Microsoft Teams
Free planChat, meetings and files in Microsoft 365
Deals for Microsoft Teams
Chat, meetings and files in Microsoft 365
Microsoft Teams Essentials 30-day trial
Start Free TrialWhat Microsoft Teams does
Microsoft Teams is a workplace communication platform that brings together chat, meetings, calls and file sharing in one application, primarily integrated within Microsoft 365. It is developed and maintained by Microsoft and is now a central hub for teams using Outlook, Word, Excel and other Office products. Users can chat with colleagues, hold video conferences and collaborate on shared documents without switching tools. Teams is positioned as a default option for organisations committed to Microsoft's productivity suite and tends to be tightly connected with other Microsoft enterprise products, making it frequently adopted in corporate environments. While it supports external collaboration, its full value is realised by businesses already invested in Microsoft 365.
What sets it apart
Deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps and services.
Key features
- ◆Threaded team chat
- ◆Voice and video meetings
- ◆File sharing with permissions
- ◆Collaboration on Office documents
- ◆Calendar integration
- ◆Searchable message history
- ◆Custom notification settings
What teams use it for
- Collaborate on Word and Excel files
- Schedule and host team meetings
- Share and search company documents
- Coordinate project work via chat
Pros
- +Seamless integration with Office apps
- +Enterprise-grade compliance and security
- +Persistent chat history
- +Built-in video conferencing
Cons
- −Interface can feel cluttered
- −Resource-intensive on desktop
- −Best features require Microsoft 365
- −Guest user experience is limited
Integrates with
Our verdict
Teams makes sense for businesses standardised on Microsoft 365 wanting tightly integrated chat and meetings. Companies not using Microsoft's ecosystem may find less value or face challenges with user adoption and external collaboration.
Frequently asked questions
Does Teams require a Microsoft 365 subscription?+
Teams is included with many Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but a free plan is also available with fewer features.
Can Teams integrate with non-Microsoft apps?+
It offers integrations with a wide range of third-party apps through its app store, although not all features may be as tightly integrated as those with Microsoft products.
How secure is Microsoft Teams?+
Teams benefits from Microsoft's compliance and security framework, including data encryption and multi-factor authentication.
How do I find Teams pricing?+
Pricing details are available on the official Microsoft Teams website or through the Microsoft 365 pricing page.
Microsoft Teams alternatives
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Customisable open-source team messaging platform
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Cloud-based software for managing contact centre operations
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