Microsoft has always created a variety of software applications for users in general over the years. As users look to access and work with files online, cloud computing becomes more common. Two Microsoft software, SharePoint vs OneDrive, are popular choices for cloud computing purposes.

However, we users may feel confused as to which software we should use as both are similar in characteristics. Both too, can be accessed through the Office 365 platform, but they both have differences, especially in their usage and purpose. There are definitely some key differences between the two which can define when they should be used and which to use.

Did you know? Over 100 Million people worldwide use SharePoint while more than 445 million people use Onedrive.

What Is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a web-based platform created by Microsoft Office in 2001. SharePoint allows for a seamless and secure collaboration system as it allows sharing of files, data, news, and resources. It uses features such as workflow applications, list databases, custom web applications, intranet and social network, and a file hosting service too.

As SharePoint is integrated with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office, users can edit together and synchronize files in real-time. It is also highly customizable and can adapt to the user’s needs.

There are three editions of SharePoint: SharePoint Standard is the licensed standard version. SharePoint Online is the Microsoft Cloud version, which can be bought in either a Microsoft 365 subscription or separately. SharePoint Enterprise allows for extra features including rich web indexing and better search results, business intelligence integration, dashboards, business data surfacing, Microsoft Office Access, Visio, Excel, and InfoPath Forms Services.

What Is OneDrive?

Microsoft OneDrive is a file hosting service created by Microsoft in 2007. Formerly known as SkyDrive, not only does it allow users to share, upload, and synchronize files, but it also works as the storage back end of Microsoft Office’s web version. It serves as Microsoft’s personal cloud storage.

OneDrive offers new users 5 GB of free storage space, and if ever users want to increase their storage, they can avail of either 100 GB, 1 TB, or 6 TB of storage space for purchase separately or with a subscription to Office 365.

Microsoft has also released the client application version of OneDrive for Android, iOS, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Phone, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Similarities between SharePoint and OneDrive

• Cloud Storage

Both options are great for cloud storage use in Microsoft’s cloud space, which makes your files and other data securely stored in data centers. You can access your files remotely using any device, and as long as you have an internet connection anywhere.

• Enterprise-grade Security

OneDrive and SharePoint both include Microsoft’s security features, meaning that your data stays secure at all times. Both use the SSL/TSK connections and thus making the files safe and sound as it is immediately encrypted in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.

SharePoint has controls in which users only have access to what they need, which lessens damage in case of a breach.

• Ease of Access

As both options are solutions to cloud computing, users feel that being able to access, share, and more from anywhere and anytime you want. With only a network connection, users can access such information from any device.

Differences between SharePoint and OneDrive

• Platforms

SharePoint is Microsoft’s original collaborative workspace, where you can share documents, manage works and projects, and collaborate with others for more features, while OneDrive is the cloud storage and synchronization service for Microsoft, allowing you to access them wherever you want, and whenever you want.

OneDrive is the user’s personal storage, while SharePoint allows you to store documents that anyone can access to view or edit in your team.

• Ownership

Only the owner of OneDrive can access, edit, and share the contents. It is centralized, meaning it allows the user to store their files that are not ready yet for collaboration. SharePoint, on the other hand, gives the site owner full control privileges over the site. You can only be given controls if the site owner adds you to a SharePoint group.

• Collaboration

SharePoint is better than OneDrive in the sense that it lets you create and share content, knowledge, and applications again. SharePoint has an intranet, which is useful for an organization in need of a company webpage with employee-only resources and permissions.

OneDrive, on the other hand, neither allows collaboration on documents, nor the publishing of content directly to a webpage, unlike SharePoint. It also does not have a library for shared assets. It does not have many of the features available in SharePoint and in other Microsoft products such as Microsoft 365.

• Pricing

SharePoint and Onedrive are both included in all versions of Microsoft 365 for Business and Enterprise. Microsoft 365 for Enterprise, however, is more expensive than Microsoft 365 for Business.

The subscription for SharePoint is slightly more expensive than OneDrive, as SharePoint Online (Plan 1) for small and medium-sized businesses costs $5.00 per month per user and SharePoint Online (Plan 2) costs $10.00 per user, while OneDrive Standalone 100 GB, which includes only the program itself, costs $1.99 per month per user. Individual users can also instead use the basic 5 GB plan, which is free.

Conclusion and Summary

Both SharePoint and OneDrive are useful programs made by Microsoft. Both are created for similar yet different purposes. Both may be secure, but OneDrive is designed to be a storage for files while SharePoint promotes collaboration in companies.

If you are a company looking for high-level collaboration, SharePoint is a better choice for you as there is a feature of collaboration, dashboards, and customizable sites already integrated into SharePoint, which makes the price reasonable.

OneDrive is good for solo users as it gives sufficient security, as well as high storage subscription options for affordable prices. OneDrive allows for a limited lightweight collaboration. However, SharePoint has more features designed to help your team reach its potential.

If you or your company have faith in cloud computing security and believe in the added features of other Microsoft software, you may want to choose Microsoft 365 instead, as it offers both OneDrive and SharePoint cloud capabilities.