Microsoft 365 vs Slack
Microsoft 365 and Slack are both team communication tools aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Microsoft 365 costs less, from $1.99/mo versus $8.75/mo for Slack. Both have a free plan.
Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive in one subscription
Channel-based team messaging
| Pricing | Freemium · $2 | Freemium · $9 |
| Starting price | $1.99/mo | $8.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers | Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, windows, macos, ios, android | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2011 | US · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft 365 if
Businesses and households that depend on Word, Excel and Outlook and want email, storage, security and AI under one Microsoft account.
- Industry-standard file formats and the most capable spreadsheet in Excel
- Desktop apps remain more powerful than any browser-based rival
- Business Premium bundles security and device management at a fair price
Look elsewhere if: Browser-first teams that prefer lightweight docs and chat (Google Workspace, Notion or Slack fit better).
Choose Slack if
Teams of any size that are not already standardized on Microsoft Teams and value integrations.
- Best-in-class UX for team chat
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Slack Connect for working with partners
Look elsewhere if: Microsoft 365-centric organizations (Teams is included) or teams preferring async-first tools (Twist).
Microsoft 365 vs Slack pricing
Microsoft 365
- Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/mo100 GB OneDrive and ad-free Outlook; no desktop apps or AI
- Personal$9.99/mo$99.99/year; 1 person, 1 TB, desktop apps with Copilot
- Family$12.99/mo$129.99/year; up to 6 people, 2 TB shared, Copilot for owner
- Premium$19.99/mo$199.99/year; Family plus extensive Copilot usage
- Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; web and mobile apps, Teams, 1 TB, email
Slack
- Free$090-day message history, 1:1 huddles
- Pro$8.75/user/mo$7.25/mo billed annually; unlimited history and apps, group huddles
- Business+$18/user/mo$15/mo billed annually; Slack AI, SAML SSO, data exports
- Enterprise+CustomEnterprise search, DLP, advanced security; contact sales
Microsoft 365 · Key features
- Desktop, web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on paid home plans
- OneDrive cloud storage from 100 GB up to 2 TB on home plans
- Teams chat, meetings and webinars on Business plans
- Exchange business email with custom domains and 50 GB mailboxes
- SharePoint intranet sites and document libraries for teams
Cons
- Plan and add-on licensing is confusing for small buyers
- July 2026 increase raised Business Basic and Standard prices
- Copilot usage limits and features vary by plan and region
Slack · Key features
- Channels, threads, DMs and shared channels across companies (Slack Connect)
- Huddles with screen sharing and canvases for docs
- Workflow Builder and 2,600+ app integrations
- Slack AI: summaries, search answers, recaps
- Lists for lightweight task tracking
- Enterprise security: SSO, DLP, EKM, compliance exports
Cons
- Expensive per seat for large teams
- Free plan's 90-day history limit
- Notification overload without discipline
Microsoft 365 vs Slack: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Microsoft 365 or Slack?
Microsoft 365 starts at $1.99/mo and Slack at $8.75/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Microsoft 365 and Slack have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft 365 and Slack have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.