Microsoft Teams alternatives
Users often seek alternatives to Microsoft Teams due to persistent notification bugs, login and syncing issues, and a perceived lack of customization. While Teams is valued for collaboration, many find its mobile experience clunky and unreliable, prompting a search for more stable or specialized tools.
Why users look for alternatives to Microsoft Teams
- Many users experience persistent notification issues, including delayed messages, inaccurate badge counts, and notifications not clearing after being read on other devices.R2R10R29R30
- Users frequently encounter problems with logging in, account authentication, and app startup, sometimes rendering the app unusable.R4R6R7R16
- The app is described as buggy, clunky, and prone to crashing, especially during meetings or when switching between apps.R12R15R19R21
- Some users feel the app has become less customizable and more difficult to use, with wasted screen space and unnecessary buttons.R1
- Syncing issues between devices are a common complaint, with messages appearing on one device but not another.R42
- The mobile app is often reported as barely functional without Wi-Fi, freezing up and requiring frequent restarts even on strong 5G connections.R46
- Specific features like Airplay or Multicast functionality are missing, requiring users to use laptops for casting.R3
The alternatives
Microsoft Outlook is a reliable email application that also offers calendar and mail sorting features R52R62. Users find it easy to use and understand for communication and accessing other apps R61.
Better for: Outlook is better for users who prioritize a fluid and crash-free email experience, especially for school or work communication R52R61. It suits those who need strong calendar, mail sorting, and organizational options, despite some finding the calendar cumbersome R59R62.
Head-to-head: Microsoft Teams vs Microsoft OutlookZoom Workplace is an effective videoconferencing platform widely adopted, making it easy for many to connect for meetings and events R67R72. It's praised for its quality and ability to adapt to changes R72R75.
Better for: Zoom Workplace is better for users primarily focused on videoconferencing, especially for job interviews, birthday parties, or general meetings where widespread adoption is key R66R67. It suits those who need a generally effective and adaptable meeting software R72.
Head-to-head: Microsoft Teams vs Zoom WorkplaceMicrosoft Word is considered the 'Gold Standard' for document creation and editing, respected everywhere and preferred by some over Google's version R83R89. It's a helpful software for many tasks .
Better for: Microsoft Word is better for users who need a robust and widely compatible word processing tool for work or personal projects R81R83. It suits those who value its established features for creating and editing documents R80R89.
Head-to-head: Microsoft Teams vs Microsoft WordMicrosoft Excel is a powerful and essential application for spreadsheets, used daily by many for tasks like shopping lists, recipes, checklists, and charts R94R100R106. It's highly valued for making work life easier R100.
Better for: Microsoft Excel is better for users who depend on spreadsheets for daily tasks, data organization, and calculations R94R100R106. It suits those who need a powerful tool for creating detailed lists, charts, and other structured data, despite some finding preformatted pages difficult to customize R93R106.
Head-to-head: Microsoft Teams vs Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft 365 Copilot is an AI tool praised for its overall performance, appearance, and user-friendly experience, with some considering its AI agents the 'best there is' R108R111. It can assist with tasks like proofreading and translations R110.
Better for: Microsoft 365 Copilot is better for users looking for an AI assistant to help with document-related tasks, especially for proofreading or translations R110. It suits those who appreciate advanced AI technology and a user-friendly experience, though some find it lacks features or is not customized for corporate structures R109.
Head-to-head: Microsoft Teams vs Microsoft 365 CopilotYou should stick with Microsoft Teams if you value its seamless communication for corporate work and find it reliable for team meetings and collaboration, especially if your company requires it . It is effective for keeping teams connected from anywhere and offers a good initial support .
Evidence note: No alternative had too few reviews to judge.
Frequently asked
Why do users find Microsoft Teams difficult to use?
Are there common technical issues with Microsoft Teams?
Is Microsoft Teams suitable for personal use or only work?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R2] Microsoft Teams Great app but…: Great app, however I se notifications on the phone on a message, then when I open the app, I don’t see the message for a few minutes. That delay is annoying but livable .
