Microsoft Teams
Chat, video, and collaboration for Microsoft 365 organizations
AppAdvize Score
out of 10 · How we scoreShort answer
Microsoft Teams scores 8/10 in our review and is best for organizations already paying for microsoft 365 who want communication included and enterprises in regulated industries requiring microsoft's compliance certifications. The standout: Included with Microsoft 365 — no extra cost for existing subscribers. Watch out: UI more complex and less intuitive than Slack. There's a free plan to start with.
Reviewed by the AppAdvize editorial team · last verified March 2026
Overview
Microsoft Teams is the collaboration hub bundled with Microsoft 365 — combining persistent chat channels, video meetings, file storage via SharePoint, and integration with Word, Excel, and Outlook. For organizations already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is included at no extra cost. It competes directly with Slack on messaging and Zoom on video. Teams is particularly strong in organizations with heavy Office document collaboration needs and in regulated industries where Microsoft's compliance certifications matter.
Pricing
Free — Free plan available — full access included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
Enterprise plans available on request
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Included with Microsoft 365 — no extra cost for existing subscribers
- ✓Deep Office integration — co-author Word and Excel docs in-meeting
- ✓Strong compliance and security certifications for regulated industries
- ✓Massive scale — handles organizations of any size
Watch out for
- ✕UI more complex and less intuitive than Slack
- ✕Video quality and reliability historically behind Zoom
- ✕Notification system and channel structure can be confusing
Best for
- Organizations already paying for Microsoft 365 who want communication included
- Enterprises in regulated industries requiring Microsoft's compliance certifications
Not ideal for
- Teams that don't use Microsoft 365 (Slack is a cleaner standalone option)
- Creators and small agencies without a Microsoft ecosystem dependency
Alternatives
See all Microsoft Teams alternatives, compared →Microsoft Teams FAQ
Is Microsoft Teams worth it?
Microsoft Teams scores 8/10 in our review and is a strong fit for organizations already paying for microsoft 365 who want communication included. Standout: Included with Microsoft 365 — no extra cost for existing subscribers. Main trade-off: UI more complex and less intuitive than Slack.
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Microsoft Teams is free to use — Free plan available — full access included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
What are the best Microsoft Teams alternatives?
Top Microsoft Teams alternatives are Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace. See our full comparison at /tools/microsoft-teams/alternatives.
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Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2017
- Users
- 320M+ monthly active users
- Setup time
- ~30 min
- Complexity
- moderate
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01