Microsoft Teams review
Verdict: Best when a company already relies heavily on Microsoft and wants communication inside that ecosystem.
What Microsoft Teams costs
List prices checked August 2026. Vendors change plans and pricing frequently, and regional pricing differs — confirm current figures on Microsoft Teams’s own pricing page before you buy.
| Plan | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic chat and meetings |
| Bundled with Microsoft 365 Business Basic | ~$6/user/mo | Includes Office web apps and 1TB OneDrive |
| Business Standard | ~$12.50/user/mo | Desktop Office apps included |
| Teams Essentials | ~$4/user/mo | Meetings-first, without full Office |
Free option: Free version available; most organisations get Teams bundled with Microsoft 365.
What Microsoft Teams is genuinely good at
- If you already pay for Microsoft 365, it is effectively free — the strongest argument by a distance.
- Meetings are genuinely strong: recording, transcription and large-participant handling.
- Deep Office integration; co-editing a document inside a chat works well.
- Enterprise compliance and governance are more mature than most competitors.
Where Microsoft Teams frustrates people
The honest half. These are the complaints that come up repeatedly, not edge cases.
| Limitation | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Interface | Consistently the biggest complaint. Navigation is confusing and the app is heavy. |
| Performance | Resource-hungry, especially on older machines. |
| Files | The SharePoint layer underneath surfaces in confusing ways when you least want it. |
| Non-Microsoft integrations | Noticeably weaker than Slack's ecosystem. |
Should you buy it?
Buy it if…
You already pay for Microsoft 365. The economics are hard to argue with.
Avoid it if…
Your stack is not Microsoft-based and your team values a fast, clean interface.
Related pages
- Alternatives to Microsoft Teams — Most important companion page.
- Slack review — Useful contrast page.
Try them yourself
Pricing and free tiers change often — check the current plans directly before deciding.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Microsoft Teams cost?
Prices checked August 2026. Free is $0; Bundled with Microsoft 365 Business Basic is ~$6/user/mo; Business Standard is ~$12.50/user/mo; Teams Essentials is ~$4/user/mo. Microsoft Teams changes pricing regularly, so confirm on the vendor's own pricing page.
Is there a free version of Microsoft Teams?
Free version available; most organisations get Teams bundled with Microsoft 365.
Who should not use Microsoft Teams?
Your stack is not Microsoft-based and your team values a fast, clean interface.
What is the main downside of Microsoft Teams?
Interface. Consistently the biggest complaint. Navigation is confusing and the app is heavy.