| What It Is |
Identity + permissions layer that provisions shared resources (SharePoint, OneNote, Planner, shared mailbox, etc.) |
Collaboration app built on top of Groups, providing chat, channels, meetings, and integrated tools. |
| Primary Communication Style |
Email‑based communication via shared mailbox. |
Real‑time collaboration using persistent chat, channels, meetings, voice/video. |
| User Experience |
Disconnected—Outlook, SharePoint, Planner each open separately. |
Unified interface where chat, files, apps, and meetings live in one place. |
| Provisioned Resources |
SharePoint site, OneNote, shared mailbox, shared calendar, Planner plan, Power BI workspace, Stream permissions. |
All Group resources plus Teams-specific features like channels, tabs, chat, meetings. |
| Channels |
Not supported—everything is at the Group level. |
Supported—organize work by project/topic through channels. |
| Best For |
Email-centric teams, departments, distribution-list-style collaboration. |
Fast-moving projects, chat-based work, real-time communication. |
| Integration & Apps |
Standard Outlook + SharePoint + Planner integrations. |
Deep extensibility: tabs, apps, bots, connectors, third‑party integrations. |
| External Access |
Mature email-based external communication. |
Supported, but historically more limited (per articles). |
| Admin & Governance |
Strong governance & compliance due to Exchange integration. |
Admin tools improving, but traditionally less mature. |
| Mobile/Desktop Experience |
Basic web/Outlook/SharePoint experience; no dedicated desktop app. |
Full-featured desktop and mobile apps with rich functionality. |
| Creation Sources |
Can be created from Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Yammer—resources vary. |
Created only through Teams; automatically generates a Group. |
| Strategic Purpose |
Supports traditional teamwork based on shared email + files. |
Modern hub for teamwork, competing with Slack; promotes real-time collaboration. |