is sharepoint part of office 365

3 min read 15-04-2025

Meta Description: Unsure if SharePoint is included in your Office 365 subscription? This comprehensive guide clarifies SharePoint's role within Office 365, detailing its features, licensing, and integration with other apps. Discover how SharePoint enhances collaboration, document management, and intranet capabilities within your Microsoft ecosystem. Learn about different plans and what they offer.

Understanding the Relationship Between SharePoint and Office 365

SharePoint and Office 365 are often discussed together, and for good reason: they are deeply intertwined. However, the exact relationship can be a bit confusing. In short, SharePoint is a core application within the Office 365 suite. It’s not a separate product you purchase independently, but rather a component available through various Office 365 plans.

Think of Office 365 as a comprehensive package of productivity tools. Within that package, SharePoint provides the collaborative platform for document management, intranet capabilities, and team sites.

Which Office 365 Plans Include SharePoint?

SharePoint's availability depends on the specific Office 365 plan you subscribe to. Most business-oriented plans include SharePoint Online, offering varying levels of functionality depending on the chosen tier.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic: Offers basic SharePoint Online capabilities, ideal for smaller businesses needing fundamental file sharing and collaboration.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: Includes a more comprehensive SharePoint Online experience, with enhanced features for document management and team collaboration.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Provides the most extensive SharePoint Online features, often including advanced security and governance tools.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans: These cater to larger organizations and provide the full range of SharePoint capabilities, along with advanced administration tools and security features.

Note: Consumer-focused Office 365 plans (like Microsoft 365 Personal or Family) generally do not include SharePoint Online. These plans focus on individual productivity applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

SharePoint Online Features

SharePoint Online, the cloud-based version of SharePoint included in Office 365, offers a wealth of features designed to improve team collaboration and document management. Some key features include:

Document Libraries: Centralized storage and management of files, enabling version control and easy access for team members.
Team Sites: Dedicated online spaces for teams to collaborate on projects, share documents, and communicate effectively.
Intranet Portals: Create customized intranets to share company news, policies, and resources with employees.
Workflows: Automate business processes to streamline document approvals, task assignments, and other workflows.
Power Automate Integration: Automate repetitive tasks and connect SharePoint with other apps.
Microsoft Teams Integration: Seamless integration with Microsoft Teams for enhanced team communication and collaboration.

How SharePoint Integrates with Other Office 365 Apps

One of SharePoint's strengths is its seamless integration with other Office 365 applications. For example:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint: You can directly edit and collaborate on these files stored within SharePoint.
Microsoft Teams: SharePoint sites serve as the foundation for many Teams channels, providing a central location for documents and files.
OneDrive: While OneDrive is for personal file storage, it also integrates with SharePoint, allowing you to easily share files stored in OneDrive with team members through SharePoint.

Understanding SharePoint Licensing

It's crucial to understand that while SharePoint is included in many Office 365 plans, the specific features and functionalities depend on the license. Check your Office 365 plan details to ensure you have access to the SharePoint features you need. If you require more advanced features, you might need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan.

Conclusion

SharePoint is a powerful collaborative platform deeply integrated into the Office 365 ecosystem. Whether or not you have access to it depends on your specific Office 365 subscription plan. Understanding the features and licensing associated with your plan is key to maximizing the benefits of this essential collaboration tool. By leveraging its features, you can streamline workflows, enhance team communication, and effectively manage your organization's documents.