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Slack vs Microsoft Teams vs LINE WORKS vs Discord - Picking the Right Chat Platform for Japan-Based Businesses (2025)

  • Writer: Daichi Mitsuzawa
    Daichi Mitsuzawa
  • Aug 3
  • 3 min read
Japan

Japan’s workplaces are undergoing a once-in-a-generation overhaul as remote collaboration, hybrid schedules, and border-spanning projects push companies of every size to rethink how they share files, brainstorm, and make decisions in real time; into this moment stepped four distinct platforms—Microsoft Teams, Slack, LINE WORKS, and Discord—each propelled by a unique advantage rooted in Japan’s corporate DNA:

Teams piggy-backed on Microsoft 365 licences to dominate listed enterprises, Slack wooed tech start-ups with 2,600-plus plug-ins, LINE WORKS leveraged the nation’s ubiquitous consumer LINE network to win frontline industries, and Discord evolved from gamer chat to a haven for developer teams that treat always-on voice channels as their virtual office; choosing among them is less about price tags and more about matching native strengths to everyday workflows—this article shows, with Japan-specific data, feature comparisons, scenario checklists, and pricing benchmarks, exactly how to identify the platform that will streamline your team’s communication, cut unnecessary costs, and boost real-world productivity.



Why These Four Dominate Japan’s Business Scene


In Japan’s corporate landscape, four services stand out—each for a distinct historical reason:


  • Microsoft Teams gained traction when Microsoft 365 licences bundled it at no extra cost; by 2024 it was installed at ≈65% of all domestic companies and is virtually standard among listed enterprises*1.

  • Slack won early adopters in tech start-ups and SMBs; it now tops 30,000 Japanese companies thanks to 2600+ third-party integrations*2.

  • LINE WORKS leverages the country’s ubiquitous consumer LINE network, securing 460,000+ corporate tenants (≈5 million users) across retail, construction and local government*3.

  • Discord began as a gamer hub, but always-on voice channels are drawing developer teams; surveys estimate 5–10 million active Japanese users, with usage concentrated in software start-ups and creative agencies*4.



Feature Snapshot (Japan-Specific)

Feature

Slack

Microsoft Teams

LINE WORKS

Discord

Core Strength

2600+ app integrations

Deep Office 365 & SharePoint co-editing

Direct chat with consumer-LINE clients

Persistent voice & community tools

Voice / Video

Huddles; Zoom plug-ins

Built-in meetings & breakout rooms

Built-in calls, no add-on

Voice channels, Stage Events

File Storage

Slack Files + G-Drive/OneDrive

OneDrive & SharePoint

LINE WORKS Drive

8 MB (free) / 100 MB (Nitro)

Typical Corporate Use

Agile SaaS or dev shops

Enterprises already on Microsoft 365

Desk-less frontline teams & SMEs

Dev studios, game publishers

On-Ramp for Interns

Join workspace → channels

Sign in with MS ID

Sync existing LINE groups

Accept invite link → set roles



Which Tool Fits Your Situation?

Scenario

Best Pick

Why

“Code lives on GitHub.”

Slack

GitHub, Jira, Figma bots reduce context-switching*2.

“We co-write PowerPoint decks daily.”

Teams

Native co-editing inside chat*1.

“Clients send LINE stickers at 2 a.m.”

LINE WORKS

Routes consumer-LINE messages into one workspace*3.

“The product team needs an always-open voice room.”

Discord

Voice channels stay live without scheduling*4.

“Hybrid company—video calls nonstop.”

Teams

Breakouts & recordings are built-in*1.



Japan-Market Price Snapshot (tax exclusive, Aug 2025)

Tool

Entry Paid Plan

¥ / User / Month

Note

Slack

Pro

925

Free tier available*5

Microsoft Teams

Essentials

599

Business-Basic = JPY 825 incl. Office apps*6

LINE WORKS

Standard

500  (annual)

Advanced = JPY600*7

Discord

Nitro

1,050  (Nitro Basic = 350)

Core chat remains free*8



Quick On-Boarding Tips


Slack

  1. Pin SOP links in each channel.

  2. Use /poll for instant scheduling.

  3. Mute non-critical channels during deep work.


Teams

  1. Sync Outlook so meetings auto-populate.

  2. Co-edit docs from the Files tab.

  3. Use @mentions inside Office files for instant nudges.


LINE WORKS

  1. Import existing LINE groups to avoid duplication.

  2. Turn on Auto-Translate for EN↔JP chats.

  3. Try free bot templates 


Discord

  1. Claim a short custom handle and role colour.

  2. Group channels with prefixes

  3. Adjust per-server notification levels



Bottom Line

  • Slack excels if integrations and rapid iteration matter.

  • Teams wins when your firm already pays for Microsoft 365.

  • LINE WORKS is unrivalled when customers and partners live on consumer LINE.

  • Discord is ideal for developer-heavy teams that rely on continuous voice chat. A quick audit of team workflow plus the JP-market pricing above will point you to the best-fit platform—and save both yen and headaches.



(Editor: Jelper Club Editorial Team)



Resources


  1. “Microsoft Teamsの基本から最新活用法まで徹底解説” (Assist-All): https://lifestyle.assist-all.co.jp/microsoft-teams-guide-usage-pricing/

  2. “SlackとTeamsの違いを徹底解説！” (Assist-All): https://assist-all.co.jp/column/dxtools/20250623-5546/

  3. “『LINE WORKS』導入社数46万社・利用者数500万人を突破” (LINE WORKS Press): https://line-works.com/pr/20240528_2/

  4. “『Discord』の認知率と利用率調査” (note.com): https://note.com/mottoi/n/ne4736cbfeb35

  5. “Slack プランごとの機能と料金” (Slack Help JP): https://slack.com/intl/ja-jp/help/articles/39264531104275

  6. “一般法人向け Microsoft Teams 価格” (Microsoft Japan): https://www.microsoft.com/ja-jp/microsoft-teams/compare-microsoft-teams-business-options

  7. “LINE WORKS 料金表” (LINE WORKS): https://line-works.com/pricing/

  8. “Discord Nitro 日本円価格と購入方法” (Embrabat-Report): https://embrabat-report.net/entry/whatisNitro_beam

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