SharePoint vs OneDrive: The difference between Microsoft products in 2023

OneDrive and SharePoint are popular Microsoft products that have some crossover capabilities. Both are project management platforms that allow you to share files. With that said, it's not always clear what their differences are or how you should use them. 

In a nutshell, SharePoint is an online document management system and communication site that helps organize company-wide documents, improving workflow and ensuring regulatory compliance.

On the other hand, OneDrive is a cloud storage solution that suits both the personal user, to back up files, and work teams, to collaborate on joint projects.
 

What is the difference between SharePoint and OneDrive?

OneDrive is the app that gives you access to all your work files, including the files, folders, or documents that other people share directly with you through the teams you are part of. OneDrive offers a consistent and intuitive data archiving experience across all devices, including web, mobile, and your Windows PC or Mac desktop.

SharePoint, meanwhile, provides content services for all files in Microsoft 365, including those you already work with in Teams, Yammer, and Outlook. SharePoint is always there, helping you manage and protect your data and powering content collaboration in Microsoft 365. In addition to files, SharePoint also allows you to manage portals, news, pages, lists, or even a platform for business applications.
 

When should I move documents from OneDrive to SharePoint?

Sometimes documents that we start alone escalate and gain importance, becoming relevant to a team project. When that happens, it may make sense to copy or move files from OneDrive to SharePoint.

With OneDrive and SharePoint in Microsoft 365, your files are stored in the cloud. You can sync files from OneDrive or SharePoint to your computer.
 

How to choose between Sharepoint and OneDrive?

This choice should be made based on your needs. If you want to take all the files off your computer and upload them to online file storage, OneDrive is the ideal solution. It's also a good option if you want to share files with multiple people while backing up to the cloud. 

For those who need an enterprise-level product to manage documents and create intranet pages, SharePoint is the way to go. It is useful for adding signatures to important business contracts and for creating a larger collaborative workspace.


Either of these two solutions can be useful to simplify your work. If you need a solution to manage documents and create intranet pages, SharePoint is the choice, creating a wider collaborative workspace. If you want to take all your files off your computer and upload them to online storage, OneDrive is the way to go, with the ability to share them and ensure they are backed up.


Either way, you don't have to choose between one app or the other. Most Microsoft 365 for business licenses include both apps in a single subscription, so you can make the most of it and use both! 


Do you still have questions? Talk to Hydra iT today! We have a team available to help you!