In short: yes, Microsoft Teams is free for personal use. Sign in with a personal Microsoft account (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live or a new free account) in the app or at teams.live.com. The free version gives you group meetings up to 60 minutes with up to 100 participants, unlimited one-to-one meetings up to 30 hours, and 5 GB of cloud storage. Guests join from a link, with no account needed.
Many people assume Microsoft Teams is only for companies with an expensive subscription. In fact, Microsoft offers Microsoft Teams (free), a version designed for friends, families, clubs, freelancers and small groups. This guide explains what is included, the free Teams time limit, and when it is worth paying.
Is Teams free? Yes, for personal use
Microsoft Teams (free) is the consumer version of Teams. To use it, you only need a personal Microsoft account: an Outlook.com, Hotmail or Live address, or a free account you create in a minute with any email address. You can use it:
- In the app: Teams is free to download on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
- Online: go to teams.live.com in Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari on a computer, with nothing to install. Note that mobile browsers are not supported: on a phone, use the app. See how to use Microsoft Teams in a browser.
The work and school version (teams.microsoft.com) is different: it is part of paid Microsoft 365 business and education plans, and Microsoft also sells a standalone Teams Essentials plan for small businesses.
Microsoft Teams free: limits and time limit
According to Microsoft support, the free version comes with these limits:
- Group meetings: unlimited in number, up to 60 minutes each.
- One-to-one meetings: unlimited, up to 30 hours each.
- Participants: up to 100 people per meeting.
- Cloud storage: 5 GB per user.
The limits apply to the organizer’s plan: if you join a meeting organized by someone with a paid plan, their limits apply, not yours. In practice, the Teams free time limit that matters is the 60-minute cap on group calls: plan a short agenda, or start a new meeting if you need more time.
Some features, such as meeting recording, may require a subscription. Check the options available in your app before an important call.
Free vs Microsoft 365 Personal or Family
If the 60-minute limit is too tight, a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription raises group meetings to 30 hours and up to 300 participants, according to the Microsoft Teams for home page. It is a consumer subscription, so you keep your personal account. For a company, the right choice is a Microsoft 365 business plan or Teams Essentials.
What you can do with free Teams
- Meet now: start an instant video meeting in one click and share the link.
- Schedule a meeting from the Calendar and send the invite to anyone.
- Invite people without Teams: anyone with the link can join from a browser on a computer or with the mobile app. Guests do not need an account: see how to join a Teams meeting without an account.
- Chat one to one or in groups, and share files within your 5 GB of storage.
Step by step: how to create a Teams meeting link.
Free Teams links are long: shorten them
Meeting links created with free Teams start with teams.live.com/meet/ followed by a long series of digits and a passcode. They are fine in an email, but awkward in an SMS, a WhatsApp message, a flyer or a phone call.
Paste your link on msteams.link to get a short link such as msteams.link/AB12, plus a QR code. It works with free Teams links (teams.live.com) and with work links, it is free, and Teams links need no account. Visitors see a short waiting page before being redirected (instant redirect with Premium). Your guests join in one tap, and you can read the link out loud.
How to start with Microsoft Teams free
- Download the Teams app or open teams.live.com on a computer.
- Sign in with your personal Microsoft account, or create one for free.
- Select Meet now for an instant meeting, or schedule one from the Calendar.
- Copy the meeting link, shorten it if you share it by message, and send it.
Your guests can then follow our guide to joining a Teams meeting.
FAQ
Is Microsoft Teams free to use?
Yes. Microsoft Teams (free) is free for personal use with a personal Microsoft account, in the app or online at teams.live.com. Business use generally calls for a paid Microsoft 365 plan or Teams Essentials.
What is the Teams free time limit?
Group meetings last up to 60 minutes, and one-to-one meetings up to 30 hours. The limits apply to the organizer’s plan.
How many people can join a free Teams meeting?
Up to 100 participants per meeting. With Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, up to 300.
Do my guests need Teams or an account?
No. They can join from the link in a browser on a computer, or with the free mobile app, without an account.
Can I shorten a free Teams link?
Yes. Paste your teams.live.com/meet link on msteams.link to get a short link and a QR code, for free.