OneDirectory is the stronger employee directory for Microsoft 365 organizations. Sift has org planning and connectors beyond Microsoft. Here is what each does, what it costs, and when to choose which.
Sift is organizational intelligence software: an employee directory, org chart and workforce analytics platform used by hundreds of mid-market and enterprise companies. OneDirectory is an employee directory and org chart platform built for Microsoft 365 organizations. Both solve the same problem: help employees find the right person and understand how the organization fits together. They differ in where they start, what they assume about your data, and what you pay.
This comparison is based on hands-on use of Sift's product with 1,000-person demonstration data, alongside OneDirectory as it ships today. All pricing is from each vendor's published pricing page, read on 3 October 2026.
The short answer
OneDirectory is the stronger employee directory for Microsoft 365 organizations. It syncs with Entra ID hourly, scores data coverage for every field across the tenant, ships a curated 37,000-skill dataset, and lets admins create multiple named org charts, each for a different division, region or team, each with its own link. At list price it costs between a fifth and a half of Sift Complete from 150 to 2,000 employees.
Sift is wider, with org planning scenarios and connectors for Workday, Google Workspace and other sources beyond Microsoft. If the source of truth is not Entra ID, or if HR needs to model a reorg before it happens, Sift covers that ground.
For a Microsoft 365 organization that needs a directory the whole company actually uses and org charts for every team, OneDirectory is the sharper tool at a lower price.
Where OneDirectory is stronger
Multiple named org charts
OneDirectory ships named org charts that stay live: one for the whole company, one for engineering, one for the London office, each defined in the Directory Console by a name and one or more starting people, each with its own stable link. Every named chart reads the same synced data, so it is always current.
Sift has one live org chart. Everything else is either a filtered URL that requires a Sift login to open, or an Org Planning sandbox that is a copy of the chart for editing, not a live view. You cannot name a chart, save it to a list, or hand someone a link to "the EMEA chart" that stays up to date.
For organizations where division leads, regional managers and HR business partners each need their own view of the structure, multiple named charts remove the workaround of filtering, screenshotting and re-sharing every time the org changes.
Microsoft 365 depth
OneDirectory is built on Microsoft Entra ID. It syncs incrementally every hour and runs a full sync daily. The Directory Console shows field-level coverage across the entire tenant, so admins can see at a glance that 14% of profiles are missing a phone number or that the Auckland office has no job titles. Profiles link directly to Entra to fix the source data.
Sift treats Microsoft as one connector of seven. Its connector is still labeled "Microsoft Azure AD." There is no equivalent of viewing coverage across the tenant or opening a profile in Entra to correct the data at the source.
Skills that stay clean
OneDirectory ships a curated dataset of 37,000 skills. When an employee searches "who knows Azure DevOps," the result is one clean answer because the skill name is standardized. A dedicated Skills page lists every skill in the organization with a count of people who have it.
Sift's skills are whatever people type. The same skill ends up spelled several ways, and there is no skills page or people count. Sift does offer proficiency levels per skill, which OneDirectory does not have yet.
The directory everyone uses
OneDirectory bills by employee profile, not by login. Every employee in the organization has a profile whether or not they sign in. Across 65 organizations with 16,267 active employees, OneDirectory recorded 514,602 search-result views in 90 days. That is 31.6 searches per employee per quarter, which means people are using the directory as a daily tool, not opening it once and forgetting it.
Sift bills per user who logs in and charges in steps of 20. An organization where half the staff never log in (retail, manufacturing, healthcare with frontline workers) still pays for every profile in the directory, but only logged-in users count toward the Sift bill. The billing model works in Sift's favor when adoption is low; it works against the buyer when adoption is high and every employee actually uses the tool.
Setup and price
OneDirectory needs one connection to Entra ID. The Directory Console shows sync status and field coverage on a single page. The whole product is open in the trial.
Sift's admin has 11 sections and 42 default attributes, each with visibility, editability and data-mapping toggles. The trial checklist sits at 25% after the demo data loads. Profile layout editing and some theming carry "PRO" badges, so a buyer in the trial cannot test what they would pay for.
Where Sift is stronger
Org planning
Sift has Org Planning scenarios where admins can drag people and teams, create positions, and track headcount against the current state. Open roles also appear on the live chart with counts on each card. OneDirectory does not have org planning or open roles.
More data sources
Sift connects to Workday, Google Workspace, CSV with SFTP, and supports Okta, UKG and LDAP on request. OneDirectory syncs with Entra ID only. Managed profiles cover people who are not in Entra, but there is no Workday, Google or HRIS connector.
Analytics and chart export
Sift has an Analyze view that breaks any filtered group into pie charts, bar charts and treemaps. It also exports charts to PDF, JPG, PNG and SVG with a bulk multi-page print option. OneDirectory has group-by counts on browse pages and exports to PNG or SVG in four sizes.
