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Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Microsoft Teams and Slack. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo, making it $5/mo cheaper than Slack ($8.75/mo). Slack offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026
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Microsoft Teams vs Slack: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureMicrosoft TeamsSlack
Starting Price$4/mo$8.75/mo
Number of Plans34
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Microsoft Teams is the more affordable option, starting at $4/mo compared to Slack's $8.75/mo. Both are Communication tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 77 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $14.

Slack stands out with a free plan for getting started.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Communication needs.

Pricing Plans
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
Try it free
Slack
Tier 1
Microsoft Teams EssentialsPopular
$4/month
Includes
  • Chat, call, and video conferencing
  • Real-time collaboration with file sharing, tasks, and polling
  • Team meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions (English)4
  • 10 GB of cloud storage per user
  • Data encryption for meetings, chats, calls, and files
  • Anytime phone and web support
Start with Microsoft Teams Essentials
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 90 days of message history
  • Up to 10 apps
  • 1:1 meetings
  • 1:1 external messages
  • Basic AI
  • AI conversation summaries
  • Slackbot (personal AI agent)
  • AI workflow generation
  • AI search
  • AI daily recaps
  • AI file summaries
  • SAML-based single sign-on
  • SCIM user management
  • EMM integration support
  • Native data loss prevention
Start with Free
Tier 2
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
$6/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Identity and access management for up to 300 users
  • Web and mobile versions3 of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook apps
  • Custom business email (you@yourbusiness.com)
  • 1 TB of cloud storage per user
  • 10+ additional apps for your business needs (including Microsoft Bookings, Planner, and Forms)
  • AI chat experience with web grounding, writing assistance, data analysis, and access to agents5
  • Automatic spam and malware filtering
Start with Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Pro
$9/month
Includes
  • Unlimited message history
  • Unlimited app integrations
  • Group meetings
  • Group external messages
  • Basic AI
  • AI conversation summaries
  • Slackbot (personal AI agent)
  • AI workflow generation
  • AI search
  • AI daily recaps
  • AI file summaries
  • SAML-based single sign-on
  • SCIM user management
  • EMM integration support
  • Native data loss prevention
Start with Pro
Tier 3
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
$13/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Desktop, web, and mobile versions3 of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other apps
  • Webinars with attendee registration and reporting
  • Collaborative workspaces to co-create using Microsoft Loop
  • Video editing and design tools with Microsoft Clipchamp
Start with Microsoft 365 Business Standard
Business+Popular
$18/month
Includes
  • Unlimited message history
  • Unlimited app integrations
  • Group meetings
  • Group external messages
  • Advanced AI
  • AI conversation summaries
  • Slackbot (personal AI agent) NEW
  • AI workflow generation
  • AI search
  • AI daily recaps
  • AI file summaries
  • SAML-based single sign-on
  • SCIM user management
  • EMM integration support
  • Native data loss prevention
Start with Business+
Tier 4
—
Enterprise+
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Unlimited message history
  • Unlimited app integrations
  • Group meetings
  • Group external messages
  • Enterprise-Grade AI
  • AI conversation summaries
  • Slackbot (personal AI agent) NEW
  • AI workflow generation
  • Enterprise search
  • AI daily recaps
  • AI file summaries
  • Multiple SAML configurations
  • SCIM user management
  • EMM integration support
  • Native data loss prevention
Start with Enterprise+

Swipe to compare plans →

Microsoft Teams

Team collaboration hub with chat, meetings, and file sharing

View all Microsoft Teams plans

Slack

Channel-based messaging platform for teams

View all Slack plans

What Reviewers Say

Our Pick

Slack

Slack offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Slack

Try Slack free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Microsoft Teams if:

  • •You want lower per-user costs—Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo, saving $4.75/mo compared to Slack at $8.75/mo
  • •You prioritize Microsoft Teams's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • •Microsoft Teams's 3-tier per-seat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning

Choose Slack if:

  • •You need a free plan with 90 days of message history, Up to 10 apps—Slack offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • •You want more features built-in—Slack offers 43 additional features across its plans
  • •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Slack offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Slack offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Microsoft Teams requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Slack a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Slack's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $18/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Microsoft Teams' tiering starting at $4/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Slack's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Microsoft Teams' 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Slack is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Teams vs Slack

Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Slack?
As of March 2026, Microsoft Teams starts at a lower price point. Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo while Slack starts at $8.75/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Microsoft Teams have vs Slack?
Microsoft Teams offers 3 pricing plans, while Slack offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Microsoft Teams or Slack offer a free plan?
Slack offers a free plan, while Microsoft Teams does not. If budget is a concern, Slack lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Microsoft Teams plan?
The Microsoft Teams Essentials plan is Microsoft Teams' most popular tier, priced at $4/mo. Key features include Chat, call, and video conferencing, Real-time collaboration with file sharing, tasks, and polling, Team meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions (English)4.
What is the most popular Slack plan?
The Business+ plan is Slack's most popular tier, priced at $18/mo. Key features include Unlimited message history, Unlimited app integrations, Group meetings.
Does Microsoft Teams or Slack offer custom enterprise pricing?
Slack offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Microsoft Teams lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Microsoft Teams and Slack compare for Communication?
Both Microsoft Teams and Slack are Communication tools. Microsoft Teams offers 3 plans starting at $4/mo, while Slack offers 4 plans starting at $8.75/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Communication needs.

Sources

  1. Microsoft Teams Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
  2. Slack Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page

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