Netdocuments Vs SharePoint 7 Key Differences You Need To Know

NetDocuments vs SharePoint: 7 Key Differences

NetDocuments is a cloud-based document management system designed for law firms and legal departments. SharePoint is a versatile collaboration platform used across various industries.

This guide highlights 7 key differences to assist legal organizations, corporate legal departments, and compliance-focused enterprises in selecting the best platform for their document management needs.

Quick comparison

Dimension	NetDocuments	Microsoft SharePoint
Primary audience	Law firms, corporate legal, compliance	All industries; general enterprise
Document management depth	Native — matter-centric, profiling, check-in/out	Strong but requires configuration
Legal workflow support	Built-in: matter management, email filing, version control	Configurable; requires Power Automate or third-party
Microsoft 365 integration	Via ndOffice connector	Native — Teams, Outlook, Power BI
Security model	Matter-level access control	Site, library, folder, and item-level permissions
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR; legal-specific features	400+ certs: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, CMMC
Best fit	Legal industry DMS requirement	Org-wide collaboration with document management needs

The 7 key differences

1. Industry focus

NetDocuments is designed specifically for the legal industry. In contrast, SharePoint serves all industries. If you need legal document management, consider the following:

• Matter-centric organization
• Email filing
• Legal hold

NetDocuments is purpose-built for these needs, while SharePoint requires configuration to achieve similar functionality.

2. Matter-centric organization

NetDocuments organizes documents by legal matters automatically. Each matter acts as a container with its own access list. In contrast, SharePoint uses sites, libraries, and folders. While these can model matter-centric organization, they need careful information architecture design by a consultant.

3. Check-in / check-out and version control

NetDocuments enforces check-in/check-out natively — a legal requirement for draft documents. SharePoint also supports version history and check-in/check-out, but the workflow must be configured and enforced through library settings or Power Automate.

4. Email filing

NetDocuments offers ndMail, an Outlook add-in that allows users to file emails directly to matters. In contrast, SharePoint uses Outlook integration or Power Automate flows for email filing.

Key differences include:

• ndMail: Designed specifically for the legal email filing workflow.
• SharePoint: Provides a more general and flexible approach.

5. Microsoft 365 integration

SharePoint is a core part of Microsoft 365. It integrates directly with Teams, Outlook, Power BI, and Copilot. Additionally, NetDocuments connects with Microsoft 365 through its ndOffice connector. For organizations that already use Microsoft 365 widely, SharePoint helps reduce the number of platforms to manage.

6. Security model

NetDocuments offers matter-level access control. Users can only view the matters they are authorized to access.

In contrast, SharePoint employs a layered permission model. This model includes:

• Site-level permissions
• Library-level permissions
• Folder-level permissions
• Item-level permissions

Both platforms support role-based access.

NetDocuments is easier to use for legal access control. On the other hand, SharePoint offers more flexibility for cross-functional organizations.

7. Total cost of ownership

NetDocuments pricing ranges from $40 to $80 per user per month, depending on the plan selected. SharePoint is included with Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5. For organizations already using M365, the additional cost is $0.

For organizations not using M365, NetDocuments may offer a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). This is due to its simpler implementation for legal workflows.

Which should you choose?

EPC Group evaluates your specific workflows, compliance requirements, and integration needs before recommending.

• Choose NetDocuments if you are a law firm or corporate legal department that needs a purpose-built DMS with matter management and ndMail.
• Choose SharePoint if your organization already runs Microsoft 365 and needs document management integrated with Teams, Copilot, and Power BI across all departments — not just legal.
• Hybrid approach: some organizations run NetDocuments for legal matters and SharePoint for firm-wide collaboration. EPC Group integrates both.

Frequently asked questions

Is NetDocuments better than SharePoint for law firms?

NetDocuments is designed specifically for legal document management. It offers:

• Matter-centric organization
• Email filing through ndMail
• Legal-specific version control

While SharePoint can replicate many of these features, it needs configuration. EPC Group recommends using NetDocuments for legal-only document management systems (DMS) and SharePoint for firm-wide collaboration.

Can SharePoint replace NetDocuments?

Yes, this is possible with the right setup. EPC Group has created SharePoint environments that manage:

• Matter management
• Email filing
• Version control for law firms

However, SharePoint needs more initial configuration. In return, it offers better integration with Microsoft 365, including Teams, Copilot, and Power BI.

How much does NetDocuments cost vs SharePoint?

NetDocuments costs between $40 and $80 per user each month. SharePoint is included in Microsoft 365 E1 for $8 per user per month, E3 for $36, or E5 for $57. If your organization already uses M365, SharePoint is effectively free.

EPC Group can help you model the total cost of ownership based on your:

• Specific user count
• Workflow requirements

Schedule a consultation

EPC Group evaluates NetDocuments vs SharePoint and implements the right document management solution. Call (888) 381-9725 or request a 30-minute discovery call.