By
Oren Todoros,
Updated on November 27, 2023,
14 min read
Our offices and workflows now live mostly in the cloud – that is to say that digital team collaboration platforms have become an essential part of many people’s everyday lives, whether for task management, video conferencing or just checking in at 9 am Monday morning. One of the major players for this is Microsoft Teams, but there are other options, so let’s take a look at some of the best MS Teams alternatives out there.
Companies can use Microsoft Teams for various purposes, such as project management and collaboration among employees who work remotely from each other. It helps them to keep track of their work schedules and tasks assigned to them by their team members or managers.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is a business communication platform that provides a digital working environment for teams. It’s primarily based around video conferencing and live chat but integrates other features, including document sharing and a calendar. As one might expect, Teams is highly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, allowing for add-ons such as Office apps, Outlook, Stream, and more. However, this also means that connecting with competitors can be troublesome—syncing a Teams and Google calendar, for example, is not an easy task. What’s more, it relies on the plugins and upgrades to offer some features that come as standard with alternative software.
It’s reasons such as these that many people are looking for alternatives to Microsoft Teams.
Does Apple make something like Microsoft Teams?
Apple does have a messaging platform for teams, known as iMessage. This service is built into the Mac and iPhone operating systems and allows for real-time text, audio, and video communication between team members. However, it is limited in terms of IT-focused features such as backup and security, and it also does not work on Android or PC devices.
While iMessage may be suitable for casual team communication, it is not a fully-featured collaboration tool like Microsoft Teams or other tools like Spike. True business collaboration tools offers a wide range of features, including the ability to host virtual meetings, share files, and collaborate on documents in real-time. Additionally, a team collaboration tool must be available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. While iMessage is a convenient communication tool for Apple users, it is not a comprehensive collaboration platform for teams.
Why are companies looking for Microsoft Teams alternatives?
Companies have looked for alternatives to Microsoft Teams for remote workers because the application is not well-suited for those who work remotely or in hybrid environments.
Microsoft Teams allows for collaboration but does not provide a team app to engage in a meaningful way. The lack of engagement can be attributed to the fact that the software does not provide any opportunities for communication outside of its own messaging system. Companies that want to create an environment where employees can connect with each other regardless of location may want to consider using another platform such as Spike or Google Hangouts instead.
Another reason is that some companies prefer to use tools outside the Microsoft ecosystem. This means they can’t use Microsoft Teams because it’s optimized to work well with other Microsoft tools like Word, Excel, OneNote, etc.
In today’s world, it’s hard to find a company that doesn’t have some remote workers. Whether you’re working from home or abroad, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to use a different platform than Microsoft Teams for your online collaboration needs.
What’s the Best Alternative to Microsoft Teams?
The best MS Teams alternative for you is in large part dependent on what exactly you need from your platform. As outlined above, Microsoft Teams offers a handful of core features. Still, these may fall short of what your business needs, or alternately, be over-engineered for your daily operations. Below are some of the best Microsoft Teams alternatives.
If you’re looking for a next-generation team communication solution that’s comparable to Microsoft Teams, then Spike is a great choice. With its collaborative functionality, Spike offers features such as voice and video conferencing, real-time chat, groups, notes, tasks, file sharing, and more. Unlike Microsoft Teams, which is a closed environment, Spike is built around email and has a user-friendly interface that most users are already familiar with.
Spike has several advantages over Microsoft Teams, such as email integration for both internal and external communication, as well as simple multiple-calendar integration. Furthermore, Spike has a familiar user interface that requires little to no onboarding. However, one potential downside is that Spike doesn’t currently have a native Linux app available.
Based on G2 reviews, Spike is widely recognized as easier to use, set up, and administer than Microsoft Teams. Reviewers also felt that Spike better met their business needs than Microsoft Teams. Additionally, Spike received higher ratings than Microsoft Teams for ongoing product support. Reviewers also appreciated the feature updates and roadmaps of Spike.
To summarize, if you’re in search of an email-focused alternative to Microsoft Teams that offers collaborative functionality, then Spike is definitely worth considering. With a range of features, high ratings on G2, and positive user feedback, Spike is a powerful tool that can help teams boost their productivity and collaboration.
Empower Your Teams Productivity With Spike
What Are the Pros of Spike vs. Microsoft Teams
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Offers email integration for both internal and external communication, which is a powerful business tool
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Simple multiple-calendar integration
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Familiar user interface means that there is little to no onboarding
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Microsoft Teams is a closed environment, which means that it may not integrate as well with other third-party tools as Spike does.
