Top 12 Cloud Migration Tools for 2025

Introduction

Navigating the complex process of cloud migration requires the right tools and strategies.

Explore a range of tools, each uniquely designed to address the various challenges and needs of cloud migration. From assessing your current infrastructure to ensuring seamless data transfer and minimizing downtime, these tools provide essential functionalities to facilitate a smooth transition to the cloud.

AWS Migration Services

A suite of tools from Amazon Web Services designed for migrating databases, servers, and applications to AWS.

Key Features:

• Server Migration Service (SMS) for automated migration of on-premises servers.
• Database Migration Service (DMS) supports heterogeneous migrations.
• Application Discovery Service to understand dependencies.
• DataSync for fast online data transfer.
• Migration Hub for tracking migrations across multiple AWS services.
• CloudEndure Migration for minimal downtime migrations.

Best for: Enterprises looking to migrate to AWS.

Pricing: Varies based on services used; some services offer a free tier.

Azure Migrate

Microsoft’s suite of tools for data center migration to Azure.

Key Features:

• Assessment tools for on-premises infrastructure.
• Integrated tools for database and virtual desktop migrations.
• Application mapping for visualizing dependencies.
• Cost management and optimization features.
• Support for hybrid cloud environments.
• Azure Site Recovery for business continuity during migration.

Best for: Businesses migrating to Microsoft Azure.

Pricing: Free assessment; other costs depend on the Azure services used.

Google Cloud Migrate

Google Cloud’s set of tools for migrating VMs, applications, and data to Google Cloud.

Key Features:

• Migrate for Compute Engine for VM migrations.
• Transfer Appliance for large-scale data transfers.
• Velostrata for streamlining migrations.
• Migrate for Anthos for containerized applications.
• Integration with Google Cloud services.
• Dataflow for data migration and processing.

Best for: Organizations moving to Google Cloud Platform.

Pricing: Depends on the specific Google Cloud services used.

VMware HCX

An application mobility platform designed for simplifying workload migration and protecting data during transfers.

Key Features:

• Workload mobility across different VMware environments.
• Network extension capabilities.
• WAN optimization for efficient data transfer.
• Support for bulk and incremental migrations.
• Integration with VMware's ecosystem.
• Disaster recovery and business continuity features.

Best for: Enterprises using VMware infrastructure.

Pricing: Based on the specific VMware products and services used.

CloudEndure Migration

An AWS tool that facilitates large-scale migration to the AWS cloud.

Key Features:

• Continuous block-level replication for minimal downtime.
• Automated machine conversion and orchestration.
• Non-disruptive testing of replicated servers.
• Support for a wide range of source platforms.
• Integration with AWS services.
• Data encryption during transit.

Best for: Large-scale migrations to AWS.

Pricing: Free for the migration process; ongoing costs depend on AWS usage.

Carbonite Migrate

A migration tool focused on minimizing risks and downtime during data migration.

Key Features:

• Automated, repeatable migration process.
• Support for physical, virtual, and cloud environments.
• Continuous replication for high availability.
• Non-disruptive testing capabilities.
• Data encryption and compression.
• Customizable for specific workload needs.

Best for: Businesses requiring minimal downtime during migration.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on specific needs.

Turbonomic

An Application Resource Management (ARM) tool that ensures application performance during cloud migration.

Key Features:

• Real-time application resource management.
• Automated workload scaling and optimization.
• Integration with major cloud providers.
• Cost management and optimization.
• AI-powered decision-making for resource allocation.
• Customizable policies and reporting.

Best for: Enterprises seeking automated workload optimization in the cloud.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on the scale and specific needs of the business.

Dell EMC Cloud Migration Services

Comprehensive services for migrating workloads to cloud environments, offered by Dell EMC.

Key Features:

• End-to-end migration strategy and planning.
• Migration of applications, data, and workloads.
• Support for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments.
• Cloud storage and infrastructure optimization.
• Customized solutions based on specific business needs.
• Integration with Dell EMC's storage and data protection solutions.

