Free Microsoft Teams alternatives
Top Team Chat like Microsoft Teams
All Microsoft Teams alternatives
Slack is a workplace messaging app that organizes conversations into channels by team, project or topic, with threads, direct messages and huddles for quick audio or video calls. A large app directory and an open API connect it to most business tools, and Slack Connect lets companies share channels with clients and partners. AI summaries and search are available on paid plans.
9 Slack alternativesPros
- Huge app directory connects to almost any business tool
- Slack Connect shares channels with clients and partners
- Huddles make quick audio and video calls effortless
Cons
- Free plan hides older message history
- Paid plans get costly for large teams
- Constant notifications can hurt focus
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesGoogle Chat is Google's messaging app for direct messages, group conversations and spaces, the shared rooms where teams discuss projects in threads. It sits next to Gmail and works closely with Drive, Docs and Meet, so files and meetings can be shared without switching apps. It is free with a personal Google account, while companies get admin controls and Gemini features through Google Workspace.
8 Google Chat alternativesPros
- Built into Gmail, so Workspace users need no extra app
- Works closely with Drive, Docs and Meet for files and calls
- Free to use with a personal Google account
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and bots than Slack
- Little appeal outside the Google Workspace ecosystem
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesZoom is a video conferencing service used for team meetings, classes and large webinars, with screen sharing, recording, breakout rooms and virtual backgrounds. The Zoom Workplace suite adds team chat, phone, whiteboards and docs, and AI Companion can summarize meetings and draft follow-ups on paid accounts. A free plan covers short meetings with a limited number of participants.
9 Zoom alternativesPros
- Reliable video quality, even on modest connections
- Breakout rooms, webinars and recording cover most meeting needs
- Widely known, so guests rarely need help joining
Cons
- Free meetings are capped in length and participants
- AI Companion requires a paid account
- Has faced privacy and security criticism in the past
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesWebex is Cisco's collaboration suite covering video meetings, team messaging, webinars and cloud calling, built with large enterprises and their security requirements in mind. Meetings can be end-to-end encrypted, and an AI Assistant provides summaries, noise removal and real-time translation. Webex also integrates with Cisco's meeting room hardware, and a free plan is available for basic meetings.
8 Webex alternativesPros
- Enterprise-grade security with end-to-end encrypted meetings
- AI Assistant provides summaries and real-time translation
- Integrates with Cisco meeting room hardware
Cons
- Interface can feel complex compared with simpler meeting apps
- Free plan is limited to basic meetings
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesDiscord is a chat platform built around servers, each with its own text channels, voice channels and roles. It started with gamers but now hosts communities of every kind, from open-source projects to study groups, with drop-in voice rooms, screen sharing, threads and forums. Bots extend servers, and an optional Nitro subscription adds perks such as larger uploads and higher-quality streaming.
11 Discord alternativesPros
- Drop-in voice channels make spontaneous conversations easy
- Roles, bots and permissions scale to very large communities
- Generous free tier across desktop, mobile and the web
Cons
- Not designed for workplace compliance or admin controls
- Busy servers and notifications can quickly feel overwhelming
- Text messages are not end-to-end encrypted
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesChanty is a team messaging app aimed at small and mid-sized teams who want something simpler than larger chat suites. It offers public and private conversations, audio and video calls with screen sharing, and a built-in task manager with a Kanban board, so messages can be turned into tasks. A free plan covers small teams, and integrations connect it to common workplace tools.
8 Chanty alternativesPros
- Simple interface that small teams pick up quickly
- Built-in Kanban task board turns messages into tasks
- Free plan is enough to get a small team started
Cons
- Smaller integration catalog than Slack or Microsoft Teams
- Task management is basic compared with dedicated tools
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesGoogle Meet is Google's video meeting service, usable directly in the browser or in mobile apps without installing software. It integrates with Google Calendar and Gmail for scheduling and joining, and offers screen sharing, live captions, background effects and noise cancellation. Recording, breakout rooms and Gemini note-taking need a paid Workspace plan; personal accounts can host shorter group calls for free.
