At Matter, we're dedicated to creating dynamic workplaces where teams can connect, celebrate achievements, and grow together. As a top Microsoft Teams app for employee recognition, rewards, and engagement, Matter enables teams to acknowledge accomplishments, offer meaningful feedback, and cultivate a positive company culture—all directly within Microsoft Teams. With countless free Teams apps available, companies can tailor their Teams environment to meet their unique needs. To help you fully leverage Microsoft Teams, we've compiled a list of the nine best free Teams apps to boost team culture, streamline productivity, and enhance project management. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, these apps—starting with Matter—will elevate your Teams workspace and keep your team engaged and organized.
What types of free Teams apps are available?
Microsoft Teams offers a diverse ecosystem of free apps that support everything from project management and employee engagement to collaboration tools and file sharing. These apps keep project teams organized, productive, and connected, whether they're working in the office, remotely, or across different time zones.
- Project management tools: Free apps like Trello and Asana streamline task assignments and progress tracking. With built-in task lists and customizable boards, these apps make managing tasks assigned to multiple team members straightforward and efficient.
- Time-tracking apps: Time-tracking apps like Timeghost help monitor how team members are spending their time. These apps track billable hours, monitor productivity, and provide insights to help accomplish tasks more efficiently.
- Communication and messaging tools: Teams chat capabilities are enhanced with apps that make communication more dynamic and engaging. For example, Matter brings a kudos platform to Teams, enabling real-time employee recognition and feedback within the Teams environment. Communication apps streamline interaction and keep other team members on the same page.
- File-sharing applications: Apps that facilitate file sharing and cloud storage are essential for storing and accessing key documents. Many integrate with Microsoft 365 and OneDrive, providing built-in cloud storage and secure settings to store files safely and access them from anywhere.
- Task list and collaboration tools: Apps focused on creating task lists and collaborative spaces—like Microsoft Lists and Planner—are invaluable for keeping track of tasks assigned and managing workstreams.
These free Teams apps empower teams to create a customized workspace where each app contributes to streamlined workflows, enhanced team productivity, and better employee engagement.
Why you should use free teams apps vs. paid apps
Choosing free Teams apps over paid ones can save your team money while still providing essential functionality. Free apps typically offer core features without the financial commitment, making them an ideal starting point for exploring what each Teams app can do.
Free apps often come with a wide selection of integrations and customizable notifications, enabling teams to try out collaboration tools and project management features without committing to paid plans. Many free Teams apps receive regular updates, adding new features that enhance the Teams environment without additional costs.
Another benefit of free apps is that they allow teams to try different features before deciding if a premium subscription is necessary. This flexibility lets you explore various functionalities, like audio and video calls, task management, or file-sharing, to determine which Teams apps best fit your unique needs.
Ultimately, free apps provide a cost-effective way to test Microsoft Teams functionalities and build a dedicated community within your Teams workspace. Whether focused on employee recognition, project collaboration, or staying organized, free Teams apps offer valuable tools to keep your team connected and productive.
9 free Teams apps for Microsoft
Finding the right tools to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and keep teams connected is essential for any organization. Microsoft Teams offers a robust platform for collaboration, and with the right free apps, you can customize it to suit your team's unique needs—all without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking to manage projects, track time, share files, or recognize team achievements, there's a free Teams app that can help. In this section, we'll explore nine of the best free Microsoft Teams apps, starting with Matter, to help you elevate your team's efficiency, engagement, and collaboration. Each app is made to make things easier, improve communication, and make the office more cohesive, so you can focus on what's most important: reaching your team's goals as a whole.
1. Matter
About Matter: Matter is a comprehensive employee recognition and rewards platform built to support companies in fostering a culture of appreciation, growth, and engagement—all within Microsoft Teams. Designed for organizations that prioritize positive work environments, Matter provides an easy way for teams to give kudos, celebrate wins, and deliver meaningful feedback. Its seamless integration within Microsoft Teams empowers teams to recognize contributions and celebrate achievements without disrupting workflows, making appreciation a daily habit.
