SharePoint Showdown: Communication Sites vs. Team Sites

Are you a collaborator or a communicator? You’ll need the right site for your goal

Reading time: 3 minutes

You want a SharePoint site, you click Create. You’re asked what type? How do you decide?  

When it comes to SharePoint, choosing the right type of site can make or break your productivity. Let’s dive into the differences between SharePoint Communication Sites and Team Sites, and why it’s crucial to pick the right one. 

Communication sites: broadcast your message! 

Communication Sites are your go-to for sharing information broadly. Think of them as your company’s digital noticeboard.

They’re perfect for broadcasting news, reports, and other information to a wide audience. With a sleek and visually appealing design, these sites focus on content presentation. They’re ideal for reaching a large number of people, such as the entire organisation. Features like the Hero Web Part, News Web Part, and Events Web Part help highlight important content, keep everyone updated, and share upcoming events. 

However, it’s important to note that Communication Sites are not designed for coworking, for example they can’t be connected to Microsoft Teams or used to create Planner plans. Once you’ve created a Communication Site, you can’t switch it to a Team Site, so it’s essential to start with the right one. 

Team sites: collaborate like a boss! 

On the other hand, Team Sites are designed for collaboration. They’re the digital equivalent of a team huddle.

Best for team collaboration, project management, and document sharing, these sites have a functional and straightforward design that focuses on teamwork and productivity. Tailored for smaller groups or project teams, Team Sites come with features like Document Libraries for real-time co-authoring, Task Lists to keep track of project tasks and deadlines, and Calendars to coordinate team schedules and meetings. 

Team Sites can be connected to Microsoft Teams (Teams creates one automatically behind the scenes too) - Here’s a top tip: You can spot that a Team Site is connected to Teams by looking for the little Teams logo near the Site name. 

Team Sites can also link up with Planner plans, making them highly versatile for collaborative work. Just like Communication Sites, once you’ve created a Team Site, you can’t switch it to a Communication Site, so choosing the right type from the start is crucial. 

Why choosing the right site matters 

Selecting the appropriate site type is essential for maximising efficiency and ensuring your message hits the mark. Communication Sites engage a broad audience, while Team Sites foster close-knit collaboration. Use Communication Sites for polished, final content and Team Sites for drafts and collaborative work. Tailor the user experience to the needs of your audience - whether they need to consume information or contribute to it. 

Examples of when to use each type of site 

Communication Sites: 

• Company-wide announcements 
• Corporate news and updates 
• Organisational policies and procedures 
• Event information and registration 

Team Sites: 

• Project management and collaboration 
• Departmental document sharing 
• Team task tracking and scheduling 
• Real-time co-authoring of documents 

If you’re still on the fence, give both a try and see which one fits your needs best, but be aware of the key differences.

Matthew 

Matthew Burrell is a consultant at Your 365 Coach

Published 20 September 2024

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