Last Updated on January 13, 2024
Curious about the different editions of SharePoint?
In this article, let’s talk about the different SharePoint editions, their pricing and licensing, and their key and unique features.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents:
SharePoint has evolved significantly since its inception.
This evolution has given birth to various editions of SharePoint, each tailored to meet specific needs and organizational scales.
Note: SharePoint Editions slightly differ from SharePoint Versions (there are a lot more versions to cover).
SharePoint Online is a key cloud-based version of SharePoint, smoothly integrated with Microsoft Office 365.
This suits businesses looking for a robust, hassle-free solution without the complications and costs of on-site server setups.
Its cloud-centric nature ensures scalability and accessibility, catering to the dynamic needs of modern businesses.
Here are its key features:
| Feature | Description | Example |
| Integration with Microsoft Office | SharePoint Online seamlessly integrates with Office 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive, enabling real-time collaboration. | Collaborating on a Word document with colleagues in different locations using SharePoint Online. |
| Security and Compliance | SharePoint Online provides advanced security features, data loss prevention, and compliance with global regulations like GDPR. | Ensuring data protection and compliance with GDPR regulations using SharePoint Online’s security features. |
| Automatic Updates and Maintenance | SharePoint Online automatically updates to keep it current, eliminating the need for manual patching and maintenance. | Enjoying the latest features and security enhancements in SharePoint Online without manual updates. |
| Customization and Scalability | SharePoint Online offers customization options through SPFx and PowerApps, allowing businesses to adapt the platform to their workflows. | Creating custom workflows and applications in SharePoint Online to match your business’s unique needs. |
| Mobile Accessibility and Remote Work | SharePoint Online is mobile-friendly, supporting remote and distributed workforces by enabling access from anywhere at any time. | Accessing SharePoint Online on your mobile device to collaborate with your remote team members. |
SharePoint Online is ideal for cases such as:
- SMBs: Cost-effective and scalable for small to medium businesses
- Enterprises with remote teams: Large enterprises benefit from its collaboration and accessibility
- Rapid deployment: Companies can swiftly implement it for collaboration and document management
It’s a powerful, flexible solution to cloud technology’s benefits without the complexities of on-premise deployments.
Related: SharePoint Online Deployment Guide: Step-By-Step Tutorial
SharePoint Server Enterprise represents the most comprehensive and feature-rich edition of SharePoint Server.
It caters to large organizations needing extensive customization, advanced features, and full SharePoint control.
Unlike SharePoint Online:
This on-premises version is hosted on your own servers, giving you more control over data, security, and customization.
Here are its key features:
| Feature | Description | Example |
| Advanced Content Management | SharePoint Server Enterprise excels in content management with features like advanced document management, records management, and eDiscovery, crucial for data-heavy enterprises. | Efficiently managing large volumes of documents and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. |
| Business Intelligence Tools | Equipped with business intelligence tools like PerformancePoint Services, Excel Services, and Visio Services, enabling interactive dashboard, report, and scorecard creation. | Analyzing business data and creating interactive reports to gain deep insights into company performance. |
| Enterprise Search Capabilities | Enhanced search functionality with advanced content processing, customization, and rich search results, making it easier to locate relevant information. | Quickly finding specific information within the organization, improving productivity and decision-making. |
| Business Process Automation | Supports complex process automation and custom workflow creation using Microsoft Power Automate and SharePoint Designer, enhancing operational efficiency. | Automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows in a large organization. |
| Custom Development and Integration | Allows custom solutions and deep integration with external systems through robust APIs and developer tools. | Creating custom applications and integrating SharePoint with other enterprise systems for seamless data sharing. |
SharePoint Server Enterprise is ideal for cases such as:
- Large enterprises: It’s for organizations needing customization and robustness for complex processes and content
- High compliance requirements: Enterprises with strict compliance needs benefit from on-premises control and advanced content management
- Advanced BI tools: Organizations reliant on business intelligence benefit from its advanced BI tools
It offers robust on-premises solutions for large organizations requiring extensive customization, control, and advanced features.
Note: There’s another service application called Project Server which provides additional project management functionality. Its subscription edition can only be enabled on the enterprise version of SharePoint Server.
SharePoint Server Standard is a robust on-premises edition of SharePoint.
It provides a comprehensive feature set for businesses needing greater control over their SharePoint environment compared to cloud-based solutions.
This edition serves as a middle ground between SharePoint Foundation (discontinued) and SharePoint Server Enterprise.
