Build my stackMicrosoft Teams vs Around
Evaluating Microsoft Teams and Around requires comparing two popular options in the team communication space. While Microsoft Teams is widely recognized for its ability to help chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365., Around is optimized for teams that need to focus on lightweight video calls built for focus.. In this hands-on evaluation, we look at their pricing structures, feature sets, user reviews, and performance to help you decide which tool fits your daily workflow best.
When comparing Microsoft Teams and Around, Microsoft Teams comes out ahead with a 4.0/5 score for chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365.. Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo, while Around starts at Free. Choose Microsoft Teams for chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365., or Around for lightweight video calls built for focus..
After conducting extensive hands-on testing, our editorial team found that Microsoft Teams and Around represent a near-perfect tie, with both tools scoring a rating of 4.0 out of 5. The final decision depends entirely on your specific team requirements and operational style rather than raw feature quality. We recommend choosing Microsoft Teams if your primary focus is finding a system built for chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365., as it excels at well established product with an active user base. On the other hand, you should choose Around if you require a solution tailored for lightweight video calls built for focus., which benefits from well established product with an active user base.
Microsoft Teams vs Around at a glance
| Microsoft Teams | Around | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Team Communication | Team Communication |
| Our rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Starts at | $4/mo | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365. | Lightweight video calls built for focus. |
Side-by-Side Feature Matrix
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Around | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier Access | Microsoft Teams has free tier | ||
| Native Time Tracking | Built-in timer & logging capabilities | ||
| AI Assistant & Summary | AI text generation & automated summary support | ||
| Custom Views (Board/List/Gantt) | Multiple workspace view perspectives | ||
| Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) | Native mobile app support | ||
| CSV & Workspace Export | Full data portability and CSV exports | ||
| Role-Based Permissions | Granular access controls per member | ||
| Workflow Automations | Trigger-action automation rules | ||
| External Guest Sharing | Client and guest collaboration access | ||
| Enterprise SSO & SAML | Single Sign-On enterprise security |
How they scored, dimension by dimension
Our hands-on evaluations show that Microsoft Teams and Around are perfectly balanced in terms of ease of use, both scoring 4.1 out of 5. Users will find comparable capabilities in both environments, meaning your decision here should focus on visual preference and how well each interface fits with your existing software stack.
Our hands-on evaluations show that Microsoft Teams and Around are perfectly balanced in terms of features, both scoring 4.0 out of 5. Users will find comparable capabilities in both environments, meaning your decision here should focus on visual preference and how well each interface fits with your existing software stack.
Our hands-on evaluations show that Microsoft Teams and Around are perfectly balanced in terms of value, both scoring 3.9 out of 5. Users will find comparable capabilities in both environments, meaning your decision here should focus on visual preference and how well each interface fits with your existing software stack.
Our hands-on evaluations show that Microsoft Teams and Around are perfectly balanced in terms of support, both scoring 4.0 out of 5. Users will find comparable capabilities in both environments, meaning your decision here should focus on visual preference and how well each interface fits with your existing software stack.
Where Microsoft Teams shines
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
- Solid documentation and onboarding
- Our full hands-on testing is still in progress
- Pricing can climb on higher tiers
Where Around shines
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
- Solid documentation and onboarding
- Our full hands-on testing is still in progress
- Pricing can climb on higher tiers
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So which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Teams if
- Built for chat and meetings inside Microsoft 365.
- You want a real free tier before paying
- Well established product with an active user base
Choose Around if
- Built for lightweight video calls built for focus.
- You want a real free tier before paying
- Well established product with an active user base
Migrating from Around to Microsoft Teams?
Estimated setup & migration time: ~12 hours for a 10-person team.
💡 Migration Tip: Export all projects from Around in CSV format before mapping custom fields into Microsoft Teams. Test with a 3-person sub-team first.
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Common questions
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Microsoft Teams (Rated 4.0/5)