Profile extras
Sift profiles carry additional fields such as pronouns, working hours, education and work history, and admins can reorder sections with a layout editor. Restricted fields can be scoped by role so only certain people see them. Sift also offers saved lists and group messaging. OneDirectory profiles have About Me, skills, hobbies and interests, birthday, tenure and the standard Entra fields.
What each product costs
Sift charges a base fee plus a per-user fee, sold in steps of 20 users above 100 (so 150 employees bill as 160 users). OneDirectory Pro is banded by profile count. All figures below are annual billing as published on 3 October 2026, before any discounts.
| Employees | OneDirectory Pro | Sift Org Chart only | Sift Complete | OneDirectory as % of Sift Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | $3,790 | $4,320 | $7,860 | 48% |
| 250 | $3,790 | $6,120 | $11,760 | 32% |
| 500 | $6,990 | $10,440 | $21,120 | 33% |
| 1,000 | $10,790 | $19,440 | $40,620 | 27% |
| 2,000 | $17,290 | $37,440 | $79,620 | 22% |
Three things this table does not show:
- Sift splits its product. "Org Chart" includes open roles and departmental charts but no search, analytics, API or custom profiles. "Directory" includes those but no org chart. Only Sift Complete matches what OneDirectory Pro includes, so Complete is the fair comparison.
- Sift is cheaper for very small companies. Sift Org Chart undercuts OneDirectory below about 150 employees, and Sift Complete below about 66. Neither is OneDirectory's target segment.
- Sift's list price is not its real price above 1,000. Sift's Enterprise plan starts at 1,000 employees with volume discounts and an extended proof of concept. Expect the gap to narrow on large deals.
Feature comparison
| Area | OneDirectory | Sift |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | Microsoft Entra ID, hourly incremental sync, daily full sync, filtering rules. Managed profiles for people outside Entra | CSV with SFTP, Azure AD, Workday, Google Workspace; Okta, UKG, LDAP via support. Multiple sources can enrich a primary |
| Microsoft 365 depth | Built on Entra ID. Field-level coverage scoring, fix-in-Entra path, "Call in Teams" and "Start a chat" on every profile | One connector of seven, labeled "Microsoft Azure AD." Teams app available |
| Search | Results grouped by attribute with counts (Job Titles, Skills, Hobbies and Interests), shareable search URLs | Typeahead grouped by attribute with match counts, "Did you mean" suggestions |
| Directory views | Grid, list table, Faces view; group by 7 fields, sort by 4; CSV download | Cards, table with user-picked columns, Analyze; CSV export capped at 1,000 |
| Filters | Browse pages for offices, departments, divisions, regions, skills and A to Z, each with counts | Faceted filter panel across 10 attributes with live counts |
| Skills | Curated 37,000-skill dataset plus custom additions. Skills page lists every skill with a people count | Free-text skills with proficiency levels and a featured set per profile |
| Multiple org charts | Named charts per division, region or team, each with its own stable link, listed in the sidebar and Console | One live chart. Variants are filtered URLs or Org Planning sandboxes |
| Org chart layouts | Vertical and horizontal, classic and compact; expand all, fit, find in chart, full screen | Advanced and Simple views, four orientations |
| Card content | Toggles for photos, offices, departments, assistants, dotted-line managers; swap name and title; team count | Classic or Extended cards, up to 10 chosen attributes, report counts, highlight-by color with legend |
| Chart export | PNG or SVG in four sizes | PDF, JPG, PNG, SVG, print and bulk multi-page print |
| Open roles | Not available | Open roles on the chart with counts on cards |
| Org planning | Not available | Scenarios with drag-and-drop, positions, bench, summary, comments, sharing |
| Dotted lines and assistants | Dotted-line manager and assistant fields on cards and profiles, edited by admins and editors only | On chart and profile; admins can let users add their own |
| Data quality | Field-level coverage across the whole tenant on one page, visible and hidden counts, filtering rules | Required fields, reminders, profile strength meter, onboarding, "report a data issue" |
| Analytics | Group-by counts on browse pages | Analyze: pie, bar, list and treemap breakdowns of any filtered group |
| Lists | Not available | Lists, Favorites, group email or Teams message to 100 |
| Profile layout | Three toggles: Teams chat, address, people pane | Section and field layout editor |
| Permissions | Administrator and Directory Editor, edit permission per field, guest sign-in control | Custom roles with dynamic filters, Public or Restricted per field, manager role |
| Homepage | Company links, New Hires (30, 60 or 90 days), Celebrations (birthdays, work anniversaries) | Rich text blocks, My Team, new hires, anniversaries, date-based lists |
| Setup | One Entra connection; Console overview on one page; whole product open in the trial | 11 admin sections, 42 default attributes; PRO features gated in the trial |
| Billing model | By profile count (every employee has a profile, login or not) | Base fee + per logged-in user, in steps of 20 |
When to choose which
| Use case | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IT needs a live directory and org chart from Entra for a 250 to 2,000 person Microsoft 365 tenant | OneDirectory | Price, Entra depth, one-step setup |
| Leaders each need a live chart for their own division or region | OneDirectory | Named org charts with stable links |
| Finding experts by skill across the company | OneDirectory | Curated 37,000-skill dataset |
| The whole company needs to search the directory daily, not just HR | OneDirectory | 31.6 searches per employee per quarter across 65 organizations |
| IT needs a single view of directory data quality across the tenant | OneDirectory | Field-level coverage scoring with fix-in-Entra path |
| Data residency in the EU or Australia, or multiple Microsoft tenants after an acquisition | OneDirectory | Enterprise plan supports multi-tenant and data residency |
| HR plans a reorg or next year's headcount | Sift | Org planning scenarios |
| Workday or Google Workspace is the source of truth | Sift | Multiple data connectors |
| HR needs restricted fields scoped by role | Sift | Field-level visibility controls |
| The organization needs workforce analytics dashboards | Sift | Analyze view with charts and breakdowns |
What employees actually use
Across 65 organizations with 16,267 active employees, OneDirectory recorded 514,602 search-result views in 90 days. That is 31.6 searches per employee per quarter. Renewals above 500 employees maintain over 80% retention.
Those numbers reflect a directory that the whole company opens, not just HR. OneDirectory bills by profile, so every employee is in the directory whether or not they log in. The search data shows they do.
Structure is admin-maintained
Sift can let every user add their own dotted-line relationships, which fills gaps faster but creates accuracy risk. OneDirectory keeps dotted lines and assistant relationships with administrators and directory editors. For organizations that use the org chart for approvals, compliance or audit, admin-maintained structure stays accurate.
What we cannot tell you
This comparison does not cover Sift's Teams app (we have not tested it), SSO login, a production Entra sync, or anything behind Sift's PRO gates that could not be tested in the trial. Sift's Enterprise pricing above 1,000 employees is quoted, not published, so the price gap narrows at scale.
FAQs
What is the difference between OneDirectory and Sift?
OneDirectory is built for Microsoft 365 organizations that need a directory the whole company uses and org charts for every team. Sift is a broader organizational intelligence platform with org planning and connectors beyond Microsoft. OneDirectory is the sharper, cheaper tool for Entra-based tenants; Sift covers organizations whose source of truth is not Microsoft.
How is OneDirectory priced?
OneDirectory Pro is banded by employee profile count: up to 250 profiles at $3,790 per year, 251 to 500 at $6,990, 501 to 1,000 at $10,790, and 1,001 to 2,000 at $17,290. Enterprise pricing is quoted for larger organizations. Every employee has a profile whether or not they log in.
How does Sift pricing compare to OneDirectory?
Sift Complete (which matches OneDirectory Pro's scope) costs $7,860 per year at 150 employees and $40,620 at 1,000. OneDirectory costs $3,790 and $10,790 at the same sizes. Sift is cheaper below about 66 employees. Above that, OneDirectory is between a fifth and a half of Sift Complete at list price.
Does OneDirectory support dotted-line reporting?
Yes. Dotted-line manager and assistant fields appear on org chart cards and profiles. They are maintained by administrators and directory editors, which keeps the structure accurate for organizations that use it for approvals or audit.
Can OneDirectory create multiple org charts?
Yes. Admins create named org charts in the Directory Console, each starting from one or more people and each with its own stable link. A division lead can have a chart for their division, a regional manager can have one for their region, and each stays live and synced with Entra ID. Sift has one live chart; additional views are filtered URLs or planning sandboxes.
Who should choose OneDirectory over Sift?
Microsoft 365 organizations between 250 and 2,000 employees where IT or an operations lead owns the directory, the source of truth is Entra ID, and the goal is a directory the whole company searches daily with org charts for every team.
When is Sift the better choice?
When the source of truth is Workday, Google Workspace or an HR export rather than Entra ID; or when HR needs org planning scenarios to model a reorg or headcount plan.
Method
Sift was used hands-on on 3 October 2026 with Sift's 1,000-person "Tycho Manufacturing" demonstration company (day 2 of a 14-day trial). Both the end-user and admin sides were reviewed. OneDirectory is described as it ships today. Pricing is from each vendor's published pricing page on the same date. G2 review data is from g2.com, read on 3 October 2026: Sift has 531 reviews at 4.7 stars, OneDirectory has 19 at 4.9. Nothing is taken from either vendor's marketing site.
Sources: Sift pricing, OneDirectory pricing, Sift on G2, OneDirectory on G2.
