Slack vs Discord vs Microsoft Teams

In the world of business, effective communication is crucial for success. With the rise of remote work and global teams, messaging apps have become an essential tool for staying connected and being productive. But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your business. 

In this article, we will take a deep dive into three of the most popular business messaging apps: Slack vs Discord vs Microsoft Teams. We will also introduce you to StartADAM, a revolutionary messaging app that can connect these apps, and give you a comprehensive comparison of all four apps to help you make the best decision for your business in 2024. Get ready to be amazed as we explore the features, capabilities, and pricing plans of each app. Also, discover how StartADAM can elevate your business communication to new heights.

I. Slack

One of the most widely used workplace chat programs available today is Slack. Teams can interact and work together in real-time on this cloud-based platform. Slack provides a variety of functions, such as file sharing, video conferencing, and instant messaging. Slack now has more than 12 million daily active users, more than 119,000 of whom are paying customers. 65 Fortune 100 firms, including Target, Panasonic, and 21st Century Fox, currently have teams using Slack.

The flexibility to build channels for various teams, projects, or subjects is one of Slack’s core features. Team members may simply keep track of talks that are pertinent to their work, thanks to this. Additionally, Slack has a powerful search feature that makes it simple to locate prior discussions and files.

Slack has subscription plans starting at $8.75 per user per month (billed annually) in addition to a free plan. Paid Slack services provide extra features, including enhanced security choices, limitless app integrations, and message retention. The number of integrations, message storage, and searchable message capacity are all restricted on the free plan.

Slack is a fantastic choice overall for companies looking for a feature-rich messaging platform that is comprehensive. However, because the costs can mount up quickly, there might be better options for companies with a limited budget.

II. Discord

Discord is a well-known messaging service initially developed for gamers but has subsequently gained popularity among companies. It provides many of the same capabilities as Slack, including video conferencing, file sharing, and instant messaging. Discord’s user interface, on the other hand, differs from Slack’s and is seen as less professional and more casual. 

The utilization of “servers,” which may be used to create separate channels for various teams, projects, or themes, is one of Discord’s primary features. Similar to Slack, Discord has a search feature that makes it simple to locate prior discussions and files. Discord also puts a major focus on community creation, allowing users to create and join private or public servers.

Discord is a rapidly growing messaging platform with a significant user base. As of 2024, the platform had an estimated 196.2 million monthly active users. The platform has also seen a significant increase in its estimated net worth, reaching $15 billion in 2023, and even received multiple buyout offers.

In 2020, Discord’s revenue was estimated to be $130 million and 300 million registered users. The platform also has a high level of engagement, with as many as 963 million messages sent per day. In addition, 91% of surveyed employees gave Discord a positive review. Discord ranks well in diversity and inclusion, with top 25% Gender and top 30% Diversity Scores. Furthermore, Beast Gaming is one of the most visited servers on Discord, with 800,000 members.

Source: ThinkImpact

Discord has a free plan and a subscription service called Nitro that costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. HD video, screen sharing, and personalized emoticons are among the extra features included in the Nitro plan. The storage and file upload capacities of the free plan are somewhat restricted.

Overall, Discord is a fantastic choice for companies looking for a messaging platform that fosters community. Its free plan suits small teams or budget-conscious enterprises, while the Nitro plan offers more storage and advanced features.

III. Microsoft Teams

Integrated inside the Microsoft Office 365 Suite, Microsoft Teams is a messaging and collaboration tool. It’s intended for corporate use and provides many of the same capabilities as Slack and Discord, including instant chat, file sharing, and video conferencing. However, Microsoft Teams also works with other Office 365 programs like Outlook, OneNote, and SharePoint, making it a potent tool for companies that already use these programs.

The ability to establish teams and channels for various groups inside a company is one of Microsoft Teams’ primary capabilities. Additionally, a search option is included, making it simple to locate past communications and files. Furthermore, OneDrive, OneNote, and SharePoint are all tightly integrated with Microsoft Teams.

The Office 365 Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise plans include Microsoft Teams as part of its pricing structure. Currently, the most popular Microsoft Teams Essentials cost $4.00 per user/month.