- [R10] Microsoft Teams Notifications/badges are still not working correctly: Notifications/badges are still not working correctly. If I’ve read a message on my MacBook or PC it’s still not updating the app badges as expected. This broke 3-4 updates ago! Please fix. It’s annoying and misleading.
- [R29] Microsoft Teams App notification badge keeps showing when no new activity is present in the app: I don’t know what changed but the recent update is causing the Teams app to show a notification alert badge when there is no new activity or I have caught up with all activity. I keep thinking I have a new message or alert and I go check and there’s nothing new to check. Then the badge goes away and comes back later.
- [R30] Microsoft Teams Good but Buggy: Has traditionally worked as expected and no complaints but lately notifications are a mess. Every time I get even ONE IM, it shows 8, 10, 18+ on the notification bubble. I go in and clear any/all notifications or alerts. Tested it with one in - immediately shows 10 missed notifications which isn’t true. Please fix! Updated to 3 stars - even after multiple app updates, the issue pe
- [R4] Microsoft Teams Doesn’t open: When I open the app it shows a black screen with a white border at the bottom. Unusable
- [R6] Microsoft Teams Be more Apple Friendly: I got a new computer and teams is a requirement for work. Yet the app won’t download. I have to use the web browser and it works only 50% of the time. Why can’t the app work for my new Apple computer but it works for my Apple phone?? 😡 The app worked just fine on my old Apple computer.
- [R7] Microsoft Teams Damn it, personal account unusable again: Is it dying? Personal users are again showing no organization invitation. I used it for so long, and then suddenly it stopped working. · translated
- [R16] Microsoft Teams Worst app: Worst app ever nothing works. Unable to create new account or even login I was logged out and the since it been a shame. This is very low quality. Wrong app, WORST !!!!
- [R12] Microsoft Teams Buggy when going PiP: App is buggy switching between Picture in Picture when moving between apps
- [R15] Microsoft Teams Very buggy - only good for chat: Only reliable for chat. Other options are buggy or don’t work. If my employer didn’t require this app, I’d remove it.
- [R19] Microsoft Teams Crash: For several months now, Teams crashes while in a meeting. I keep missing important information or maybe in the middle of speaking.
- [R21] Microsoft Teams Jumps around: What’s with MS apps jumping around when scrolling. Both Outlook and Teams. When scrolling through a chat, it will often jump up or down several posts. It’s been doing this for a long time so I don’t think it’s a version bug. And I’ve reset my phone to factory so I know it’s the app.
- [R1] Microsoft Teams Somehow constantly getting worse: Somehow the teams app developers manage to make this more annoying and more difficult to use, with more wasted space and less usefulness with every single release. Teams is now the least customizable it's ever been, with more useless buttons and wasted screen space than ever before. It doesn't even feel like a chat app anymore. It feels like a poor attempt at a da
- [R42] Microsoft Teams Fails to sync at some times: Usually, I find Microsoft Teams to be generally a convenient app to use, but sometimes there are sync issues. The most recent issue I had came when a message came through on the Android version of Teams but not this iPadOS version. I had tried to repeatedly re-open the app to try and get it to sync with my other devices, but to no avail. I ultimately had to go to a las
- [R46] Microsoft Teams Almost unusable without Wi-Fi: This app is a constant headache. If you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, it’s barely functional. Even if you’re on 5G with strong signal, it constantly displays. The spinning loading symbol. Has to be restarted, frequently, freezes up often. And that’s just for messaging! Meetings are even worse. As frustrating and error prone as the desktop teams app is, this is even wors
- [R3] Microsoft Teams No Airplay or Multicast functionality: I like Teams for its simplicity, and is adequate for the purpose for which I use it. However, the app itself lacks the functionality connect to my TV using Airplay or Multicast. Consequently, I have to haul around my heavy laptop to either cast to a smart TV or connect via HDMI.
- [R52] Microsoft Outlook Great responsive email app: The app happens to operate fluidly and no crashes.
