SlackLinux vs Microsoft Teams (legacy)Windows

Slack as a Linux alternative to Microsoft Teams (legacy)

Updated October 25, 2026

Our verdict

Slack is a reasonable alternative to legacy Microsoft Teams for teams that need channel‑based chat, file sharing, and integration with other tools. It works on Linux, but it is a proprietary app and lacks some Teams features like built‑in calendar integration and full meeting controls. It suits small to medium businesses that already use Slack or want a single platform for chat and basic collaboration, but larger enterprises that rely on Teams’ deep Office 365 integration may find Slack insufficient.

Feature parity70%

License: LicenseRef-proprietary
Price: freemium
Latest version: 4.52.182 (October 20, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Slack Website ↗

Slack screenshot — The Slack main window, on GNOME in dark mode

What works the same

Both use channel‑based organization for topics and projects
Both support direct messaging with read receipts and reactions
Both allow file sharing with preview for common formats
Both provide cross‑device sync for messages and notifications
Both support threaded conversations to keep channels uncluttered

What is different

Slack does not provide native calendar integration or contact list sync like Teams
Slack’s video conferencing is limited to 15‑minute calls in the free tier, whereas Teams offers full‑featured meetings
Slack lacks built‑in version history for shared files; versioning is handled by the underlying storage service
Teams supports meeting scheduling and recording directly within the app; Slack relies on third‑party apps
Teams offers more granular permission controls for channels and files
Slack is proprietary; Teams is part of the Microsoft ecosystem

Opening your Microsoft Teams (legacy) files

Opening or exporting files created in Microsoft Teams (legacy) is not directly supported by Slack. Teams files are stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, so you would need to download them from those services first. Once downloaded, Slack can accept the same file formats (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, images) for sharing, but the file history and metadata from Teams are not preserved when moving to Slack.

Switching from Microsoft Teams (legacy) to Slack, step by step

Export or download all files from Teams’ SharePoint or OneDrive locations
Create corresponding Slack channels for each Teams team or project
Upload the exported files into the new Slack channels, using the file upload feature
Set up Slack Apps or integrations that replace Teams connectors (e.g., calendar, task manager)
Invite users to the Slack workspace and provide training on channel usage
Adjust notification and permission settings to match the previous Teams structure

Key features of Slack

Channel-based organization for topics and projects
Direct messaging with read receipts and reactions
File sharing with preview support for common formats
Integration with third-party tools via Slack Apps
Threaded conversations to keep main channels uncluttered
Cross-device sync for messages and notifications
Customizable notification settings per channel or DM
Beta Linux client with ongoing feature additions

How to install Slack on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub com.slack.Slack

Frequently asked questions

Does Slack support the same meeting length as Teams?

Slack’s free tier limits video calls to 15 minutes. Paid plans allow longer meetings, but the experience is not as integrated as Teams’ meeting features.

Can I keep file version history when moving from Teams to Slack?

Slack does not maintain the same version history that Teams provides. You would need to manage versions manually or use a third‑party version control system.

Is Slack available on Linux?

Yes, Slack offers a native Linux client, available via Flathub and other package managers, though it is still in beta and may lack some features.