Comparing Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists

If you’re looking for a way to organize and track data within your organization, Microsoft has two tools that may be of interest: Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists. While they share some similarities, there are also some key differences between the two tools. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences and similarities between Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists.

Creating and Managing Lists

When it comes to creating and managing lists, both Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists provide similar functionality. Both tools allow you to create custom lists that can be used to track items such as tasks, issues, inventory, and contacts. You can also customize columns, apply formatting, and use templates to quickly create new lists.

However, Microsoft Lists has a few additional features that SharePoint Lists do not. For example, Microsoft Lists comes with a variety of pre-built templates that can be used to create lists quickly and easily. There are templates for things like issue tracking, event itineraries, and content schedules. Microsoft Lists also has a mobile app that allows you to access your lists from your smartphone or tablet.

Collaboration and Integration

Both Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists allow for collaboration among multiple people. Changes made by one person are immediately visible to others, making it easy to keep everyone up-to-date. However, Microsoft Lists takes collaboration a step further with its integration with other Microsoft 365 apps. For example, you can set up a flow that sends an email notification when a new item is added to a list, or use Power BI to create visualizations of your data.

SharePoint Lists also integrate with other SharePoint features, such as workflows and forms. This can be useful if you’re already using SharePoint and want to keep everything in one place.

Ease of Use

One of the biggest differences between Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists is ease of use. Microsoft Lists is designed to be a simple and user-friendly tool, with a modern and intuitive interface. It’s easy to create and customize lists, and the mobile app makes it easy to manage your data on-the-go.

SharePoint Lists, on the other hand, can be a bit more complex to use. While it has many of the same features as Microsoft Lists, it’s designed to be part of a larger SharePoint ecosystem. This means there are more options and customization settings available, but it can also be more difficult to navigate for new users. Both Microsoft Lists and SharePoint Lists are powerful tools for organizing and tracking data within your organization. While they share many similarities, there are also some key differences between the two. Microsoft Lists is designed to be simple and user-friendly, with pre-built templates and integration with other Microsoft 365 apps. SharePoint Lists, on the other hand, is part of a larger SharePoint ecosystem and offers more customization options. Which tool is right for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.