Microsoft Teams Review: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration tool that helps improve communication and teamwork. It’s best for large enterprises, remote teams, and departments like IT and HR, where communication is critical. Microsoft Teams can help unify your team's communication and make team collaboration efficient and straightforward.
In my comprehensive review of Microsoft Teams, I've reviewed features, pros and cons, use cases, and pricing using my extensive project management expertise. Read my insightful analysis of the platform and find out whether it's the right fit for you.
Microsoft Teams Evaluation Summary
- From $4/user/month (billed annually)
- Free trial available
Why You Can Trust Us
We’ve been testing and reviewing project management software since 2012. As project managers ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.
We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different project management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.
Microsoft Teams Overview
In my opinion, Microsoft Teams is a strong collaboration tool, especially for orgs already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. It’s built into Microsoft 365 and easily integrates with other Microsoft products, which makes it a logical choice if you’re using those tools.
Its user interface is less intuitive than competitors like Slack, but its comprehensive feature set and strong support make it a solid option. It's best suited for medium to large enterprises that need communication and collaboration capabilities, rather than startups that need a simple solution.
pros
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You can easily schedule and manage meetings with built-in calendar features.
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Your team benefits from real-time collaboration with file sharing and editing.
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You get robust security features to protect your data.
cons
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You might find the interface less intuitive than some competitors.
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Your team may experience occasional performance issues with large meetings.
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The extensive features require a bit of a learning curve with its extensive feature set.
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Our Review Methodology
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Chat Functionality: You can communicate with your team one-on-one or via group chats. The tool keeps conversations organized and searchable and makes it easy to track discussions.
Video Conferencing: You can host virtual meetings with high-quality video and audio, as well as screenshare. This supports collaboration across locations, and your team can effectively present ideas.
File Sharing: You can share and store files directly within Microsoft Teams, and the team can access, edit, and collaborate on documents. This helps improve productivity.
Calendar Integration: Microsoft Teams lets you schedule meetings and events with the built-in calendar. It also syncs with Outlook so you never miss an important video meeting.
Team Channels: You can create specific channels for different projects or topics. This keeps your discussions focused and relevant and helps your team stay organized.
Task Management: You can assign and track tasks within the platform. This helps you manage projects efficiently and keep track of deadlines and responsibilities.
Ease of Use
Microsoft Teams offers a comprehensive set of features that can take some time to master. The interface isn't the most intuitive, which can be a hurdle for new users, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll start to see its value as a collaboration tool. Integrations with familiar tools also help ease the transition.
Microsoft Teams Specs
- API
- Batch Permissions & Access
- Calendar Management
- Chat
- Contact Management
- Contact Sharing
- Customer Management
- Document Comparison
- Email Integration
- External Integrations
- File Sharing
- File Transfer
- Google Apps Integration
- History/Version Control
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Project Management
- Scheduling
- Supplier Management
