SharePoint on premises vs SharePoint Online is a hosting choice. Your team hosts and patches the server version. Microsoft 365 plans set Online storage and limits. Online caps a site collection at 25 TB. Server 2019 support ended in July 2026. Subscription Edition has no end date on its lifecycle page. SharePoint Add ins ended in Online on 2 April 2026. Choose by how much control you need.
Your team must decide whether to host the servers or license the Microsoft 365 service.
You get 6 differences with numbers from Microsoft pages. I also flag what I could not confirm.
Who Hosts SharePoint on Premises and SharePoint Online?
SharePoint on premises means your own servers in a farm that your admins install and patch. SharePoint Online is a Microsoft 365 service that you license per user.
Microsoft sells the server product as SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Older server versions are 2016 and 2019.
How do the 6 Differences Compare?
| Difference | On premises | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Your servers and farm | Microsoft 365 service |
| Updates | You install monthly updates | No server updates to install |
| Storage | Your disks and databases | 1 TB plus 10 GB per license |
| Site size | Set by your farm design | 25 TB per site collection |
| Upload limit | Set by your farm settings | 250 GB per file |
| Add ins | Catalog add ins not retired | Ended 2 April 2026 |
Online numbers come from the Microsoft limits page. On premises rows depend on your own farm.
Which Server Version is Still Supported?
Subscription Edition follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy. Its lifecycle page lists it as in support with no end date.
Microsoft lists 31 December 2035 as the earliest possible end of support on its modern lifecycle list. That list is subject to change.
Subscription Edition gets a cumulative update every month. Every update has a support window of one year from its release. Your farm needs a supported build to get help.
SharePoint Server 2019 reached the end of extended support in July 2026 on its lifecycle page.
What Limits does SharePoint Online Set?
Tenant storage is 1 TB plus 10 GB per license on Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans. Frontline plans get 1 TB. Tenants over the limit risk read only mode on the SharePoint Online limits page.
Site collections reach 25 TB and one file reaches 250 GB. List attachments stop at 250 MB.
SharePoint Add ins reached end of life in Online on 2 April 2026 on the SharePoint Add ins page. Microsoft says REST APIs and SharePoint Framework are not retired.
How do You Choose Between the Two?
Who it suits. Admins who must choose a platform for the next year. Extra application. None needed.
- List your add ins. Online ended add ins in April 2026. Note every add in your sites use.
- Size your content. Compare total content with your tenant storage.
- Check the server version. Match your farm to the lifecycle page for its edition.
- Name the owner of updates. On premises means your admins install them every month.
Moving between them takes planning. Our guide on how long a SharePoint move takes shows the timing. The guide on SharePoint move cost shows what drives the bill.
Which Limits Apply to This Comparison?
- Server 2016 date. I could not open the SharePoint Server 2016 lifecycle page. Check it before you plan.
- Online updates. No Microsoft page I opened states how Online updates arrive. Treat that row as general product behavior.
- On premises limits. Site size and upload limits depend on your farm and I found no Microsoft number for them.
- Custom code. I found no current Microsoft page on custom farm code in Online. Ask your developer first.
- Prices. License prices are not part of this comparison.
My Verdict on SharePoint Hosting
SharePoint on premises vs SharePoint Online is a choice about control and upkeep. Choose Online when you want Microsoft to host the service and you fit inside its limits. Choose Subscription Edition when you need your own servers and can install updates every month.
Check your add ins before you decide because Online ended that model in April 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Online storage grows with every license.
- Subscription Edition has no end date on its lifecycle page.
- Version 2019 extended support ended in July 2026.
- Add ins ended in Online in April 2026.
Next Read
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Still in Support?
Yes. Microsoft lists it under the Modern Lifecycle Policy with no end date. Its earliest possible end of support is 31 December 2035.
Does SharePoint Server 2019 Still Get Support?
No. Extended support ended in July 2026 according to Microsoft. Check your own contract before you rely on that.
Do Server Updates Arrive Every Month?
Yes. Microsoft ships a cumulative update monthly for Subscription Edition. Feature updates come twice a year inside those updates.
Does Subscription Edition Get Service Packs?
No. The Microsoft FAQ says it has no plans for service packs. Updates arrive as monthly cumulative updates instead.
Does SharePoint Online Have a Tenant Storage Limit?
Yes. Microsoft lists 1 TB plus 10 GB per license on most business and enterprise plans. Tenants over the limit risk read only mode.
Do SharePoint Add Ins Still Work in Online?
No. Microsoft says add ins reached end of life in Online on 2 April 2026. SharePoint Framework and REST APIs are not retired.
Can One Site Collection Reach 25 TB in Online?
Yes. Microsoft lists 25 TB as the maximum site collection size on every plan. Your tenant storage sets the real ceiling.
Jamie blends strategic marketing insight with technical writing, turning migration and recovery topics into guidance that works for technical and general readers alike.
Published 11 November 2026. Lifecycle facts come from the Microsoft Learn pages for Subscription Edition, SharePoint Server 2019 and the servicing policy. Online numbers come from the SharePoint Online limits page and add in facts from the SharePoint Add ins page. Check the pages again before you decide because Microsoft updates them.