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Software · head to head

Microsoft Teams vs Twist

Microsoft Teams logo

Microsoft Teams

Software

Meet, chat, call, and collaborate in just one place

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Twist logo

Twist

Software

Distraction-free team communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives; Twist the free plan only exposes the last 1 month of comments and messages; older history is hidden until you upgrade
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Twist covers Topic-based chat.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Teams and Twist actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Teams and Twist differ
AttributeMicrosoft TeamsTwist
Founded19752014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft Teams

  • Chat & channels
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • File collaboration
  • Office integration
  • Live events
  • Phone system
  • Apps & workflows

Only in Twist

  • Topic-based chat
  • Threading
  • File attachments
  • Search
  • Notifications control
  • Integrations
  • Mobile apps
  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Teams

  • Remote meetingsnot Twist
  • Team collaborationnot Twist
  • Document sharingnot Twist
  • Project managementnot Twist
  • Webinarsnot Twist

Twist

  • Asynchronous threaded team communication for distributed teamsnot Microsoft Teams
  • Keeping decisions in searchable threads rather than a real time chat streamnot Microsoft Teams
  • Coordinating across time zones without expecting immediate repliesnot Microsoft Teams

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Teams

  • Resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
  • Limited channel structure; maximum of 200 public and 30 private channels per team
  • Cannot invite guest users to specific channels; guest access grants full team visibility
  • Unable to chat during screen sharing; limits real-time collaborative communication
  • Limited customization options for branding and interface; cluttered UX compared to Slack
  • Channels cannot be moved between teams; requires manual replication for reorganization

Twist

  • The free plan only exposes the last 1 month of comments and messages; older history is hidden until you upgrade
  • The free plan caps integrations at 5 and file storage at 5 GB
  • Full message history, unlimited integrations, unlimited storage and priority support all require the Unlimited plan at US$6 per user per month
  • Both plans cap the workspace at 500 internal member accounts and 500 external guest accounts

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Teams

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited chat
    • 100 participants in meetings
    • 5GB file storage
  • Microsoft Teams Essentials$4/month
    • 300 participants in meetings
    • 10GB cloud storage
    • Phone & web support
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • 1TB OneDrive storage
    • Web & mobile Office apps
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Desktop Office apps
    • Webinar hosting

Twist

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited topics
    • Message history
    • File sharing
  • Pro$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Teams if

  • You need chat & channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want video conferencing.
Microsoft Teams review

Choose Twist if

  • You need topic-based chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want threading.
Twist review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Teams or Twist better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Teams starts at Free and Twist at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Twist?
Microsoft Teams starts at Free and Twist at Free.
Does Microsoft Teams or Twist run on more platforms?
Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Twist runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Teams for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Microsoft Teams best used for?
Microsoft Teams is most often used for remote meetings, team collaboration, document sharing, project management. Of those, remote meetings and team collaboration are not what Twist is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Teams do that Twist cannot?
Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, Screen sharing, File collaboration. Twist covers Topic-based chat, Threading, File attachments, Search.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Teams: Does Microsoft Teams have a free tier?

Yes. Microsoft Teams offers a free Home tier with unlimited chat, 60-minute group meetings for up to 100 people, 5GB cloud storage, and basic file sharing, though limits are restrictive for growing teams.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' paid plans?

Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month (chat, calling, meetings, 10GB storage). Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $7/user/month (includes desktop Office apps, 1TB storage). Premium plans with Copilot start at $23.50/user/month.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' primary features?

Teams provides real-time chat, video and voice calling, meetings with up to 300 participants, file sharing and storage integration with OneDrive, recording and transcripts, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Microsoft Teams: What integrations does Teams support?

Microsoft Teams integrates with calendar apps (Outlook, Google Calendar), project management tools (Trello), and works with Zapier for custom workflow automation. Teams also has native connectors to many Microsoft 365 apps and third-party services.

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Related pages

More on Microsoft Teams

More on Twist

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