Quick Overview
- 1#1: Azure Migrate - Provides comprehensive discovery, assessment, right-sizing, and migration capabilities for workloads to Azure cloud.
- 2#2: AWS Application Migration Service - Enables continuous replication and fast lift-and-shift migrations of servers to AWS with minimal downtime.
- 3#3: Google Cloud Migration Center - Offers unified planning, assessment, and execution tools to migrate workloads to Google Cloud efficiently.
- 4#4: Zerto - Delivers continuous data protection, replication, and automated migration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- 5#5: VMware HCX - Facilitates secure workload mobility, replication, and migration between VMware environments and public clouds.
- 6#6: Carbonite Migrate - Supports agentless block-level VM migrations to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with non-disruptive testing.
- 7#7: Veeam - Provides backup, replication, and data mobility features for seamless cloud migrations and disaster recovery.
- 8#8: IBM Turbonomic - Automates resource management and right-sizing for optimized cloud migrations and ongoing operations.
- 9#9: Flexera - Delivers cloud migration planning, cost optimization, and management across multi-cloud environments.
- 10#10: RackWare - Offers automated discovery, assessment, and migration of virtual machines to any cloud provider.
We selected and ranked these tools based on feature robustness, proven performance, user-friendly design, and long-term value, ensuring they address the complex demands of modern cloud migration strategies.
Comparison Table
Cloud migration software simplifies transitions to cloud environments, with diverse tools offering unique features to suit varied needs. This comparison table details leading options like Azure Migrate, AWS Application Migration Service, Google Cloud Migration Center, Zerto, VMware HCX, and more. Readers will learn to evaluate key attributes, use cases, and suitability for their specific migration goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azure Migrate Provides comprehensive discovery, assessment, right-sizing, and migration capabilities for workloads to Azure cloud. | enterprise | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.9/10 |
| 2 |  AWS Application Migration Service Enables continuous replication and fast lift-and-shift migrations of servers to AWS with minimal downtime. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | Google Cloud Migration Center Offers unified planning, assessment, and execution tools to migrate workloads to Google Cloud efficiently. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 4 | Zerto Delivers continuous data protection, replication, and automated migration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | VMware HCX Facilitates secure workload mobility, replication, and migration between VMware environments and public clouds. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Carbonite Migrate Supports agentless block-level VM migrations to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with non-disruptive testing. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
| 7 | Veeam Provides backup, replication, and data mobility features for seamless cloud migrations and disaster recovery. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | IBM Turbonomic Automates resource management and right-sizing for optimized cloud migrations and ongoing operations. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Flexera Delivers cloud migration planning, cost optimization, and management across multi-cloud environments. | enterprise | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 10 | RackWare Offers automated discovery, assessment, and migration of virtual machines to any cloud provider. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
Provides comprehensive discovery, assessment, right-sizing, and migration capabilities for workloads to Azure cloud.
Enables continuous replication and fast lift-and-shift migrations of servers to AWS with minimal downtime.
Offers unified planning, assessment, and execution tools to migrate workloads to Google Cloud efficiently.
Delivers continuous data protection, replication, and automated migration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Facilitates secure workload mobility, replication, and migration between VMware environments and public clouds.
Supports agentless block-level VM migrations to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with non-disruptive testing.
Provides backup, replication, and data mobility features for seamless cloud migrations and disaster recovery.
Automates resource management and right-sizing for optimized cloud migrations and ongoing operations.
Delivers cloud migration planning, cost optimization, and management across multi-cloud environments.
Offers automated discovery, assessment, and migration of virtual machines to any cloud provider.
Azure Migrate
enterpriseProvides comprehensive discovery, assessment, right-sizing, and migration capabilities for workloads to Azure cloud.
Agentless dependency analysis with interactive visualizations for precise workload mapping and migration grouping
Azure Migrate is Microsoft's free, centralized platform for discovering, assessing, and migrating on-premises servers, databases, web apps, virtual desktops, and data to Azure. It offers agentless discovery, dependency mapping, performance-based right-sizing recommendations, and cost estimation to simplify migration planning. The tool supports replication, live migration with minimal downtime, and integration with Azure services like Azure Database Migration Service for seamless transitions.
Pros
- Agentless discovery and automated dependency visualization for accurate assessments
- Comprehensive support for VMs, databases, web apps, and data migrations
- Free unlimited assessments with detailed Azure cost projections
Cons
- Primarily optimized for Azure destinations, limiting multi-cloud flexibility
- Requires Azure subscription and some setup for advanced scenarios
- Complex environments may need additional Azure expertise
Best For
Enterprises migrating VMware, Hyper-V, or physical servers to Azure who want a robust, integrated toolset.
Pricing
Free for discovery, assessment, and planning; pay-as-you-go for Azure resources used during migration and post-migration.
AWS Application Migration Service
enterpriseEnables continuous replication and fast lift-and-shift migrations of servers to AWS with minimal downtime.
