Best Data Migration Tools: A Comprehensive Comparison

Data migration tools are some of the most useful and prevalent productivity tools of the modern age. They enable users to migrate files, folders, and even entire directories locally and remotely in an efficient manner. 

These tools make the entire data migration process straightforward and immune to error, regardless of whether it is happening due to maintenance, storage repair, or crisis. That is why knowing how to choose the best database migration tools is imperative. 

Our review focuses on analyzing the different data migration tools available, their individual features, and their common elements and disparities. Additionally, we evaluate how cost-effective each offer is and how it measures up on the market. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Data Migration Tools

Tools for data migration are some of the essential elements of a smooth and successful digital presence, especially in a professional environment. To choose the right fit for your requirements, you need to take into consideration multiple factors, including the tool’s accessibility, the included features, and the price range. 

We take a closer look at each of these factors to find how they can affect a user’s choice of data migration tools.

Cost

The cost of a data migration tool can vary, depending on multiple variables, including the scope of the data migration, the quality provided, and the type of license included. The scope includes the size of the files being transferred, whether they are being moved locally or remotely, what the end destination is, and whether it is permanent or temporary.

It is also important to note that database migration tool prices typically range from around $200 for the most basic package to over $1,000 for the most advanced option. The basic packages include 3–5 hours of technical engineering work and 1 remigration, whereas the more expansive choices include more than 50 hours of technical engineering work and multiple remigrations. 

The cost of the tool has to reflect the quality of service that the users receive, which is why many of the operators offer scale packages. The price of these packages can change based on the business size and the data migration volume.

Compatibility

There is a large variety of database systems and data formats that have to be compatible with the migration tool that you choose. High-end tools for data migration, such as Rivery, offer the user options for on-premise migration of relational databases (Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and even Microsoft SQL Server).

On the other hand, if the user requires a cloud-to-cloud data migration, the best tools will help facilitate the database replication process between platforms like Snowflake and Redshift. Whether it is a one-time migration or constant data updating, the migration tool has to be compatible with the files. 

Ease of Use

Data migration is designed to be accessible and easy to use to be productive and helpful to a company’s work process, regardless of its size. That is why the very best database migration tools provide users with an online and offline migration process, straightforward access to the transferred data, and quick migration.

Modern data migration tools rely on sleek, modern interfaces with drag-and-drop options and repositories that make data consolidation free of obstacles. More to the point, an increasing number of these data migration platforms guarantee that users will have access to uninterrupted workflow as the process occurs. 

All of these features combine to make the top-notch data migration tools stand out as they prioritize user-friendliness and accessibility. 

Available Features

Several different features that quality tools for data migration offer are absolutely essential to the process. The top option to always seek out is whether they include data mapping—the process of matching fields from one database to another, a crucial prerequisite for successful data migration. Additionally, users can rely on features such as data validation scheduling and data encryption, which guarantees confidentiality and protection. 

A basic characteristic in all tools is typically open-source, while the more advanced options, such as self-healing and automated data migration, are only available through the pricing plans. Needless to say, the more features the plan contains, the more expensive it is. 

Best Data Migration Tools in the Market

Data migration is a market that is in a state of constant development and growth, so it is no surprise that each day, plenty of new tools show up. However, not all of those tools offer the features that a professional business entity might require from data migration.

For that reason, we developed a list of the most high-end and dependable data migration tools available on the market. 

Rivery 

Rivery is a SaaS DataOps platform that provides its users with a way to map, migrate, and access their data efficiently. Rivery has quickly developed into the leader in the data migration tool market for businesses in 2024, thanks to the number of features that facilitate simplified and optimized data migration. 

This particular tool stands out from the rest of the competition thanks to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive data mapping. In addition, Rivery boasts robust scalability, which offers room for growth and development to its users, as well as commendable transformation capabilities. 

AWS Database Migration Service

AWS Database Migration Service, though not perfect, is certainly one of the strongest choices for data migration tools. AWS can easily facilitate data migration for various sources, including on-site databases, data warehouses, and even cloud environments.

This tool is adaptable to various systems such as MySQL and NoSQL, which makes it quite accessible to users, as does its interface. AWS is known for its offline data transfer methods, offering users a safety net in the case of connectivity issues or even privacy issues for companies that deal with confidential information. 

Azure Database Migration Service (by Microsoft)

Azure database migration service is a high-quality tool by Microsoft that users tend to gravitate towards, thanks to the company behind it. This tool guarantees database migration that includes objects, schema, and data in a straightforward process that is easy to follow even with no prior experience.

Azure provides its users access to so-called self-healing migration that serves as a safety net for their working process. Thanks to this feature, data migration requires no downtime and guarantees no data loss.

Talend

Talend is a data migration tool by a relatively established system software company that has a user-optimized platform with drag-and-drop features, job management tools, and a unified repository. This tool has the largest set of data connectors on the market, but it also has notable complications with the installation and drivers in particular. 

The built-in functionality that Talend has for data cleansing and data transformation allows users to migrate the data to the right form without any additional steps, improving productivity. On the other hand, the customer support response at Talend does leave something to be desired, so it’s not ideal for users who aren’t already familiar with it. 

Fivetran

Fivetran is an automated data movement platform that offers a variety of beneficial features for users. Not only does it have an expedient installation process that only takes around 5 minutes, but it also guarantees around-the-clock management. It is a platform with automatic schema migrations, which is a very important factor when it comes to productivity. 

