The Microsoft Teams alternative that stays simple.
Chat, calls, meetings, files and a calendar in one workspace with one search, clients in rooms of their own, and SphereOne Assist in every conversation. Connect Microsoft 365 once to bring your Teams history across.
The short answer
SphereOne is a Microsoft Teams alternative for businesses that want chat, video meetings, files, a calendar and client rooms in one straightforward workspace. SphereOne Assist comes with every paid plan, while Microsoft 365 Copilot is sold separately. Guests join calls from a link without an account, Outlook events show in the calendar, and an admin can import Teams channels and chats through Microsoft 365, read-only.
Why teams switch from Microsoft Teams
What changes when chat, meetings, files and clients share one workspace.
SphereOne vs Microsoft Teams at a glance
Microsoft Teams’s prices change and differ by region, so we link to them rather than quote them.
| Capability | SphereOne | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Team chat | Channels, DMs, threads, polls and voice notes | Teams, channels, chats and threads |
| Video meetings | Built in: calls, screen sharing and guest links, up to 300 people on Business | Built in, with large meetings and webinars on some plans |
| Files | SphereOne Box, with expiring links, versions and trash recovery | SharePoint for channels, OneDrive for chats |
| Calendar | Built in, with Google and Outlook events alongside | The Outlook calendar |
| Clients and guests | Client accounts that only reach the rooms you add them to; guests join calls by link | Guest and external access, set up by an admin |
| AI assistant | SphereOne Assist on every paid plan; not on Free | Microsoft 365 Copilot, sold separately |
| Free version | Free: up to 10 people, 30 days of history, no AI | Teams (free) for personal use, with time-limited group meetings |
| How it is bought | Free plan; Starter US$8 and Business US$15 per person a month | Inside Microsoft 365 plans, or on its own as Teams Essentials |
| Single sign-on | SAML or OpenID Connect on Business and up | Microsoft Entra ID |
It’s time to switch if
- You use Microsoft 365 mostly for email and want a workspace your team learns in a day.
- Clients struggle with guest access and Microsoft sign-ins, and you would rather send a link.
- You want an AI assistant that comes with the plan instead of a separate license.
- Files, chats and meetings are spread across Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive, and people struggle to find the latest version.
Microsoft Teams may still fit better if
- Your company lives in Word, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook and edits files together inside the chat app.
- You run webinars with registration, or meetings larger than 500 people.
- Your compliance team depends on Microsoft Purview retention, eDiscovery or legal hold.
Switch with your Microsoft Teams history
Nothing is written until an admin confirms the preview, and any import can be undone.
The full Microsoft Teams import guide- Connect Microsoft 365. There is no file to export. SphereOne reads straight from Microsoft 365 once you sign in.
- Check the preview. SphereOne shows the rooms, people and message counts it found. Nothing is written yet.
- Decide people and rooms. Link each person to a member, invite them or keep their name only. Create each room fresh, merge it into one you have, or skip it.
- Import, and undo if you need to. Set a cut-off date for the day you switch. Undo removes only what the import created.
Questions about moving from Microsoft Teams
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Teams for a small business?
For a small business that wants chat, meetings, files, a calendar and client rooms without the Microsoft 365 setup, SphereOne is built for that, with AI on every paid plan. Slack suits teams that want a large app directory, and Google Chat suits companies that already work in Google Workspace.
Can I import Microsoft Teams chats and channels into SphereOne?
Yes. An admin signs in with a Microsoft 365 account that can see the teams and chats, then picks what to bring: standard and private channels, and the group and one-to-one chats that account is in, with replies, reactions and shared files. SphereOne only reads, so nothing in Teams changes. Imports run for workspace admins on Starter and up; on a free trial you can upload an export and see the full preview first.
Can we still meet clients who use Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Connect your Microsoft account, and when you schedule a meeting in SphereOne you can attach a Microsoft Teams link instead of SphereOne video.
Does SphereOne work with Outlook?
Yes. Each person connects their Microsoft account and their Outlook events appear in the SphereOne calendar, read-only, refreshing automatically.
Do we need Microsoft 365 to use SphereOne?
No. SphereOne is a complete workspace on its own, in the browser and as desktop apps for Mac and Windows.
Comparing something else?
- Slack alternative
SphereOne vs Slack
Chat like Slack, with meetings, files, a calendar and client rooms in the same workspace.
- WhatsApp alternative
SphereOne vs WhatsApp
Client and team groups the company owns, instead of chats on personal phones.
- Google Chat alternative
SphereOne vs Google Chat
Fuller chat and client rooms, with Google Calendar events and Meet links kept.
- Mattermost alternative
SphereOne vs Mattermost
Channels and threads without servers to run, plus meetings, files and client rooms.
- Discord alternative
SphereOne vs Discord
Company accounts, single sign-on and client rooms, instead of personal Discord logins.
- Telegram alternative
SphereOne vs Telegram
Work accounts and client rooms the company controls, instead of personal numbers.
Facts about Microsoft Teams come from Microsoft Teams’s own pages, checked on October 30, 2026. They can change, so check them before you decide. Product names and logos belong to their owners; SphereOne isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Switch from Microsoft Teams with your history
Start free and see the full preview of your import, or book a walkthrough with our team.