Slack vs Teams: Picking the best team chat tool

If your team isn't on the same page, work slows to a crawl, miscommunication occurs, and nothing runs smoothly. This is why efficient team communication has become the backbone of modern work (especially for hybrid or remote teams). Choosing the right chat platform is important, whether you're coordinating with colleagues, managing projects, or simply staying connected throughout the day.

Although there are many options available, two main platforms dominate the work chat tools space: Slack and Microsoft Teams. Both of these tools offer messaging, file sharing, and integrations, but they each bring different strengths to the table depending on your team's needs.

In this article, we'll look at the similarities and differences between the two. We'll explore how to get started with each tool and best practices for getting the most out of your daily communication.

But choosing the best collaboration tools for you is just the beginning. Once you're all set up, automating tedious manual tasks can take your chats to the next level. IFTTT connects over 1000 apps and services to Slack and Teams, letting you put aside those boring tasks so your team can focus on what really matters.

Whether you choose Slack, Teams, or use both, IFTTT helps you work smarter. So, let's get into it.

What is Slack?

Slack is a cloud-based collaboration platform built around channels and direct messages. Launched in 2013, it quickly became the go-to tool for teams that wanted a faster, more organized alternative to email.

Slack introduced the idea of organizing conversations into channels, which can be public or private and project-specific. This structure keeps discussions focused and makes it easy to find information later. You can also send direct messages, share files, make voice or video calls, and integrate with thousands of third-party apps.

Alongside a clean interface, users like Slack's powerful search functionality and flexibility. It's a great choice for small teams up to large corporations. Slack works particularly well for tech-forward teams that like to use integrations with tools like Google Drive, Trello, GitHub, and Salesforce.

What is Microsoft Teams?

For those in the Microsoft Ecosystem, Teams is the collaboration app that comes bundled with the Microsoft 365 suite. Released in 2017, Teams was designed to bring together chat, video meetings, file storage, and 365 integration in one unified platform.

Teams organizes work around, well, teams. Like Slack, each team can have multiple channels for different topics or projects. Unlike Slack, built-in integration with Microsoft 365 means you can collaborate on Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations without leaving the app.

Teams is also appreciated for its video conferencing features, screen sharing, and meeting recording, making it a strong choice for organizations that conduct virtual meetings.

Additionally, the platform includes security and compliance tools that appeal to larger enterprises and regulated industries. For those already in Microsoft 365, Teams is a great choice that is likely already available to you.

Key features: Slack vs Microsoft Teams

Both platforms cover the basics well, but they have slightly different outlooks based on their respective user bases. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right fit.

User interface

Slack offers a streamlined interface that most users find easy to navigate from day one. The sidebar organizes channels and direct messages clearly, and customization options let you adjust themes and notification settings.

Teams has a more complex interface that reflects its integration with the broader Microsoft 365 suite. While this means more features at your fingertips, it can also feel overwhelming at first with a steeper learning curve.

Video and voice calling

Slack provides basic video and voice calling features that work well for quick check-ins and small team meetings. However, larger meetings require additional tools or integrations.

Teams excels in this area with robust video capabilities that rival Google Meet and Zoom. These features include background effects, live captions, breakout rooms, and recordings.

File sharing

Slack allows file sharing within conversations, and you can upload files to cloud storage apps like Google Drive and Dropbox. You can also easily preview files and search through shared content.

Teams takes collaboration a step further with integration into Microsoft 365. You can edit Word documents, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations directly in Teams, with changes syncing in real time. This integration makes it easier to work on files without switching between apps.

Pricing and plans

Slack offers a free tier with limited message history and features, and paid plans that unlock full search, unlimited integrations, and advanced features. Pricing scales with the number of users.

Teams comes with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which many businesses already have. If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, there's a free standalone version with limited features. Obviously, this makes Teams more economical for those already in the ecosystem.

Which platform is right for your?

We can't go and tell you that one tool is better than the other, because in truth, the best choice depends on your team's size, workflow, and priorities.

You should choose Slack if:

You want the most intuitive user experience that requires minimal training, team relies on diverse third-party tools and needs flexible integration options, or if you're a smaller organization or startup that values agility.

You should choose Microsoft Teams if:

Your organization already uses Microsoft 365 and wants easy integration with Office apps, video conferencing is an important part of your workflow, and you need advanced meeting features, or if security, compliance, and administrative control are all top priorities.

Surprisingly, many companies actually choose to use both platforms, assigning each to teams or projects where they fit best. If it's in your budget, this might be the best option to get the best of both worlds.

Introduction to IFTTT: Automating Teams and Slack

If you're looking to make productivity gains with any tool you use in your workflow, connecting with IFTTT should be your next step. Making the choice between Slack and Teams is important, but automation is what truly unlocks your flow state.

IFTTT, short for If This Then That, is our powerful automation platform that connects over 1000 apps and devices to take care of all of your menial tasks automatically. With IFTTT, you can enable ready-made automations called Applets, or create your own without any prior programming experience.

For teams using Slack or Microsoft Teams, IFTTT transforms how you manage communication. We can automatically post updates from project management tools, sync messages across platforms, send alerts when important events happen, and keep your team informed without manual updates.

Teams around the world are using IFTTT to build the perfect workflow routine and reduce errors. Let's explore some of the top Slack and Teams automations, plus how to set up your own custom Applet for complete control.

Top Slack and Microsoft Teams automations with IFTTT

1. Project management

With these Applets, you can keep your team instantly updated when tasks move forward. IFTTT can automatically post notifications to Slack or Teams when cards move in Trello, tasks are completed in Asana, or issues are updated in Jira. This keeps everyone aligned without too much hassle.

2. Calendar updates

Never miss an important meeting or deadline again. IFTTT can send reminders to your team channel when calendar events approach, post daily schedule summaries, or alert specific channels when new meetings are added.

3. Social media and marketing alerts

Use these Applets to stay on top of your brand's presence by automatically cross-posting on social media or send campaign updates to dedicated channels. Marketing teams can track engagement and respond quickly.

4. Cross-platform communication

If your organization uses both Slack and Teams, or needs to bridge communication between tools, IFTTT can help sync messages, forward important announcements, or post updates to multiple channels all at once.

5. Smart home notifications

For teams managing physical spaces or home-based professionals, these Applets can send alerts when sensors detect changes, security systems trigger, or equipment needs attention.

Setting up automations with IFTTT

Getting started with IFTTT is straightforward. Here's how to create your first automation:

1. Create or log in to your IFTTT account at ifttt.com.

2. Use the search bar in the Explore section and search for "Slack" or "Microsoft Teams."

3. Browse through available Applets (our dedicated userbase has built millions).

4. Select an Applet—such as "Post new Trello cards to Slack" or "Send Teams message when Google Calendar event starts."

5. Click Connect and authorize IFTTT to access your Slack workspace or Teams account.

6. Customize the Applet settings to your liking.

7. Turn the Applet on and test it before letting it run.

That's it! For building your own Applet from scratch, visit our full guide here. It's easy and only takes a couple of minutes, but it gives you full control over every aspect of your automation.

Amplifying communication with IFTTT

Both Slack and Microsoft Teams are powerful collaboration platforms that can transform how your team communicates. The right choice depends on what you need for your unique situation.

But regardless of which platform you choose, automation is what takes your team communication from functional to exceptional. By connecting Slack or Teams with IFTTT, you can eliminate repetitive tasks, ensure information flows smoothly, and give your team more time to focus on meaningful work.

Getting started with IFTTT takes just a few minutes, but the time saved adds up quickly. Ready to supercharge your team communication and boost productivity? Try IFTTT today and discover what your team can accomplish!