What is Microsoft Teams? How it works, latest features and top alternatives

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and video conferencing service that enables staff to communicate from any location via text, voice call or video chat.

The free version of Microsoft Teams offers a handsome feature set that will be sufficient for many businesses, while a paid version is available for firms after a more comprehensive solution.

Unlike other similar offerings, the Microsoft Teams app combines rich HD video conferencing with extensive text chat facilities - think of it as a cross between Slack and Zoom.

The Microsoft Teams app is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, so employees can connect to their colleagues from almost any device.

Free version or paid?

The free version of Microsoft Teams boasts all the features employees will need to collaborate remotely.

Unlimited text chat and search, group video conferences, one-on-one video calls, 2GB of cloud storage per person (or 10GB across the entire team) and access to web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote all come free of charge.

However, the free version of Microsoft Teams lacks a few important security and administration facilities - such as enforced multi-factor authentication, single sign-on and user management - that most businesses are likely to need.

If you’re looking to upgrade your Microsoft Teams subscription, there are three options available: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic is available for $5.00 per user per month (£3.80/AU$6.90), and includes the ability to schedule and record Microsoft Teams meetings, boosts the file storage capacity to 1TB per user and includes the additional security features mentioned above.

Office 365 Business Standard, meanwhile, costs $12.50 per user per month (£9.40/AU$17.20). It features all the benefits of the cheaper package, but also includes desktop versions of Microsoft’s famous productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) and business apps such as Bookings, Invoicing and MileIQ.

Finally, Office 365 Premium adds advanced security and privacy features, as well as a greater range of device management options. This package will run your business $20.00 per user per month (£15.10/AU$27.50).

(Image credit: Shutterstock / dennizn)

Download Microsoft Teams

To download Microsoft Teams to your laptop or PC, simply follow this link to the Microsoft Teams download page.

From here, you can download the Microsoft Teams app for desktop and mobile, or you can enter your email address in the relevant field and Microsoft will deliver a download link directly.

Those looking to download Microsoft Teams mobile app can also navigate to the relevant app store on their device, be that Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Microsoft Teams alternatives

Although Microsoft Teams will likely provide for most businesses’ every need, there are plenty of excellent Microsoft Teams alternatives on the market.

Here are a few alternatives to Microsoft Teams that make an equally good choice for businesses looking for the best video conferencing and collaboration solutions around:

- Google Meet
- RingCentral
- Skype for Business
- Cisco WebEx
- Zoom

Microsoft Teams - latest news

27/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams update is finally adding this vital meeting tool

26/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams could soon get a lot more personal

25/05/2021 - Teams is getting an old school feature from the 1980s

24/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams update makes it best friends with PowerPoint

21/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams on mobile is getting a welcome upgrade

19/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams is now invading your personal life

