SharePoint Members vs Site Members: Differences Explained

SharePoint Members and Site Members might sound the same, but they manage access in different ways. In this guide, we’ll discuss the comparison of SharePoint Members vs Site Members to leverage each effectively.

Let’s begin our discussion:

SharePoint site members vs members – Overview

Why it Matters for Governance & Compliance

SharePoint Site Members vs Members

How they Affects Microsoft Teams & Planner Integration

When to Use Members for Migration

How does Overusing Site Members in Sensitive Sites Cause Security Risk?

Which One Should You Use: SharePoint Members vs Site Members?

Important Points

Author’s Verdict

People Also Ask

Difference Between Members and Site Members in SharePoint – Overview

What is SharePoint Members?

SharePoint Members refers to users assigned to the Members group of a SharePoint site. These are users who have permissions to edit, create, delete, add, and share content with others by default.

When I create a SharePoint Team site, the Members group is automatically created as part of the default three groups: Owners, Members, and Visitors.

What are Site Members?

The Site Members refer to users listed under the Microsoft 365 Group that are associated with a modern Team site. They have access to the site via sharing are not necessarily part of a SharePoint group.

So if I add someone to the Team in Microsoft Teams, they also become a Site Member, and this is a clear difference between members and site members in SharePoint.

Understanding SharePoint Members vs Site Members Matters for Governance & Compliance

Treating SharePoint Members and Site Members as interchangeable can create real issues:

SharePoint Online Permissions
Audit logs track group-based and direct access differently
DLP and sensitivity labels do not apply equally depending on permission structures
Access reviews and recertifications are harder when users aren’t segmented

Difference Between Members and Site Members in SharePoint

The points below help you to easily understand the difference between the two quickly:

SharePoint Members are users added to SharePoint-specific security groups that control access within a particular site. On the other hand, Site Members are added through a Microsoft 365 Group or directly through SharePoint in modern sites.
Both SharePoint Members and Site Members come with the Edit permission level by default.
SharePoint Members can be used in both classic and modern SharePoint sites. But, Site Members can be used only for modern SharePoint sites that are connected to Microsoft 365 Groups.
Through the SharePoint Site Permissions interface, site owners or admins can manage SharePoint Members. While the Site Members are managed via Microsoft 365 Group membership, which is handled through tools such as the Microsoft 365 admin centre, Teams, or Outlook.
SharePoint Members have access limited to a specific SharePoint site only. Here, the Site Members win as they can access integrated services like Microsoft Teams, Outlook calendars, etc.
SharePoint Members are found under the site permissions settings, and Site Members appear under the Group membership settings.
SharePoint Members are controlled by the SharePoint admin or site owner, while the Site Members are managed by the Microsoft 365 Group owner.

How SharePoint Members vs Site Members Affects Microsoft Teams & Planner Integration

Site Members are not only accessing SharePoint, but also:

Microsoft Teams
Shared calendars and conversations in Outlook
Microsoft Planner for task tracking

So, double-check the user details before making that a Site Member, as it impacts much more than just document access.

When to Use SharePoint Members vs Site Members for Migration

In migration projects, I’ve seen the SharePoint Migration Tool depend on SharePoint groups to replicate permissions.

That’s why I make sure my SharePoint Members group is always well-structured to prevent permission mismatches and access issues.

If you’re planning for SharePoint Tenant to Tenant migration, make sure your SharePoint groups are clean.

How does Overusing Site Members in Sensitive Sites Cause Security Risk?

It is recommended that, in departments like HR or Finance, you avoid using Site Member permissions.

By default, Microsoft 365 Group members get Edit rights, which can lead to accidental data leaks or deletion.

In these cases, you can manually assign users to custom SharePoint groups with Read-only or limited access to keep sensitive data secure. If you’re unsure, test with who do legitimate SharePoint documents come from the guidelines.

Which One Should You Use: SharePoint Members vs Site Members?

You can choose SharePoint Members or Site members according to your requirement:

For modern, collaborative team sites tied to Microsoft Teams, use Site Members managed via Microsoft 365 Groups.
For classic team sites, use SharePoint Members via SharePoint groups.

Difference Between Members and Site Members in SharePoint – Important Points

If a site is group-connected, manage permissions through the group, not through SharePoint groups.
Avoid giving full control to members unless necessary.
Double-check sharing settings.

Author’s Verdict

SharePoint Members is a group inside the SharePoint site itself, while Site Members are tied to a Microsoft 365 Group. Understanding the comparison between SharePoint Members vs Site Members helps to avoid unnecessary permission chaos.