{"id":16094,"date":"2020-11-18T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T08:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/?p=16094"},"modified":"2020-11-18T10:00:35","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T08:00:35","slug":"slack-vs-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/blog\/slack-vs-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Which Tool is Best for YOUR Team?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Virtual communication and collaboration<\/a> spaces are a must in today\u2019s workplace. And with advances in technology and intensifying competition, it\u2019s a great time to be an end-user. From\u00a0task management platforms<\/a> to consolidated team\u00a0communication tools<\/a>, productive<\/a> teamwork has never been easier to achieve.<\/p>\n

One of the newer players, Microsoft Teams, now boasts\u00a0thirteen million<\/a> daily users. And it\u2019s only four years old. That makes Teams the fastest growing Microsoft application in history. It also means Microsoft is pilfering customers from Slack<\/a>, the long-time leader in team chat<\/a> and collaboration.<\/p>\n

The Slack vs. Microsoft Teams debate is raging. But which tool is best for YOUR team? Below we\u2019ll explore how both tools stack up, from the nitty gritty of initial deployment to user experience, communication features, and a few key takeaways.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t worry, if neither Slack nor Microsoft Teams suits your setup, we\u2019ve got you covered! We\u2019ll offer another alternative – Brosix<\/a> – to see where it fits into the equation.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get on with it!<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Getting Started<\/h2>\n

Slack is easy to deploy. You can register with any email address you choose. Once you confirm your registration you can create a workplace name and start inviting teammates.<\/p>\n

Teams, on the other hand, is notoriously complex and time-consuming to set up. You\u2019ll need to share loads of information – personal, business, and credit card – as well as visit an admin and tool overview. All said and done, it takes about an hour to set up.<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: User Experience<\/h2>\n

Today\u2019s enterprise communication tools provide all sorts of user experiences and interfaces. We recently wrote about\u00a0Facebook Workplace<\/a> and its profile-based approach to teamwork.<\/p>\n

Slack and Microsoft Teams take a different route. Both tools feature two prominent vertical panels – the smaller for contacts and features and the bigger for conversations.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Teams, however, features another smaller panel on the far left with tabs for Activities, Chats, Messages, Meetings, and Files. The Activities tab more or less functions as an intranet, keeping you abreast of everything going on in the organization.<\/p>\n

One area where Microsoft Teams lacks is in customizations. Slack not only lets you customize the interface in any color, but also offers a host of themed options, as well. Teams, on the other hand, provides just three options – a default light theme, a dark theme, and high-contrast for the visually-impaired.<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Bots<\/h2>\n

If you know anything about Slack, you know about Slackbot. That\u2019s like your private assistant which you can ask questions and also use to try out integrations, GIFs, and send yourself links.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Teams has two built-in bots of its own – T-Bot and WhoBot. T-Bot not only gets you started with the platform, but also gives you a choice of interfaces to ask questions. You can use the messaging-type UI or the search-and-browse UI to type questions and queries in the search box.<\/p>\n

Utilizing Microsoft\u2019s AI framework, WhoBot is a bot that can search your company intranet<\/a> from within Teams itself. WhoBot can extract personal information like a person’s department or manager, give you an organizational chart of who they report to in the company, and even search for subject matter experts within the company<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Communication<\/h2>\n

Messaging in Microsoft Teams and Slack happens in either group chat rooms<\/a> with threaded conversations or private chatting<\/a>. Threads let you respond directly to messages in a channel, keeping side conversations to a minimum. Both offer a wide range of messaging features like sharing files.<\/p>\n

Teams, though, offers Word-like formatting tools within the message itself so you can change the font style, create a bulleted list, and more. If you\u2019re the indecisive type, Teams will even choose a suitable emoji<\/a> or GIF for you. Type your desired emotion in a search box and the platform will find the appropriate media.<\/p>\n

Slack, in its own right, allows you to put a reminder on a particular message, as well as react to messages with Smileys.<\/p>\n

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Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Collaboration<\/h2>\n

\"collaboration\"<\/p>\n

Slack and Teams offer a range of collaboration tools like file sharing, screen sharing, and more.<\/p>\n

There are limits, though, in terms of file size uploads. Slack limits you to 1GB while with Microsoft Teams that limit is 15GB. As for file storage, Slack\u2019s free plan limits teams to 5GB but caps paid plans at 20GB per user. Microsoft Teams provides 1TB per organization.<\/p>\n

Similarly, both tools provide voice and video capabilities, as well as the ability to quickly jump from chat to call. Teams, however, provides the ability to record a call.<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Integrations<\/h2>\n

Integrating with more than 1,500 apps and programs, Slack is still unrivaled in this category.<\/p>\n

While Microsoft Teams offers around 200 integrations, it\u2019s still lagging. That said, Teams does have a trick up its own sleeve – the Office 365 factor. For instance, Word, Excel, Notes, PowerPoint, OneNote – everything in the 365 suite – can be added to a team and then utilized without leaving the Teams platform.<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Search<\/h2>\n

