Around vs Microsoft Teams — Which One Wins?
Pick Around if: Design and product teams already using Miro who want lightweight video calls without leaving their workspace
Pick Microsoft Teams if: Microsoft 365 organizations that want chat, video, and file collaboration unified in one platform
Our take: Around is easier to pick up, but Microsoft Teams is more powerful long-term.
| Around | Microsoft Teams | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (now part of Miro) | Included with Miro paid plans | Free with 60-minute meetings (100 participants) | Microsoft 365 Business Basic $6/user/mo |
| Features | Floating circle video bubbles, Auto noise cancellation, Low bandwidth optimization, Screen sharing, Miro whiteboard integration | Chat, channels, and video in one app, Screen sharing and whiteboard, Meeting recordings and transcription, Copilot AI assistant, SharePoint and OneDrive integration |
| Best for | Design and product teams already using Miro who want lightweight video calls without leaving their workspace | Microsoft 365 organizations that want chat, video, and file collaboration unified in one platform |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Around stands out with Floating circle video bubbles and Auto noise cancellation. Microsoft Teams counters with Chat, channels, and video in one app and Meeting recordings and transcription.
Around's Achilles heel: absorbed into miro — standalone product identity is fading, and you’re locked into miro’s ecosystem now. Microsoft Teams's: bloated and resource-hungry — the app eats ram for breakfast and the ui is a maze of nested menus. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value floating circle video bubbles and design and product teams, go with Around. If microsoft 365 organizations that matters more, Microsoft Teams is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.