What is the difference between Microsoft Teams and Twist?

Microsoft Teams is best for Organizations already using Microsoft 365, while Twist is best for Remote teams wanting async-first communication. Microsoft Teams starts at $4/user/mo and Twist starts at $6/user/mo.

Is Microsoft Teams or Twist cheaper?

Microsoft Teams starts at $4/user/mo with a free tier. Twist starts at $6/user/mo with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Twist?

Both Microsoft Teams and Twist offer free tiers.

Microsoft Teams vs Twist

Microsoft Teams is all-in-one communication platform with chat, video meetings, and Office 365 integration, while Twist is async communication tool from Doist that organizes conversations into threads, not a firehose. Microsoft Teams comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Microsoft Teams is built for organizations already using microsoft 365, whereas Twist targets remote teams wanting async-first communication.

At a glance

	Microsoft Teams	Twist
Best for	Organizations already using Microsoft 365	Remote teams wanting async-first communication
Starting price	$4/user/mo	$6/user/mo
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
Async-First	—	✓
Channels	✓	✓
File Sharing	✓	—
Integrations	—	✓
Office 365 Integration	✓	—
Threads	—	✓
Video Meetings	✓	—
Webinars	✓	—

Microsoft Teams

Strengths

Included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
Deep integration with Office apps (Word, Excel, SharePoint)
Strong video conferencing with large meeting support
Enterprise-grade security and compliance

Weaknesses

Interface can feel cluttered and confusing
Heavy on system resources
Navigation between chats, teams, and channels is unintuitive
Notifications management is frustrating

Try Microsoft Teams → Full review

Twist

Strengths

Threaded replies keep side conversations from cluttering the main channel
Includes Async-First as a core feature, purpose-built for team communication workflows
Free for 1 month history — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Includes channels alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Notification overload is a real problem as the number of channels grows
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Twist → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Microsoft Teams's free plan: Free basic chat and video meetings. Twist's free plan: Free for 1 month history. When you outgrow the free tier, Microsoft Teams is the cheaper option at $4/user/mo vs. $6/user/mo for Twist — roughly 50% less.

Feature gaps: Microsoft Teams offers File Sharing, Office 365 Integration and Video Meetings that Twist lacks. Twist brings Async-First, Integrations and Threads that Microsoft Teams does not have. Both share Channels.

Team fit: Microsoft Teams is geared toward enterprise teams, while Twist is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Microsoft Teams's biggest strengths are: included with microsoft 365 subscriptions. deep integration with office apps (word, excel, sharepoint). Twist's biggest strengths are: threaded replies keep side conversations from cluttering the main channel. includes async-first as a core feature, purpose-built for team communication workflows.

Watch out for: With Microsoft Teams, users commonly note that interface can feel cluttered and confusing. With Twist, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Microsoft Teams if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: organizations already using microsoft 365
You want to save on per-user costs — Microsoft Teams is $2.00/user/mo cheaper
You specifically need File Sharing and Office 365 Integration
You care about deep integration with office apps (word, excel, sharepoint)
Your team size fits the enterprise profile Microsoft Teams is designed for

Choose Twist if...

You need a tool built for remote teams wanting async-first communication
You specifically need Async-First and Integrations
You care about includes async-first as a core feature, purpose-built for team communication workflows
Your team size fits the small teams profile Twist is designed for
The free tier works for you: free for 1 month history