Here are its key features:
| Feature | Description | Example |
| Core Collaboration Tools | SharePoint Server Standard offers essential collaboration features such as document libraries, team sites, and community forums, promoting effective teamwork and communication. | Collaborating on a project with team members using Microsoft office SharePoint Server Standard’s document libraries. |
| Web Content Management | Enhanced web content management features make it easy to create, publish, and manage web content, ideal for maintaining intranet portals and corporate websites. | Updating and publishing company news on the corporate website using SharePoint Server Standard. |
| Basic Search Functionality | While not as advanced as the Enterprise edition, SharePoint Server Standard provides basic search capabilities, allowing users to efficiently find documents and data across their SharePoint environment. | Quickly locating project-related documents within SharePoint Server Standard. |
| Social Networking Features | Integration of social networking features like blogs, wikis, and newsfeeds encourages employee interaction and knowledge sharing, fostering a collaborative workplace culture. | Sharing industry insights and ideas with colleagues through SharePoint Server Standard’s blog feature. |
| Limited Business Intelligence Tools | SharePoint Server Standard includes some business intelligence tools such as PerformancePoint Services and Excel Services for creating and sharing reports and dashboards, though with more limited capabilities compared to the Enterprise edition. | Creating and sharing basic sales reports using SharePoint Server Standard’s limited business intelligence tools. |
SharePoint Server Standard is ideal for cases such as:
- Mid-sized to large organizations: Suited for comprehensive collaboration and content management, without advanced features, for mid-sized to large organizations
- On-premises deployment: Ideal for businesses needing on-premises deployment for data and infrastructure control
- Moderate search and BI needs: Fits organizations requiring basic to moderate search and BI tools, without the advanced features of the Enterprise edition
It’s a good choice for organizations looking for a robust, on-premises collaboration platform with essential features.
SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE) addresses on-premises customer needs with a significant focus.
It blends SharePoint’s strength with modern features and ongoing updates, setting it apart in the SharePoint lineup.
Here are some of its unique features:
| Feature | Description | Benefit |
| Enhanced Security with Windows Server 2022 | Supports latest security protocols, including TLS 1.3, for more secure communication and advanced encryption. | Enhanced security ensures data protection. |
| Support for Windows Server Core | Offers compatibility with Windows Server Core, reducing OS features and resource demands. | Minimizes potential security vulnerabilities. |
| Up-to-date Experience | Regular updates and feature enhancements without major version upgrades. | Ensures the platform stays current with business needs. |
| AppFabric Cache Integration | Direct integration of AppFabric caching technology into Distributed Cache, enhancing performance. | Boosts reliability and system performance. |
| Modern Sharing Dialog | Updated sharing functionality with SharePoint’s modern sharing dialog, improving intuitiveness. | Enhances user experience in sharing content. |
| Column Totals in Modern List Views | Support for displaying column totals in modern list views, improving data visualization. | Aids in data analysis and visualization. |
| Quick Chart Web Part Enhancements | Connect Quick Chart web part to consume data from lists or libraries, offering improved visualization. | Provides versatile data visualization options. |
| Improved File Picker | Supports more file types and offers an enhanced user experience in selecting and managing files. | Simplifies file management and selection. |
SharePoint Server Subscription Edition stands out as a versatile, modern, and continuously evolving on-premises solution.
Note: SharePoint Server Subscription Edition supports the Windows Server Core Support deployment type with both Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022.
SharePoint Foundation was the free, essential edition, mainly for small organizations or departments in a larger enterprise.
It served as the basic platform for SharePoint, offering fundamental features for secure, web-based collaboration.
Although Microsoft discontinued SharePoint Foundation starting with SharePoint 2016:
Understanding its features and role is important for historical context and for organizations still utilizing it in legacy systems.
| Feature | Description | Example |
| Basic Collaboration Tools | Core functionalities include document libraries, team sites, and basic search capabilities. | Sharing documents, team communication, and simple content management. |
| Integration with Microsoft Products | Seamless integration with Microsoft Office applications. | Collaborating on documents directly from Office suite. |
| Limited Customization | Limited customization options, but allowed tailoring through SharePoint Designer and .NET solutions. | Customizing specific features or functionality within SharePoint. |
| Simplified User Interface | Straightforward and user-friendly user interface. | Easy navigation for teams with limited technical expertise. |
| Security and Reliability | Despite being basic, it provided secure and stable internal collaboration, with access control settings. | Setting permissions and protecting data within SharePoint. |
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation provided a no-cost collaboration platform for smaller organizations and even within larger enterprises.
Although it’s no longer available, its legacy continues to influence the basic collaboration features in modern SharePoint offerings.
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Pricing and Licensing
Microsoft offers varied pricing for different SharePoint editions, catering to diverse organizational sizes and needs.
Here they are:
SharePoint Online is licensed on a per-user basis.
It can be purchased as a standalone plan or included as part of Microsoft 365 plans:
- SharePoint Online Plan 1 is targeted at small and mid-sized businesses and is priced at $5 per user per month.
- SharePoint Online Plan 2, which offers more advanced features, is aimed at enterprise customers and costs $10 per user per month.
For on-premises deployment, SharePoint Servers use a Server/Client Access License (CAL) model.
Each running instance of SharePoint Server needs a license, and each person or device accessing SharePoint Server requires CALs.
- The Standard CAL, which delivers the core capabilities of SharePoint, is priced at $180 per license.
- The Enterprise CAL, which provides additional features, is priced at $90 per license.
