Comparing SharePoint Modern vs. Classic: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of collaborative workspaces, SharePoint has stood the test of time as one of the most powerful platforms for document management, intranet services, and team collaboration. Over the years, SharePoint has evolved dramatically, especially in terms of its user interface and functionality. The introduction of Modern SharePoint has caused a shift in the way businesses approach SharePoint sites and content management. However, Classic SharePoint still maintains a strong presence in many organizations due to its long history and stability.

This article explores the key differences between Modern SharePoint and Classic SharePoint, breaking down each platform's features, advantages, and limitations. Whether you’re new to SharePoint or an experienced user, understanding the differences between these two versions is essential for optimizing your organization’s productivity and collaboration.

By the end of this article, you will have a deeper understanding of both versions and how to choose the right one for your business needs.

Related article: Microsoft Office 365 Tenant to Tenant Migration

What is SharePoint?

Before diving into the comparison, let's briefly define what SharePoint is.

SharePoint is a web-based collaboration platform developed by Microsoft. It enables organizations to store, organize, share, and access information securely. SharePoint can be used for a wide range of purposes, including document management, content management, intranet portals, team collaboration, and workflow automation.

Overview of SharePoint Classic Experience

Classic SharePoint refers to the traditional version of SharePoint, which was the default user interface for SharePoint sites until the introduction of SharePoint Modern. It’s the version that many users have interacted with for years, and it’s characterized by its traditional look and feel. Classic SharePoint is still in use today in many enterprises, particularly for legacy systems.

Key Features of Classic SharePoint:

1. Classic Sites and Libraries:
   In the Classic experience, SharePoint sites had a more rigid layout with limited customization options. The document libraries, lists, and other components were functional but not as visually appealing as their modern counterparts.

2. Traditional Web Parts:
   Classic SharePoint relied on web parts like Content Query, Content Editor, and Media Web Part. These web parts, although useful, require a certain degree of technical expertise to configure and maintain.

3. Navigation:
   Classic SharePoint sites used a static navigation menu, which could be customized but wasn’t as flexible or dynamic as the navigation in Modern SharePoint.

4. Customization and Development:
   Classic SharePoint allowed developers to customize pages with custom code, master pages, and even full-page layouts. While powerful, this customization often led to performance issues or difficulties with upgrading to newer versions.

5. User Experience (UX):
   The user experience in Classic SharePoint was somewhat outdated. It required users to be familiar with the interface and often involved extra clicks or page loads.

Overview of SharePoint Modern Experience

Modern SharePoint represents the newer, more user-friendly version of SharePoint. Introduced in SharePoint Online (part of Office 365), it offers a streamlined and more intuitive interface with improved performance and functionality. The Modern experience aims to simplify tasks, enhance collaboration, and provide a better user experience.

Key Features of Modern SharePoint:

1. Modern Sites and Libraries:
   Modern SharePoint introduces modern team sites, communication sites, and modern document libraries. These sites are visually appealing, mobile-responsive, and easier to manage compared to their Classic counterparts.

2. Modern Web Parts:
   In the Modern experience, SharePoint introduced new, more flexible web parts like Hero Web Part, Image Gallery, News, and Quick Links, which are much easier to configure with little to no technical expertise required.

3. Dynamic Navigation:
   Modern SharePoint features dynamic navigation that adjusts automatically based on user roles and preferences, improving the overall user experience and making it easier to navigate through sites.

4. Improved UX/UI:
   The user interface in Modern SharePoint is far more intuitive. The design is cleaner and more responsive, providing a better experience on mobile devices and different screen sizes.

5. Faster Performance:
   Modern SharePoint is built on Microsoft’s latest web technologies, which means it offers faster page loading times, better reliability, and improved security.

6. Integration with Microsoft 365:
   One of the major advantages of Modern SharePoint is its seamless integration with other Microsoft 365 tools like Teams, OneDrive, Power Automate, and Power BI, creating a unified ecosystem for collaboration.

Comparing SharePoint Modern vs. Classic: A Detailed Breakdown

To help you choose the right version of SharePoint, let’s compare the Modern and Classic experiences across various aspects:

1. User Interface and Design

• Classic SharePoint: The design was more rigid, often requiring custom code or design elements to make it look appealing. The user interface (UI) was functional but outdated by today’s standards.

• Modern SharePoint: Modern SharePoint offers a cleaner, more visually appealing design, with easy-to-use templates and responsive web parts. It’s also mobile-friendly, allowing users to access the platform seamlessly across devices.