Matter's structured, customizable feedback and recognition system aligns with a company's values and goals, enhancing morale and productivity while reinforcing a strong company culture. As one of the best free Teams apps, Matter is trusted by organizations worldwide for improving employee engagement and boosting retention.
Matter and Teams integration features:
- Kudos aligned with company values: With Matter, teams can send kudos directly in Microsoft Teams channels, encouraging positive behavior aligned with core company values. This feature is ideal for building a strong, values-driven culture across both in-office and remote teams.
- Automated feedback prompts: Matter's "Feedback Friday" prompts and customizable feedback templates provide a regular cadence for reflection and recognition, helping team members feel valued and supported.
- Coins and redeemable rewards: Through Matter, employees earn coins for giving and receiving kudos. These coins reset monthly and can be redeemed for various rewards, creating additional motivation and excitement around team engagement.
- In-depth analytics: Matter's powerful analytics give HR and team leaders useful information about how engaged employees are and how well they fit with company values. This lets them use data to make decisions that are better for the company.
Matter pricing: Visit Matter's website to learn more about pricing.
Matter G2 score: Matter has a G2 score of 4.7/5, based on user reviews.
What Matter customers are saying: “The interface of Matter is extremely user-friendly and intuitive, which significantly reduces the learning curve for new users. The customer support team is responsive and genuinely helpful, providing quick solutions to any issues that arise. Additionally, the robust analytics features have made it much easier to track performance and make data-driven decisions." - Vincent M., Subject Matter Expert (G2 Review for Matter)
2. Timeghost
About Timeghost: Timeghost is a flexible time-tracking tool designed for seamless integration with Microsoft Teams. It adapts effortlessly to various workflows, making it ideal for teams that need accurate project tracking. Timeghost consolidates project activities from Microsoft 365, allowing users to track billable and non-billable hours efficiently, which is especially useful for managing resources and monitoring productivity.
Timeghost features:
- Integrated time tracking: Track project hours directly within Microsoft Teams, ensuring that team members can log their work in real-time.
- Billable vs. non-billable tracking: Differentiate between billable and non-billable hours, a crucial feature for service-based businesses and project managers.
- Downloadable reports: Using templates to make custom time reports makes it easy to look at how well the team is doing and find places where they can improve.
- Personalized workflows: Adapt Timeghost to your specific needs, setting unique workflows that fit your team's structure and project demands.
Timeghost pricing: Visit Timeghost's website to learn more about pricing.
3. Trello
About Trello: Tracking tasks visually in Microsoft Teams is made possible by Trello, a famous project management app. With Trello, teams can organize tasks, track progress, and collaborate effortlessly—all from a user-friendly interface. When you connect Trello to Microsoft Teams, it makes work easier and makes sure that everyone is on the same page.
Trello features:
- Customizable boards and cards: Organize tasks on boards and cards, add labels and due dates, and assign tasks to team members.
- Integration with Teams channels: Add Trello boards directly to your Teams channels, allowing team members easy access to project updates.
- Real-time task updates: Keep everyone informed of task progress without leaving Microsoft Teams.
- Message extension: Share Trello card details directly in Teams chats for seamless communication.
Trello pricing: Visit Trello's website to learn more about pricing.
4. Asana
About Asana: Asana is an easy-to-use tool for managing tasks and projects that helps teams stay on track and organized. It works with Microsoft Teams, so users can make tasks, assign them, check on their progress, and share project changes without having to leave Teams.
Asana features:
- Task creation and assignment: Generate tasks within Teams, assign them to colleagues, and set due dates to keep projects moving forward.
- Color-coded labels and tags: Organize tasks by priority, category, or team member using customizable labels and tags.
- Real-time notifications: Keep up with project goals and get reminders when tasks are due or finished.
- Shared workspace for task lists: Keep tasks in a central location, making it easy for all team members to see what needs to be done.
Asana pricing: Visit Asana's website to learn more about pricing.
