Best Cloud Migration Tools in 2026

AWS Application Migration Service, known as MGN, is the default tool for lifting servers into AWS. It replicates source servers continuously at block level, converts them automatically, and lets teams test the replicated servers in AWS before the real cutover. That test step matters, because it catches driver, network, and application problems while the old server still runs production.

The tool itself is free for a migration period per server, but the AWS resources used during replication and testing are charged, and the migrated servers cost normal AWS rates once live. MGN also only targets AWS, so a team planning a multi-cloud estate will need a second tool for other targets. For a straightforward move to AWS, it is the obvious starting point.

Azure Migrate is Microsoft's hub for assessing and moving workloads to Azure. It starts with discovery, inventorying servers and mapping dependencies between them, which helps teams plan move groups that actually work together. Migration itself covers servers, databases, and web apps, with cost estimates tied to Azure pricing so teams can compare target sizes before they commit.

Assessment is free, and migration tooling is included, but target Azure resources are charged as normal. The depth of assessment also varies: Windows and VMware sources are well covered, while unusual or older systems may need extra manual work. For a Microsoft-centered estate, Azure Migrate gives the most complete single view of the move.

Google Cloud Migration Center brings discovery, assessment, and planning together before the move itself. Teams can inventory infrastructure, estimate running costs on Google Cloud, and then use Migrate to Virtual Machines to move servers with testing before cutover. The migration service itself carries no extra charge for moves into Google Cloud, though Compute Engine resources used for testing and for live workloads are billed normally.

The experience spans several related Google services rather than one single screen, which can feel scattered at first. Teams should also check source support for older operating systems and databases before promising a timeline. For a move to Google Cloud, Migration Center is the natural hub to start from.

VMware HCX is built for the hardest common migration: moving hundreds or thousands of virtual machines without breaking the applications that depend on them. It extends on-premises networks into the cloud, so virtual machines keep their IP addresses and keep talking to dependent services after the move. Bulk and live migration options let teams move machines in waves, with scheduling and traffic controls for large estates.

That power comes with a VMware focus. Non-vSphere sources need the higher Enterprise edition for conversion, and licensing across editions and bundles needs careful reading. Smaller estates may find a cloud provider tool simpler and cheaper. For a large VMware estate, though, HCX removes the reconfiguration work that otherwise dominates a migration project.

Zerto, now part of HPE, is best known for disaster recovery, and that same continuous replication makes it a strong migration tool. It replicates workloads with very short recovery points, orchestrates failover in planned groups, and lets teams test the move without disrupting production. When cutover comes, the gap between old and new systems is small, which matters for databases and transactional apps.

Pricing is quoted, and sizing the replication journal and target storage takes planning, especially for write-heavy workloads. Teams should also confirm support for their exact hypervisor and cloud target before designing around Zerto. Where downtime tolerance is measured in minutes rather than hours, Zerto is one of the safest tools on this list.

Carbonite Migrate, from OpenText, suits teams whose sources are mixed: physical servers, virtual machines, and cloud instances that all need to land somewhere new. It replicates continuously, so the target stays close to the source, and cutover can be automated and repeated for testing. That vendor-neutral stance helps when the estate spans more than one hypervisor or cloud.

Pricing is quoted, and the product feels more traditional than the cloud providers' newer tools, with a setup style that suits infrastructure teams rather than casual users. Support and documentation matter here, so ask for a guided trial with your actual source types. For a mixed estate with a strict downtime window, Carbonite Migrate remains a proven choice.

RiverMeadow focuses on automated, large-scale workload mobility between data centers and clouds. It discovers workloads, automates the move, and supports several source and target combinations, which suits service providers and enterprises running repeat migrations. Its automation reduces the manual steps that slow down a migration wave, and it can move workloads without agents in some configurations.

For a small migration of a few servers, a free cloud provider tool will usually be simpler and cheaper, and RiverMeadow's quoted pricing reflects its enterprise focus. Teams should run a pilot wave with representative workloads before committing to a full schedule. At scale, where the same move repeats dozens of times, that automation is where the value appears.

CloudFuze covers the part of migration the server tools ignore: user files, shared drives, mailboxes, and collaboration content moving between clouds such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox, and Box. It maps permissions, preserves folder structures, and reports on what moved and what failed, which matters when hundreds of users depend on shared files. That content move often runs alongside a server migration rather than instead of it.

It is not a server tool, so teams moving applications and databases need one of the tools above as well. Pricing depends on users and data volume, so get a quote based on your actual file count and size. For a tenant-to-tenant or cloud-to-cloud content move, CloudFuze fills a gap that server tools leave open.