Best for: Organizations looking for a comprehensive, tailored migration service.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on the scope and complexity of the migration.

Rackspace Technology Cloud Migration Services

Services and tools from Rackspace for migrating applications and data to the cloud.

Key Features:

• Expertise in a wide range of cloud platforms.
• Custom migration planning and execution.
• Migration of databases, applications, and workloads.
• Managed services for ongoing support and optimization.
• Security and compliance guidance.
• Cost management and optimization.

Best for: Businesses seeking a managed service provider for cloud migration.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on the services required.

Zerto

A solution primarily for disaster recovery that also facilitates seamless cloud migration.

Key Features:

• Continuous data protection for minimal data loss.
• Multi-cloud support for flexibility.
• Non-disruptive testing and automated failover.
• Scalable architecture for growing environments.
• Simple management interface.
• Data replication and mobility across different cloud environments.

Best for: Organizations needing robust disaster recovery and cloud migration capabilities.

Pricing: Pricing varies based on the scale and specific requirements.

Movere

A SaaS platform that assists in cloud migration by providing discovery, assessment, and optimization capabilities.

Key Features:

• Discovery of IT environments for readiness assessment.
• Right-sizing and cost optimization for cloud deployments.
• Detailed reporting and analytics.
• Support for migration to various cloud platforms.
• Risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Integration with existing IT management tools.

Best for: Enterprises requiring comprehensive discovery and assessment for cloud migration.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on the organization's size and needs.

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP

A storage management solution that offers a unified experience across cloud environments.

Key Features:

• Data management across multiple cloud platforms.
• Efficient data transfer and storage optimization.
• High availability and disaster recovery options.
• Data protection and security features.
• Support for file services and block storage.
• SnapMirror technology for data replication.

Best for: Organizations looking for advanced cloud storage management.

Pricing: Pricing based on storage capacity and additional features used.

Must-have features for cloud migration tools - What you should really look for

Picking a cloud migration tool? It’s not just about ticking off features.

You're not just moving apps and data - you're moving the backbone of your business. It’s your infrastructure, your customer data, your uptime on the line. And the choices you make now? They’ll shape how scalable, secure, and cost-efficient your setup is for years.

So if you’re a CTO or tech lead trying to make the right call, here’s what you really want to look for - beyond the shiny sales pitch.

Start with deep, intelligent assessment

Before migrating a single workload, you need a clear, data-driven understanding of your current environment. The right tool should map out your infrastructure, app dependencies, network topology, and data flows. Bonus if it includes cost modeling, performance forecasting, and what-if simulations that highlight potential bottlenecks or savings.

Go beyond one cloud

Even if you're committed to AWS, Azure, or GCP, multi-cloud optionality protects you from vendor lock-in and supports future growth. Look for tools that natively support major cloud platforms and hybrid environments - especially if you're running workloads across data centers, edge locations, and public cloud.

Make data migration bulletproof

Moving terabytes (or petabytes) of data isn't just about speed - it's about integrity, security, and reliability. The tool should handle structured and unstructured data, support major DBs (MySQL, Postgres, SQL Server, MongoDB, etc.), and ensure end-to-end data fidelity. Features like resumable transfers, delta sync, and compression are non-negotiables.

Keep downtime close to zero

Customer-facing applications can't afford extended outages. Tools should support live migration, continuous replication, blue-green deployment strategies, and automated cutovers. Look for DNS integration, traffic switching, and rollback capabilities to reduce business risk during go-live.

Scale smart, not just fast

It’s not enough to “lift and shift.” Your migration tool should help map legacy workloads to cloud-native equivalents - like autoscaling groups, serverless functions, or managed databases. Post-migration tuning, right-sizing recommendations, and load testing integrations are the kind of features that turn a successful migration into a scalable platform.

