Thinking about moving to AWS? You’re not alone—but the journey isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Many businesses dive in expecting a smooth transition, only to hit roadblocks with data transfer, security, and compliance. That’s where the right AWS migration tools make all the difference.
At Interscale, we’ve worked with Australian businesses of all sizes to take the stress out of cloud migration. Based on our experience, here’s what actually works—and what to avoid.
The 10 Best AWS Migration Tools for 2025
Movebot
Movebot is a third-party platform built for fast, cost-effective data transfer and AWS migrations. We’ve seen it work wonders for companies juggling hybrid environments or tackling those tricky SQL Server migrations.
What’s really cool is how it strips away all that manual grunt work that typically bogs down large-scale moves. For us, when you are looking to hop onto AWS quickly, Movebot’s user-friendly approach makes the whole process surprisingly painless.
ShareGate
ShareGate has built a reputation for delivering AWS data migration tools rooted in simplicity and intuitive design. They’ve nailed the intuitive design aspect—even your less tech-savvy team members can keep tabs on what’s happening. Our team particularly loves how it plays nicely with the AWS Migration Hub.
The cherry on top? Those crystal-clear reports that keep everyone in the loop. No more wondering where things stand—you’ll know exactly what’s happening at each step.
AvePoint
Aligned with AWS migration services, AvePoint preserves both data integrity and security protocols from start to finish. Yes, AvePoint is the governance powerhouse in the AWS migration services landscape, especially crucial for Australian businesses navigating our complex compliance environment.
We have recommended AvePoint countless times to clients in AEC sectors where data breaches simply aren’t an option.
AWS Migration Evaluator
Once known as TSO Logic, AWS Migration Evaluator is an essential AWS migration planner service that takes the guesswork out of budgeting and capacity planning. As far as cloud migration discovery tools go, it’s brilliant at sizing up your on-premises setup and translating that into accurate AWS forecasts.
You have to see how well this tool took the guesswork out of budgeting and capacity planning. That way, your post-migration operations stay cost-efficient from day one.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
For SQL Server or mixed database environments, AWS DMS offers near-zero downtime through continuous data replication. DMS is the workhorse of AWS migration tools and services, keeping your applications ticking while simultaneously replicating your data to AWS.
At its core, DMS is powered by Database Migration Tool (DMT), the underlying technology that handles the heavy lifting of schema conversion and data synchronization.
What we find particularly clever is how this DMT-powered service handles schema conversions and automatically syncs any changes made during migration. For business-critical systems that need to stay online, the combination of DMS and its DMT often is the difference between a smooth transition and a migration nightmare.
AWS Server Migration Service
When it comes to server migration tools, the AWS Server Migration Service takes a lot of the heavy lifting off your plate. The incremental snapshot approach is a genius for keeping your production systems running smoothly during the move.
We see how our clients migrate to AWS using this service, and its flexibility across different OS types and hypervisors makes it incredibly versatile. If you’re looking to minimize migration headaches, this should be on your shortlist.
AWS Application Migration Service
When it comes to cloud application migration tools, the AWS Application Migration Service stands out by simplifying lift-and-shift strategies. AWS Application Migration Service, a next generation of CloudEndure Migration, replicating at the block level to maintain rock-solid data consistency throughout the move.
What sets it apart from other tools is how seamlessly it plugs into the broader AWS ecosystem. We have seen this tool work miracles for companies with legacy applications that needed a fresh start in the cloud without a complete rebuild.
AWS Transfer Family
For secure data transfer using SFTP, FTPS, or FTP, the AWS Transfer Family is hard to beat. The high-throughput connections mean your data gets where it’s going this century—a refreshing change from some migration experiences we’ve witnessed.
By aligning with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) standards, it keeps data exchanges both safe and transparent. For companies with massive file-based workflows, this tool takes a lot of the pain out of your AWS migration plan.
AWS Application Discovery Service
If you’ve ever tried mapping dependencies manually, you’ll understand why AWS Application Discovery Service is such a lifesaver. This tool reveals connections you didn’t even know existed, which is crucial enough during the early AWS cloud migration process.
And we can’t count how many times this has saved clients from accidentally breaking critical systems during migration. The way it feeds data directly into AWS Migration Evaluator is particularly clever, giving you deeper insights into resource usage patterns and helping right-size your future AWS environment.
AWS Migration Hub
A mainstay in any AWS migration tools list, AWS Migration Hub centralizes updates from both AWS and third-party solutions to cut through project clutter. This tool brings everything under one pane of glass, enabling collaboration and decision-making.
Whether migrating databases, servers, or complex applications, Migration Hub pairs effortlessly with the broader suite of AWS cloud migration tools, both AWS solutions and third party tools. As a result, you stay on top of each phase without juggling multiple dashboards.
As an additional reference, we also discussed Azure migration. Refer to the Azure migration guideline here for a comparison.
How to Choose the Right AWS Migration Tool
Picking the right AWS migration tools requires a thorough look at your business needs. Start by getting clear on what you’re moving. An SQL Server database, for instance, typically calls for the specialized touch of AWS DMS to keep things running smoothly.
Then there’s data volume—you wouldn’t use a rowboat to cross the Pacific, so make sure your chosen tool can handle your scale without capsizing.
Regulatory obligations also matter—if data protection is strict, you might lean toward a governance-focused solution such as AvePoint. Plus, assessing how each tool aligns with your internal skill sets can help avoid unexpected roadblocks.
There’s also the age-old question of native AWS migration services versus third-party tools like Movebot. Both have their sweet spots, depending on your specific scenario.
Our team typically advises running things through the AWS Migration Evaluator before making any big decisions. With this approach, our clients will get a second opinion that can potentially save them thousands.
And at the end of the day, migrations are as unique as fingerprints. That’s why Australian AEC businesses turn to specialists like Interscale cloud services.
Seamless AWS Cloud Migration with Interscale
When we tackle AWS migrations at Interscale, we don’t believe in cutting corners. We’re focused on covering all the bases, from critical pre-migration security audits to capacity planning and performance tuning once you’re up and running.
What makes us different? We’ve developed our own battle-tested methodologies over years in the trenches, but we’re not too proud to combine these with the absolute best AWS migration tools when they’ll get the job done better. Every migration plan we craft is built specifically for your business challenges—no cookie-cutter solutions here.
With our team, you’ll get those security evaluations that find the vulnerabilities others miss, resource planning that prevents those nasty surprise costs, and performance audits that ensure your systems run even better in the cloud than they did on-premises.
So, if you’re set on making your next cloud move deliver on its promises and avoid becoming another IT war story, let’s talk. We’ve got the scars and successes to guide you through.
Your Next Steps
Migrating to AWS doesn’t have to keep you up at night. The right AWS migration tools make all the difference between a migration story you’ll want to tell and one you’ll want to forget. And remember, having a seasoned partner like Interscale in your corner is equally vital. What could your business achieve if your migration went smoothly? If your team could focus on innovation instead of putting out fires? That’s the difference we deliver daily.