2. Customization

• Classic Share

Point: Classic SharePoint offers a high degree of customization, particularly for developers. Using master pages, custom CSS, and other techniques, developers could create a unique look and feel for each site. However, this flexibility often made upgrading to new versions more challenging, and sites could become over-customized, making maintenance more complex.

• Modern SharePoint: Modern SharePoint limits certain customizations, but this restriction is intentional to keep things simpler and more stable. The focus is on using out-of-the-box features, like web parts and themes, that don’t require coding knowledge. While customization options are fewer, they are more maintainable, and the sites are automatically optimized for different devices.

3. Performance

• Classic SharePoint: Performance could be sluggish, especially with large lists and complex customizations. Pages could take longer to load, and users often experienced delays when accessing large document libraries or navigating through custom-designed sites.

• Modern SharePoint: Modern SharePoint delivers faster performance. The pages are optimized for speed, thanks to better backend technologies. Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure ensures that users can access content quickly, regardless of location or device.

4. Integration with Microsoft 365 Tools

• Classic SharePoint: Classic SharePoint had limited integration with Microsoft 365 tools. While it could connect to tools like OneDrive and Office apps, it didn’t offer seamless connectivity across the platform.

• Modern SharePoint: One of the strongest features of Modern SharePoint is its deep integration with other Microsoft 365 apps, like Teams, OneDrive, Planner, Power Automate, and Power Apps. These integrations provide a smooth user experience and facilitate cross-platform collaboration.

5. Mobile Experience

• Classic SharePoint: The Classic SharePoint mobile experience was often clunky and not optimized for mobile devices. It was difficult for users to access or interact with content on the go, especially when using tablets or smartphones.

• Modern SharePoint: Modern SharePoint sites are designed to be mobile-first, meaning they automatically adjust their layout for optimal viewing on smaller screens. The interface is responsive, and users can access the full functionality of the site from any mobile device without losing usability.

6. Security and Compliance

• Classic SharePoint: Classic SharePoint provided security features, but some of them were more difficult to manage, especially with on-premises deployments. Compliance standards were met, but the platform lacked some of the more advanced security features that Modern SharePoint offers.

• Modern SharePoint: Modern SharePoint benefits from advanced security features provided by Microsoft’s cloud platform. Features like data loss prevention (DLP), multifactor authentication (MFA), advanced encryption, and automatic updates make it easier to manage security and compliance. Plus, the platform is constantly updated, ensuring users have the latest security patches.

7. Collaboration and Content Sharing

• Classic SharePoint: Classic SharePoint supports basic collaboration through document libraries and lists. However, the collaboration experience could feel disconnected, especially without integration with modern communication tools like Teams.

• Modern SharePoint: The Modern experience revolutionizes collaboration with features like @mentions, real-time co-authoring, and seamless integration with Microsoft Teams. Content can be shared quickly, and teams can collaborate on documents, tasks, and projects in real time, all within the same platform.

Also read: Export Office 365 Mailbox to PST

Which One Should You Choose: Classic vs. Modern SharePoint?

When deciding between Modern SharePoint and Classic SharePoint, you need to consider the following factors:

1. Business Needs: If your organization requires highly customized sites with specific functionality, Classic SharePoint might still be a good choice. However, if you prefer a simpler, more efficient solution that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365, Modern SharePoint is the better choice.

2. User Experience: For a modern, responsive user experience, Modern SharePoint is the way to go. It’s designed to meet the expectations of today’s mobile-first and cloud-first workforce, making it ideal for teams that value efficiency and collaboration.

3. Customization vs. Simplicity: If your organization has a heavy reliance on custom workflows, Classic SharePoint allows for deeper customization. But if you need a solution that is easy to maintain and offers out-of-the-box functionality, Modern SharePoint will be more beneficial.

4. Integration: If your organization already uses Microsoft 365 tools, such as Teams, OneDrive, and Power BI, Modern SharePoint provides better integration and ensures a seamless workflow.

5. Cost and Maintenance: Modern SharePoint, being cloud-based, offers lower maintenance costs and is easier to manage. It’s also automatically updated, which reduces the burden on your IT team.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Both Classic SharePoint and Modern SharePoint have their merits, but the Modern SharePoint experience is designed to meet the needs of today’s collaborative, mobile-first workforce. With its enhanced performance, user-friendly interface, and deep integration with Microsoft 365, Modern SharePoint is quickly becoming the preferred choice for businesses aiming to modernize their digital workspace.

However, if you’re working with legacy systems or need specialized customization, Classic SharePoint may still play an important role in your organization.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and goals. But one thing is certain: SharePoint’s evolution continues, and the Modern experience is the way forward.