Pricing comparison
Microsoft Teams Essentials vs Slack
Side-by-side pricing breakdown for Team Chat decision-makers
Each amount uses its recorded currency; no currency conversion is applied. Confirm billing units, commitments, and current regional terms.
Compare the plan that fits your requirements
Check billing units, included usage and renewal terms. Starting prices alone do not establish an overall winner.
Dataset dated 2026-04-21. Sources: Microsoft Teams Essentials pricing and Slack pricing.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Both vendors remain available for comparison.
Recorded starting rates: Microsoft Teams Essentials Price unavailable; Slack $10/mo. Billing units and commitments can differ. Compare the plans that include your required features, then request quotes for the same quantity and term.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| chat | Yes | Not recorded |
| video meetings | Yes | Not recorded |
| meeting recording | Essentials+ | Not recorded |
| file sharing | Yes | Not recorded |
| office integration | Business Basic+ | Not recorded |
| outlook email | Business Basic+ | Not recorded |
| sharepoint | Business Standard+ | Not recorded |
| max participants | 300 (Essentials) | Not recorded |
| guest access | Yes | Not recorded |
| encryption | Yes | Not recorded |
| channels | Not recorded | Yes |
| threads | Not recorded | Yes |
| huddles | Not recorded | Free 1:1, Pro+ group |
| workflow builder | Not recorded | Pro+ |
| app integrations | Not recorded | 2600+ |
| message history | Not recorded | Free 90 days, Pro+ unlimited |
| sso | Not recorded | Pro (Google) / Business+ (SAML) |
| compliance exports | Not recorded | Not assessed by StackScored; verify scope, vendor terms, and your obligations. |
| hipaa | Not recorded | Not assessed by StackScored; verify scope, vendor terms, and your obligations. |
| custom retention | Not recorded | Enterprise Grid |
We may earn a commission through affiliate links.
Dive Deeper
Microsoft Teams Essentials
About the team chat category
Team chat choices differ in their application integrations, meeting tools, administrative controls and hosting options. Slack and Teams offer hosted workplace messaging; Discord centers on communities and voice channels; Rocket.Chat and Mattermost include self-managed deployment options. Compare current packages and operating requirements rather than assuming equivalent features from a per-user price.
How to choose between team chat options
Check whether your existing Microsoft or Google subscription includes the chat product you need. Then test guest access, search, files, integrations and offboarding. Review retention and export requirements with the appropriate administrators. If self-hosting is required, include infrastructure, backups, updates and support in the budget.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do Microsoft Teams Essentials and Slack prices compare?
- Microsoft Teams Essentials: Price unavailable. Slack: $10/mo. These are recorded starting prices; compare billing units, included usage and contract terms before treating them as equivalent costs.
- Which is better for my requirements, Microsoft Teams Essentials or Slack?
- Compare the recorded features and plan limits against your requirements, then confirm them with each vendor. This page does not establish hands-on testing or an overall winner.
- What happens after the first billing term?
- Use any recorded renewal rate as a dated observation. When a future rate is missing, ask the vendor; do not assume the starting price remains unchanged.