Microsoft Teams has rapidly become one of the most popular communication and collaboration platforms for businesses worldwide, including those in the UK. With its integration into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Teams offers a wide range of tools to streamline business operations, facilitate teamwork, and improve productivity. In this review, we’ll explore the key products within Microsoft Teams, along with their pricing, and assess the pros and cons to help UK businesses determine whether it’s the right solution for their needs.
Key Microsoft Teams products
Microsoft Teams is part of the Microsoft 365 suite, and its products are designed to cater to a variety of business needs. Here’s an overview of the main offerings:
| Product | Price (per user/month) | Max Participants in Group Meeting | Meeting Duration | Cloud Storage per User | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams Free | Free | 100 | 60 minutes | 2 GB (personal) / 10 GB (team) | Basic chat and meetings, limited storage, integration with Office apps |
| Microsoft Teams Essentials | £3 | 300 | 30 hours | 10 GB | Extended meeting time, more participants, Google Calendar integration |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic (includes Teams) | £4.50 (annual commitment) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 TB OneDrive | Full Teams experience, 1 TB storage, access to web/mobile Office apps |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard (includes Teams) | £9.40 (annual commitment) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 TB OneDrive | Includes desktop Office apps, advanced email and calendar features |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium (includes Teams) | £17.60 (annual commitment) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 TB OneDrive | Advanced security, device management, identity protection, threat protection |
1. Microsoft Teams Free
Price: Free
This version offers basic functionality and is best suited for smaller businesses or teams that require simple communication tools.
Key features:
- Unlimited one-on-one meetings (up to 30 hours)
- Group meetings of up to 60 minutes
- Up to 100 participants in meetings
- 2 GB of personal storage and 10 GB of team file storage
- Integration with other Microsoft Office apps
2. Microsoft Teams Essentials
Price: £3 per user/month
Teams Essentials is aimed at small businesses that need extended meeting capabilities and collaborative tools at an affordable price.
Key features:
- Unlimited group meetings up to 30 hours
- Up to 300 participants per meeting
- 10 GB of cloud storage per user
- Calendar integration with Outlook and Google Calendar
- No Microsoft 365 subscription required
3. Microsoft 365 Business Basic (includes Teams)
Price: £4.50 per user/month (annual commitment)
This plan is ideal for businesses that want the full Teams experience alongside cloud services like SharePoint and OneDrive.
Key features:
- Unlimited one-on-one and group meetings
- Meeting recording with transcripts
- 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user
- Access to web and mobile versions of Microsoft Office apps
- Integration with other Microsoft 365 services
4. Microsoft 365 Business Standard (includes Teams)
Price: £9.40 per user/month (annual commitment)
Business Standard is designed for businesses needing desktop versions of Microsoft Office apps, in addition to the full Teams experience.
Key features:
- Everything in Business Basic
- Desktop versions of Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Advanced email and calendar features
- Meeting recording and cloud-based collaboration tools
5. Microsoft 365 Business Premium (includes Teams)
Price: £17.60 per user/month (annual commitment)
Business Premium offers enhanced security and management tools, making it an ideal choice for businesses that need robust cybersecurity.
Key features:
- All features of Business Standard
- Advanced security, including data protection and device management
- Access and identity management with Azure Active Directory
- Defender for Office 365 for threat protection
Pros of Microsoft Teams
1. Seamless integration with Microsoft 365
One of the major advantages of Microsoft Teams is its deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps. Whether it’s collaborating on documents in Word or Excel, managing projects with Planner, or using OneDrive for file sharing, Teams provides a unified experience for businesses already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
2. Video conferencing and collaboration tools
Teams excels in video conferencing, offering features such as screen sharing, custom backgrounds, and meeting recordings. It also supports real-time collaboration on files, making it easier for remote teams to work together effectively.
3. Scalable for all business sizes
Microsoft Teams is highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. From small startups using the free version to large enterprises using Business Premium, the platform adapts to meet the needs of various business structures.
4. High level of security and compliance
Microsoft places a strong emphasis on security and data protection, which is essential for businesses handling sensitive information. With end-to-end encryption, compliance certifications, and built-in security features, Teams provides peace of mind to UK businesses in regulated industries.
5. Customisation and integration options
With a variety of third-party apps and services available via the Teams app store, businesses can customise the platform to fit their specific workflows. Additionally, Teams integrates with non-Microsoft tools like Zoom and Slack, offering flexibility in how businesses operate.
Cons of Microsoft Teams
1. Complexity for beginners
While Microsoft Teams is packed with features, it can feel overwhelming for businesses unfamiliar with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. New users may face a learning curve, especially when trying to navigate through its many functions.
2. Price escalation with advanced plans
Although Teams Essentials is competitively priced, businesses requiring the full suite of features, advanced security, and management tools will find that the costs add up quickly, especially for larger teams.
3. Performance issues with large meetings
Some users have reported performance issues during large meetings, especially when multiple video feeds are active. Although these are typically isolated incidents, it could pose a challenge for businesses that frequently hold large-scale virtual events.
4. Limited functionality in free version
The free version of Teams, while sufficient for basic communication needs, is quite limited in terms of storage and participant numbers. Larger or growing businesses may quickly outgrow these limitations and find themselves needing to upgrade to a paid plan.
5. Over-reliance on internet connection
As with any cloud-based service, Microsoft Teams’ performance is highly dependent on a stable internet connection. For businesses in areas with unreliable internet access, this could lead to disruptions in meetings and collaboration.
Conclusion – Microsoft Teams pricing review
Microsoft Teams is a versatile, feature-rich communication platform that caters to businesses of all sizes. Its close integration with Microsoft 365 makes it particularly attractive for businesses already using Microsoft tools.
While it comes with some downsides, such as the complexity for new users and the price escalation for advanced features, the platform offers excellent value for businesses seeking a reliable solution for communication, collaboration, and security.
For UK businesses looking to enhance teamwork and streamline operations, Microsoft Teams is a strong contender. Its wide range of plans ensures that companies of different sizes and needs can find a solution that fits their budget and requirements.
Alternatives
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FAQ
Microsoft Teams Free is completely free to use and provides basic features like chat, video meetings, and integration with Microsoft Office apps. However, it has limitations, such as fewer participants in meetings, reduced meeting duration, and limited storage compared to paid plans.
Teams Essentials costs £3 per user per month. This plan offers extended meeting times of up to 30 hours and supports up to 300 participants, along with 10 GB of cloud storage. It’s ideal for small businesses that need affordable communication and collaboration tools.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which includes Teams, costs £4.50 per user per month (annual commitment). It offers unlimited meeting duration, 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, and access to web and mobile versions of Office apps, making it a more robust option for small businesses.
Yes, Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes Teams and costs £9.40 per user per month (annual commitment). It offers everything in Business Basic, along with desktop versions of Office apps, making it suitable for businesses that need both collaboration and productivity tools.
The most expensive Teams plan is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, costing £17.60 per user per month (annual commitment). It offers advanced security features, identity and access management, and additional protection against cyber threats, making it ideal for businesses with heightened security needs.
Teams Essentials includes 10 GB of cloud storage per user but does not provide access to the full OneDrive experience like Business Basic or higher plans. It’s mainly intended for simple collaboration and video conferencing without the additional cloud services available in Microsoft 365 plans.
Yes, you can easily upgrade from Teams Free to any paid Microsoft 365 plan that includes Teams. Paid plans provide enhanced features like increased meeting participants, longer meeting durations, additional storage, and advanced collaboration tools, making it a suitable option for growing businesses.
Teams Essentials is a standalone plan focused on meetings and collaboration for £3 per user/month. Business Basic, at £4.50 per user/month, includes Teams but also offers full access to OneDrive, SharePoint, and web/mobile Office apps, making it a more comprehensive productivity solution.
Yes, Teams as part of Business Premium includes advanced security features such as data encryption, identity management, and Microsoft Defender for Office 365. This plan is ideal for businesses needing a higher level of data protection, as well as collaboration and communication tools.
Teams subscriptions under the Microsoft 365 plans can typically be cancelled, but terms depend on your specific agreement. If you opt for an annual commitment, you may need to continue paying for the remainder of the period or face cancellation fees, so be sure to review the terms before committing.