- [R59] Microsoft Outlook Review: I find the calendar a bit cumbersome and confusing when i am in a rush and the way emails are grouped makes it unclear what is most recent, and causes confusion looking for an email (latest) at times - On apple ipad
- [R61] Microsoft Outlook School email address: This email system has been easily accessible for communication and access to the apps, I will continue to use this in the future as well
- [R62] Microsoft Outlook Good email bad search: Outlook search is miserable. Calendar, mail sorting and options otherwise are fantastic.
- [R66] Zoom Workplace Birthday party by Zoom: Fun over the miles
- [R67] Zoom Workplace Great, until …: Zoom is overall an effective videoconferencing platform, mostly bc everyone has it. That said, another deal maker was its ability to automagically import iCal entries with Zoom links into Zooms own listings of events. But no more! For whatever reason there ain’t no function anymo’. (Strangely, invitations still pass through. 🤷♂️) Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
- [R72] Zoom Workplace Top 3 web meet software: Software has adapted to the constant changes.
- [R75] Zoom Workplace Excelente: Calidad
- [R80] Microsoft Word Love this: over everything
- [R81] Microsoft Word MS iPad apps need full attention: Microsoft Office Apps on iPad: Solid Potential, But Falls Short of Apple’s Native Alternatives (3/5 stars) I’ve been using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on my iPad for work and personal projects, hoping for a seamless experience that matches the desktop versions. While the apps have improved over the years and offer good cross-platform compatibility with O
- [R83] Microsoft Word The Gold Standard: Respected everywhere
- [R89] Microsoft Word Heh: I like word WAY better than the google version
- [R93] Microsoft Excel Hate it: The preformatted pages are eye-strains and it takes too much effort to get everything customized. Blecch. That said, it’s a powerful app for what it does, IF one has the TIME…
- [R94] Microsoft Excel Life: I use excel almost daily . I depend on it.
- [R100] Microsoft Excel Love it: I’m being using M. Excel all my life and still learning an appreciating how my work life is easier because of it.
- [R106] Microsoft Excel Awesome Program: Excel is the best computer program I’ve ever worked with. I learned to do spreadsheets which I create to use for each and every task I need done. For example, my shopping lists, recipes, checklists, charts, and anything else I can come up with. I haven’t learned to do graphs yet but am excited to do so. I recommend this program to everyone to use for all their projects.
- [R108] Microsoft 365 Copilot Satisfactory: Well let me say so far, so good!
- [R109] Microsoft 365 Copilot A bit behind…: 1. Model seems to be behind on docs. Answers are two-to-three versions ago. 2. When giving solutions, it blasts you with too many solution paths. Needs to be more stepwise.
- [R110] Microsoft 365 Copilot By far the dumbest AI: Constantly forget instructions, makes basic mistakes and even lies at time! Don’t ask it anything more than proofreading things or translations. Honestly Microsoft should pay us to use this joke of an AI.
- [R111] Microsoft 365 Copilot Ernesto Pérez-Herrerajr: La realidad de la vida ahora
- [R28] Microsoft Teams Authentication is atrocious: If you use this on mobile they make it impossible to authenticate on a single device, the app tries to authenticate on the authentication app via the authentication app. If you have a meeting to get to on mobile and you get signed out good luck. Also the outlook sign in solution also failed. This process all around is a failure.
- [R8] Microsoft Teams Teams: Good, but my kids can not call their friends
- [R23] Microsoft Teams It’s Teams: Not sure why they promoted for a review of Teams. It’s Teams. If you don’t know what Teams is, you are for sure unemployed or in a third world country. Teams is great. It works. Nuff said
- [R26] Microsoft Teams One, two, and into production: For corporate work, everything generally functions normally, but two features are sorely missing. First, scheduled message sending. Sometimes I remember something at night and want to message a colleague, but I realize it's inappropriate to write at that hour. In such situations, a delayed sending function would be extremely useful. Second, fixing the position in the chat. Currently, if I open a chat, · translated
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store