Can Slack and Teams work together?
Slack has a Microsoft Teams integration for cross-platform messaging, but communication fragmentation is a real problem. Most businesses standardize on one platform.
Bottom Line
If you pay for Microsoft 365: use Teams (it'''s already included). If you'''re a tech startup or have complex integration needs: Slack is worth the investment.