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SharePoint Alternatives – Discover 10 Top-Rated Alternatives to SharePoint

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Key takeaways

  • SharePoint is a widely used web-based tool for document management and collaboration for business teams. 
  • Microsoft SharePoint remains popular but has fallen short of being the best for certain business needs. Newer and more user-friendly platforms have come up with easy navigation and lower prices.
  • Cflow offers simple yet advanced features such as drag-and-drop form builder, OCR Extraction, Fuzzy Search, etc., transforming document management into a strategic asset of your business.
  • Cflow is the best and most promising alternative to SharePoint, exclusively catering to unique business needs for small, medium, and enterprise organizations,

Microsoft SharePoint – Still the “It” Software?

A product of Microsoft, SharePoint is a widely used web-based tool, designed to cater to document management and collaboration for business teams. The platform provides a space where businesses can share digital documents and ensure smooth cooperation within the team. Being in the industry for the last two decades, SharePoint was one of the first document management tools to provide features like version control, intranet development, workflow management, secured document management, etc. 

Microsoft SharePoint has grown to be a monopoly in the document management arena. Around 80% of Fortune 500 business organizations use SharePoint to address different needs. Companies implement SharePoint to enhance productivity, collaboration, and content management. 

However, times have changed and SharePoint today is one of many options for business users. Microsoft SharePoint continues to be popular but might need to improve in being the best for certain business needs. Newer and more user-friendly platforms have come up with easy navigation and lower prices. Hence, looking at some of the best SharePoint alternatives is necessary.

So, what made SharePoint the ‘It’ platform for the last two decades, and why no more? Here, we will discuss “If not Microsoft SharePoint then which is the right one for your business?”

Table of Contents

The Need for A SharePoint Alternative 

SharePoint has one of the biggest user-bases – 200 million as of 2020. However, every software has its limitations. Technology is being developed to minimize the complexity and burden of carrying out different tasks. Let us take a look at some of the reasons why SharePoint is only for some businesses. 

Complexity 

Many users have identified that compared to most less popular software platforms, SharePoint’s primary drawback is its complexity. 

Jam-packed Features 

Moreover, it can be quite overwhelming to new users as the tool is crammed with features. 

Highly Priced 

Compared to several other document management platforms, SharePoint is expensive to use and maintain. 

SharePoint Online 

The SharePoint Online user interface comes with new features that are simple with good templates, adding to the complexity of utility.

Learning Curve 

SharePoint works well in association with other Office 365 solutions. Users will have to learn other applications to have a seamless work experience. 

Cost 

SharePoint must be corralled with other products for smooth collaboration in the team. This comprehensive solution might increase the budget. 

What Should You Look for in SharePoint Alternatives? 

Choosing one from several SharePoint alternatives is a tedious task. Hence, some key factors have to be identified to narrow down the multiple options. Remember, your chosen platform must facilitate collaboration, simple and easy sharing, and seamless integration. Here are some of the crucial parameters to look for in a replacement for SharePoint.

  • Ease of Use – The tool that you choose must be easy to navigate through for the users. The more simple the user interface and user experience are, the better the overall experience and worth. 
  • Scalability – The tool must be scalable. The tools must be flexible and scalable with growing demands and changing trends. 
  • Integration Capabilities – Integration capabilities are essential to make processing seamless. Therefore, choose a tool that enables users to collaborate with external applications and systems.
  • Security Measures – The security of data and files must be protected at all costs. While looking for alternatives to SharePoint, remember to seek a product that would offer end-to-end encryption protocols, access controls, security policies, etc., on all stored data. 
  • Pricing – A tool that offers a transparent pricing plan can be a good choice. An expensive product does not mean it is worth the price. A careful and detailed analysis would offer more clarity into what is good for your organization.

Introducing Cflow as a SharePoint Alternative

Cflow is an AI-based workflow automation platform that does not require users to code. Cflow is a document management solution that offers a comprehensive suite to cater to document management, starting from its creation to distribution to its storage. As a cloud storage platform, it enables users to have measured control over the management process, facilitating effective collaboration and communication. 

If you are looking for a solution to deal with simplifying and optimizing document management, Cflow is the right choice for you. Simple yet advanced features such as drag-and-drop form builder, OCR Extraction, Fuzzy Search, etc., transform document management into a strategic asset of your business. Cflow is the automation software that comes with the winning combination of –

  • Precisely curated features
  • Budget-friendly plans
  • Extensive support and community

Comparison: Cflow vs SharePoint

Parameter

SharePoint

Cflow

Workflow Automation Capabilities 

  • SharePoint offers the space for workflow automation through Power Automate. 

