TEAM COMMUNICATION

Polybase vs
Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams locks your collaboration inside the Microsoft 365 universe. Polybase gives you all-in-one communication without the ecosystem lock-in, bloated bundles, or per-seat licensing surprises.

POLYBASE

Polybase unifies chat, video calls, task management, wikis, and AI agents into a single lightweight desktop app. There are no external integrations to configure. Every feature shares the same real-time data layer, so turning a chat message into a tracked task or jumping into a video huddle happens in one click — without leaving your flow.

MICROSOFT TEAMS

Microsoft Teams is a chat and video platform tightly coupled to Microsoft 365. While powerful within that ecosystem, it requires Teams, Planner, SharePoint, and OneDrive separately for tasks, docs, and storage. Organizations outside the Microsoft stack often struggle with licensing complexity, slow desktop performance, and the constant context-switching between apps.

Feature Comparison

See exactly what you get with Polybase compared to Microsoft Teams.

Feature
Polybase
Microsoft Teams
Real-time Chat & Threads
Video & Audio Calls
Screen Sharing
Built-in Task Management
Requires Planner
Kanban Boards
Requires Planner
Collaborative Wiki / Docs
Requires SharePoint
AI Agents with Tool Use
Copilot (extra cost)
Self-Hosted Deployment
Data Sovereignty
Full control
Microsoft Cloud only
Unified Search Across All Tools
Fragmented
Offline Support
Limited
Native Desktop Performance
Lightweight
Heavy (Electron)
Pricing Transparency
Simple per-user
Bundle tiers
Third-Party Ecosystem Lock-in
None
Microsoft 365 required

Migrate from Microsoft Teams

Switching is easier than you think. Follow these steps and your team will be up and running in minutes.

1

Export Your Teams Data

Use the Microsoft Teams data export tools or the Admin Center to download your chat history, files, and channel structure as a backup before migrating.

2

Set Up Your Polybase Workspace

Download the Polybase desktop app, create your workspace, and invite your team members. Polybase's onboarding wizard will guide you through workspace configuration in under 5 minutes.

3

Recreate Channel Structure

Map your Teams channels to Polybase channels. Create public channels for company-wide topics and private channels for team-specific discussions. The flat, simple structure avoids the nested Teams/Channel confusion.

4

Move Files & Documents

Upload your important documents directly into the relevant Polybase channels. Polybase's built-in doc editor means you won't need SharePoint or OneDrive anymore — everything lives in one place.

5

Onboard Your Team

Share the workspace invite link with your team. Polybase's familiar chat interface means most users are productive within minutes, not days. No Microsoft 365 training required.

What Polybase Adds

Polybase doesn't just replace Microsoft Teams — it gives you capabilities Microsoft Teams can't.

AI Agents, Not Just Copilot

Polybase's autonomous agents read your full workspace context — tasks, chats, docs — and execute complex multi-step workflows. No extra per-seat AI licensing fees.

True All-in-One Platform

Chat, video, tasks, docs, and calendar live together natively. No Planner for tasks, no SharePoint for docs, no OneDrive for files. One app, one data model.

Self-Host on Your Infrastructure

Deploy Polybase on-premise or in your own cloud. Full data sovereignty without being locked into Microsoft Azure data centers.

Lightning-Fast Desktop App

Teams is notoriously resource-heavy. Polybase is built for speed with a lightweight native feel, instant startup, and smooth animations even on older hardware.

No Ecosystem Lock-in

You don't need Microsoft 365, Azure AD, or any Microsoft subscription. Polybase works independently — use it alongside any tools you already love.

Integrated Kanban & Sprint Planning

Convert any chat message into a tracked Kanban task instantly. No need for a separate project management add-on or third-party integration.

FAQ

Common questions about switching from Microsoft Teams to Polybase.

Can I import my Microsoft Teams chat history?
Yes. Microsoft provides data export functionality through the Admin Center. While real-time sync is not available, you can export and reference your historic conversations. Most teams find that starting fresh in Polybase with a clean channel structure is more productive than importing old threads.
Does Polybase integrate with Microsoft 365?
Polybase is a self-contained platform — chat, docs, tasks, and calls are all built in. You don't need Microsoft 365 for collaboration. However, you can still use OneDrive or SharePoint links within Polybase if your organization needs them during a gradual transition.
How does Polybase's video calling compare to Teams meetings?
Polybase uses WebRTC for crystal-clear, low-latency video calls with screen sharing. You can hop into calls directly from any channel or DM — no meeting scheduling, no invite links, no plug-in downloads. It's designed for spontaneous collaboration, not calendar-driven meetings.
Is Polybase cheaper than Microsoft Teams?
For most teams, yes. Microsoft Teams requires a Microsoft 365 subscription ($6–$57/user/month depending on the tier). Polybase offers transparent per-user pricing with all features included — no hidden bundle costs or add-on fees for AI, storage, or advanced features.

Ready to ditch
Microsoft Teams?

Join thousands of teams who made the switch. Try Polybase free — no credit card required.