---
title: "Choosing between the Unified Connector App and Federated Chat"
slug: "unified-connector-app-vs-federated-chat"
updated: 2026-09-28T17:48:06Z
published: 2026-09-28T17:48:06Z
canonical: "kb.connecttoteams.com/unified-connector-app-vs-federated-chat"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.connecttoteams.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Choosing between the Unified Connector App and Federated Chat

The **Chat Connector** is a ConnecttoTeams service that lets Microsoft Teams users exchange chat messages and share files with users of external chat applications, including **Slack**, **Webex by Cisco**, and **Zoom**. It can be delivered through the Unified Connector App, or as federated chat through the Connect2Teams Chat user — with no app deployed to your Microsoft 365 organization.

ConnecttoTeams offers two ways to connect Microsoft Teams users with users in other platforms like Slack, Zoom, and Webex: the Unified Connector App and federated chat. This article describes the difference so you can decide which to recommend to an enterprise.

## Comparing the two options

|  | Unified Connector App | Federated chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Enterprise Admin concerns** |
| Services supported | Chat, SMS, and PBX | Chat only |
| Teams app deployment required for chat | Yes | No |
| Security approvals in the Microsoft organization | More — the app must be approved and deployed to the Microsoft 365 org app catalog | Fewer — no app is deployed to the Microsoft 365 org catalog |
| **End user experience concerns** |
| Inviting Slack users | Invite a Slack user with a plain-English sentence, no command to remember | Type the command `invite <Teamslink ID>` |
| File transfer | Full file sharing, including the attach-file (paperclip) option | Inline only — copy and paste a file into the message; the attach-file (paperclip) icon is not available |
| AI Messaging Assistant availability in Teams chat | Available — perform actions like asking help instructions, inviting a contact or sending a message using plain, everyday language, no commands to remember | Not available |

## When to use federated chat

- The enterprise needs chat only with external platforms (Slack, Zoom, Webex).
- The enterprise is not using other ConnecttoTeams service such as SMS, PBX, CallApp, and AI Voice Agents.
- The enterprise wants to avoid deploying and approving an app in its Microsoft 365 organization catalog.
- Basic one-to-one chat is enough — users don't need the AI Messaging Assistant or attach-file transfers (inline copy-paste file sharing is sufficient).

## When to use the Unified Connector App

- The enterprise also needs other ConnecttoTeams services such as SMS, PBX, CallApp, and AI Voice Agents, now or later.
- Users want the AI Messaging Assistant or full file sharing (attach-file).

> [!CAUTION]
> Important
> 
> An enterprise can use only one chat deployment option at a time: either the Unified Connector App or federated chat, **not both**. It is not recommended to switch between the two options.

## Set up instructions for Enterprises

Once the ConnecttoTeams service provider enables the enterprise for the Chat service with the chosen option, follow the matching setup article:

- **Unified Connector App:** see [**Setting Up Enterprise for Chat with the Unified Connector App**](/v1/docs/setting-up-chat-with-the-unified-connector-app).
- **Federated chat:** see [**Setting Up Enterprise for Federated Chat**](/v1/docs/setting-up-federated-chat-without-the-unified-connector-app).