Replace Microsoft Teams with software you own.
Free with Microsoft 365 — if you call $22/user/month free. We build a custom alternative in 10-16 weeks for $40,000–$70,000.
Microsoft Teams per seat/mo
One-time build
Savings over 3 years
Build time
The Problem
Why teams leave Microsoft Teams
Bundled pricing obscures the real cost of Teams
Microsoft 365 ecosystem lock-in
Performance issues and high resource consumption
Admin complexity for managing policies and permissions
Feature bloat — Teams tries to be everything
Integration with non-Microsoft tools is secondary
What We Build Instead
Your custom communication tool
Focused communication platform without M365 lock-in
Chat, channels, and video conferencing
Document collaboration with your storage
Custom integrations with any tool stack
Lightweight — doesn't require enterprise infrastructure
Privacy-first — your data on your servers
The Math
Microsoft Teams vs. custom build
Based on 250 seats at $12/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Microsoft Teams
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 250 seats
$39,050
33% less than Microsoft Teams
Pricing Breakdown
Microsoft Teams tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Microsoft Teams's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams Essentials | $4/mo | $4/mo | Chat & collaboration, 100 participant meetings, 10 GB cloud storage, Standard security |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | $6/mo | $6/mo | 300 participant meetings, 1 TB storage, Business email, Web Office apps |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | $12/mo | $12/mo | Desktop Office apps, Webinar hosting, Collaborative workspaces, Video editing |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | $22/mo | $22/mo | Advanced security, Device management, Information protection, Threat protection |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $40,000–$70,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Microsoft Teams to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Microsoft Teams in 10-16 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
2 weeksMap Teams usage, channels, integrations, and M365 dependencies
Architecture & Design
2-3 weeksDesign communication platform with video, chat, and collaboration features
Core Development
5-8 weeksBuild messaging, video conferencing, document collaboration, and integrations
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate channels, files, chat history and test video/audio quality
Deployment & Training
1-2 weeksPhased rollout by department with training sessions
Total build time
10-16 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Microsoft Teams features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat & Channels | |||
| Video Conferencing | |||
| Screen Sharing | |||
| File Collaboration | |||
| Calendar Integration | |||
| Custom Integrations | |||
| Meeting Recording | |||
| Webinar Hosting | |||
| Microsoft 365 Bundle | Standalone communication — no M365 ecosystem lock-in | ||
| Office App Integration | Integrates with your document tools of choice | ||
| Privacy-first Architecture | Your data stays on your infrastructure |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Microsoft Teams offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Microsoft Teams to ownership in 10-16 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Microsoft Teams usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom communication tool with only the features you need. 10-16 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Microsoft Teams, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.