What Are the Cons of Spike vs. Microsoft Teams
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No native Linux app currently available
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Microsoft Teams has greater integration with Microsoft 365
Spike reviews
Discover More:
Rocket.Chat is a secure collaboration platform based on chat. Since MS Teams was unbundled from the rest of the Office in the EU, Rocket.Chat has presented itself as a good alternative to MS Teams based on security and compliance features.
Rocket.Chat is GDPR-compliant and allows self-managed hosting. It’s extremely flexible and offers integrations with numerous tools for streamlined collaboration. Rocket.Chat can be connected with both MS Teams and Slack to keep the existing conversations going on.
What Are the Pros of Rocket.Chat vs. Microsoft Teams
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Flexibility and customization options: being open-source, Rocket.Chat easily fits into more complex environments
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Option to deploy on-premises gives organizations the ability to control their conversations, which is especially important in highly regulated industries
What Are the Cons of Rocket.Chat vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Requires more technical know-how to deploy and run
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Needs integrations for video conferencing
Slack is a top-rated chat-based tool and a good alternative to Microsoft Teams for those looking for simpler chat-based communications. Like MS Teams, Slack offers voice and video calls from within the platform, but also offers integration with external apps such as Zoom, BlueJeans, and even Microsoft Teams Calls. Additionally, there is file sharing within Slack and the ability to work with companies and individuals outside of your organization.
What Are the Pros of Slack vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Not tied to a specific ecosystem
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Very simple, single-purpose
What Are the Cons of Slack vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Third-party apps needed for things like creating tasks (that means more subscriptions!)
Zoom and Microsoft Teams are both popular video conferencing tools that are widely used by businesses, educational institutions, and individuals. Zoom is known for its ease of use, high-quality audio and video, and robust set of features that include screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms.
What Are the Pros of Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Easy to use: Zoom is known for its user-friendly experience, making it easy for even first-time users to connect to meetings.
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High-quality video and audio: Zoom offers high-quality video and audio, making it ideal for important meetings, webinars, and presentations.
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Screen sharing: Zoom allows people to share their screens with other coworkers, making it easy to collaborate and work together.
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Virtual backgrounds: Zoom offers the ability to use virtual backgrounds, allowing users to change their background during video calls to protect privacy
What Are the Cons of Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Limited collaboration tools: Zoom primarily focuses on video conferencing, with fewer collaboration tools compared to Microsoft Teams which is tightly integrated with Microsoft Office
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Security concerns: Zoom has had some security issues in the past, such as “Zoom bombing” incidents, which have raised concerns about data privacy and security.
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Pricing: While Zoom offers a free version, many of its more advanced features require a paid subscription, which can be costly for people who only occasionally use the service.
Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that allows people to connect from anywhere in the world using their computer or mobile device. With Meet, users can easily join meetings with just a few clicks, share their screens, and collaborate in real-time.
As an alternative to Microsoft Teams, Google Meet offers similar features for remote work and virtual meetings, including high-quality video and audio, screen sharing, and chat functionality. However, Meet is particularly useful for those who rely heavily on Google’s suite of productivity tools such as Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets. Additionally, Google Meet has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to use even for those who are new to video conferencing.
What Are the Pros of Google Meet vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Simple and intuitive interface: Google Meet has a clean and straightforward interface that is easy to use for people who already use Google Workspace or Gmail.
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Integration with Google Workspace: If you already use Google Workspace for your business or organization, Google Meet will be a seamless addition to your workflow. You can easily schedule and join meetings directly from your Google Calendar, and all your files and documents are accessible within Meet.
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Large participant capacity: Google Meet allows up to 500 participants in a single meeting, making it an excellent option for larger organizations.
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No need for additional software: Google Meet can be accessed directly from your web browser, meaning you don’t need to download any additional software or plugins to use it. It does work best with Chrome, though.
What Are the Cons of Google Meet vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Limited collaboration features: Google Meet isn’t as tightly integrated into Google Workspace as Microsoft Teams is into Microsoft 365. Google has a tendency to shut down communication projects as well.
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Limited support options: Google Meet’s support options are not as extensive as Microsoft Teams’, which offers more extensive documentation and support resources for paid customers.
