# SharePoint Site Types Explained: Team vs Comm Site

Choosing the right SharePoint site type matters more than most people think. If you pick the wrong one, content gets scattered, permissions become messy, and updates don’t reach the right people. The good news is that SharePoint keeps the decision simple: **Team sites** are built for collaboration, while **Communication sites** are built for publishing.

If you’re setting up a new workspace and want a quick example of how modern Microsoft tools work together, a typical **[sharepoint team site](https://rcor.com/understanding-sharepoint-sites/)** often ends up paired with Microsoft 365 security features like Windows sign-in protections.

## What a SharePoint Team Site Is Best For

A **Team site** is your shared workspace for getting work done together.

Use a Team site when you need:
- A place for files your team edits daily
- Co-authoring in Word/Excel/PowerPoint
- Task coordination and quick sharing
- Permissions tied to a working group (department, project team, client pod)

Typical examples:
- “IT Projects – Q1 Upgrades”
- “HR Onboarding”
- “Client Implementation – Acme Co.”

What it feels like: a working folder + collaboration hub.

## What a SharePoint Communication Site Is Best For

A **Communication site** is built to broadcast information to a wider audience.

Use a Communication site when you need:
- A clean “news and updates” destination
- Policy pages and company resources
- Department announcements
- Content that many people read, but fewer people edit

**Typical examples:**
- “Company Newsroom”
- “IT Help Center”
- “Employee Handbook & Policies”

**What it feels like:** a mini intranet or internal website.

## The Fast Decision Rule

If you’re stuck, ask one question:

**Will many people edit the content, or mostly read it?**

- **Many editors → Team Site**
- **Mostly readers → Communication Site**

That single rule gets you the right answer most of the time.

## Permissions and Microsoft 365 Groups: The Hidden Difference

This is where many admins get surprised:

### Team Sites (usually) connect to Microsoft 365 Groups

That means:
- Membership controls access
- You automatically get a shared mailbox/calendar in many setups
- Permissions feel “team-based” and scalable

### Communication Sites typically don’t use a Group the same way

That means:
- Permissions are often more controlled
- Fewer editors, broader viewers
- Better for structured publishing

## How They Handle Navigation and Content

### Team Site layout tends to prioritize work
- Document libraries front and center
- Quick links for active projects
- Pages that support daily operations

### Communication Site layout prioritizes clarity
- News web parts and announcements
- Highlighted resources
- A clean navigation structure for browsing

If your goal is “people should find the latest update fast,” Communication site usually wins.

## Real-World Examples (So You Don’t Overbuild)

Here are simple, common patterns that work well:

### Pattern A: One Communication Site + Many Team Sites
- **Communication Site** = company-wide announcements and policies
- **Team Sites** = departments/projects doing daily work

### Pattern B: One Team Site per Client/Project
- Teams that collaborate heavily keep everything in one workspace
- Make separate libraries for phases or workstreams

### Pattern C: Department Team Site + Publishing Page
- Team site for internal work
- One “public” communication page for updates to the company

## Common Mistakes to Avoid
- **Using a Team site as an intranet homepage** (too many editors, too messy fast)
- **Using a Communication site for active project work** (collaboration feels clunky)
- **Letting permissions grow without a rule** (creates access confusion and security risk)
- **Creating too many sites too early** (site sprawl becomes its own problem)

## Conclusion

Team sites are for collaboration. Communication sites are for publishing. If your team edits documents daily, go Team. If you’re broadcasting information to a wider audience, go Communication. Pick the right site type early, and SharePoint stays organized, permissions stay clean, and users actually know where to go.