Automated continuous replication with crash-consistent snapshots and one-click cutover for near-zero data loss migrations
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is a fully managed service that automates the lift-and-shift migration of virtual machines and physical servers from on-premises environments, other clouds, or virtualization platforms to AWS with minimal downtime. It continuously replicates data from source servers to AWS, enabling non-disruptive testing, automated cutover, and launch of instances in the target environment. The service supports a broad range of OSes and integrates seamlessly with other AWS tools for post-migration optimization.
Pros
- Minimal downtime with continuous replication and sub-minute RPO
- Seamless AWS ecosystem integration for testing and cutover
- Broad source compatibility including VMware, Hyper-V, and physical servers
Cons
- Primarily suited for lift-and-shift, not application refactoring
- Requires lightweight agent installation on source servers
- AWS-specific, limiting multi-cloud flexibility
Best For
Enterprises migrating large-scale VMware or on-premises workloads to AWS with a focus on speed and minimal disruption.
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go based on AWS compute resources used for replication and testing (e.g., ~$0.0135/hour per vCPU); free for cutover and data egress.
Google Cloud Migration Center
enterpriseOffers unified planning, assessment, and execution tools to migrate workloads to Google Cloud efficiently.
AI-powered strategy recommendations that deliver personalized, prioritized migration blueprints with risk and cost insights
Google Cloud Migration Center is a free, unified platform within the Google Cloud console that streamlines the discovery, assessment, and planning of workload migrations to Google Cloud. It deploys lightweight collectors to inventory on-premises and multi-cloud environments, performs readiness assessments, and generates detailed reports including TCO analysis and migration strategies. The tool integrates natively with Google's Migrate for Compute, Database Migration Service, and other tools for execution.
Pros
- Comprehensive discovery and assessment with AI-driven recommendations
- Seamless integration with Google Cloud migration services
- No licensing fees, excellent value for Google Cloud customers
Cons
- Limited flexibility for non-Google Cloud destinations
- Requires deploying collectors on-premises, adding setup overhead
- Steeper learning curve for users new to Google Cloud ecosystem
Best For
Enterprises planning large-scale migrations to Google Cloud who need detailed assessments and strategy guidance.
Pricing
Free to use; incurs standard Google Cloud costs for resources like VMs, storage, and data transfer during assessments and migrations.
Zerto
enterpriseDelivers continuous data protection, replication, and automated migration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Journaling-based CDP for precise point-in-time recovery during migrations
Zerto is a data protection and replication platform that excels in continuous data protection (CDP) for virtual machines, enabling low-downtime migrations from on-premises to cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It supports live replication, automated failover, and failback, making it suitable for hybrid cloud strategies with built-in disaster recovery. While primarily a DRaaS solution, its migration capabilities allow seamless workload mobility without significant reconfiguration.
Pros
- Near-zero RPO/RTO with continuous replication
- Multi-cloud and multi-hypervisor support (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM)
- Integrated DR and migration in one platform
Cons
- High enterprise-level pricing
- Complex initial setup and configuration
- Primarily optimized for VMs, less ideal for non-virtualized or containerized workloads
Best For
Enterprises with VMware environments seeking resilient, low-downtime cloud migrations integrated with disaster recovery.
Pricing
Quote-based subscription; typically $2,000-$4,000 per protected VM per year, depending on scale and features.
VMware HCX
enterpriseFacilitates secure workload mobility, replication, and migration between VMware environments and public clouds.
Replication-assisted vMotion for true zero-downtime live VM migrations across clouds without application refactoring
VMware HCx (Hybrid Cloud Extension) is a robust platform designed for seamless workload migration, mobility, and disaster recovery between on-premises VMware environments and major public clouds like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It enables multiple migration modes including replication-assisted vMotion for zero-downtime live migrations, bulk transfers, and high availability failover. HCx also extends networks and security policies across sites, ensuring consistent operations in hybrid and multi-cloud setups.
Pros
- Supports live migrations with IP preservation for minimal disruption
- Broad multi-cloud compatibility within VMware ecosystem
- Integrated disaster recovery and network extension capabilities
Cons
- Limited to VMware-based source/target environments
- Steep learning curve and complex initial deployment
- Premium pricing that may not suit small-scale migrations
Best For
Large enterprises with heavy VMware investments seeking reliable hybrid/multi-cloud workload portability.
Pricing
Per-core subscription model, typically $0.70-$1.50 per core/month depending on cloud provider and features; free HCx Connector appliance.
Carbonite Migrate
enterpriseSupports agentless block-level VM migrations to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with non-disruptive testing.
Block-level continuous replication for near-zero data loss and downtime migrations
Carbonite Migrate is a robust cloud migration tool designed for replicating and moving physical, virtual, and cloud workloads to platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and VMware. It employs continuous block-level replication to enable low-downtime migrations with precise cutover control. The solution supports both agent-based and agentless deployment, making it suitable for hybrid environments seeking reliable server migration.
Pros
- Continuous replication minimizes downtime during cutover
- Broad compatibility with major clouds and hypervisors
- Strong support for Windows workloads with rollback capabilities
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for large-scale migrations
- Limited native support for non-Windows/Linux OS
- Setup and orchestration require some expertise
Best For
Mid-sized enterprises migrating Windows-heavy server fleets to cloud providers with a focus on minimal disruption.
