Choosing a team communication platform is one of the most consequential software decisions a company makes. Once your team is settled into a tool, switching becomes disruptive and expensive. We compared Slack and Microsoft Teams over several months, paying particular attention to what matters for Czech businesses: pricing, language support, integrations with local tools, and day-to-day usability.
Overview
Slack was launched in 2013 and quickly became the go-to communication tool for tech companies and startups. Microsoft Teams arrived in 2017 as part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and has since grown to become the most widely used business communication platform globally, largely because it comes bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
In the Czech Republic, both tools are widely used. Teams tends to dominate in larger enterprises and public sector organisations that already use Microsoft 365. Slack is more common in tech startups and agencies.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Slack | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes (limited history) | Yes (limited features) |
| Czech Language Interface | No | Yes |
| Video Calls | Yes | Yes (more advanced) |
| File Storage | 5 GB (free) | 10 GB + SharePoint |
| Microsoft 365 Integration | Partial | Native, deep |
| Third-party App Integrations | 2,600+ apps | 700+ apps |
| Message Search (free) | 90 days | Unlimited |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| EU Data Residency | Paid plans only | Available |
Pricing for Czech Businesses
Slack offers three paid tiers: Pro ($7.25/user/month), Business+ ($12.50/user/month), and Enterprise Grid (custom pricing). These are billed in USD, with EUR invoices available for EU customers. Czech VAT applies.
Microsoft Teams is most commonly accessed as part of a Microsoft 365 Business subscription, which starts at around $6 per user per month and includes Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and other Office apps. If your organisation already pays for Microsoft 365, Teams effectively costs nothing extra. You can check current Microsoft 365 pricing on their website.
Czech Language Support
This is a significant differentiator. Microsoft Teams has full Czech language support, meaning the entire interface, menus, and help documentation are available in Czech. This matters enormously for companies where not all staff are comfortable with English.
Slack, by contrast, is English-only in its interface. You can communicate in Czech within Slack, but the tool itself remains in English. For international teams or tech-savvy users, this is rarely a problem. For companies with a mixed workforce, it can be a real obstacle to adoption.
Integration with Czech Tools
Both platforms integrate with the major international tools. Where they differ is in local context. Microsoft Teams integrates natively with Microsoft 365, which is widely used in Czech enterprises and public institutions. It also works with Czech accounting software through third-party connectors.
Slack has a broader app directory with over 2,600 integrations, but fewer specifically tailored to Czech business needs. For companies using tools like Pohoda or Money S3 for accounting, direct integration is limited on both platforms.
Usability and User Experience
Slack has long been praised for its clean, intuitive interface. Channels, threads, and direct messages are easy to navigate. The search function is excellent, and the notification system is highly configurable. New users typically get comfortable within a day or two.
Microsoft Teams has improved dramatically since its early versions but remains more complex. It blends chat, video calls, file sharing, and SharePoint in a way that can feel overwhelming at first. However, for users already familiar with Microsoft products, the learning curve is manageable. The desktop app can be resource-heavy, which is worth noting on older hardware.
Video Conferencing
Both tools offer video conferencing, but Microsoft Teams is the stronger option here. It supports larger meetings, has better noise cancellation, and includes features like breakout rooms, live transcription in Czech, and meeting recordings stored in SharePoint. For companies that rely heavily on video calls, Teams has a clear advantage.
Slack's video calls (called Huddles) are suitable for quick, informal conversations but lack the depth of Teams for formal meetings.
Slack Strengths
- Cleaner, more intuitive interface
- Larger third-party app ecosystem
- Better for async communication
- Faster to set up and adopt
- Strong search and thread organisation
Slack Weaknesses
- No Czech interface language
- Message history limited on free plan
- More expensive than Teams standalone
- Weaker video conferencing
Teams Strengths
- Full Czech language support
- Included in Microsoft 365
- Superior video conferencing
- Deep Office 365 integration
- EU data residency available
Teams Weaknesses
- More complex interface
- Heavier desktop application
- Fewer third-party integrations
- Can feel cluttered for small teams
Our Recommendation
For most Czech businesses, the choice comes down to two questions: Do you already use Microsoft 365? And does your team need a Czech-language interface?
If you use Microsoft 365 and have staff who prefer Czech, Microsoft Teams is the obvious choice. It is already paid for, integrates deeply with tools your team uses daily, and supports Czech throughout.
If you are a tech startup, agency, or company where English is not a barrier, Slack offers a better day-to-day experience for chat-based work. Its interface is cleaner, its integrations are broader, and it handles async communication particularly well.
For more context on business communication tools, see Microsoft Teams on Wikipedia and our guide to the best SaaS tools for Czech businesses.