In the world of SharePoint Online and the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, app catalogs play a critical role in managing and deploying SharePoint Framework (SPFx) solutions and other client-side customizations. Whether you’re a developer, administrator, or architect planning an app deployment strategy, one common dilemma you’ll face is: Should I use the Tenant-Wide App Catalog or a Site Collection App Catalog?
Let’s break this down in plain language, dive into real-world use cases, highlight pros and cons, and help you decide what’s best for your scenario.
🚀 What Is an App Catalog?
An App Catalog in SharePoint is a special site used to store and manage custom apps for internal use. These apps could be:
- SPFx web parts
- SPFx extensions (like command sets or application customizers)
- SharePoint Add-ins (classic model)
- Microsoft Teams tabs created using SPFx
Once deployed to an app catalog, these apps can be installed on specific sites (site collection level) or made available across the entire tenant (tenant-wide level).
🏢 Tenant-Wide App Catalog
📌 What It Is:
This is a central catalog available across the entire SharePoint tenant. Any app deployed here (and marked as tenant-deployable) can be installed on all site collections without needing per-site approval.
👥 Who Uses It:
Primarily used by global/SharePoint administrators to distribute company-wide apps—think branding extensions, global footers, or Teams integration apps.
✅ Use Cases:
- Company-wide header/footer
- Custom form controls in libraries
- Shared SPFx solutions across departments
🛠️ Sample Implementation:
# Add SPFx solution to Tenant App Catalog
Add-PnPApp -Path ./your-solution.sppkg -Scope Tenant
✅ Pros:
- Centralized management
- Easier governance
- Seamless deployment across sites
- Supports Microsoft Teams apps integration
❌ Cons:
- Requires SharePoint admin permissions
- Not suitable for isolated or department-level testing
- All apps need to go through centralized approval
🏗️ Site Collection App Catalog
📌 What It Is:
A scoped app catalog created on a specific site collection, allowing app deployment limited to that particular site.
👥 Who Uses It:
Used by site owners or development teams who want autonomy or are testing site-specific features without affecting the entire tenant.
✅ Use Cases:
- Departmental or pilot project deployments
- Sandbox/testing environments
- Custom apps for restricted site collections
🛠️ Sample Implementation:
# Enable Site Collection App Catalog
Add-SPOSiteCollectionAppCatalog -Site https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/dev✅ Pros:
- Localized deployment control
- Great for development/testing
- Does not need tenant-wide admin for every app
❌ Cons:
- Harder to govern and maintain
- Risk of app duplication across sites
- No Microsoft Teams integration from this catalog
🧭 When to Use Which?
| Scenario | Use Tenant App Catalog | Use Site Collection App Catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Company-wide deployment | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Teams integration needed | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Department-specific customization | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Testing SPFx solution before rollout | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Governance & version control | ✅ Easier | ❌ More complex |
🔧 Best Practices and Approaches
- Centralize governance: Use Tenant Catalog for production-ready apps to avoid fragmentation.
- Isolate development: Use Site Collection Catalogs for development and testing.
- Version control: Track changes and use clear naming/versioning conventions.
- Use tenant-scoped deployment wisely: Only mark apps as tenant-deployable if you’re confident they’re tested and secure.
- Limit who can create Site App Catalogs: Reduce potential sprawl and app conflicts.
🎯 Real-World Use Case
Scenario: You’re building a Kudos Web Part (SPFx) to encourage employee recognition.
- Dev/Test Phase: Deploy to a Site Collection App Catalog in
https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/devkudos - Final Production: Deploy to Tenant App Catalog with tenant-wide availability
💬 Alternatives and Their Considerations
If SPFx or App Catalogs don’t fit your needs (e.g., you want deeper back-end logic), you might consider:
| Option | Use Case | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Azure-hosted Web Apps | Full-scale web functionality | Needs Azure resources |
| PowerApps & PowerAutomate | No-code solutions, integrations | Less flexibility for complex UI |
| Classic SharePoint Add-ins | Legacy systems | Not modern UI compatible |
🔗 Helpful References
- Enable Site Collection App Catalog
- SharePoint Tenant App Catalog
- PnP PowerShell – Add-PnPApp
- SharePoint Framework (SPFx) Overview
Choosing between a Tenant-Wide and Site Collection App Catalog isn’t about which is better—it’s about what fits your context. Use site catalogs when you need agility and sandboxing. Use the tenant catalog when you’re rolling out trusted, tenant-wide capabilities.
For best results? Use both strategically.
App Catalog Audits Authentication Automation Backup Compliance Content Type CSS Flows Google Graph GULP Javascript Limitations List Metadata MFA Microsoft Node NodeJs O365 OneDrive Permissions PnP PnPJS Policy Power Automate PowerAutomate PowerShell React ReactJs Rest API Rest Endpoint Send an HTTP Request to SharePoint SharePoint SharePoint List SharePoint Modern SharePoint Online SPFX SPO Sync Tags Teams Termstore Versioning