Treat security as table stakes

Every transfer must be encrypted in transit and at rest. The tool should support role-based access controls, integrate with IAM systems (e.g., AWS IAM, Azure AD), and offer full audit trails. If you're in a regulated industry, check for built-in compliance mappings to standards like GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.

Plan for failure - with DR baked in

If your migration plan doesn't include rollback or disaster recovery options, you're gambling. Tools should provide versioning, point-in-time recovery, and snapshot management. Ideally, it also supports orchestrated failovers and DR runbooks with minimal RPO/RTO.

Watch the budget in real time

Cloud cost surprises are real - and avoidable. Your migration tool should include cost estimation for different migration strategies, show real-time billing impacts, and flag over-provisioned resources. Look for support for resource tagging, usage reports, and integrations with tools like CloudHealth or native billing APIs.

Insist on a clean, usable interface

Your team needs visibility, not another layer of complexity. A modern UI, live progress tracking, and error diagnostics go a long way. That said, it also needs automation support - think CLI tools, APIs, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Pulumi) for serious scale.

Customization is how you reduce risk

Your environment has quirks - every one does. The migration tool should let you define custom playbooks, pre-migration checks, and workflow hooks that account for edge cases. Event-driven automation, scripting support, and flexible scheduling can make or break a seamless cutover.

Don’t stop at the cutover

Post-migration is where things get real. You’ll need health monitoring, usage analytics, performance tuning, and security scanning. Native hooks into observability platforms (like Datadog, Prometheus, or CloudWatch) and cloud-native management tooling help ensure you're not flying blind.

Make sure it plays well with others

Your cloud migration tool needs to integrate cleanly with your broader IT ecosystem - CMDBs, ticketing systems, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring dashboards, and IaC tools. The less context-switching your team has to do, the smoother your migration will go.

Great migration tools don't just move your workloads - they enable your team to migrate with confidence, keep costs in check, and build a cloud-native foundation that scales. If you're comparing tools right now, use this checklist to cut through the marketing fluff and get to what really matters.

How to choose the right cloud migration tool (without wasting weeks)

Let’s be real - there’s no “best” cloud migration tool for everyone. What works for a global enterprise with thousands of VMs might be total overkill for a lean startup migrating a few services. The key is to match the tool to your technical landscape, migration goals, and long-term cloud strategy. Here's how to approach it without getting buried in vendor comparisons:

Start with your migration goals

What are you actually trying to move - a few apps, entire data centers, critical databases? Are you lifting and shifting, or re-architecting as you go? Knowing your scope (and your risk tolerance) will shape everything from tool selection to rollout strategy.

Audit your current environment

You can't plan a clean migration if you don't know what you're working with. Map out your infrastructure: servers, apps, databases, dependencies, network flows. What’s legacy? What’s containerized? Where are the integration landmines? The more visibility you have, the fewer surprises you'll hit mid-move.

Make a checklist of must-have features

Now that you know your environment, get clear on what your migration tool has to do. Fast, secure data transfer? Sure. Minimal downtime? Absolutely. But also think about automation, reporting, support for specific platforms, rollback options, and performance tuning post-migration.

Know your cloud targets

Are you going all-in on AWS, mixing Azure into the stack, or keeping some workloads on-prem? Your tool should support the providers you're using now and give you flexibility if your strategy shifts to multi-cloud or hybrid down the line.

Don’t compromise on security and compliance

End-to-end encryption (in transit and at rest), access controls, audit logs - these aren't “nice to have.” They’re essential. If you're in a regulated industry, make sure the tool can support GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, or whatever your compliance baseline is.

Understand the cost model

Some tools charge per workload, others per TB, some on licensing tiers. Make sure you’re not just looking at sticker price - factor in long-term savings from automation, performance optimization, and reduced downtime. Look for tools that help track migration costs and give real-time insights.

