Intranet vs. SharePoint: What's the Difference?

Intranet and SharePoint are often used interchangeably. Learn the difference: SharePoint is a platform; an intranet is what you build on it. Plus when to use each term.

Intranet vs. SharePoint: What's the Difference?

Introduction

People often say “intranet” and “SharePoint” in the same breath, but they’re not the same thing. SharePoint is a Microsoft platform. An intranet is an internal website or digital workspace—and SharePoint is one of the most common platforms used to build it. This article clarifies the difference.

What Is an Intranet?

An intranet is a private, internal network or website used by an organization. It typically includes:

  • News and announcements
  • Document libraries and knowledge bases
  • Employee directory and HR resources
  • Department or team sites
  • Links to internal tools and applications

An intranet can be built on various platforms: SharePoint, Confluence, Igloo, Simpplr, or custom solutions.

What Is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a Microsoft platform for collaboration, document management, and building internal sites. It provides:

  • Sites (communication sites, team sites)
  • Document libraries with versioning, metadata, and search
  • Hub sites to connect related sites
  • Integration with Microsoft 365 (Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, Power Automate)
  • Customization via SPFx, Power Apps, and more

SharePoint is the technology. An intranet is the solution you build with it.

The Relationship

Think of it this way:

  • SharePoint = the engine (platform, tools, infrastructure)
  • Intranet = the car (the experience, structure, and content you build)

You can use SharePoint for many things: document management, team collaboration, extranets, public-facing sites. When you use it to build a central internal hub for employees, that’s your intranet.

”SharePoint Intranet” vs. “Intranet on SharePoint”

Both phrases mean the same thing: an intranet built on SharePoint. “SharePoint intranet” is just shorthand. When people say “we need a SharePoint intranet,” they usually mean “we need an internal hub built on SharePoint.”

Other Intranet Platforms

SharePoint isn’t the only option. Alternatives include:

  • Confluence – Atlassian’s wiki and documentation platform
  • Igloo, Simpplr, Staffbase – Dedicated intranet SaaS platforms
  • Custom builds – Built on other frameworks

The choice depends on your existing stack (Microsoft 365 vs. other tools), budget, and requirements.

Conclusion

SharePoint is the platform; an intranet is what you build. A “SharePoint intranet” is an internal hub built on SharePoint. Understanding this distinction helps when planning, budgeting, and communicating with stakeholders.

Interested in building a SharePoint intranet? Contact us for a free consultation.