8 Google Meet alternativesPros
- Joins directly from the browser with nothing to install
- Tight integration with Google Calendar and Gmail
- Live captions and noise cancellation built in
Cons
- Recording and breakout rooms require a paid Workspace plan
- Free group calls have a time limit
- Fewer advanced webinar features than dedicated platforms
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMattermost is an open-source collaboration platform offering channels, threads, calls and playbooks for structured workflows. Organizations can run it on their own servers or in a private cloud to keep full control of their data, which appeals to engineering teams, public agencies and regulated industries. Plugins, webhooks and an API connect it to DevOps tools like GitLab, Jira and Jenkins.
8 Mattermost alternativesPros
- Self-hosting keeps full control over data and infrastructure
- Strong DevOps integrations with GitLab, Jira and Jenkins
- Playbooks structure incident response and repeatable workflows
Cons
- Self-hosted deployments need ongoing admin work
- Smaller app ecosystem than Slack
- Advanced compliance and enterprise features require paid plans
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesWhereby is a Norwegian video meeting service where each host gets a permanent room link that guests open in their browser, with no download or account needed. It offers screen sharing, recording, breakout groups and in-room integrations with tools like Miro and Google Docs, which suits small teams, coaches and online consultations. Developers can also embed Whereby video rooms in their own apps through its API.
8 Whereby alternativesPros
- Permanent room links that guests open without an account
- Nothing to install, since meetings run in the browser
- API to embed video rooms in your own apps
Cons
- Less suited to large meetings or webinars than bigger platforms
- Fewer enterprise admin controls than Zoom or Teams
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesBigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system designed for online teaching. It includes a multi-user whiteboard, shared notes, polls, breakout rooms, screen sharing and recordings that can be replayed later. Schools and universities typically self-host it or use a hosting provider, and it plugs into learning management systems such as Moodle, Canvas and Sakai.
8 BigBlueButton alternativesPros
- Designed for teaching, with whiteboard, polls and breakout rooms
- Integrates with Moodle, Canvas and other learning platforms
- Free and open source, with recordings that can be replayed later
Cons
- Self-hosting requires a dedicated server and admin skills
- Interface feels dated next to Zoom or Teams
- Less suited to business meetings than to online classes
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsLivestorm is a French video engagement platform for webinars, virtual events and online meetings that run entirely in the browser. It covers the whole event workflow: registration pages, email reminders, polls, Q&A, on-demand replays and attendee analytics, with integrations for CRMs and marketing tools. A free plan allows short sessions, and paid plans add longer events and automation.
8 Livestorm alternativesPros
- Runs entirely in the browser for hosts and attendees
- Covers the full webinar flow from registration to replays
- CRM and marketing integrations plus attendee analytics
Cons
- Free plan is limited to short sessions
- Paid plans get expensive for larger audiences
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPlatforms
Microsoft Teams vs its alternatives at a glance
Pricing, platforms and the key features of Microsoft Teams, compared with its most popular alternatives.
| App | Pricing | Platforms | AI assistant | Channels | Integrations | Meeting recording | Screen sharing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Microsoft Teams | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Slack | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Google Chat | Freemium | Web, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Zoom | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Webex | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android | |||||
 Discord | Freemium | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android |
Microsoft Teams alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Teams?
The most popular alternative to Microsoft Teams is Slack: Channel-based messaging and collaboration for work teams. Other great alternatives are Google Chat, Zoom, Webex, and Discord.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Teams?
Yes, 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Slack, Google Chat, Zoom, and Webex.
Is there an open source alternative to Microsoft Teams?
Yes, 2 open source alternatives are listed, including Mattermost and BigBlueButton.
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Microsoft Teams has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.
Compare Microsoft Teams with its alternatives
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