Think beyond the migration

You’re not just moving stuff - you’re setting up a foundation for the future. Look for tools that offer ongoing performance tuning, monitoring, reporting, and alerting. Post-migration support is often overlooked and ends up being the hidden bottleneck.

Make sure it scales with you

Your cloud footprint will grow. Your migration tool shouldn’t become your bottleneck. Can it handle multiple concurrent workloads? Automate across regions? Adapt to different app architectures? If not, you're buying tech debt.

Prioritize usability and support

A clean UI helps, sure - but it’s more than that. Is there a CLI or API for automation? Good documentation? Is support responsive and technically deep? The best tools help your team move fast and stay in control.

Test it in the real world

Before committing, try a small migration. Move a non-critical workload and see what breaks (because something always does). This tells you more than a polished demo ever could.

Look at the vendor, not just the tool

What’s their track record? Are they still innovating, or just coasting? Read reviews, check references, talk to other teams. You want a partner, not just a product.

Bring in outside perspective if needed

If your environment is complex, or this is your first major migration, lean on outside expertise - whether that’s internal architects, cloud consultants, or experienced partners. The upfront investment can save months of cleanup.

<span class="colorbox1" fs-test-element="box1"><p>Check also: Top Data Migration Tools. This guide covers 12 leading solutions, their features, ideal use cases, pricing, and tips on how to select the right tool for efficient and secure data migration.</p></span>

Next steps: Cloud migration tool decision framework

This framework helps you evaluate and select the right cloud migration tool across five key dimensions:

1. Technical fit
2. Business alignment
3. Operational readiness
4. Cost and scalability
5. Vendor maturity

Each dimension includes a set of guiding questions, red flags, and a simple 1–5 scoring scale. Use the total score to compare tools or build a short-list.

1. Technical fit

Ask:

• Does the tool support your target cloud(s)?
• Can it handle your specific workloads (VMs, containers, DBs, apps)?
• How does it manage data transfer (encryption, delta sync, retry/resume)?
• Can it identify and migrate dependencies between services?

Red flags:

• Limited support for hybrid or multi-cloud
• No rollback options or downtime mitigation
• No CLI/API for automation

Score (1–5): ___

2. Business alignment

Ask:

• Does the tool support your migration goals (e.g., speed, low downtime, re-architecture)?
• Will it help reduce time-to-value?
• Does it meet your security and compliance needs (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)?
• Will it help with post-migration optimization and governance?

Red flags:

• Security/compliance is bolted on or unclear
• Doesn’t support the target architecture or modernization strategy

Score (1–5): ___

3. Operational readiness

Ask:

• How easy is it to onboard your team?
• Does the tool provide automation, workflows, and repeatability?
• Is the UI intuitive for non-engineers (e.g., program managers, stakeholders)?
• What support is available (docs, SLAs, support team, community)?

Red flags:

• Clunky or outdated interface
• Poor documentation or limited real-world examples
• Support is email-only or outsourced with no SLAs

Score (1–5): ___

4. Cost and scalability

Ask:

• Is the pricing transparent and predictable?
• Can the tool scale with your migration scope and future needs?
• Does it offer built-in cost tracking or optimization recommendations?
• Are there long-term savings in automation or efficiency?

Red flags:

• Costs scale linearly or unpredictably
• No ability to trial or sandbox
• Hidden fees for advanced features or integrations

Score (1–5): ___

5. Vendor maturity and credibility

Ask:

• Is the vendor established with a solid track record?
• Are there real-world case studies or customer success stories?
• Are they still investing in the product (active updates, roadmap, integrations)?
• Can they support your industry or region-specific needs?

Red flags:

• Few public references or outdated customer examples
• Slow or stagnant development
• Poor reputation in peer circles

Score (1–5): ___

Final tally

Total Score (out of 25): ___

• 22–25: Strong fit - likely a top contender
• 18–21: Promising, but dig deeper in weak areas
• 15–17: Proceed with caution; may not scale
• Below 15: Probably not a good long-term fit