If you\u2019re on the prowl for a collaboration tool, you\u2019ve probably stumbled upon Atlassian Confluence and Microsoft Teams. But which option is the best?<\/p>\n
Not to worry\u2014we\u2019ve researched both platforms to help you pick the best option.<\/p>\n
In this guide, we\u2019ll compare Confluence versus Teams, explain where each tool performs the best, and share a not-so-secret third option that blows Confluence and Teams out of the water. \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n
- \n
- What is Confluence?<\/a><\/li>\n
- What is Teams?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Confluence Vs. Teams: Features Compared<\/a><\/li>\n
- Confluence Vs. Microsoft Teams on Reddit<\/a><\/li>\n
- Meet ClickUp: The Best Alternative to Confluence and Teams<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
What is Confluence?<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Confluence.png\")
Via Atlassian<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Atlassian Confluence<\/a> is what you get when you combine a project collaboration<\/a> tool with a knowledge management platform.<\/p>\n
Knowledge management works like internal wiki software<\/a>, squeezing all of your institutional knowledge out of your team\u2019s email inboxes and into structured documentation.<\/p>\n
For example, if Steve has been at the company for 25 years and leaves, you might be in a bind because he knows so much. You need to get his brain into Confluence. The platform records knowledge and makes it shareable so every team member has access to this knowledge. \ud83e\udde0<\/p>\n
On the collaboration side, Confluence brings teams together to collaborate on anything, anywhere. Leave comments, mention team members, and even co-edit in real-time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confluence features<\/h3>\n
The best thing about Atlassian Confluence is that its features are a fit for both in-person and remote teams. After giving the platform a whirl, we think these features are the most compelling for busy professionals. \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n
1. Knowledge management<\/h4>\n
Siloed information isn\u2019t actionable. Confluence organizes all of your information in one place. It combines project plans, status updates, and informational context in a single repository.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of switching between different platforms looking for SOPs and manuals, everything <\/em>is at your fingertips in Confluence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Confluence-Advanced-Search-Example-1400x992.png\")
Via Atlassian<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Confluence includes a robust knowledge base<\/a>. Its advanced search functionality and labels make it super easy to find the information you need.<\/p>\n
Permissions is a feature that\u2019s only available on premium plans, but it allows you to set multiple access levels to keep sensitive information top-secret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a manager, check Confluence analytics to see your team\u2019s tasks, workload, and knowledge base stats. If you went through the trouble of building an SOP, check your analytics to see if people are actually reading it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Confluence content hierarchy also makes it easy to understand the information in the system\u2014no training is required. That said, if you ever feel stuck, sign up for Atlassian University. <\/p>\n
This free resource is perfect for both admins and everyday users. It\u2019s an on-demand learning platform that will teach you how to get the most out of Confluence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are also tons of support options, ranging from community forums to a knowledge base to customer support.<\/p>\n
2. Integrations<\/h4>\n
There are over 3,000 integrations available on the Atlassian marketplace, which makes it easy as pie to combine all of your systems in one dashboard.<\/p>\n
Here are just a few of our favorite Confluence integrations:\u00a0<\/p>\n
- \n
- Jira<\/li>\n
- Trello<\/li>\n
- Slack<\/a><\/li>\n
- Figma<\/li>\n
- Dropbox<\/li>\n
- Confluence Cloud<\/li>\n
- Google Drive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In a fun twist, Confluence also offers an integration for Microsoft Teams.<\/p>\n
3. Pages<\/h4>\n
Confluence pages work like Google Docs<\/a>. On a Page, your team creates content and works together in real-time<\/a>. Like Google Docs, Pages includes version history and track changes, so you can always go back and revert to a previous version if you want.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pages allow for typical text-based comments, but if you want a little more sparkle, add a few fun GIFs or emojis. You can also tag your team to bring their attention to certain areas of the Page. \u2728<\/p>\n
Need to schedule a meeting? Confluence integrates with team calendars so you see everyone\u2019s availability in one place. It doesn\u2019t include a native video messaging functionality like the Microsoft Teams App, so you\u2019ll still need to rig your video software to integrate with Confluence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
P.S. Confluence also has mobile apps for iPhone and Android for collaborating on the go.<\/p>\n
4. Whiteboards<\/h4>\n
\n![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Whiteboards.jpg\")
Via Atlassian<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Confluence\u2019s whiteboards feature makes it perfect for remote teams. This digital version of a whiteboard is perfect for brainstorming and visualizing your team\u2019s great ideas. \ud83d\udca1<\/p>\n
Confluence whiteboards come with virtual sticky notes, like your typical whiteboard, but they also include voting polls and timers. Use the smart links feature to embed content from other Pages or websites to add more context.\u00a0<\/p>\n
P.S. If you\u2019re in software development, Confluence whiteboards convert to Jira in just a few clicks.<\/p>\n
5. Templates<\/h4>\n