5. Azure Boards
About Azure Boards: Azure Boards is an agile project management tool that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams. It has tools like Kanban boards, backlogs, and reports for keeping track of work, which makes it perfect for agile software development teams.
Azure Boards features:
- Kanban boards for task visualization: Visualize project progress and organize tasks through drag-and-drop functionality.
- Customized task fields: Tailor tasks with specific fields that align with team goals and project requirements.
- Analytics and reporting: Access real-time project analytics to monitor productivity and keep track of milestones.
- Task prioritization and assignment: Organize tasks by priority and assign them to team members to keep projects on track.
Azure Boards pricing: Visit Azure's website to learn more about pricing.
6. Jira Cloud
About Jira Cloud: Jira Cloud for Microsoft Teams brings task and project tracking into the communication flow, allowing teams to manage issues and monitor project progress efficiently. This integration is particularly useful for development teams that need agile task management tools.
Jira Cloud features:
- Convert messages to tasks: Turn Teams messages into Jira tasks, making it easy to track issues raised during conversations.
- Centralized view of project tasks: View and organize issues directly within Teams, keeping the entire team updated on project status.
- Customizable notifications: Receive updates on task progress, ensuring everyone stays informed without leaving Teams.
- Jira filters: Set up tabs within Teams channels to display tasks according to specific filters, such as priority or assigned team members.
Jira Cloud pricing: Visit Jira Cloud's website to learn more about pricing.
7. Fellow App
About Fellow: Fellow App is a meeting management app that helps teams streamline meeting agendas, share notes, and document action items directly within Microsoft Teams. This tool is perfect for teams that prioritize structured meetings and effective follow-up.
Fellow features:
- Collaborative agenda creation: Work with team members to build meeting agendas within Teams, ensuring everyone is prepared.
- Real-time note-taking: Take notes during video meetings, allowing team members to stay focused while documenting important points.
- Action item tracking: Assign tasks and keep track of them so that nothing gets missed.
- Customizable tabs in Teams: Add Fellow to your Teams workspace for easy access to meeting notes and task lists.
Fellow pricing: Visit Fellow's website to learn more about pricing.
8. Salesforce
About Salesforce: Salesforce for Microsoft Teams provides sales teams with direct access to client information and updates within Teams, allowing them to manage leads and follow up on opportunities more effectively. This combination makes you more productive by cutting down on the time you spend switching between apps.
Salesforce features:
- Real-time opportunity tracking: Monitor the status of deals and receive notifications on changes directly within Teams.
- Task management for sales processes: Create tasks, set reminders, and manage to-dos related to sales leads.
- Access to Salesforce records: Access client records, notes, and updates from a tab within Teams channels, making collaboration easier.
- Calendar integration: Schedule and manage sales meetings without leaving Teams.
Salesforce pricing: Visit Salesforce's website to learn more about pricing.
9. Gantt Chart Pro
About Gantt Chart Pro: The project management tool Gantt Chart Pro for Microsoft Teams lets teams see schedules and keep track of work in the form of a Gantt chart. This simple tool is ideal for teams that need a clear visual representation of project schedules and task dependencies.
Gantt Chart Pro features:
- Task timeline visualization: Use Gantt charts to view the start and end dates for each project task.
- Resource allocation: Assign jobs to team members and change their workloads as needed.
- Note-taking and task progress tracking: Track task completion and add notes to keep everyone updated on progress.
- Export charts for reporting: Export project timelines in CSV or PDF formats for easy sharing.
Gantt Chart Pro pricing: Free for basic use; additional features are available in premium plans.
10. Figma
About Figma: Figma is a collaborative design app that lets teams create, share, and gather feedback on designs in real-time. Its integration with Microsoft Teams is perfect for design and product teams who need a centralized space for visual collaboration.
Figma features:
- Real-time design feedback: Share designs in Teams and gather feedback instantly, keeping everyone aligned.
- Notifications on design updates: Receive alerts for updates and changes to design files, ensuring everyone stays informed.
- Custom tabs for design files: Embed Figma files in Teams channels, allowing team members to review and discuss designs directly.
