Mattermost vs Microsoft Teams: What are the differences?

Mattermost vs Microsoft Teams

Mattermost and Microsoft Teams are two popular collaboration and communication platforms. While they share some similarities, there are key differences that set them apart. Here, we will highlight the main differences between Mattermost and Microsoft Teams.

1. Customizability: Mattermost offers greater customization options compared to Microsoft Teams. Users can tailor the interface, features, and integrations according to their specific needs. This flexibility allows teams to build a personalized collaboration environment that suits their workflow.

2. Platform Compatibility: Microsoft Teams is closely integrated with the Office 365 suite, making it seamless for organizations already using Microsoft products. On the other hand, Mattermost is platform-agnostic and can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, allowing teams to integrate it with a wide range of existing tools and systems.

3. Open Source: Mattermost is an open-source platform, which means users have access to the source code and can modify and extend it to match their requirements. This not only offers more transparency but also allows for a more active and vibrant community-driven development process.

4. Privacy and Security: Mattermost emphasizes privacy and security, providing end-to-end encryption and self-hosting options. This allows organizations with more stringent security and compliance requirements to have complete control over their data and communications. Microsoft Teams, although secure, operates within the Microsoft ecosystem and the data is stored on Microsoft servers, making it subject to their privacy and security policies.

5. Pricing: Mattermost offers a flexible pricing structure, with a free open-source edition and various paid plans for additional features and support. Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, is bundled in the Office 365 suite and requires a subscription to access all its features. This makes Mattermost more cost-effective for small to medium-sized organizations.

6. Integration Options: Mattermost provides extensive integration options with popular third-party tools and services. It has a vast library of integrations, allowing teams to connect their collaboration tool with their existing systems seamlessly. While Microsoft Teams also supports integrations, the options are more focused on the Microsoft ecosystem, limiting the flexibility for businesses using a diverse range of tools.

In summary, Mattermost offers greater customization, platform compatibility, privacy, and security options, while Microsoft Teams provides tight integration with the Microsoft suite, a wider range of collaboration features, and a more structured pricing model. The choice between the two would depend on the specific needs, existing infrastructure, and preferences of the organization.