Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Teams?

Yes. Slack offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Microsoft Teams alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Team Communication

Best Microsoft Teams alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Microsoft Teams?

Slack is our top Microsoft Teams alternative. Slack edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall. It scores 4.5 in our testing.

We put Microsoft Teams head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Microsoft Teams review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Microsoft Teams can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Slack

4.5

The messaging hub for modern teams.

Higher ratedFrom $8.75/moFree tier

Slack edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.5

Our score

Try Slack Read review

Zoom

4.4

Reliable video meetings at any scale.

Higher ratedFrom $13.33/moFree tier

Zoom edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Zoom Read review

Discord

4.4

Community chat with voice, video, and channels.

Higher ratedFrom $9.99/moFree tier

Discord edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Discord Read review

Google Meet

4.2

Simple video calls inside Google Workspace.

Higher ratedFrom FreeFree tier

Google Meet edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Google Meet Read review

Whereby

4.2

Browser-based video meetings with no installs.

Higher ratedFrom $6.99/moFree tier

Whereby edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.2 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Whereby Read review

Twist

4.1

Calm, async-first team communication.

Higher ratedFrom $6/moFree tier

Twist edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.1 to 4.0 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.1

Our score

Try Twist Read review

Side by side

Microsoft Teams vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Microsoft TeamsYou have	4.0	$4/mo	Yes	Chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365.
Slack	4.5	$8.75/mo	Yes	The messaging hub for modern teams.
Zoom	4.4	$13.33/mo	Yes	Reliable video meetings at any scale.
Discord	4.4	$9.99/mo	Yes	Community chat with voice, video, and channels.
Google Meet	4.2	Free	Yes	Simple video calls inside Google Workspace.
Whereby	4.2	$6.99/mo	Yes	Browser-based video meetings with no installs.
Twist	4.1	$6/mo	Yes	Calm, async-first team communication.

Our pick

Switch to Slack

Slack edges out Microsoft Teams in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.0 overall. It is the Microsoft Teams alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Slack Compare them side by side

Questions

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Team Communication.