On the other hand, Fivetran offers its users limited space for growth as the prices rise exponentially alongside the merging and expansion of the databases. This platform also offers limited options for masking and excluding sensitive data in the merging. 

Striim

Striim is a company that facilitates pipelines for real-time data merging with no downtime and no obstruction in the day-to-day process of the user. The platform is perfectly adapted to Oracle and SQL systems, which cover a large portion of the data that users utilize in their operations.

There is a lot of space for improvement in regard to the web interface of the platform, which is a significant drawback, especially as the license is more expensive than the average price. All in all, this is a solid tool for data migration, even if it isn’t the most prolific and reliable option that you can choose. 

Comparison of Data Migration Tools

The very best data migration tools offer similar features and services, and they are typically in the same price range. That is why users have to pay close attention to the details to be able to determine which tool from the selection of offers best meets their requirements.

With this in mind, we created a comparison between these tools in terms of the factors that influence their quality and price range, such as compatibility and scalability. To learn which tool offers the best terms and conditions for the most accessible price, keep reading. 

Cost Comparison

The best data migration tools offer multi-tiered pricing plans tailored to the business’s needs. Tools such as Rivery and Microsoft’s Azure offer you a free installation and start; however, Azure charges you $0.37 per hour, whereas Rivery charges $0.75 per RPU credit or platform usage. 

The system that charges you per platform usage is much more cost-effective because it’s based on scaling instead of a set amount. So, if you have smaller amounts of data you need to migrate, it will cost much less. Aside from the pre-priced plans, most quality data migration tools, such as AWS Data Migration Service and Talend, offer custom-made plans for your business.

Compatibility Comparison

The more systems and data formats a data migration tool accepts and processes, the better it will serve its users. Microsoft’s Azure offers access to SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, as well as MongoDB, which guarantees plenty of variety, as does the selection of Oracle, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL that Rivery provides.

On the other hand, Striim supports the following databases: HP NonStop SQL/MX, MariaDB, MariaDB Galera Cluster, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Sybase, and Teradata. 

That is what makes these 3 tools the most popular and trustworthy options. 

Ease of Use Comparison

Quick and secure migration with no downtime is just one aspect of the accessibility of data migration tools, alongside the interface design and the customer support service. Fivetran is a data migration tool with an expeditious installation process, 24/7 management, and automatic schema migrations.

Rivery’s migration tool boasts a player-friendly platform design that both new and experienced users can navigate easily. What’s more, this tool’s cloud data migration ensures continuous data updates in real time. 

Talend’s unified repository is a major reason this particular platform is so popular, in addition to the smooth and optimized interface with drag-and-drop functions. 

Available Features Comparison

The assortment of features available on these tools for data migration can often make the difference between high-end and average options. The comparison between features for each of these tools is as follows:

Rivery

• Diverse extraction points
• Data structuring
• Consolidation
• Data cleaning
• Extraction
• Transformation
• Loading
• Scalability
• Automated data migration
• On-premises as well as cloud-to-cloud migration
• Data mapping

AWS Data Migration Service 

• Scaling
• Availability
• Cost-effectiveness
• Self-healing
• Consolidation
• Developer productivity

Azure Database Migration Service (Microsoft)

• Data encryption
• Scaling
• On-premises and cloud-to-cloud migration
• Zero downtime migration
• Automated data migration

Talend

• Security
• Scalability
• Integration-platform-as-a-service (IPaaS)
• Data preparation
• Integration
• Data streaming

Fivetran

• On-premise migration
• Cloud-based migration
• Open-source data migration tools
• Enhanced connectivity
• Automated workflows
• Data-mapping
• Auto-detection of missing files

Striim

• Hybrid cloud architecture
• Google cloud collaboration
• MySQL to Snowflake migration
• Automated data migration
• SQL Server to Snowflake
• Consolidation

Though there is quite a lot of overlap in the features and individual options of these data migration tools, there are certainly significant differences. Users should always weigh these features and compare them against each other before opting for a particular data migration tool.

Pricing and Features Comparison

These data migration tools offer numerous features, but in most cases, those features are not always available under all pricing plans. That is why we take a closer look at what each pricing plan contains and which business it is best suited to.

Rivery

AWS Data Migration Service

Azure Data Migration Service 

Talend

FiveTran

*All of the FiveTran prices are according to scale, and they may vary on occasion. 

Striim

Conclusion

Data migration is the future of business. It is a way to ensure protection and uninterrupted work with optimal productivity. There are numerous data migration tools available to businesses; however, the highest-rated ones offer complete data protection, uninterrupted workflow, multiple databases, and smooth interfaces.

Each tool carries a slightly different set of features, especially in terms of the assortment of databases and pricing. You can opt for a basic plan, which is typically free, or one of the more advanced versions that you can pay on a monthly or yearly basis.

The data migration tool that you select for your business has to meet your requirements and expectations, both in terms of pricing and in terms of available features. That being said, if you opt for Rivery, you can rest assured your data migration will be completed quickly as well as thoroughly. 

Aside from data migration, you can use Rivery’s reverse ETL tool, data orchestration, data transformation, and more. Book a demo today and see first-hand why this tool stands out among the rest when it comes to data migration!