Cisco Webex Teams
This Microsoft Teams alternative from communications giant Cisco offers one-on-one as well as group messaging (with emojis, GIFs, and more). Additionally, it includes file sharing, video and voice calls, and a “two-way whiteboard” for some collaborative doodling.
What Are the Pros of Cisco Webex Teams vs. Microsoft Teams?
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Some interesting video features such as mobile screen sharing
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Company specializing in communications
What Are the Cons of Cisco Webex Teams vs. Microsoft Teams?
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You need the extra Cisco Webex Hybrid Calendar Service and an external client to use the calendar
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More expensive than other options
Workplace from Facebook
While primarily a social platform, Facebook now offers Workplace, a business-first alternative to Microsoft Teams. It has attempted to use the news-stream format that so many people are familiar with and transfer this into the world of work, which means no learning new systems and no long onboarding times. Workplace offers chat, voice and video calls, a wiki-style section, comments and feedback, and, of course, a central news feed.
What Are the Pros of Workplace from Facebook vs. Microsoft Teams
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Live video streaming comes as standard
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Very robust groups functionality
What Are the Cons of Workplace from Facebook vs. Microsoft Teams
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Employees may not like the similarity or blur between work and social platforms
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Requires integrations for some features that come as standard on other platforms
Mattermost
Mattermost is an open-source Microsoft Teams alternative, which arguably offers greater security, reliability, and flexibility. This flexibility is seen in the option to use Mattermost as a self-hosted Microsoft Teams alternative in addition to their cloud offering. That said, it does lack some features that other platforms offer out of the box, such as video and voice conferencing or a calendar. Mattermost is primarily aimed at developers but is still a good MS Teams alternative for most sectors.
What Are the Pros of Mattermost vs. Microsoft Teams
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Open source means more secure and reliable
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Self-hosting available, meaning it can be deployed on private or in-house servers
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Ability to integrate other open-source, self-hosted apps (such as Jitsi for videoconferencing)
What Are the Cons of Mattermost vs. Microsoft Teams
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No video or voice chat as standard
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To benefit from many of the “pros” a certain technical proficiency is needed
Bonus Functionality: ‘Walkie Talkie’
At the beginning of 2020, Microsoft made headlines for adding in a new ‘walkie talkie’ functionality into Teams. Now forgive us if we sound a little less than excited for another way someone can reach us, but we think that most people using Microsoft Teams will find little use for this feature. True, if you’re a frontline worker who desperately needs a synchronous connection to the back office or security personnel, it might be nice to have, but there are better ways to accomplish that use case. The majority of Team users don’t want or need another direct line to their contacts—they have smartphones after all. However, it does raise a question about push-to-talk functionality and its place in the office.
Voice Memos are already built into Spike. However, there are a few differences between the two, and in truth, our Microsoft Teams alternative is already leading the way in asynchronous communication. Something everyone needs a little more of in today’s fast paced world. Let’s compare the two features and break down the differences.
Spike Voice Memos
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Teams Walkie Talkie
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Push-to-talk functionality and voice memos
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Push-to-talk functionality and walkie talkie feature
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Asynchronous communication means users can pick up messages whenever they want
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Synchronous communication requires users to be online at the same time
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All exchanges are stored for later reference
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Exchanges are real-time and not stored
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Open Platform. Works through email so both Spike users and non-Spike users can access voice memos
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Closed Platform. Only users of Microsoft Teams can access push-to-talk functionality
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FAQs about the best Microsoft Teams Alternatives
Yes, there are many free alternatives to MS Teams that offer a variety of features for communication, collaboration, and productivity. Some popular options include Spike, Zoom, Slack, Google Meet, Rocket.Chat, and Jitsi Meet. The best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Most of the Microsoft Teams alternatives listed here offer a limited free version. However, for SMEs and up, there is usually a per-seat cost.
The best Microsoft Teams alternative for Windows depends on your specific needs and preferences. Some of the top options include Spike, Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex Teams, and Google Meet. Consider your team’s needs, budget, technical expertise, and team size to choose the best fit.
Consider if there is one—MS Teams is built for the Microsoft ecosystem. That said, Slack, Spike, Cisco Webex Teams, and Mattermost all offer native Windows apps.
Oren Todoros
Oren is a strategic thinker with over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry and is the current Head of Content Strategy at Spike. He's also the proud father of 3 beautiful daughters and a dog named Milo.