SharePoint vs. OneDrive – What’s the Difference?
SharePoint Online and OneDrive are relatives in the Microsoft family of products housed in the Office 365 suite of services. Both products offer online document services and are great not only for storage but file sharing as well. Both software platforms focus on small to enterprise-size businesses and work well for any industry.
If you have a Microsoft online account, you have OneDrive for personal use. There is also OneDrive for Business that comes with an Office 365 subscription. But you can also access SharePoint storage locations from your Office 365 dashboard.
If you’re using these software applications at work, it might be confusing to figure out which software is better for the various tasks you undertake every day. This article seeks to demystify the SharePoint vs. OneDrive conundrum.
THE BASICS OF SHAREPOINT VS. ONEDRIVE
Let’s start with OneDrive. First, anyone with an email address can sign up for free document storage with OneDrive. You can sync the online storage service with any digital device and securely store photos or documents.
At work, if you subscribe to Office 365, you can access OneDrive for Business. This service is very different from the free offering. You can save your files in OneDrive for Business, just like the personal application, and use them anywhere. You can access OneDrive for Business in the cloud on your Office 365 dashboard. OneDrive for Business supports all kinds of files; from the portal, you can share documents and invite others to edit them. You can add, manage and share files from your cell phone or laptop when on the road. If you make any changes to files when offline, they will automatically sync once you join the cloud again.
When comparing SharePoint vs. OneDrive, there are a few key differences. First, while Office 365 subscribers have access to this software, there is no free SharePoint version for consumers. SharePoint also allows you to store, share and edit files. But SharePoint is often used as the jumping-off point for greater office collaboration, whereas OneDrive is considered more of a holding tank for file storage. That’s probably because of how the permission defaults are set up in each application. OneDrive defaults to private on every document, while SharePoint allows you to set permissions by directory or folder.
At its core, think of SharePoint as a centralized hub where users can create, store, organize and share content. It’s a big differentiator for SharePoint. The software allows offices to create a single source of truth for shared workspaces via an intranet website for teams that seek to work together on a project. From that hub, you can manage an entire project, add status updates and use the embedded calendars to track due dates. SharePoint also allows instant messaging via Yammer.
Whether it’s documents, presentations, spreadsheets or multimedia files, SharePoint provides a secure and accessible repository for storing project information. These characteristics make SharePoint generally a better choice for files meant to be part of a collaborative team effort.
Cost of SharePoint vs. Cost of OneDrive
When comparing the cost of SharePoint and OneDrive, it’s essential to understand the key differences between these two Microsoft productivity tools and their respective pricing structures.
SharePoint is a robust collaboration and content management platform designed for teams and organizations. It provides features such as team sites, document libraries, workflow automation and customizable intranets. SharePoint enables teams to work together on projects, share files and collaborate on content seamlessly.
OneDrive is a personal cloud storage solution that allows individuals to store, access and share their files from anywhere. While OneDrive also supports collaboration features, it primarily focuses on individual file storage and personal productivity.
When it comes to pricing, SharePoint and OneDrive have distinct pricing models due to their different target audiences and functionalities.
SharePoint pricing changes based on your selected deployment option, typically either SharePoint Server or SharePoint Online as part of Microsoft 365. SharePoint Server requires an upfront investment in software licenses and infrastructure, including servers and hardware. The cost can vary based on the edition, number of users and additional features selected. Businesses must also consider ongoing maintenance and support expenses.
On the other hand, SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service available through Microsoft 365 subscription plans. The pricing for SharePoint Online is typically based on a per-user, per-month basis, with different subscription tiers available. SharePoint Online includes the SharePoint functionality and other Microsoft 365 services like Exchange Online and Microsoft Teams. The cost of SharePoint Online eliminates the need for organizations to invest in hardware infrastructure and ongoing maintenance, as Microsoft manages the underlying infrastructure.
OneDrive pricing is more straightforward compared to SharePoint. OneDrive is included in most Microsoft 365 subscription plans, such as Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family. These plans provide a specific amount of storage space per user, typically ranging from 1 TB to 6 TB per user. For businesses, OneDrive is also included in Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans, with varying storage limits depending on the plan. Additional storage can be purchased if needed.
While OneDrive and SharePoint serve different purposes, there is some functionality overlap, especially regarding file storage and sharing. Both tools offer file synchronization and sharing capabilities, but SharePoint goes beyond individual file storage by providing a more comprehensive collaboration and content management platform.
When considering the cost of SharePoint vs. OneDrive, organizations should evaluate their specific needs and the level of collaboration and content management functionality required. If the focus is primarily on individual file storage and personal productivity, OneDrive may be a more cost-effective option. However, if the organization requires advanced collaboration features, team sites, and customized intranets, SharePoint’s broader feature set may provide more value, despite potentially higher initial costs.
Ultimately, companies must assess the cost of SharePoint and OneDrive based on their unique requirements, business objectives, and expected return on investment for each organization. It is advisable to consult with Microsoft or a certified partner to get accurate pricing information tailored to your specific needs.
So, the bottom line, when comparing SharePoint vs. OneDrive is really all about how you plan to use it along with your budget. For simple document storage, OneDrive is a great option. But for true team collaboration, SharePoint is probably the best choice.
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