GoTo Meeting
Long-running web conferencing tool for business meetings.
Alternatives · 2026
Alternatives to Microsoft Teams
Chat, meetings, and files unified inside Microsoft 365.
15 hand-curated alternatives from MintedSaaS's directory. See the Microsoft Teams listing →
Microsoft Teams bundles chat, video meetings, file storage, and task management into a single application designed to work within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It's the default choice for organizations already invested in Office 365, Exchange, and SharePoint. Teams competes across three distinct use cases: as a Slack alternative for team chat, as a Zoom or Google Meet replacement for video conferencing, and as a file-sharing hub tied to OneDrive and SharePoint. The product targets mid-market and enterprise buyers who value tight integration with existing Microsoft infrastructure over point-in-time flexibility.
Organizations typically adopt Teams as part of a broader Microsoft 365 rollout, which means migration costs are often bundled into licensing rather than treated as a separate decision. It works well for companies where IT governance, data residency requirements, and compliance audits are regular operational tasks. Teams also attracts buyers who want a single vendor relationship and a unified admin console rather than managing five separate tools. Smaller teams and startups, by contrast, often find the licensing model expensive and the learning curve steep when they need just one or two of Teams' features.
What we offer that competes
Jitsi Meet
Open-source video conferencing you can self-host.
Cisco Webex
Enterprise video conferencing and webinar platform.
Around
Compact, camera-forward video calls designed for focus.
Whereby
Browser-based video meetings with no downloads needed.
Google Meet
Browser-based video meetings inside Google Workspace.
Twist
Asynchronous team messaging organised by threads.
Element
Decentralised Matrix-based messenger for secure team chat.
Google Chat
Team messaging integrated with Google Workspace.
Rocket.Chat
Open-source communication platform with chat and channels.
Mattermost
Open-source team chat alternative built for self-hosting.
Discord
Voice, video, and chat platform popular with communities and teams.
Slack
Channels-based team messaging built around integrations.
What to look for
- Whether the product integrates with your existing file storage (OneDrive, Google Drive, AWS S3) without requiring manual migration.
- Whether group video calls have a time limit on the free tier, and what the calling quality looks like with 50+ participants.
- Whether you can self-host the entire platform or if you're locked into the vendor's cloud infrastructure.
- Whether chat history, files, and call recordings can be exported in open formats or if they're vendor-locked.
- Whether the product has granular admin controls for data retention, message deletion, and audit logging that meet your compliance requirements.
- Whether the product works on both desktop and mobile without a separate app purchase or subscription tier increase.
FAQ
Are there free alternatives to Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Jitsi Meet, Discord, and Element all offer free tiers with no time limits on group calls. Google Meet includes 24-hour group video calls on the free plan. Slack and Twist provide free chat-only versions but charge for calling features.
What's the best Teams alternative for a startup?
Slack dominates for team chat at scale, Zoom is standard for video meetings, and Discord is cheapest for teams comfortable outside enterprise software. If you need all three in one place, Missive or Whereby bundle chat and video but scale differently than Teams.
Can I use Teams alternatives if I'm locked into Microsoft 365?
Yes, but with friction. You'll lose automatic integration with OneDrive, Outlook, and Exchange. Most alternatives can pull files from SharePoint via API, but require manual setup. If you're deeply embedded in Microsoft infrastructure, a hybrid approach often works better than a full switch.
Which Teams alternative is best for remote teams?
Zoom leads for meeting quality and reliability at scale. Around and Whereby specialize in hybrid meeting experiences. Discord, Slack, and Missive are strongest for asynchronous chat-first workflows where not everyone's online at once.
Are there self-hosted alternatives to Teams?
Yes. Element, Rocket.Chat, and Mattermost are all self-hosted or self-managed options that give you full infrastructure control. Jitsi Meet can also be self-hosted, though the cloud version is simpler. Self-hosted options trade convenience for data sovereignty.
What's the difference between Teams, Slack, and Discord?
Teams is enterprise-first with tight Microsoft 365 integration. Slack is the standard for team chat across all company sizes but doesn't include calling. Discord is community-focused, cheapest, and strongest for informal communication and gaming communities.
How do I move from Teams to another platform?
Export chat history from Teams, migrate files to your new tool's cloud storage or a shared drive, and reset integrations. Most Teams alternatives provide importers for messages. The main friction point is usually reconnecting bots and Zapier workflows to your new platform.
Do Teams alternatives work offline?
Most don't. Slack, Discord, Missive, and Element require internet connectivity. Google Meet and Zoom cache partial functionality but still need a connection. If offline-first communication is critical, you'll need a secondary tool.