Microsoft Teams is ideal for companies using Office 365, offering a feature-rich messaging and collaboration platform. Because of its connectivity with other Office 365 programs, it is a strong tool for businesses, but it might not be the ideal choice for those who don’t utilize other Microsoft products, and it might be more expensive for some firms than other messaging apps.

Comparison of Slack, Discord, and Microsoft Teams

It’s crucial to consider the various features and functionalities each software offers when contrasting Slack vs Discord vs Microsoft Teams.

Feature/Platform	Slack	Discord	Microsoft Teams
Primary Focus	Business communication	Originally gaming, now business	Integrated business collaboration
User Interface	Professional, feature-rich	Casual, community-oriented	Professional, Office 365 integrated
Key Features	Channels, file sharing, video conferencing, app integrations	Servers, channels, voice/video calls, community building	Teams, channels, Office 365 integration
Pricing	Free plan, paid plans from $7.25/user/month	Free plan, Nitro at $9.99/month or $99.99/year	Part of Office 365, from $2/user/month
Best For	Comprehensive team communication	Community-building, small teams, budget-conscious	Office 365 users, large enterprises
Limitations	Can be expensive for larger teams	Less professional interface, limited storage on a free plan	May be complex for non-Microsoft users
Notable Stats	12M+ daily active users, 65 Fortune 100 companies	140M monthly active users, $7B valuation	Integrated with Office 365 suite

Slack is known for its extensive features, user-friendly interface, and ability to create channels for different teams, projects, or topics. Additionally, it supports integration with numerous outside applications. However, one could argue that its pricing structures are on the expensive side.

Discord is a messaging program that was initially developed for gamers but has subsequently gained popularity among companies. It’s a fantastic choice for companies looking for a less formal, community-building messaging tool, but the free plan has restrictions on file upload and storage. Additionally, Discord provides excellent voice and video call quality.

Microsoft Teams, specifically designed for enterprises, is a part of the Microsoft Office 365 Suite. This makes it an excellent choice for organizations that currently use Office 365 and are in need of a robust messaging and collaboration tool. While strong in integration with Office 365 and advanced security, it may not suit companies not using Microsoft apps and could be pricier than other options.

A Look Into StartADAM

StartADAM is a communication-focused workflow automation solution that aids companies in automating time-consuming procedures and operations. Users can connect many apps together to develop unique workflows. With many integrations, StartADAM makes it simple to connect to various services and applications that help bring teams together by creating cross-platform collaboration. This allows everyone to use their preferred chat application and join conversations seamlessly. Supported apps include Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram, Microsoft Teams, and SMS.

Let’s say you wish to use Slack, but your client or other staff wants to use Discord or Microsoft Teams. StartADAM solves it for you. With StartADAM, connect to your current communicating software with which you can create a cross-platform group that people can join from any tool! 

How cool is that?

Additionally, with StartADAM, you can send outbound texts and WhatsApp messages from within Slack or Teams, enhancing communication flexibility and efficiency.

In terms of security, StartADAM follows SOC2 security and privacy protocols to ensure that all communication is secure. Additionally, StartADAM offers a free 30-day trial and a free plan for up to 5 active members. Paid plans start at $39 per member per month.

StartADAM enhances the functionality of Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Discord by seamlessly connecting these messaging apps. From a business perspective, this integration allows team members to communicate effectively across platforms, create cross-platform channels, and automate repetitive tasks. And the result? Improved collaboration, time savings, and increased efficiency for businesses using multiple chat applications.

Choose Your Business Messaging App

To sum up, Slack, Discord, and Microsoft Teams have distinctive features and functionalities that can improve business communication and teamwork.

Consider your company’s needs, workforce size, budget, and key features when choosing a messaging app. Each app has its advantages and disadvantages, so the ideal pick will depend on the particular needs of your company. StartADAM offers a unique approach to bridging the productivity gap between messaging apps, benefiting companies. Apart from automation, StartADAM provides monitoring and analytics features that can assist firms in keeping tabs on and managing the performance of their teams.