- Integrated comments: Leave comments on design files within Teams, facilitating detailed discussions and feedback.
Figma pricing: Free for basic use; premium plans provide additional storage and advanced collaboration features.
Pros and cons of free Teams apps
In today's modern workplace, companies need a range of collaboration tools to ensure that employees work effectively and efficiently and feel engaged. Free Teams apps for Microsoft Teams offer a fantastic way to enhance communication, improve collaboration, and streamline productivity for both in-office and remote teams—all without financial investment. Here's a closer look at the advantages and potential drawbacks of using free Microsoft Teams apps:
Pros of free Teams apps
- Cost-effective solution: Free Teams apps provide essential features without the added costs, making it easy for companies to test and explore new tools before committing to premium versions.
- Enhanced productivity and collaboration: Free apps allow employees to integrate useful Microsoft Teams apps into their daily workflows. This boosts output and makes it easier for remote teams to work together, making sure that everyone is on the same page.
- Access to essential features: Many free Teams apps include task management, file sharing, video calls, and other valuable tools, enabling project teams to work effectively from any location.
- Integration with popular Microsoft services: Free apps often support integrations with other Microsoft Teams services, such as OneDrive and SharePoint. This allows users to easily store files, share ideas, and access shared documents.
- Ease of experimentation: Free apps provide flexibility to experiment with features like group chat, meeting notes, or even a kudos system. This allows teams to evaluate different functionalities and determine which tools work best for their needs.
Free Teams apps offer a comprehensive toolkit for task management, file sharing, project collaboration, and more. For many companies, these apps provide a strong foundation for optimizing team workflows and productivity.
Cons of free Teams apps
- Limited support and functionality: While free Teams apps are useful, they may lack certain advanced features, integration options, or customer support levels found in paid versions.
- Reliability and performance: Some free apps may not be updated as frequently as their paid counterparts, potentially leading to occasional bugs or performance issues.
- Potential integration limitations: Although many free apps work well within Teams, they may not integrate with other key software or systems that companies rely on.
Free Teams apps can be highly beneficial for enhancing team productivity and team collaboration. However, for companies that need customizable notifications, advanced analytics, or guaranteed reliability, investing in paid apps may offer more robust solutions. For many businesses, though, free Teams apps provide an effective way to increase collaboration and employee engagement without impacting the budget.
How to choose the right free Teams apps for your workspace
Selecting the best Teams apps for your workspace requires consideration of your team's unique needs and goals. Here are a few tips to ensure you pick the right apps:
- Identify your priorities: Are you looking for a project management tool, employee engagement app, or file-sharing platform? Determine your primary goals to narrow down the best apps for your team.
- Explore app reviews: Check out Teams app reviews and ratings to understand how other users have found each app's functionality and reliability.
- Test different apps: Since these are free Teams apps, you can try out multiple options before settling on the right fit. Experiment with apps like Matter to see how they fit within your Teams environment.
- Consider customization and integrations: Choose apps that offer customizable notifications, integrate with Teams chat and Microsoft 365, and align with your team's workflow.
With these considerations in mind, you'll be able to select the right Microsoft Teams apps that not only support team productivity but also contribute to a cohesive, engaged, and connected workplace.
The best free Teams apps overall
Teammates and employee appreciation play a critical role in building morale, fostering engagement, and cultivating a positive work culture. With Matter, a free Microsoft Teams app, companies can easily recognize and reward team members for their hard work through customizable messages and rewards. Matter helps bring appreciation and constructive feedback right into your Teams workspace, promoting a collaborative, motivated, and engaged team environment.
Matter
Matter is a standout employee recognition and appreciation app designed to boost employee engagement, reduce turnover, and enhance company culture. Matter helps create a work environment where employees feel valued and connected. By implementing simple but impactful practices like Feedback Fridays, Matter supports meaningful connections and encourages frequent, constructive feedback. Here's a closer look at some of Matter's unique features:
- Kudos and rewards system: Matter's kudos tool lets team members give praise and earn "Matter coins," which can be exchanged for gift cards or rewards that are unique to the company.