18/05/2021 - Microsoft Teams users can share files properly at last

17/05/2021 - Teams is finally fixing one of its most annoying features

12/05/2021 - Teams takes a step closer to become the only app you need

11/05/2021 - External users can now join Microsoft Teams group chats

10/05/2021 - Teams update will finally make PowerPoint your friend

07/05/2021 - This unloved Teams feature is getting an upgrade

06/05/2021 - No, your Teams account isn't about to be deleted

04/05/2021 - Teams is getting a surprise Minecraft integration

03/05/2021 - Teams will soon automatically record your meetings

30/04/2021 - Microsoft Teams update could make meetings more bearable

29/04/2021 - Microsoft Teams is getting an update developers will love

27/04/2021 - Teams for macOS will finally get this all-important upgrade

23/04/2021 - Microsoft Teams for macOS is getting some love

21/04/2021 - Teams update delivers a range of handy personalization options

18/04/2021 - Microsoft Teams will be part of working life for years to come

15/04/2021 - That Teams meeting invite could well be malware

14/04/2021 - How to download and use Microsoft Teams

13/04/2021 - New Teams feature might take all the fun out of video calls

11/04/2021 - Teams update should take all the pain out of presentations

08/04/2021 - Teams wants to wave goodbye to webinars forever

06/04/2021 - Microsoft teams is finally taking this useful Zoom feature

05/04/2021 - Microsoft Teams will soon run more smoothly on slow PCs

03/04/2021 - Teams is getting a super useful under-the-hood upgrade

30/03/2021 - This underrated Teams feature is getting an upgrade

29/03/2021 - Teams is getting a major speed boost, but only for some users

26/03/2021 - Microsoft is offering big money if you can hack Teams

25/03/2021 - Teams update means you'll never need to take notes again

23/03/2021 - Teams update will fix one of its most frustrating shortcomings

19/03/2021 - Microsoft Teams files keep going missing

19/03/2021 - Microsoft Teams will soon let you 'lock' your meetings

17/03/2021 - Teams update will finally make co-presenting less of a nightmare

15/03/2021 - Teams update will make it easier to mute annoying colleagues

11/03/2021 - Microsoft teams won't be so much of a RAM hog soon

09/03/2021 - Teams update could soon give you a whole new view on calls

05/03/2021 - Teams update will make using the mobile app less of a chore

03/03/2021 - Teams is getting a helpful feature to save your data usage

02/03/2021 - Microsoft Teams is finally getting end-to-end encryption

01/03/2021 - Microsoft Teams is getting a new slimline makeover

26/02/2021 - Teams has made it easier than ever to stay quiet in meetings

25/02/2021 - Teams is doubling down on this underrated feature

24/02/2021 - Teams update will cut down on unnecessary meeting admin

23/02/2021 - This Teams tool should mean you never miss a meeting

19/02/2021 - Teams gets a handy feature to stop people disrupting meetings

12/02/2021 - Teams AI will soon tell you which employees are engaged

11/02/2021 - Teams is getting a huge upgrade that wil change your business

10/02/2021 - Teams is getting two useful new apps

09/02/2021 - This new Teams feature could help salvage your next meeting

08/02/2021 - Microsoft Teams is making sharing files a whole lot easier

03/02/2021 - Microsoft is warning users to move to Teams before it's too late

02/02/2021 - Teams is about to become a whole lot more customizable

01/02/2021 - Microsoft Teams just crossed another major landmark

29/01/2021 - This new Teams integration is every remote worker's dream

27/01/2021 - One of the most useful Teams feature is getting an upgrade

22/01/2021 - Microsoft Teams is coming to SAP platforms

20/01/2021 - Microsoft Teams update makes remote working less tricky

18/01/2021 - Teams may be tracking more of your info than you think

15/01/2021 - Microsoft Teams will now recap your meetings for you

14/01/2021 - Microsoft Teams is testing a new presentations feature

13/01/2021 - Teams users will soon be able to download massive files

12/01/2021 - Teams is getting a simple update that offers big improvements

11/01/2021 - Microsoft Teams is getting a major storage update

08/01/2021 - Teams update will make your meetings more interactive

07/01/2021 - These super useful new Teams features are live from today

28/12/2020 - An annoying Microsoft Teams bug is causing users to miss alerts

28/12/2020 - This Teams update could massively boost your productivity

21/12/2020 - This Microsoft Teams feature might be its most useful yet

17/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams wants to solve a frustrating WFH problem

16/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams on Mac is about to get a fancy new control

14/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams is getting a time-saving Outlook integration

11/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams calls are getting bigger than ever

10/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams is about to get a whole lot more festive

09/12/2020 - Microsoft may have downplayed a Teams security issue

08/12/2020 - Microsoft Teams might actually be usable on phones now

07/12/2020 - Calls on Teams are finally getting a major upgrade

30/11/2020 - Microsoft Teams will no longer be available to certain users

20/11/2020 - Microsoft Teams is making this power move to topple Zoom

17/11/2020 - Teams calls are about to get a whole lot more interesting

11/11/2020 - Crafty ransomware campaign has Teams users in its crosshairs

06/11/2020 - Teams is getting another feature that may help you ditch Zoom

04/11/2020 - Teams may finally be about to get this super useful feature

02/11/2020 - Microsoft Teams chats will soon house up to 1,000 participants

29/10/2020 - Microsoft Teams now lets you hide from your nagging colleagues

23/10/2020 - Sharing files over Teams is about to become far easier

09/10/2020 - Microsoft Teams now allows you to see up to 49 participants

28/09/2020 - You can now make Microsoft Teams calls over LinkedIn

22/09/2020 - Microsoft Teams will soon let you schedule a 'virtual commute'

04/09/2020 - Microsoft Teams gets useful new Lists app

26/08/2020 - Teams integration makes for elaborate video conferencing

05/08/2020 - You can now make calls through Microsoft Teams

04/08/2020 - You can now host a 20,000-person Microsoft Teams meeting

29/07/2020 - Microsoft Teams might be about to make you more productive

28/07/2020 - Video calls get less painful with Microsoft Teams Rooms

25/07/2020 - New Windows 10 tool could make video calls much less awkward

24/07/2020 - Slack is taking Microsoft Teams to court

23/07/2020 - Microsoft Teams is making some big changes

09/07/2020 - Microsoft Teams update launches avatars, camera filters

24/06/2020 - Teams update makes Android and iOS apps easier to use

16/06/2020 - Watch out Zoom, Microsoft Teams is finally catching up

10/06/2020 - You don't need to hack Windows to install Teams backgrounds

21/05/2020 - 20 best Zoom and Teams background resources

21/05/2020 - Teams update set to make life easier for these workers

04/05/2020 - That Microsoft Teams alert might be a phishing scam

01/05/2020 - Microsoft Teams passes major milestone

27/04/2020 - Malicious GIFs could hijack your Microsoft Teams account

14/04/2020 - Microsoft Teams update means more participants per call

09/04/2020 - Major Microsoft Teams update brings host of new features

07/04/2020 - Microsoft Teams doubles down on security advice

02/04/2020 - You can now join Microsoft Teams calls from Slack

30/03/2020 - Microsoft teams not working again - here’s what you need to know

23/03/2020 - Microsoft Teams hits major milestone, unveils raft of new features

19/03/2020 - NHS staff get free Microsoft Teams access

17/03/2020 - Microsoft Teams struggles as remote working adds strain

05/03/2020 - Google and Microsoft offer free teleconferencing tools

04/02/2020 - Microsoft Teams outage was caused by an embarrassing oversight

11/12/2019 - Microsoft Teams is now available for Linux

19/11/2019 - Microsoft Teams hits 20 million daily active users

The best webcams

If you’re after a new webcam for Microsoft Teams video conferencing - or indeed any other kind of video conferencing - these are our top recommendations right now.



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