SharePoint 2016 vs SharePoint 2019: A Complete Guide

SharePoint 2016 and SharePoint 2019 are compared here based on their capabilities, pricing, integrations, and enterprise fit — helping organizations choose the right solution for their specific requirements and existing technology stack.

In the modern era where science and technology have been booming, companies like Microsoft continue to evolve SharePoint. Compare features between SharePoint 2016 and 2019.

ARC Team

November 18, 2021 · Updated November 18, 2021 · ARC Team

Overview

SharePoint represents a collaborative web-based platform that empowers teamwork with dynamic team sites for every department and division. The 2019 release introduced modernized features that significantly changed how organizations operate compared to the 2016 version.

New Features in SharePoint 2019

Modern Homepage Experience

The 2019 iteration offers a modern experience as compared to SharePoint 2016, with enhanced UI/UX design. Users can now follow sites and discover suggested content more easily. Direct site creation from the homepage simplifies management tasks.

Enhanced Collaboration

SharePoint 2019 is considerably more collaborative than SharePoint 2016. Modern team sites include updated communication features providing access to news, quick links, and activity feeds. Mobile and smaller devices now benefit from improved user experiences, while communication sites function similarly to publishing sites without requiring master pages.

Advanced Web Parts and Branding

The platform introduces customizable web parts enabling users to build pages faster. Frontend capabilities include embedding documents, videos, and images. A massive upgrade in SharePoint branding occurred between versions, alongside improved search functionality with runtime suggestions.

Enhanced Metadata Management

New collaborative lists allow users to work with and share structured metadata more effectively.

Features Discontinued in SharePoint 2019

The following features were removed or deprecated in SharePoint 2019:

Aggregated newsfeed (read-only status)
Custom Help system
SharePoint Designer 2013
InfoPath Services
Access Services (deprecated)
Machine Translation and Variations
Multi-tenancy feature
Code-based sandbox solutions
SharePoint App Catalog
Tags, Notes, and PDF Viewer

Key Comparison

Feature	SharePoint 2016	SharePoint 2019
Homepage	Classic experience	Modern experience
Team Sites	Classic sites	Modern team sites with news and activity
Communication Sites	Not available	Available without master pages
Web Parts	Classic web parts	Modern customizable web parts
Branding	Limited options	Major branding upgrade
Search	Basic search	Runtime suggestions
Mobile Support	Limited	Improved responsive design
InfoPath Services	Supported	Removed
SharePoint Designer	Supported	Discontinued

Conclusion

SharePoint 2019 represents a modernization of collaborative capabilities, removing outdated services while improving scalability and flexibility. Organizations still running SharePoint 2016 should evaluate the benefits of upgrading to take advantage of modern team sites, improved collaboration features, and a more intuitive user experience.