- Constructive feedback: Matter offers feedback templates that make it easy to provide thoughtful, positive feedback, contributing to employee growth and satisfaction.
- Automated reminders: Regular reminders prompt team members to give feedback and recognize each other, ensuring continuous engagement.
- Customizable themes for recognition: Teams can choose from nine unique templates to make acknowledging and complimenting teammates fun, engaging, and meaningful.
- Flexible scheduling options: Teams can customize the day and frequency of feedback sessions to best fit their unique needs and routines.
With Matter, your Team's environment becomes a space for recognition, appreciation, and shared success. It's the ideal way to foster a supportive culture that boosts morale and productivity, making Matter one of the best free Teams apps available for driving employee engagement and satisfaction.
Pros and cons of free Teams apps
In today's modern workplace, companies need a range of collaboration tools to ensure that employees work effectively and efficiently and feel engaged. Free Teams apps for Microsoft Teams offer a fantastic way to enhance communication, improve collaboration, and streamline productivity for both in-office and remote teams—all without financial investment. Here's a closer look at the advantages and potential drawbacks of using free Microsoft Teams apps:
Pros of free Teams apps
- Cost-effective solution: Free Teams apps provide essential features without the added costs, making it easy for companies to test and explore new tools before committing to premium versions.
- Enhanced productivity and collaboration: Free apps allow employees to integrate useful Microsoft Teams apps into their daily workflows. This boosts output and makes it easier for remote teams to work together, making sure that everyone is on the same page.
- Access to essential features: Many free Teams apps include task management, file sharing, video calls, and other valuable tools, enabling project teams to work effectively from any location.
- Integration with popular Microsoft services: Free apps often support integrations with other Microsoft Teams services, such as OneDrive and SharePoint. This allows users to easily store files, share ideas, and access shared documents.
- Ease of experimentation: Free apps provide flexibility to experiment with features like group chat, meeting notes, or even a kudos system. This allows teams to evaluate different functionalities and determine which tools work best for their needs.
Free Teams apps offer a comprehensive toolkit for task management, file sharing, project collaboration, and more. For many companies, these apps provide a strong foundation for optimizing team workflows and productivity.
Cons of free Teams apps
- Limited support and functionality: While free Teams apps are useful, they may lack certain advanced features, integration options, or customer support levels found in paid versions.
- Reliability and performance: Some free apps may not be updated as frequently as their paid counterparts, potentially leading to occasional bugs or performance issues.
- Potential integration limitations: Although many free apps work well within Teams, they may not integrate with other key software or systems that companies rely on.
Free Teams apps can be highly beneficial for enhancing team productivity and team collaboration. However, for companies that need customizable notifications, advanced analytics, or guaranteed reliability, investing in paid apps may offer more robust solutions. For many businesses, though, free Teams apps provide an effective way to increase collaboration and employee engagement without impacting the budget.
Microsoft Teams offers a variety of apps to boost productivity and engagement
There are many apps in Microsoft Teams that can help teams stay organized, work together better, and get more done. Whether it's project management tools, task lists, or employee recognition software, choosing the right Teams app is essential to meet your team's unique needs and ensure a smooth workflow.
With the right combination of Teams apps, your team can gain valuable insights, streamline processes, and enhance overall productivity. Matter, for example, allows team members to connect, recognize each other's contributions, and grow together within the Microsoft Teams environment. By encouraging employee engagement, Matter strengthens team morale and creates a positive work atmosphere.
Before selecting any Teams apps, it's essential to research each one thoroughly to ensure it aligns with your team's objectives. Reading user reviews, testing the app's features, and verifying that it offers the necessary functionality can help you make an informed choice. Using apps that fit well within your Teams environment prevents technical issues, minimizes disruptions, and maximizes productivity.