 

  • However, the setup steps are quite complicated. 
  • Cflow is a platform specifically designed to make workflow creation and automation simple and comparatively easy to configure. 

 

Complexity

  • SharePoint works better in association with other Microsoft solutions, making it complex for usage for new users.
  • Cflow is created with citizen developers in mind, with a focus on user-empowering features. 

 

  • With no tech knowledge, users can develop workflow in an instant. 

 

Specialization

  • SharePoint primarily specializes in document management and collaboration and requires additional Microsoft solutions to extend to workflow automation and other capabilities. 
  • Cflow has a more narrowed specialization focusing on what the business requires.

 

  •  Only a single platform is required to automate workflows as well as manage and store documents.

 

Learning Curve

  • Sharepoint requires users to use other Microsoft platforms such as Power Automate, Azure, etc., where users will face a steep learning curve. 
  • Cflow does not involve any coding and hence, is the most seamless workflow automation platform. 

 

  • The user interface is completely drag-and-drop, offering a simple learning curve.

Code

  • SharePoint does not generally require coding for developing websites to share information and practice document collaboration. 
  • Cflow is also a no-code platform where users are not required to write codes to build automated workflows from scratch.

Customization and Flexibility

  • Customization is a major drawback in SharePoint. 

 

  • Customization requires technical expertise and external tools like Power Automate limiting the flexibility of the platform. 
  • Cflow is a platform that can be customized at every stage of workflow setup. 

 

  • The pre-built templates are customizable making it aligned to the business needs.

User Interface and User Experience 

  • SharePoint user interface can be a bit complex and overwhelming to users. It is being improved continually. 
  • Cflow is a simple and easy-to-use user interface comparatively. 

 

  • The interface is designed to facilitate collaboration for smaller to larger teams.  

 

Integration

  • SharePoint effectively integrates with Microsoft applications.

 

  • However, the software demands a higher level of configuration or third-party solutions to enable integration with other systems.  
  • Cflow is much more efficient with integration. 

 

  • The platform supports a wider range of external applications and systems, which are essential for the IT work environment.

Cloud Storage

  • SharePoint offers Onedrive for cloud storage, which has to be integrated into SharePoint
  • Cflow offers a robust cloud storage system with Cflow itself. 

 

  • Users can store, access, and retrieve data or documents anytime and anywhere.

Tracking and Managing Documents

  • SharePoint provides a space to track any document on the website. 

 

  • Any user can create and initiate a tracker that can be used to follow any document
  • Tracking documents is made easier with advanced features like OCR and Fuzzy Search, using which data can be easily viewed, extracted, and even updated. 

 

  • Since Cflow is a centralized platform, the changes made can be easily tracked.

 

Reports and Analytics

  • SharePoint offers usage analytics reports that give deeper insights and data on how visitors have interacted with their pages.
  • Cflow’s reports and analytics system lets the users determine the efficiency of the document management system.

 

  • The changes made to the documents and files stored can be accessed.

Support and Community

  • SharePoint has the benefit of being a part of the Microsoft family and has the advantage of providing extensive support and community, often generating a bigger user base.
  • Cflow caters to a more targeted audience and users, making it more focused, narrowed, and personalized. 

 

  • Cflow’s support and community directly address the needs. 

 

Pricing

  • SharePoint is from the Microsoft Office 365 applications. As a standalone, SharePoint is cost-effective for any business size. 

 

  • However, as it works in collaboration with other solutions, the overall spending increases. The pricing plans are (billed annually)-

 

  1. SharePoint (Plan 1)

 

  • $5 (per user/month)

 

  1. Microsoft 365 Business Standard

 

  • $10 (per user/month)
  • Cflow is an affordable and independent  SharePoint alternative that offers a suite with the same features as SharePoint.

 

  • Cflow is the best choice for workflow capabilities and document management for small, medium, and enterprise businesses. The pricing plans are (billed annually) –   

 

  1. Happy
  • $7 (per user/month)

 

  1. Joy
  • $11 (per user/month)

 

  1. Bliss
  • $16 (per user/month)
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Top 10 Best Alternatives to SharePoint In 2024

1. Cflow

Cflow is the best and most promising alternative to SharePoint. Exclusively catering to unique business needs for small, medium, and enterprise organizations, Cflow stays on par and beyond with SharePoint in offering compelling document management features. The tool offers a centralized platform aiding project management teams to collaborate and communicate.

