Around
Microsoft Teams
| Feature | Around | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | Free / from $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-teams, hybrid-teams, developers, creative-teams | enterprise, teams, microsoft-users, remote-workers |
| Founded | 2019 | 2017 |
| Floating Bubbles | ✓ | ✗ |
| Noise Cancellation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Leveling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reactions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Meeting Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Video Meetings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Channels | ✗ | ✓ |
| File Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Apps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Whiteboard | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Around Pros
- Minimal screen footprint with floating video bubbles
- Excellent AI noise cancellation
- Auto-equalizes audio levels between participants
- Designed for casual always-on collaboration
✗ Around Cons
- Limited features for formal presentations
- Smaller user base than major platforms
- No recording on free plan
✓ Microsoft Teams Pros
- Included with Microsoft 365
- Great video calling
- Deep Office integration
- Large meeting capacity
✗ Microsoft Teams Cons
- Resource heavy
- Complex admin settings
- Can feel cluttered
- Requires Microsoft ecosystem
The Verdict
Around is built for remote teams and hybrid teams, with a focus on floating-bubbles and noise-cancellation. Microsoft Teams targets enterprise and teams and leads with chat and video-meetings.
On pricing, Microsoft Teams is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4/mo compared to $10/mo for Around. That $6/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Around offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Microsoft Teams takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.
