Slack vs Discord vs Microsoft Teams: Which Should Your Small Team Actually Use?

I’ve used all three. Here’s the truth no one tells you.

Small teams waste weeks debating tools that ultimately don’t matter as much as consistent communication. But picking the wrong one costs time and money. Let’s skip the fluff and get to what actually works.

Quick Verdict

Best for startups and remote teams: Slack
Best for communities and casual teams: Discord
Best if you’re already in Microsoft 365: Teams
Best free tier: Discord (unlimited everything)
Most expensive but worth it: Slack (for serious work)

Let’s break it down.

Pricing: What You’ll Actually Pay

Slack

  • Free: 90 days of message history, 10 integrations, 1:1 voice/video calls
  • Pro: $8.75/user/month (unlimited history, unlimited integrations, group calls)
  • Business+: $15/user/month (SAML SSO, advanced admin)
  • Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing (huge orgs)

The free tier is usable but the 90-day limit is frustrating. You’ll lose context fast.

Discord

  • Free: Unlimited everything (messages, history, channels, members)
  • Nitro: $9.99/month (personal perks—upload 500MB files, custom profiles)
  • Server Boost: $4.99/month per boost (better audio, more emojis, vanity URL)

Discord is shockingly generous. The free tier has no functional limits for communication.

Microsoft Teams

  • Free: Unlimited chat, 60-minute group meetings, 5GB storage
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/user/month (longer meetings, more storage)
  • Business Standard: $12.50/user/month (desktop apps, 1TB storage)
  • Business Premium: $22/user/month (advanced security)

If you’re already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is included. Otherwise, the free tier works but feels limited.

Winner on price: Discord (truly unlimited free). Slack is expensive once you scale.

Core Features: What You Get

Slack

  • Channels: Organized by topic/project
  • Threads: Keep conversations organized
  • Search: Best-in-class (find anything instantly)
  • Integrations: 2,000+ apps (Google Drive, Notion, GitHub, etc.)
  • Huddles: Quick audio drops for spontaneous chat
  • Workflows: Automate repetitive tasks
  • Canvas: New feature for collaborative docs (meh)

Slack’s superpower is integrations. You can pipe everything into Slack and never leave.

Discord

  • Servers: Each workspace is a “server”
  • Channels: Text and voice, organized by category
  • Voice: Always-on voice channels (huge for remote teams)
  • Threads: Added recently, still clunky compared to Slack
  • Bots: Huge ecosystem (moderation, music, custom automation)
  • Screen sharing: Built-in, works great
  • Stage channels: Host events/talks

Discord’s killer feature is persistent voice channels. You can just “be” in a room and chat whenever. It’s like having a virtual office.

Microsoft Teams

  • Channels: Similar to Slack
  • Threads: Conversations are threaded by default (love it or hate it)
  • Meetings: Full video conferencing (better than Zoom for many use cases)
  • Files: Deep SharePoint integration (also OneDrive)
  • Office integration: Edit Word/Excel/PowerPoint live in chat
  • Planner: Built-in task management

Teams is a Microsoft 365 integration hub. If you live in Outlook, Word, and Excel, it’s seamless.

Winner: Slack for integrations, Discord for voice, Teams for Microsoft shops.

User Experience: How They Actually Feel

Slack

Clean, professional, fast. The interface is polished. Threads keep conversations organized. Search is instant. Mobile app is excellent.

Downside: Can feel overwhelming with dozens of channels and notifications pinging constantly. Requires discipline to stay focused.

Discord

Gaming-inspired but increasingly professional. The UI is fun but less buttoned-up than Slack. Voice channels are the standout—drop in, hang out, leave. No friction.

Downside: Text-only communication feels less organized than Slack. Threads are an afterthought. Can feel chaotic for serious work.

Teams

Dense. Cluttered. Tries to do everything (chat, meetings, files, tasks) and the UI suffers. Navigation is clunky compared to Slack. Mobile app is slower.

Upside: If you’re already deep in Microsoft 365, having everything in one place is convenient.

Downside: If you’re not a Microsoft shop, it feels like bloat.

Winner: Slack for polish, Discord for fun, Teams for Microsoft loyalists.

Communication Style: Which Workflow Fits Your Team?

Slack: Async-first, organized

Slack is built for asynchronous communication. Channels keep topics separate. Threads let you discuss without cluttering the main feed. It’s great for distributed teams across time zones.

You can check in once or twice a day, catch up on threads, and not miss anything.

Best for: Remote-first startups, agencies, distributed teams.

Discord: Sync-first, spontaneous

Discord is built for real-time interaction. Voice channels are always on. You can drop in, say “hey,” and get instant feedback. It feels more like hanging out than working.

Text chat is fast but less organized. Threads exist but aren’t the default. It’s optimized for live conversation, not searchable documentation.

Best for: Close-knit teams, gaming studios, creative agencies, communities.

Teams: Hybrid, meeting-heavy

Teams is built for scheduled meetings. Chat exists but the focus is on video calls, screen sharing, and document collaboration. It’s optimized for 9-5 office culture, even if you’re remote.

Notifications are aggressive. Presence indicators (“Available,” “Busy,” “Do Not Disturb”) dominate the experience.

Best for: Traditional companies, consulting firms, Microsoft 365 shops.

Winner: Depends on your culture. Async = Slack. Real-time = Discord. Meeting-heavy = Teams.

