Microsoft 365 Group Calendar Vs Shared Calendar: Which one is better?
Read time: 5 minutes
Working in a collaborative professional setting, I’ve extensively used both Office 365 Group Calendar and Shared Calendar. Despite their common goal of scheduling and event management, I’ve observed significant differences between them. This article delves into a detailed comparison to determine which one is more suitable.
The Office 365 Group Calendar in Outlook is a powerful tool crafted for team collaboration. It extends beyond being a mere calendar, enabling group members to seamlessly share files, exchange emails, and collaborate on documents in real-time.
Conversely, the Shared Calendar offers a calendar shared with view, edit, and delegate permissions. While both options offer integrated calendar functionality, significant distinctions exist between the two. Let’s delve into the comparison of Office 365 Group Calendar vs. Shared Calendar.
Both calendars have their distinct features & benefits that businesses can take advantage of to streamline work processes & increase business efficiency with Office 365 features.
| Features | Office 365 Group Calendar | Office 365 Shared Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Only available within an Office 365 group | Can be accessed by any user with permission |
| Collaboration | Enables members of a group to view & manage the calendar, create appointments & schedule meetings | Allows multiple users to view & edit the calendar at the same time |
| Integration | Integration with Office 365 tools such as Outlook, SharePoint, Teams & planner | Integrates with Outlook & SharePoint |
| Visibility | Provides a clear view of all the events & appointments scheduled for the entire group | Gives access to all the events for all users with permission |
| Privacy | The group owner or administrator has control over who can access, view & edit the calendar | The owner of the Shared calendar has got full control |
The Group calendar is primarily tailored to address the requirements of a specific Office 365 group. It empowers members to maintain a unified and well-organized overview of all their meetings, appointments, and events. Furthermore, the Group calendar seamlessly integrates with tools such as Planner, SharePoint, and Teams.
On the other hand, the Shared calendar is accessible by every user with permission & is designed to be shared throughout an organization. It allows multiple users to schedule & manage appointments & better task management in Microsoft 365. Also, the owner of the Shared calendar has complete control over the visibility & editing permissions of the calendar.
So, which calendar option is superior? The answer hinges entirely on the specific needs of a team or organization. The Group calendar proves advantageous for groups seeking synchronized schedules and enhanced collaboration. On the other hand, the Shared calendar is ideal for organizations aiming to freely share appointments and events.
Once we’ve compared Office 365 Group calendar to the Shared calendar, it’s essential to understand how to create a shared calendar in Office 365 for improved collaboration. Here are the steps to follow:
Is it possible to modify Office 365 Group Calendar permissions? Absolutely. Follow our guide below to grant the necessary permissions to your group users.
Note: At times, the permissions tab is not visible which indicates that you do not have the access and required permission for the Office 365 Group calendar.
Office 365 Group Calendar and Shared Calendar each have their distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on the situation. Regardless of your choice, both options are highly beneficial for efficiently managing events and activities within organizations.
While managing calendars, it’s crucial to prioritize data safety and perform regular backups of your Office 365 calendar data. You can choose to do this manually or utilize a reliable third-party tool like Kernel Office 365 Backup & Restore for comprehensive data protection. Consider giving it a try to safeguard your organization’s data effectively.
A. The use of calendar groups allows you to see the combined schedules of your colleagues or family members at a glance when you frequently view multiple calendars together. The calendar groups can also contain resources, Internet calendars & SharePoint calendars.
A. The team calendar consists of a synchronized calendar that all coworkers will have access to. Team calendars are often used to keep track of meeting dates, time off schedules, project deadlines & any other information the entire team needs to know.