Cflow Key Features – 

  • Cflow offers customizable pre-built workflow templates for easy use
  • The tool also facilitates easy API integration to enable smooth working
  • The tool offers the highest level of security using AWS data centers and data encryption
  • As a document management tool, Cflow offers OCR extraction, through which text can be read and extracted for easy document management
  • As a project management tool, the tool offers Kanban boards for easy project completion
  • Robust routing and notification keep the process pace intact
  • Users can customize anything and everything on Cflow
  • Detailed reports and analytics give insights into the process performance

Cflow Pricing – 

  • Offers a 14-day trial
  • Happy – $7 (per user/month)
  • Joy – $11 (per user/month)
  • Bliss – $16 (per user/month)

2. Huddle

Huddle is a powerful Sharepoint alternative to consider for your organization for effective document management. The platform provides users an effective document-centric experience for internal departments, clients, and stakeholders. The tool provides a centralized space facilitating collaboration by sharing work reviews, knowledge, etc. and collaborating with different entities. 

Using Huddle, users in highly dynamic industries can practice effective and measured control over document management and collaboration, enabling them to meet deadlines with much ease. 

Huddle Key Features – 

  • The platform offers government-grade security
  • Huddle has a good user interface and is highly user-friendly
  • The users can have complete control over the documents’ access and storage
  • The tool offers file requests and sharing to facilitate collaboration
  • The tool provides client portals to address user concerns directly

Huddle Limitations – 

  • The application often freezes up documents occasionally
  • The software settings can be confusing to new users
  • There are only limited reporting features
  • The software can be expensive for SMBs

Huddle Pricing – 

  • Essential – $15 per month/user
  • Plus – $30 per month/user
  • Team – $150 per month/user
  • Premier – Available on request

3. SamePage

SamePage is yet another notable SharePoint alternative that can be beneficial to businesses. As a project collaboration tool, important documents and data can be effectively managed, organized, and even shared using SamePage. The application is a collaboration-facilitating tool as well, using which multiple teams can collaborate and achieve results faster in real time. 

Acquired by Paylocity in 2020, SamePage has taken up the charge of developing an extensive employee engagement and collaboration platform, offering some unique features.

SamePage Key Features – 

  • The users can use team chat and instant messaging features to promote collaboration
  • There is an option for teams to connect using in-built video conferencing
  • The tool offers features for effective task management
  • The platform provides features to support file sharing and collaboration

SamePage Limitations – 

  • The platform is not accepting any new signups
  • The application can only be used on desktop and mobile app

SamePage Pricing – 

  • Offers a free version 
  • Standard Plan – $7.50 per month/user
  • Prop Plan – $9 per month/user

4. Confluence

Confluence is a collaborative team workspace platform from Atlassian. The platform offers a centralized space to create, share, and organize data among teams. The tool offers customizable pre-built templates and it is the right tool for developing a strong knowledge base for the organization. Confluence is a user-friendly platform, however, its implementation is quite complex and takes a longer time. 

Confluence Key Features – 

  • The templates available in the tool improve the speed of the processes
  • The tools offer strong integration features
  • Users can version pages for effective tracking documents and history
  • The tool offers the feature of permission to restrict access control
  • The tool is available on mobile application

Confluence Limitations – 

  • There is only limited storage
  • The search functionality is non-intuitive
  • It can be difficult to export PDFs
  • The tool has a steep learning curve
  • The syncing of processes across devices is difficult

Confluence Pricing – 

  • Offers a free version
  • Standard – $5.75 per month/user
  • Premium – $11 per month/user

5. Nuxeo

Nuxeo is one of the best SharePoint alternatives. As a content management system that is open-source, facilitates the storage and management of digital assets. On Nuxeo, users themselves can build applications for content development and management, using minimal code. This makes decision-making easy and significantly improves customer experience. 

Nuxeo stands out as a content management software with its AI-powered features, helping teams to stay on the right track and timeline. 

Nuxeo Key Features – 

  • The tool offers an AI-based project management feature
  • The platform comes with document collaboration features
  • Users can carry out content search and analytics
  • For complex content processes, the tools offer REST API
  • The tool supports integration with third-party applications

Nuxeo Limitations –

  • The backend setup can be complex for users
  • The user interface is not easy to navigate
  • Support and community is poor

Nuxeo Pricing – 

  • Offers a 30-day free trial
  • Paid Subscription
  • Requires demo booking

6. Box

Box is one of the popular SharePoint competitors which is a cloud-based platform. This particular tool can be used for storage of files, content management, as well as collaboration with security. The tool offers document-centric features that will cater to documentation across teams and departments like sales, human resources, engineering, etc.