Voice and Video

Slack

  • Huddles: Audio-only drops. Quick and low-friction. Video is optional.
  • Slack Calls: Voice/video for 1:1 or small groups (up to 50 on paid plans).
  • Screen sharing: Works, but not as smooth as Zoom or Teams.

Huddles are great for spontaneous “can I ask you something?” moments. But for serious meetings, most teams use Zoom or Google Meet.

Discord

  • Voice channels: Always-on rooms. Drop in, hang out, leave. Low latency, high quality.
  • Video: Works great for small groups (up to 25 with video).
  • Screen sharing: Smooth, even on free tier.
  • Stage channels: One speaker, many listeners (like a webinar).

Discord’s voice is the best in the category. No comparison.

Teams

  • Meetings: Full-featured video conferencing (up to 300 participants).
  • Together Mode: Everyone appears in a virtual room (gimmick, but clients love it).
  • Background blur/effects: Built-in.
  • Recording: Native, saves to OneDrive.

Teams is a Zoom replacement for many orgs. If you’re already paying for Microsoft 365, it’s one less tool.

Winner: Discord for always-on voice, Teams for scheduled meetings.

Integrations and Automation

Slack

2,000+ integrations. You can connect everything: Google Drive, Notion, GitHub, Jira, Salesforce, custom webhooks, Zapier.

Workflows let you automate repetitive tasks (e.g., “When someone joins #support, send them a welcome message”).

Discord

Bots are powerful but less business-focused. MEE6, Dyno, and custom bots handle moderation, roles, and automation. You can build custom bots with Discord.js or Python.

Zapier supports Discord, so you can pipe in external data.

Teams

Tight Microsoft 365 integration (Outlook, SharePoint, Planner, Power Automate). If you live in that ecosystem, it’s seamless.

Third-party integrations exist but are clunkier than Slack.

Winner: Slack (most flexible), Teams (best for Microsoft 365), Discord (best for custom bots).

Pros and Cons

Slack

Pros:

  • Best search and organization
  • 2,000+ integrations
  • Professional, polished UI
  • Great for async communication
  • Threads keep conversations clean

Cons:

  • Expensive ($8.75/user/month adds up)
  • Free tier 90-day history limit is painful
  • Notification overload if not managed
  • Voice/video are secondary features

Discord

Pros:

  • Truly unlimited free tier
  • Best voice channels (always-on, low-friction)
  • Great for communities and casual teams
  • Customizable with bots
  • Screen sharing on free tier

Cons:

  • Less professional feel (gaming roots show)
  • Text organization weaker than Slack
  • Threads are clunky
  • Not ideal for async-first teams

Microsoft Teams

Pros:

  • Included with Microsoft 365 (no extra cost)
  • Best video conferencing in-category
  • Deep Office integration
  • Good for meeting-heavy cultures

Cons:

  • UI is cluttered and slow
  • Feels like bloat if you’re not a Microsoft shop
  • Mobile app lags behind Slack/Discord
  • Aggressive notifications

Migration: Switching Tools

Slack → Discord:
Export your Slack history (paid feature), import to Discord via bots or manually. Voice channels will feel liberating.

Discord → Slack:
Discord doesn’t export well. Copy important messages manually or use third-party scripts. Threads and search will feel like an upgrade.

Teams → Slack/Discord:
Export chat history is painful. Most teams just archive and start fresh. Calendar and files stay in Microsoft 365.

Any → Teams:
If you’re already in Microsoft 365, it’s seamless. Otherwise, onboarding is clunky.

Security and Compliance

Slack: Enterprise Grid offers SSO, data residency, HIPAA compliance. Overkill for small teams.

Discord: Basic encryption. Not for healthcare or finance. Fine for general use.

Teams: Enterprise-grade security (SSO, encryption, compliance certifications). Best for regulated industries.

Winner: Teams (enterprise security), Slack (mid-market), Discord (don’t use for sensitive data).

My Recommendation

Use Slack if:

  • You need async-first communication
  • You rely on integrations (Notion, GitHub, etc.)
  • You’re a remote-first startup or agency
  • You can afford $8.75/user/month

Use Discord if:

  • You’re a small, close-knit team (under 20 people)
  • You want always-on voice for spontaneous collaboration
  • You need unlimited free tier
  • You value community feel over corporate polish

Use Teams if:

  • You’re already paying for Microsoft 365
  • You need enterprise security and compliance
  • Your culture is meeting-heavy
  • You live in Outlook and Office apps

Final Thoughts

I use Slack for client work and serious projects. I use Discord for side projects and communities. I avoid Teams unless forced by a client.

For a small team starting fresh, I’d go with Discord for the first year (free, unlimited, great voice). Once you hit 10-15 people and need better organization, migrate to Slack.

If you’re already in Microsoft 365, Teams is fine. Don’t overthink it.

The tool doesn’t matter as much as how you use it. Set norms (response times, notification settings, channel structure) and stick to them.

Remote Work Essentials

If your team works remotely, quality audio/video gear makes a real difference:

Remote work reading:

Bottom line:

  • Best overall: Slack (if you can afford it)
  • Best free: Discord (unlimited everything)
  • Best for Microsoft shops: Teams (included with 365)
  • Best voice: Discord (always-on channels)
  • Best for async work: Slack (threads and search)

Pick one and commit. Switching later is painful.