Enhancing team collaboration with free Teams apps
In today's hybrid and remote work environments, enhancing team collaboration is essential. Free Teams apps are an invaluable resource for facilitating real-time communication, document sharing, brainstorming, and interactive problem-solving. Microsoft Teams provides a variety of tools and integrations that foster collaboration, allowing team members to contribute ideas, stay aligned on projects, and engage with shared goals within one centralized platform.
Some of the most popular free Teams apps that boost collaboration include virtual whiteboards, project management tools, and document-sharing apps. For example, Microsoft's Whiteboard app enables teams to brainstorm visually, create flowcharts, and map out ideas in real-time, creating an interactive experience that's almost as good as face-to-face meetings. Additionally, shared document tools like OneDrive and Dropbox allow team members to seamlessly store and access shared files, providing everyone with easy access to the latest versions without leaving the Teams workspace.
Matter is another key tool for enhancing collaboration in Teams. Known as an employee recognition platform, Matter supports team bonding and communication by allowing team members to recognize one another's efforts, celebrate wins, and foster a positive team culture. By building a foundation of appreciation and feedback, Matter strengthens collaboration, helping teams work together harmoniously and efficiently.
Integrating free Teams apps like these can transform your team's workspace, making it more dynamic and cohesive. Whether it's through shared document tools, collaborative brainstorming apps, or engagement platforms like Matter, the right apps make teamwork within Microsoft Teams more intuitive and effective.
Best practices for customizing your Teams workspace with free apps
Customizing your Team's workspace with free apps allows your team to create a workflow tailored to its unique needs. This personalization can make a big difference in your team's productivity, engagement, and satisfaction with Microsoft Teams. Teams can make processes more efficient, cut down on unnecessary work, and make sure that each free app serves a specific purpose in the general workflow by carefully choosing and setting them up.
One best practice is to start by identifying your team's core needs, such as task management, communication, or feedback, and choosing free apps that directly address those areas. For instance, Matter is an excellent app for teams focused on creating a positive, supportive work culture. With Matter, team members can recognize achievements, share constructive feedback, and participate in engagement activities directly within Teams. This fosters a collaborative atmosphere that encourages teamwork and acknowledgement of everyone's contributions.
Another tip for customizing your Teams workspace is to organize your channels based on projects, departments, or specific functions. You can add relevant apps as tabs within each channel, keeping tools and resources organized and easily accessible. For example, you might add Trello or Asana for task tracking and project management while using OneNote for meeting notes or Planner for setting deadlines and tracking tasks assigned to team members.
Configuring notifications and permissions carefully ensures that app integrations align with your team's workflow without causing unnecessary distractions. For apps like Matter, setting up reminders for team recognition events, like Feedback Fridays, can help maintain engagement without disrupting productivity.
By customizing your Teams workspace with thoughtfully chosen free apps, you can create a productive environment that enhances collaboration, optimizes workflows, and empowers each team member to perform their best.
Boost team morale with Matter for Microsoft Teams
If you're looking to improve team communication, collaboration, and morale, Matter is the perfect solution. Matter is a Slack and Teams app that enables team members to recognize one another with kudos, feedback, and redeemable coins. This employee rewards platform adds a personal and motivating touch to team interactions. It's free to try, making it ideal for remote employees or companies seeking free Teams apps to enhance engagement.
Matter stands out because it prioritizes employee appreciation and creates a positive company culture. By encouraging regular feedback, Matter helps build connections and fosters a collaborative, engaged team. With tools for employee recognition, feedback, and rewards, Matter integrates seamlessly with Teams, turning it into an environment where everyone feels valued. Give Matter a try and see how it can transform your Microsoft Teams workspace into a thriving community.
If you're ready to take team collaboration and engagement to the next level, Matter is the ideal solution. Matter is a powerful tool for giving feedback and recognizing employees. It works well with Microsoft Teams and can help your team enjoy wins, give helpful feedback, and create a culture of appreciation. With Matter, you can foster a positive work environment where every contribution is valued and team members feel empowered to grow and connect. Start building a stronger, more connected workspace today by adding Matter to your Microsoft Teams setup. Get started with Matter for free today and see the impact on your team's morale and productivity!