The documents, data, and files are shared using Box secure file links. The collaborators can be added to groups, where files can be approved, and documents can be signed. 

Box Key Features – 

  • The offers the intelligent detection of threats and performs a complete governance of the processes
  • The platform provides the feature of e-signatures making contract management seamless
  • The tool supports integration with 1500+ external applications
  • Content can be easily migrated using content migration
  • Box offers cloud storage as well as file sharing

Box Limitations – 

  • The tool does not provide any native sync options
  • Mass content transfers can be too much for the software
  • The tool does not offer a free plan
  • There is only a limited search function

Box Pricing –

  • Business – $15 per month/user
  • Business Plus – $25 per month/user
  • Enterprise – $35 per month/user
  • Enterprise Plus – Custom payment plan

7. Jostle

Jostle is a notable collaboration management software curated to improve team collaboration and communication. The applications can also be used for publishing news articles, and announcements, and getting feedback through polls, aiming to enhance the productivity of the team.

Jostle provides a centralized platform where communication can be handled seamlessly. The platform brings every team member together making it easy to transfer data and documents. 

Jostle Key Features – 

  • The tool offers a polling feature for collecting employee feedback
  • There is an activity feed where the team members can look for recent updates
  • The tool offers a forum for discussions that will promote collaboration
  • Integration is seamless with Microsoft Office and Google Files
  • The files can be easily sorted using the document library and enable content search

Jostle Limitations – 

  • The tool does not provide any free trials
  • The discussions are not threaded and follow-up can be difficult
  • The customization property is highly limited

Jostle Pricing –

  • The tool has four pricing plans – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum
  • The pricing is determined based on the size of the organization

8. Redbooth

Redbooth is a content and project management software specifically designed to cater to the needs of organizations dealing with multiple projects and looking to maintain effective communication throughout. Even though the tool can be used to navigate the content and project management workflow, certain limitations can be bothersome to some teams. 

Redbooth Key Features – 

  • The platform offers pre-built templates for project management 
  • The tool provides Kanban boards for easy prioritization
  • The software is mobile-friendly
  • The tools offer features to visually view project timelines
  • The software can also be used for meetings with HD-quality

Redbooth Limitations – 

  • The tool can be a little complex to work on
  • The file storage system and organizing are a little complicated
  • The support for new users is limited
  • The notification systems are limited too

Redbooth Pricing – 

  • Redbooth Pro – $9 per month/user
  • Redbooth Business – $15 per month/user
  • Redbooth Enterprise – Can be customized based on needs 

 9. Alfresco 

Alfresco is again a content management software that provides a secure space for data and critical information transfer. The team members can easily connect and manage information collectively on this platform. The tool is best for organizing data and preventing data breaches. Alfresco is one notable alternative to SharePoint which can be used to host online programs like webinars. 

Alfresco Key Features – 

  • Document management in the platform comes with compliance regulations
  • The platform is a comprehensive software for managing documents by strong, organizing, and effectively categorizing documents
  • The tool enables users to have deep insights through reports on the usage of content, user behavior, and overall performance
  • The platform offers version control, check-in and check-out facilities, and full-text search

Alfresco Limitations – 

  • The user interface can be difficult to navigate
  • The platform does not offer a drag-and-drop interface
  • There are occasional document upload issues
  • The tool only offers a limited search option

Alfresco Pricing – 

  • Offers custom pricing – given based on the size and needs of the organization

10. Basecamp

Basecamp is one of the popular SharePoint competitors and project management software that focuses on aiding teams to easily navigate through different projects. The platform also facilitates effective communication and collaboration through easy file sharing. The tool has been a good choice for organizations that look for easy usability and keep everything centralized and organized.

Basecamp Key Features – 

  • The platform allows users to initiate new projects and create to-do lists to guide the team through the process
  • There is a common message board for carrying out discussions, that aids in good communication. 
  • File sharing is an important feature that Basecamp offers that supports uploading and sharing documents. 

Basecamp Limitations – 

  • There are only limited advanced features
  • The platform also has limitations with integration

Basecamp Pricing – 

  • Offers 30-day free trial
  • Basecamp – $15 per month/user
  • Basecamp Pro Unlimited – $299 per month/user

Cflow – The Right Choice of SharePoint Alternative for Your Business 

If your team is struggling to expand its horizons with SharePoint, then you must give Cflow a try. Cflow can be deployed to ensure document management, project management, and workflow optimization are done the right way. Cflow does this by completely transforming businesses to go paperless and efficiently make use of manual labor. Streamline every step of your business endeavors with Cflow today, sign up now!

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