Running internal polls should be quick, easy, and embedded where teams are already working. For small teams relying on collaboration hubs like Slack or Microsoft Teams, switching between apps just to make a decision is inefficient. Fortunately, there are simple poll widgets built specifically to help teams vote, prioritize, and make decisions without leaving their chat platform.
TLDR:
Small teams often need fast, functional tools to gather opinions and make group decisions. Poll widgets that integrate directly into Slack and Microsoft Teams offer a seamless way to vote without disrupting workflows. Tools like Polly, Simple Poll, and others stand out for their ease of use, flexible formats, and real-time results. Depending on team size and preferences, there’s a perfect widget to streamline decision-making right inside the chat window.
1. Polly – The Powerhouse Choice for Engagement
Platform: Slack, Microsoft Teams
Polly is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive polling tools for collaboration platforms. Designed with teams in mind, Polly enables users to create quick one-question polls as well as detailed surveys—all without leaving Slack or Teams.
What makes Polly stand out is its support for recurring polls, anonymity options, and advanced analytics. It integrates seamlessly with workflows for retrospectives, standups, and even remote team bonding activities.
- Pros: Real-time results, templates for common scenarios, supports quiz mode.
- Cons: Free tier is limited in features and responses.
- Best For: Teams seeking versatile polling that scales with complexity over time.
2. Simple Poll – True to Its Name
Platform: Slack
As one of the most popular options specifically for Slack users, Simple Poll lives up to its name. This widget is optimal for basic opinion-gathering in small teams, like deciding on a lunch spot or setting a meeting time.
It allows users to create one-question polls with multiple custom answer options. You can configure settings for anonymous voting, multiple votes per person, and scheduled polling. Simple Poll also includes a typeform-like interface, making poll creation feel native to Slack.
- Pros: Extremely intuitive, allows anonymous voting, and fast setup.
- Cons: Limited to one-question polls—no surveys or branching logic.
- Best For: Teams that want a fast and simple way to gather opinions.
3. Microsoft Forms – Built-In for Teams Users
Platform: Microsoft Teams
For organizations already using Microsoft 365, Microsoft Forms is a go-to tool for internal decisions. Although it’s more known for traditional surveys, it integrates directly into Microsoft Teams, allowing polls to appear in chat threads or during meetings.
It supports multiple question types and provides straightforward analytics. It’s especially useful for slightly more in-depth questions without needing to set up a separate survey platform. Since it comes as a native app within Teams, there’s no additional installation needed.
- Pros: Fully integrated with Microsoft ecosystem, allows multi-question forms, easy export of results.
- Cons: Slightly clunkier UI compared to Slack-native tools.
- Best For: Teams already embedded in Microsoft 365 and need deeper insight.
4. PollyVotes – Lightweight Alternative for Instant Feedback
Platform: Slack
Not to be confused with Polly, PollyVotes is a much simpler, community-developed alternative designed for fast and lightweight polling. The primary appeal is speed—type a command, post your options, and the votes start rolling in. No extra dashboards, no configuration woes.
PollyVotes was created to support ranked-choice and first-past-the-post voting. This makes it especially useful in contexts like decision-making for project priorities or feature planning.
- Pros: Supports advanced voting systems, extremely lightweight, perfect for agile teams.
- Cons: Community-supported, so updates and support might be limited.
- Best For: Tech-savvy teams who want voting diversity without complexity.
5. Slido – For Interactive Meetings & Real-Time Voting
Platform: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
While Slido is often seen as an event engagement tool, its powerful live polling features are great for internal team use. For distributed teams, Slido’s integration with Microsoft Teams makes it ideal for interactive meetings, retrospectives, and workshops where immediate group input is required.
It supports word clouds, multiple choice, and Q&A upvoting, which adds a more dynamic element than static polls. For teams interested in live engagement, Slido is more than just a voting tool—it’s a feedback engine.
- Pros: Excels in live settings, supports multiple formats, great UI.
- Cons: Best used during scheduled live sessions—may feel overkill for casual polls.
- Best For: Teams conducting workshops, trainings, or all-hands meetings with real-time interaction.
Key Features to Look For in a Slack or Teams Poll Widget
Each team’s needs may vary, but here are a few essential features that can help narrow your search:
- Ease of Use: Can team members create and vote using simple commands?
- Customization: Does the tool allow multiple vote types, anonymity, or recurring polls?
- Integration: Is the polling app fully embedded into Slack or Teams?
- Analytics: Are there visual results, exports, or dashboards?
- Pricing and Limitations: What’s included in the free tier versus the paid plan?
Conclusion
Internal decision-making doesn’t have to involve long meetings or navigating clunky interfaces. Simple poll widgets that integrate directly into Slack or Microsoft Teams transform the way small teams collaborate. Whether it’s figuring out a deadline, voting on a new policy, or choosing a team logo, these tools empower users to quickly gather opinions and act on them—right inside the tools they already use.
Start with a free version of a tool like Simple Poll or Polly to test what works best for your team, and scale up as your needs grow.
FAQ
- Q: Which polling tool is best for Slack users?
A: Simple Poll and Polly are both excellent for Slack, with Simple Poll being the more lightweight option. - Q: Can I run anonymous polls in Teams?
A: Yes. Tools like Polly and Microsoft Forms support anonymous voting in Microsoft Teams. - Q: Are these poll widgets free to use?
A: Most of them offer a free tier with basic features. Advanced analytics, question logic, or larger response limits usually require a paid plan. - Q: What should small teams look for in a poll widget?
A: Prioritize ease of use, native integration with your platform, and flexibility in poll types. - Q: Can I export poll results for reporting?
A: Yes, many tools like Polly and Microsoft Forms offer CSV exports or built-in dashboards for results tracking.