Onsharp vs SharePoint
SharePoint is the status quo, but it's a ready-made platform that requires IT to build. Onsharp is a better answer when SharePoint stops working—a ready-to-run employee portal that HR can own.
Compare employee portal providers
Ready-to-run employee portal
Days to deployment
Setup requiring IT support
Time entry included
PTO / Time off request
Benefits visibility
Payroll & tax document access
Training + compliance tracking
Employee directory + org chart
Internal messaging / communication
AI help / instant support
Integrates with existing systems
Single Sign-On (SSO) support
Centralized user management
Secure access & role-based permissions
One unified employee hub
Intuitive design & fast adoption
No duplicate logins / tool switching
HR can configure without IT
Automatic updates & maintenance
Transparent pricing & clear TCO
| Key feature | | |
|---|---|---|
Implementation & Deployment | ||
| Ready-to-run employee portal | Yes – built to deploy quickly | Requires significant configuration and often custom development to act as an employee portal. |
| Days to deployment | Days (not months) | Typically months; depends on IT and custom build-out. |
| Setup requiring IT support | Minimal / none required | Heavy IT involvement typical for intranet and apps. |
HR Functionality | ||
| Time entry included | Included | Requires Power Apps, third-party apps, or manual processes. |
| PTO / Time off request | Included | Usually requires custom forms and Power Automate or add-ons. |
| Benefits visibility | Included | Custom pages or links to benefits provider; no unified view. |
| Payroll & tax document access | Included (via integrations) | Document libraries possible; payroll docs usually from HRIS. |
| Training + compliance tracking | Built-in role-based tracking | Learning pathways or third-party LMS; not built-in tracking. |
| Employee directory + org chart | Included | Via M365 / Azure AD |
| Internal messaging / communication | Included (announcements, messaging) | Teams, Yammer, sites |
| AI help / instant support | Available (AI chat & help) | Copilot and bots exist but not turnkey employee help. |
Integration & Security | ||
| Integrates with existing systems | Designed to sit alongside HRIS & tools | M365 ecosystem |
| Single Sign-On (SSO) support | Supported | Azure AD |
| Centralized user management | Supported via integrations | Azure AD / M365 |
| Secure access & role-based permissions | Role-based permissions included | Yes |
Employee Experience | ||
| One unified employee hub | Yes – single destination for employees | Multiple apps (Teams, SharePoint, Viva); not one purpose-built hub. |
| Intuitive design & fast adoption | Intuitive UX, purpose-built for employees | Steep learning curve; many employees need training on M365. |
| No duplicate logins / tool switching | Minimizes context switching | M365 SSO |
Admin & Control | ||
| HR can configure without IT | Yes – HR-owned configuration | Heavy IT and power-user dependency for changes. |
| Automatic updates & maintenance | Managed for you | M365 updates |
| Transparent pricing & clear TCO | Starting prices published | Licensing and build costs vary; TCO often unclear. |
Competitive data is based on our product comparison research.
Why Choose Onsharp Over SharePoint?
Ready-to-Run vs. Ready-Made Platform
SharePoint requires IT to build everything from scratch. Onsharp comes with employee portal features built-in: time entry, PTO requests, benefits visibility, and training management.
Result: Get up and running in days instead of months.
HR-Owned vs. IT-Dependent
With SharePoint, every change requires IT. Onsharp gives HR full control to update content, customize workflows, and make changes without waiting on IT.
Result: HR can respond to employee needs quickly.
Built for HR Operations
SharePoint is a document management system. Onsharp is built specifically for daily HR operations with features employees need: time tracking, benefits, training, and more.
Result: Employees actually use it because it has what they need.
Better Answer When SharePoint Stops Working
When SharePoint becomes a maze of folders, employees stop using it. Onsharp provides a single, intuitive place for employees to find everything they need.
Result: High employee adoption and reduced HR help desk burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Onsharp integrates with SharePoint, allowing you to link to SharePoint documents while providing a better employee experience. You can keep SharePoint for document storage and use Onsharp as the employee portal.
For employee portals focused on HR operations, yes. SharePoint is a document management system that requires extensive configuration. Onsharp is purpose-built for employee portals with HR features ready to use. If you need a better answer when SharePoint stops working, Onsharp is the solution.
SharePoint is included in Microsoft 365 licenses, but requires significant IT time to configure and maintain. Onsharp shows starting prices (from $6/employee/month) and includes setup, maintenance, and support. The total cost of ownership is often lower when you factor in IT time saved.
Onsharp integrates with SharePoint, so you don't have to replace it. Use SharePoint for document storage and Onsharp as the employee portal that brings everything together. This gives employees one place to go while leveraging your existing SharePoint investment.
Ready for a Better Answer?
See how Onsharp's ready-to-run employee portal compares to building on SharePoint.