Pricing
Subscription-based, typically $15-$30 per protected instance per month, with custom enterprise quotes.
Veeam
enterpriseProvides backup, replication, and data mobility features for seamless cloud migrations and disaster recovery.
Agentless replication with continuous data protection and instant cloud recovery
Veeam is a leading data protection and management platform that supports cloud migration through backup, replication, and recovery tools for hybrid and multi-cloud environments including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It enables agentless migration of VMs and data to the cloud with features like instant recovery and automated verification. While primarily focused on backup and DR, its replication capabilities make it viable for migration scenarios requiring data resilience.
Pros
- Multi-cloud support for seamless replication to AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Agentless VM migration with instant recovery and ransomware protection
- Integrated backup verification (SureBackup) ensures migratable data integrity
Cons
- Primarily backup/DR-focused, less optimized for large-scale application refactoring
- Complex licensing and setup for non-expert users
- Higher costs compared to dedicated migration tools like AWS DMS
Best For
Enterprises with existing on-premises VMs seeking reliable, protected migration to cloud with built-in disaster recovery.
Pricing
Subscription or perpetual licensing starting at ~$100-200 per VM/year; capacity-based for cloud, with free Community Edition for small-scale use.
IBM Turbonomic
enterpriseAutomates resource management and right-sizing for optimized cloud migrations and ongoing operations.
Fully automated, 'no-risk' resource actions that continuously balance performance, cost, and compliance without human oversight
IBM Turbonomic is an AI-powered platform designed for continuous resource optimization across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. In the context of cloud migration, it assesses on-premises workloads, delivers precise rightsizing and placement recommendations, and automates resource scaling to ensure performance and cost efficiency post-migration. It provides deep visibility into infrastructure, predicting issues before they occur and executing self-healing actions without manual intervention.
Pros
- AI-driven automation for real-time optimization and rightsizing
- Multi-cloud support with comprehensive visibility and forecasting
- Proven ROI through cost savings and performance guarantees
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial deployment
- Enterprise pricing lacks transparency and can be costly for SMBs
- Focuses more on optimization than direct migration tooling
Best For
Large enterprises managing complex hybrid/multi-cloud migrations that prioritize ongoing automation and cost optimization.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing based on workload scale (e.g., per VM/core); typically starts at $10K+ annually, requires sales quote.
Flexera
enterpriseDelivers cloud migration planning, cost optimization, and management across multi-cloud environments.
Application Rationalization engine that prioritizes workloads based on business value, technical fit, and cost implications for cloud migrations
Flexera One is a unified IT management platform specializing in cloud cost optimization, software asset management, and application rationalization to support cloud migration planning. It provides deep visibility into hybrid environments, helping organizations assess application dependencies, forecast migration costs, and optimize licensing to avoid overspending post-migration. While strong in discovery and pre-migration analysis, it focuses more on management and optimization rather than automated execution of migrations.
Pros
- Comprehensive application discovery and dependency mapping for migration planning
- Advanced cloud cost forecasting and optimization with ML-driven recommendations
- Seamless integration with software licensing to minimize compliance risks during transitions
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex implementation for non-enterprise users
- Lacks native tools for automated migration execution (e.g., lift-and-shift)
- Pricing can be prohibitive for mid-sized organizations
Best For
Large enterprises with complex hybrid IT estates seeking cost-optimized migration planning and ongoing cloud management.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing based on managed assets; typically starts at $50,000+ annually for enterprise deployments.
RackWare
enterpriseOffers automated discovery, assessment, and migration of virtual machines to any cloud provider.
Agentless live block-level migration ensuring zero data loss and sub-minute cutover times
RackWare is an agentless cloud migration platform that enables live, non-disruptive migration of virtual machines, databases, files, and applications across on-premises data centers, private clouds, and major public clouds like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It uses proprietary technology for block-level data synchronization and cutover with minimal downtime. The solution also supports hybrid cloud management and ongoing workload mobility for multi-cloud environments.
Pros
- Agentless architecture simplifies deployment without installing software on source/target systems
- Supports live migrations with near-zero downtime across heterogeneous environments
- Broad compatibility with major hyperscalers and VMware/hyper-converged infrastructure
Cons
- Pricing is opaque and requires custom quotes, lacking transparent tiers
- Setup and orchestration can have a learning curve for non-expert users
- Limited free trial or self-service options compared to competitors
Best For
Enterprises with complex, multi-cloud environments seeking reliable, low-downtime workload portability.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing starting around $50K/year for mid-sized deployments; contact sales for quotes.
Conclusion
The reviewed cloud migration tools deliver powerful capabilities, with the top three setting the standard. Azure Migrate leads as the top choice, offering comprehensive discovery, assessment, and migration features. AWS Application Migration Service and Google Cloud Migration Center stand out as strong alternatives, excelling in continuous replication and unified planning, each fitting different operational needs.
Begin your migration journey with Azure Migrate for a seamless transition, or explore AWS or Google based on your specific workload and environment requirements.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison