Best Team Communication Tools 2026
Slack vs Microsoft Teams vs Discord vs Zoom - Complete Comparison
π Quick Summary
Slack leads for tech companies with its integrations. Teams is the default for Microsoft shops. Discord is surprisingly good for startups. Zoom remains king for video calls.
Best integrations and developer-friendly
Included with Microsoft 365, deep Office integration
Free, flexible, great voice channels
Best video quality and reliability
π Complete Rankings
Slack
Communication
Business communication platform with extensive integrations
Microsoft Teams
Communication
Microsoft's communication and collaboration platform
Discord
Communication
Free voice, video, and text communication for communities
Zoom
Communication
Video conferencing and meeting platform
π Feature Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams | Discord | Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / $7.25/user/month | Free / $4/user/month | Free / $9.99/month | Free / $15.99/user/month |
| Free Tier | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes | β Yes |
| Features Score | 90/100 | 85/100 | 85/100 | 90/100 |
| Ease of Use | 90/100 | 80/100 | 90/100 | 95/100 |
| Integration | 95/100 | 90/100 | 80/100 | 85/100 |
π― Best For Each Use Case
Tech Companies
Best integrations and developer-friendly
Microsoft Environments
Included with Microsoft 365, deep Office integration
Communities & Gaming
Free, flexible, great voice channels
Video Meetings
Best video quality and reliability
β Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheapest for small teams?βΌ
Discord is completely free with excellent features. Slack's free tier is limited. Teams requires Microsoft 365.