Slack vs. Teams: Which Communication and Collaboration Tool to Choose?

Slack and Teams are two popular communication and collaboration tools in the market. While Slack has been the frontrunner for quite some time, Microsoft's Teams is gaining momentum with its attractive features and integration with Office 365. In this article, we will compare Slack and Teams, highlighting their similarities, differences, and helping you decide which one is best suited for your needs.

User Interface and Experience

Slack has a clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and communicate with team members. The chats are neatly organized in the sidebar, and switching between multiple accounts is a breeze. On the other hand, Teams follows a similar layout, with channels and team members displayed in the sidebar and conversations in the main window. Both platforms offer a search bar for easy access to messages and files.

Teams, Channels, Conversations

Both Slack and Teams allow you to create teams and channels for different topics or areas of interest. You can add members to these teams and communicate either one-on-one or in group channels. Both platforms offer global search functionality, but the way commands work differs. In Slack, commands are used within the conversation text, while in Teams, commands are entered in the search bar.

Formatting text in Slack requires keyboard shortcuts or simple formatting steps, while Teams offers a WYSIWYG editor with more formatting options. Both platforms support file sharing, but Teams has a separate tab for files, making it quick and easy to access. Additionally, Teams allows you to forward emails directly to a channel, saving time and streamlining communication.

App Integrations and Bots

Both Slack and Teams offer app integrations, allowing you to connect with various project management and cloud storage tools. Slack has a wide range of supported apps, while Teams is catching up with over 180 integrations. Both platforms also support Zapier, which further expands the integration possibilities.

Slack has a directory of bots that can be added to channels, automating certain tasks. Teams comes with its own set of bots, including T-Bot for answering questions and WhoBot for employee information management. Both platforms also provide tutorials for building custom bots.

Other Features

Teams offers several additional features that enhance the user experience. For example, you can blur the background during video calls for privacy or to remove distractions. Teams also allows you to create tabs for notes, display rich content, and access a Wiki tab for FAQs and guidelines.

Platforms and Pricing

Slack offers a free plan with certain limitations, while Teams has a free version with more features. Slack's paid plans start at $8 per user per month, with additional features and admin control. Teams' pricing is tied to Office 365 subscriptions, which offer access to all Microsoft apps. Business plans start at $6 per user per month, while Enterprise plans start at $8.

Both Slack and Teams are available on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Web. Slack also supports Linux, while Teams does not currently have Linux support.

In conclusion, Microsoft Teams has gained an edge over Slack in terms of features and pricing. If your company uses Microsoft Office, Teams is a better choice, as it offers seamless integration with other Office 365 apps. On the other hand, if you heavily rely on Google Docs and prefer a wide range of app integrations, Slack might be the better option for you.

Remember to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing between Slack and Teams, as both platforms have their own strengths and can greatly improve team communication and collaboration.