Slack Connect vs SlackBridge
Slack Connect is Slack's built-in feature for connecting two or more Slack workspaces. SlackBridge is a third-party bridge that connects a Slack workspace to a Microsoft Teams tenant. They solve different problems and are not direct substitutes.
Quick answer. Slack Connect only works between Slack workspaces. It cannot send a message from a Slack channel to a Microsoft Teams channel. If your counterparty uses Microsoft Teams and is not going to buy Slack, Slack Connect is not an option — you need a cross-platform bridge such as SlackBridge.
If both organizations are committed Slack customers and you only need cross-organization sharing within the Slack ecosystem, Slack Connect is the right tool and SlackBridge is unnecessary.
Key differences
- Platforms bridged
- Slack Connect: Slack ↔ Slack only. SlackBridge: Slack ↔ Microsoft Teams.
- Customer requirement on the other side
- Slack Connect requires the partner organization to be a Slack customer on a paid plan (or to accept a 90-day Pro trial that converts to paid). SlackBridge requires no purchase from the Teams side — only a one-time Microsoft Graph admin consent.
- Pricing
- Slack Connect is bundled into all paid Slack plans, so the cost is the Slack subscription cost for both organizations (approximately $7.25-$12.50 per user per month as of 2026). SlackBridge is $49.99/month per Slack workspace on the Pro tier, or free for one bridged channel — independent of how many users are in either organization.
- Scope of sharing
- Slack Connect can share entire channels or direct messages such that both sides experience them as native Slack. SlackBridge mirrors messages between a specific Slack channel and a specific Microsoft Teams channel — each side stays inside their native platform.
- Use case fit
- Slack Connect: two Slack-using organizations wanting tight collaboration. SlackBridge: an agency or MSP on Slack serving enterprise clients on Microsoft Teams.
Side by side
| Slack Connect | SlackBridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Slack ↔ Slack only | Slack ↔ Microsoft Teams |
| Both sides need Slack? | Yes | No — Teams side does not need Slack |
| Both sides need to buy software? | Yes (Slack license) | No (Teams side consents to a Microsoft Graph permission) |
| Cost | Included in paid Slack plans (Pro from $7.25/user/mo, Business+ from $12.50/user/mo, both orgs) | Free for one channel; Pro at $49.99/month per Slack workspace, regardless of user count |
| Real-time bidirectional? | Yes (native Slack) | Yes |
| Direct messages supported? | Yes | No (channels only — intentional, for audit clarity) |
| Multi-partner support | Many external orgs supported, all on Slack | Many external Teams tenants supported from one Slack workspace |
| Setup time | Both admins approve the Connect invitation — minutes if both sides are paid Slack customers | Slack admin connects, Teams admin consents — typically under 15 minutes |
| Vendor | Slack (Salesforce) | Square Post Labs Inc. |
When Slack Connect is the right choice
Choose Slack Connect when both your organization and the external organization are committed Slack customers, both are willing to pay for Slack licenses, and you want the external collaboration to look and feel exactly like a native Slack channel for both sides. Slack Connect is the canonical answer for Slack-to-Slack cross-organization sharing.
When SlackBridge is the right choice
Choose SlackBridge when the external organization is on Microsoft Teams and is not switching to Slack. Typical scenarios:
- An agency or MSP whose internal team lives in Slack but whose enterprise clients standardized on Microsoft 365 / Teams.
- A consultant who serves several Teams-based clients from one Slack workspace.
- Any SMB-to-enterprise relationship where the SMB picked Slack and the enterprise picked Teams.
SlackBridge does not require the Teams-side organization to purchase anything. The Teams admin grants a one-time Microsoft Graph consent and the bridge runs on the Slack-side subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Slack Connect to message someone whose company uses Microsoft Teams?
No, not directly. Slack Connect requires the other organization to have a Slack workspace and at least one paid Slack license. If your counterparty has Microsoft Teams and no Slack, you cannot invite them to a Slack Connect channel.
Will Slack Connect ever support Microsoft Teams?
There is no announced plan from Slack (Salesforce) for Slack Connect to interoperate with Microsoft Teams. Slack Connect's scope is cross-organization sharing within the Slack platform.
Is SlackBridge replacing Slack Connect for our existing Slack-to-Slack partner channels?
No. SlackBridge does not bridge Slack to Slack. If you already use Slack Connect for partner organizations that are also on Slack, keep using it. Add SlackBridge specifically for partner organizations that are on Microsoft Teams.
Does SlackBridge work alongside Slack Connect in the same Slack workspace?
Yes. SlackBridge operates per-channel. You can have some channels bridged to Microsoft Teams via SlackBridge while other channels are shared with Slack-based partners via Slack Connect, all within the same Slack workspace.
If both my client and I are on Slack, should I use SlackBridge anyway?
No, Slack Connect is the more natural fit when both sides are on Slack. SlackBridge is built for the case where one side is on Microsoft Teams.
Sources and verification
- Slack Connect overview and customer requirement: slack.com/connect (accessed 2026-05-14).
- Slack Pro and Business+ public pricing: slack.com/pricing (accessed 2026-05-14).
- SlackBridge pricing and feature scope: slackbridge.com/pricing.
- This page summarizes publicly documented behavior of both products as of 2026-05-14. If something has changed, please tell us and we will correct the page.