Slack vs Microsoft Teams vs Lark vs Dock: which should your team use?
A four-way comparison by what matters: cost model, where data lives, what is bundled and AI agent support.
Four tools side by side
| Slack | Microsoft Teams | Lark | Dock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Slack's cloud | Microsoft's cloud | Lark's cloud | Your server |
| Cost model | Per user | Per user, often bundled with Microsoft 365 | Per user on paid plans | No per-seat licence; your server cost |
| Bundled | Chat, huddles | Chat, meetings, Office | Chat, meetings, docs, tasks | Chat, meetings, docs, tables, tasks, drive |
| Best for | Integration ecosystem | Microsoft 365 shops | One hosted suite | Small teams wanting control and connected AI agents |
| AI agents | Check Slack's current features | Check Microsoft's current features | Check Lark's current features | MCP server, Claude and Codex, Notion and GitHub |
How to decide
Pick Slack if you need its marketplace. Pick Teams if you are on Microsoft 365. Pick Lark if you want a hosted all-in-one suite. Pick Dock if you want a flat cost, your own server, and agents connected to Notion, GitHub, Claude and Codex.
Confirm current prices and features on each vendor's site; we do not quote competitor prices.
What makes Dock different: it connects to your tools
Dock connects the places your team already works. Notion: connect your Notion pages, then type @notionpage_ in any chat to tag a page; everyone gets a preview card and your AI agents can read it. GitHub: link GitHub read-only, pin repositories to a chat, tag them with @github_ and ask the AI about them. Claude and Codex: use your own Claude or Codex plan inside Dock chats, or connect any MCP agent to your workspace with a token.
All of this sits next to chat, video meetings (with recording, transcripts and AI summaries), docs, tables, calendar, tasks and a drive, in a self-hosted app with no per-seat licence. You run the server yourself, and some integrations are young, so check the setup guides for what each one covers.
Questions
Which is cheapest?
Dock has no per-seat licence, so cost follows your server. The others charge per user on paid plans.
Which is best for AI?
Check each vendor's current AI and MCP support. Dock has an MCP server and Claude and Codex integrations built in.
Can I try Dock first?
Yes. Run it beside your current tool.