Want to save even more time? Confluence comes with a limited number of Page templates. Use these templates for strategic planning, communication plans<\/a>, or even email drip campaigns.<\/p>\n
These templates come with tables, formatting, images, and even code. Think of these templates as a helpful starting point and customize them to your heart\u2019s content.<\/p>\n
Members of the Confluence community submit templates, so the number of templates will likely increase over time\u2014keep your eyes peeled for more! \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n
Confluence pricing<\/h3>\n
- \n
- Free<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Standard:<\/strong> $5.75\/month for one to 100 users<\/li>\n
- Premium:<\/strong> $11\/month for one to 100 users<\/li>\n
- Enterprise: <\/strong>Contact for pricing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is Teams?<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Using](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Microsoft-Teams.png\")
Via Microsoft<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Microsoft Teams<\/a> is Microsoft\u2019s collaboration platform that really earned its wings during the pandemic. <\/p>\n
Teams is purely an online collaboration tool<\/a>, while Confluence is also a knowledge base platform. Microsoft Teams isn\u2019t necessarily as feature-rich as Confluence, but it\u2019s still a good option, especially if your team has a lot of meetings.<\/p>\n
MS Teams allows for file sharing and editing in real-time. Collaborate with people both inside and outside of your company and create shared channels with different project team members.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Teams works entirely in the cloud, allowing you to share files and collaborate from anywhere. It comes with access management baked into the platform, so you have total control over who sees what.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s neat about Teams is you can collaborate within a document, Teams channel, meeting, or chat. Just grab the link to your document and paste it wherever you want to work on it. Nice, huh? \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n
Teams features<\/h3>\n
When comparing Confluence vs. Teams, it\u2019s important to acknowledge that the two platforms have different purposes. Microsoft Team\u2019s features are tailored more toward communication and collaboration instead of knowledge management. Here are our favorite Teams features.<\/p>\n
1. Meet<\/h4>\n
Unlike Confluence, you can hold team meetings within Teams for as many as 1,000 attendees. Since it\u2019s a Microsoft product, you have the freedom to enhance meetings with other Microsoft tools, like PowerPoint Live or Microsoft Whiteboard.<\/p>\n
Sick of taking meeting notes? Meet comes with AI-generated meeting notes. We would double-check the accuracy, but this can still save a lot of time.<\/p>\n
Microsoft Teams also comes with group calling, call transfers, and voicemail. This is ideal if your job relies on chatting on the phone a lot\u2014or if you don\u2019t want a chatty client to have your personal phone number. \ud83d\udcde<\/p>\n
2. Chats<\/h4>\n
\n![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Chats.jpg\")
Chats in Microsoft Teams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Need to get someone\u2019s attention? Start a chat thread, tag them, and Teams notifications takes care of the rest. Chats also come with one-click translations for 35 languages, voice messaging, and suggested replies.<\/p>\n
We also love the Microsoft Loop feature, which allows you to collaborate on work together in real-time<\/a> within a group chat. This isn\u2019t ideal for huge documents. But it\u2019s great if you need someone to quickly review a table before adding it to a PowerPoint presentation. \ud83d\udcca<\/p>\n
3. Integrations<\/h4>\n
Microsoft calls its integrations \u201capps.\u201d With these apps, you can customize Teams by adding functionalities from other solutions you already use. This makes it possible to embrace automation in nearly all of your workflows.<\/p>\n
We recommend Teams apps for:\u00a0<\/p>\n
- \n
- Figma<\/li>\n
- Trello<\/li>\n
- ClickUp<\/li>\n
- Zapier<\/li>\n
- Adobe Creative Cloud<\/li>\n
- Zendesk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Naturally, Teams integrates with other Microsoft products. If you\u2019re already a Microsoft fanatic, this option makes sense purely because of how well Microsoft\u2019s products work together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
P.S. If you prefer Microsoft Teams, it also has an app for Confluence.<\/p>\n
Teams pricing<\/h3>\n
- \n
- Microsoft Teams<\/strong> Essentials: <\/strong>$4\/month per user, paid annually<\/li>\n
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: <\/strong>$6\/month per user, paid annually<\/li>\n
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: <\/strong>$12.50\/month per user, paid annually<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Confluence Vs. Teams: Features Compared<\/h2>\n
In the showdown between Confluence vs. Teams, who reigns supreme? \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n
As usual, the \u201cright\u201d answer depends on how your business works and what you\u2019re looking for. Here\u2019s how Confluence and Teams stack up against each other.<\/p>\n
1. Collaboration<\/h3>\n
Confluence and Teams are both collaboration platforms, but they facilitate collaboration in different ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For example, Microsoft Loop is a cool feature for running small stuff past your boss. But Confluence\u2019s whiteboards are helpful for remote brainstorming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One big difference is Team\u2019s video conferencing options. This brings video conferencing into your collaboration platform, which Confluence doesn\u2019t offer as directly or effectively. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re more of a text-based remote team, go with Confluence. But if you\u2019re more into video or phone calls, go with Teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Winner:<\/strong> Teams for video calls; Confluence for text-based collaboration<\/p>\n
