Make a free switch from Microsoft Teams to Zoho Cliq

Microsoft Teams was launched in 2017 as a paid-only subscription. The company introduced a free version the following year to increase adoption, with a vision to convert its users to a paid plan later. While this free version has benefited a lot of businesses over the past few years, Microsoft has finally decided to discontinue it on April 12, 2023. 

How does this affect businesses? 

The new Microsoft Teams free version will not retain companies' data, forcing them to shift to a paid version. So what does this mean for businesses using Microsoft Teams? Organizations opting for the new free version need to start from scratch and will not be able to migrate data from the previous free version to the upcoming one. 

What happens when you shift to a paid version?

If you'd like to stick with Microsoft Teams, the only way you can retain your company data is to opt for one of the paid plans. Essentially, this isn't a battle of Microsoft Teams Free vs. Paid. The answer is to upgrade. While upgrading to a paid plan comes with added benefits, there are a few downsides to it as well. 

Switching to a paid version is obviously going to incur additional costs. This might not bode well for organizations operating on a low budget. Moreover, most small businesses might not need a paid subscription with the complete feature package. In that case, you would end up paying for features you actually utilize. 

What if you choose the new free version of Microsoft Teams?

While you still have the option to get your hands on a free version of Microsoft Teams, you will not be able to retain your existing data and will need to set up from the scratch. This means a complete loss of all conversations and other information shared on Microsoft Teams up until April 11, 2023. This would not be an ideal choice for business that would like to retain their data. 

What can you do to retain data and not pay for your internal communication app?

An internal communication tool is one of the top priorities for organizations today. This is primarily thanks to the hybrid work model. Internal communication tools help distributed teams and workplaces stay connected from anywhere in the world. While this software stands as a priority, paying for an internal communication tool might not be part of the budget,as there are a lot of free options available. 

If you are a new business looking for a free internal communication tool, or an existing free user of Microsoft Teams in search of a free alternative, Zoho Cliq could be one of your go-to choices. 

Why Zoho Cliq?

Do more with less when you opt for Zoho Cliq's Free plan. You don't have to pay anything to experience audio and video meetings that work seamlessly, even on low bandwidth. Zoho Cliq also has other standard internal communication tools like chats, channels, searchable messages, threads, and file storage, as well as integrations with third-party apps to help your team communicate effectively and stay on the same page. 

Here's a detailed analysis on why Zoho Cliq is a great alternative to Microsoft Teams.

How can you migrate from Microsoft Teams to Zoho Cliq?

The biggest question on your mind right now is likely how to make the jump from Microsoft Teams to Zoho Cliq. Let's discuss this further step by step. 

1. All your chats, channels, threads, teams and users in Microsoft Teams can be imported into Cliq from the Admin Panel. 

2. When you are ready to migrate, you'll need to register as an app in the Microsoft's Information Protection (MIP) platform to export the data. 

3. Once your data is exported, you can import it into Zoho Cliq and start managing your organization's communication right away. 

It takes a few simple steps to make the switch from Microsoft Teams to Zoho Cliq, and when you're done, you can start exploring the application. Read our detailed help guide on how to migrate your users, chats, channels and teams from Microsoft Teams to Zoho Cliq. 

For organizations wanting to explore Zoho Cliq today, you can sign up to try out our free features.