However, it’s important to note that the Enterprise CAL is additive:
To access SharePoint’s Enterprise edition features, a user or device needs both the Standard CAL and the Enterprise CAL.
Note: SharePoint Server 2019 (used to be SharePoint Server 2016) is required for each running instance of the software. It’s the SharePoint version required for the server.
General Considerations
If you’re considering purchasing any of the two, take a look at this first:
| Item | Description | Assessment |
| Long-term vs. Short-term costs | Evaluate cumulative long-term costs alongside short-term savings, particularly crucial for large organizations. | Assess the total cost of ownership over several years. |
| Customization and integration costs | Account for expenses related to customization, integration, and ongoing maintenance, beyond licensing fees. | Budget for development and support of custom SharePoint solutions. |
| Scalability and flexibility | Consider the scalability and flexibility of each model. SharePoint Online offers easier scalability, while SharePoint Server may require additional hardware investment. | Plan for the growth and adaptability of your collaboration platform. |
Note: SharePoint Server Subscription Edition continues to use the Server/CAL licensing model, but those licenses will only be available through Software Assurance. Microsoft does not offer perpetual licenses for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition.
Key Features Across Different Editions
SharePoint offers different editions tailored to specific organizational needs, yet key features are consistent across these versions.
Recognizing these commonalities reveals SharePoint’s core capabilities across editions:
| Feature | SharePoint Online | SharePoint Server |
| Team Sites | Fully supported with cloud-based collaboration capabilities. | Available with on-premises collaboration tools. |
| Libraries and Lists | Advanced document libraries with larger capacity and enhanced metadata management. | Standard libraries and lists with basic functionality. |
| Integration with Microsoft Office | Seamless integration with real-time co-authoring and collaboration. | Integration with Office apps, but may lack some real-time features. |
| Basic Security Features | Secure access with cloud-based security enhancements. | Fundamental secure access and permission management. |
| Advanced Security and Compliance | Advanced features like data loss prevention, eDiscovery, and GDPR compliance. | Limited to basic security; advanced features depend on the specific server edition. |
| Search Functionality | Advanced search capabilities with AI-driven insights and customization. | Basic search in standard edition; more advanced search in Enterprise edition. |
| Customization and Extensibility | Extensive customization with SharePoint Framework and PowerApps. | Customization available, but may require more technical expertise for on-premises solutions. |
| Mobile Access and User Interface | Highly responsive and user-friendly mobile interface. | Mobile access available; interface quality varies based on version and customization. |
| Workflow and Automation | Advanced workflows with integration of Microsoft Power Automate. | Basic workflows in standard edition; more advanced capabilities in Enterprise edition. |
SharePoint editions vary, but they all share core features for collaboration, document management, security, and search.
But their extent and sophistication vary, with more advanced capabilities available in the higher-tier editions.
This shared foundation allows organizations to use SharePoint’s strong platform for enhanced collaboration and productivity.
Unique Features and Selling Points
Each edition of SharePoint has its unique set of features and selling points to meet specific organizational requirements.
Understanding these distinctions can help businesses choose the most suitable edition for their needs.
| Edition | Feature | Description |
| SharePoint Online | Cloud-based convenience | Enables remote access, automatic updates, and cost savings. |
| Tight integration with Office 365 Suite | Seamlessly integrates with Office 365 tools like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Exchange Online, ensuring a unified experience. | |
| Advanced collaboration tools | Empowers collaboration with features like Microsoft Teams integration and real-time document co-authoring, boosted by AI. | |
| Scalability and flexibility | Easily scales to accommodate growth and fluctuating demands. | |
| Regular feature updates | Receives automatic feature updates and security enhancements, ensuring a current and secure platform. | |
| SharePoint Server Standard | On-premises control | Provides on-premises control and enhanced security. Ideal for organizations needing complete control over SharePoint. |
| Customizable to specific needs | Highly customizable to adapt to specific workflows and processes, enhancing productivity. | |
| Integrated search capabilities | Offers advanced integrated search capabilities for efficient content management. | |
| Reduced costs compared to Enterprise | Cost-effective solution for robust SharePoint capabilities without the full Enterprise suite. | |
| Social networking features | Includes social tools like blogs, wikis, and community sites to foster internal communication and knowledge sharing. | |
| SharePoint Server Enterprise | Advanced business intelligence tools | Provides comprehensive business intelligence tools for in-depth data analysis and informed decision-making. |
| Enterprise search | Delivers advanced search capabilities, enhancing information retrieval and productivity. | |
| E-discovery and compliance | Meets legal and regulatory requirements with enhanced e-discovery capabilities. Ideal for industries with strict compliance needs. | |
| Robust scalability and performance | Designed for large-scale operations, ensuring high performance and scalability for data and user-intensive scenarios. | |
| Extensive customization and integration | Offers extensive options for customization and seamless integration with external systems, perfect for complex enterprise environments. |
If you have more questions about the differences with SharePoint editions, feel free to leave a comment.
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