2. Templates<\/h3>\n
Teams offers some templates, but the variety is limited. In fact, they\u2019re not really templates. They\u2019re more like \u201csaved settings\u201d that save time<\/a> if you frequently create groups or teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confluence, on the other hand, has a growing library of customizable templates. If grab-and-go templates are important to you, Confluence is the better choice.<\/p>\n
Winner:<\/strong> Confluence<\/p>\n
3. Integrations<\/h3>\n
Both Confluence and Teams come with hundreds of integrations. This really boils down to how your organization is already set up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a Microsoft company through and through, Teams makes more sense because it already works well within the Microsoft ecosystem.<\/p>\n
But if you\u2019re big on Jira, Confluence is a better choice because it integrates with Atlassian products.<\/p>\n
Winner:<\/strong> Teams if you use Microsoft; Confluence if you use Jira\u00a0<\/p>\n
4. Knowledge management<\/h3>\n
Confluence\u2019s big selling point is that it\u2019s a combined knowledge management and collaboration tool.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Microsoft Teams just doesn\u2019t offer this. You would need to use something like Microsoft SharePoint to get a knowledge base within the Microsoft product suite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s important that your collaboration and knowledge base are on the same platform, go with Confluence.<\/p>\n
Winner:<\/strong> Confluence<\/p>\n
Confluence Vs. Microsoft Teams on Reddit<\/h2>\n
We dug deep into Confluence vs. Teams to find the most compelling differences between these platforms. <\/p>\n
According to Reddit<\/a>, the Teams wiki feature is tough to use for knowledge sharing:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy department was making a step by step \u2018how to\u2019 in the <\/em>Wiki<\/em> on Teams (took a couple weeks to make) and we found that the <\/em>Wiki<\/em> was really awful. It was buggy, it would delete photos we uploaded, etc.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
In a different Reddit<\/a> post, a user of both platforms found Confluence to be the better choice for collaboration:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve used both. <\/em>Confluence<\/em> is far better for collaboration.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
While users clearly have a preference for Confluence, some people express that their preference doesn\u2019t matter because \u201cthe company\u2019s policy is \u2018Everything should be in Teams\u2019.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
It\u2019s tough persuading upper management\u2014or the folks in IT\u2014to allow for different platforms. If you\u2019re a Microsoft organization, you might have <\/em>to use Teams whether you like it or not, often for licensing or security reasons. \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffd<\/p>\n
Compare Confluence Vs. SharePoint<\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Meet ClickUp: The Best Alternative to Confluence and Teams<\/h2>\n
\n![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image2.gif\")
See the 15+ views in ClickUp to customize your workflow to your needs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Confluence and Teams definitely have their place. But there\u2019s just one problem: They don\u2019t bring task management<\/a> into one central location.<\/p>\n
Sure, apps and integrations can help you do that. But why cobble something together when you could have a system that already includes everything <\/em>you need to take care of business?<\/p>\n
ClickUp is the world\u2019s favorite collaboration solution that brings all of your work into one place. And its functionality is so good that it makes efficiency-obsessed professionals jump for joy. \ud83e\udd38<\/p>\n
Collaborate in real-time, hassle-free<\/h3>\n
ClickUp Docs<\/a> gives you the power to create content, project plans, and even wikis for knowledge retention. (Confluence, who?)\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rich-formatting-and-slash-commands-in-clickup-docs.gif\")
ClickUp Docs allows rich formatting and slash commands<\/a> to work more efficiently<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Embed content, add tables, and customize the formatting of your Doc to create eye-catching, helpful information that encourages collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All ClickUp Docs allow for real-time editing with your team. Convert text or comments into tasks with a single click\u2014there\u2019s no need for double entry here.<\/p>\n
Chat it up with your team on one platform<\/h3>\n
With ClickUp Chat view<\/a>, all of your updates, links, and communications happen in one place. Assign action items<\/a> by tagging folks or embed videos, pages, or spreadsheets to add context to chats. \ud83d\udc4b<\/p>\n
\n![\"Communicate](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/chat-in-clickup.gif\")
Easily share updates, links, reactions, and consolidate important conversations with Chat view in ClickUp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n We also love the rich editing feature for formatting chats. Add code blocks, bullet points, and banners to really make your messages pop.<\/p>\n
Bridge the gap between brainstorming and doing<\/h3>\n
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: <\/strong>$6\/month per user, paid annually<\/li>\n
- Microsoft Teams<\/strong> Essentials: <\/strong>$4\/month per user, paid annually<\/li>\n
- Standard:<\/strong> $5.75\/month for one to 100 users<\/li>\n
- What is Teams?<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"Confluence](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ClickUp-Whiteboards-for-Effective-Project-Management-With-Clients.gif\")