Fold vs. Microsoft Teams: a calmer team collaboration tool
Looking for a Microsoft Teams alternative that doesn't drown small and mid-sized virtual teams in channels, tabs and notifications? Here's how Fold compares — and why teams switch to a folder-first workspace that keeps chat, tasks and approvals in one place.
In short
Microsoft Teams is a full-featured meetings and enterprise collaboration suite built for large organisations already on Microsoft 365. Fold is a calmer team collaboration tool that gives small and mid-sized virtual teams a single permissioned workspace — folders, tasks, approvals, notes and chat — without the overhead. If your day is more work-tracking than video calls, Fold usually wins.
Side-by-side
The features below mirror what our landing page's comparison table lays out for Fold plans.
| Feature | Fold | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Per-folder permissions | Every folder has its own access list | Team and channel level; private channels limited |
| Tasks with approvals | Built-in tasks, statuses and manager approvals | Via Planner or Loop add-ons |
| Chat lives with the work | Channels sit inside the folder they belong to | Channels separate from files and tasks |
| Shared calendar & resources | Team calendar with bookable resources | Via Outlook / Bookings |
| Notes & decisions | Shared notes tied to folders and tasks | OneNote / Loop, separate surface |
| Notification overload | Scoped to folders you're in | Common complaint across large tenants |
| Enterprise video meetings | Not the focus | Full meetings, webinars, telephony |
| Microsoft 365 lock-in | Independent, works with any stack | Deep 365 integration required |
| Pricing for small teams | Free tier, Plus £4.99, Pro £8.99 / user / mo | Bundled via Microsoft 365 Business plans |
Why teams pick Fold
Work is organised by folder, not by channel sprawl — so context is easy to find months later.
Grant access folder-by-folder. Members only see the parts of the workspace they should.
Channels and threads sit next to the tasks, files and notes they're about — not in a separate app.
Who Fold is (and isn't) for
Fold is built for small and mid-sized virtual teams — agencies, ops teams, product squads, remote teams of 5–150 people — that want their tasks, files, decisions and conversations in one permissioned place. If your organisation lives inside Microsoft 365, runs all-hands on Teams video, and needs enterprise voice, Teams is still the right tool. Many teams use both: Teams for meetings, Fold for the work between them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fold a replacement for Microsoft Teams?+
For small and mid-sized teams that mostly need chat, tasks, approvals and shared files in one place, Fold replaces the day-to-day work Microsoft Teams is used for. Fold does not replace Teams for enterprise voice/video meetings at scale.
Why do teams switch from Microsoft Teams to Fold?+
The most common reasons: notification overload, sprawling channels that no one can find later, and work living across too many separate apps (Planner, OneNote, SharePoint). Fold organises chat inside permissioned folders next to the tasks, files and approvals it relates to, so context is not lost.
Does Fold have per-folder permissions?+
Yes. Every folder in Fold has its own access list, and chat, tasks, notes and files inside it inherit those permissions. Managers can grant access down to a single folder without opening the whole workspace.
How much does Fold cost compared to Microsoft Teams?+
Fold has a free tier for small teams, Plus at £4.99/month and Pro at £8.99/month per user, with annual discounts. Teams is typically bundled inside a Microsoft 365 Business subscription. See the pricing section on our landing page for current Fold plans.
Can we use Fold alongside Microsoft Teams?+
Yes — many teams keep Teams for video meetings and use Fold as the workspace where the actual work lives between meetings.
Try the calmer alternative
Free for small teams. Plus and Pro plans in GBP with monthly and annual billing.