Both tools feature powerful search capabilities. Slack allows you to search by person, channel, time, or even by snippets of text within an attached document. If you\u2019re using the free version though, you\u2019ll be limited to 10,000 searchable messages.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, searches your files. Creating a team in Microsoft Teams simultaneously creates a SharePoint directory with a folder for each channel. From there, you can open files directly in Microsoft Word or Excel, or within that integrated Microsoft Office 365 tab directly in Teams. This makes the content more searchable and easier to interact with than in Slack.<\/p>\n

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Considerations<\/h2>\n

\"Security<\/p>\n

As a Slack alternative<\/a>, Microsoft Teams is a contender. And as the two battle to add better features and more integrations, the ultimate winner is the users taking advantage of these solutions.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, both Slack and Teams feature some notable drawbacks which could impact the efficiency, effectiveness, and security of your enterprise communication.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Their potentially disruptive and addictive nature<\/b> – Slack, for example, lets users\u00a0override the do not disturb feature, giving teammates the power to determine that their message is more valuable than your productive time. What\u2019s more, Slack\u2019s ease of use combined with its joyful nature can quickly twist work communication into a maze of threads,\u00a0disruptive notifications<\/a>, and a social media-like addiction.<\/li>\n
  2. The enhanced security risks<\/b> – Slack and Teams boast millions-deep user bases, making them attractive targets to cybercriminals looking to breach organizations via communication tools. What\u2019s more, both offer a host of third-party app integrations. If just one of those apps happens to be unsecure, or is connected\u00a0without proper protocols<\/a> or precautionary measures in place, your Slack or Teams\u2019 chats could be at risk.<\/li>\n
  3. Teams is exclusive<\/b> – If you don\u2019t have a Microsoft account, Teams\u2019 paid versions are out of reach for you. Even personal subscribers of Office 365 are out of luck<\/a>. To get access to Teams, you\u2019ll need a Business or Enterprise plan.<\/li>\n
  4. Both tools will cost you<\/b> – Slack and Teams feature freemium versions but to get the most out of the platforms, you\u2019ll want the paid plans. Teams\u2019 most basic paid version, Business Essentials, costs $5.00 per user per month. That\u2019s still cheaper than Slack\u2019s cheapest offering, Standard, at $6.67 per user per month. At the other end of the spectrum, Teams\u2019 Business Premium and Slack\u2019s Plus set you back $12.50 per user per month!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Unfortunately, these drawbacks put Teams and Slack out of reach for many small to medium-sized enterprises, freelancers, and those concerned with productivity and security.<\/p>\n

    Brosix: An Intuitive, Affordable, and Highly Secure Alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams<\/h2>\n

    \"Brosix<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re on the fence about Slack or Microsoft Teams, why not give Brosix a try?<\/p>\n

    Brosix<\/a> is an instant messaging software<\/a> for businesses providing teams a hub for communication and collaboration on a platform that\u2019s intuitive, highly administrative, and more secure than Slack or Teams.<\/p>\n

    Getting Set Up<\/h3>\n

    Brosix is easy to deploy. Simply provide an email address, name, and phone number on the landing page and then create a company or team name and a password. That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n

    [highlight_block title=”Improve your team communication today.” link1=”https:\/\/www.brosix.com\/signup\/” link2=”” link3=”” ]<\/p>\n

    Pricing<\/h3>\n

    Brosix offers a three-tier, scalable pricing plan. Startup offers small teams free, unlimited messaging and a virtual whiteboard on a private team network with some limited control options.<\/p>\n

    For $4 per user per month, Business gets you voice and video capabilities, Brosix\u2019s full suite of collaboration tools, and administrative controls like the ability to manage contacts and features.<\/p>\n

    For teams that want total control over their Brosix network, Premium affords full administration and control over user accounts, multiple administrators, security levels for user data access, the ability to broadcast messages<\/a> to handpicked audiences, and more. At $6 per user per month, Brosix Premium is more affordable than Slack\u2019s cheapest offering.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Focused and User-friendly Communication<\/h3>\n

    Communication with Brosix takes place on a one-to-one basis through text chats, or in groups via chat rooms. All chats are organized on a user basis on the left side of the screen. In-messaging access to voice and video chats, as well as collaboration tools, provides a highly intuitive and user-friendly UX and ensures teamwork with just a click.<\/p>\n

    For those stages of deep work, custom statuses and auto-replies allow you to focus on productivity. Broadcast messages<\/a>, meanwhile, expedite timely knowledge and information sharing but in a way that doesn\u2019t disrupt the workflow.<\/p>\n

    Collaboration<\/h3>\n

    Unlike Slack and Teams, Brosix\u2019s\u00a0Unlimited Size File Transfer<\/a> never restricts file size uploads.<\/p>\n

    Screen sharing<\/a> with remote desktop and instant screenshots<\/a> streamline internal processes and facilitate teamwork. With more and more teams working from home, that can be helpful for things like remote business meetings<\/a> or tech support.<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s also a native\u00a0whiteboard solution<\/a> that, when paired with voice or video chat especially, can transform presentations, revisions, and brainstorming sessions.<\/p>\n

    Multi-Layer Security<\/h3>\n