Azure Migrate vs AWS Mainframe Modernization

Azure Migrate9.4Visit AWS Mainframe Modernization8.0Visit

Higher score Azure Migrate #1 in Cloud Migration Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Azure Migrate

vs

AWS Mainframe Modernization #13 in Cloud Migration Tools 8.0/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit AWS Mainframe

• Azure Migrate fits best

  End-to-end Azure migration planning and execution

• AWS Mainframe Modernization fits best

  Mainframe modernization and migration

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Side by side

Feature	Azure Migrate 9.4/10 Visit ↗	AWS Mainframe Modernization 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.0
Ranking	#1 in Cloud Migration Tools	#13 in Cloud Migration Tools
Best for	End-to-end Azure migration planning and execution	Mainframe modernization and migration
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$0.31/unit usage-based
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs	Docs
Integrations	3 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Enterprise
Features Azure Migrate 4/4 · AWS Mainframe Modernization 4/4
Discovery & assessment	✓	✓
Dependency mapping	✓	✓
Continuous replication	✓	✓
Database migration	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Both	Both
Included workload limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Agentless discovery, readiness checks, rightsizing, and Azure cost estimates Dependency visualization, replication, testing, and cutover workflows Integrated tools for servers, databases, web apps, and offline data transfer	Covers assessment, refactoring, replatforming, and deployment Supports COBOL and PL/I modernization with dependency analysis Integrates with AWS services for data migration and operations
Cons	Server migration licensing is $25 per instance monthly after 180 days Azure storage, transactions, and data transfer can add replication costs Some dependency visualization uses agents and may incur separate charges	No free plan; pricing is usage-based across multiple components Some legacy experience options are closed to new customers Broad component pricing can be complex to estimate
Our verdict	Azure Migrate is Microsoft’s cloud migration service for organizations moving on-premises infrastructure, applications, databases, web apps, and workloads from other public clouds to Azure. It combines workload discovery, readiness… Read the review →	AWS Mainframe Modernization is a cloud service for migrating and modernizing mainframe applications and data on AWS. It is designed for enterprise workloads, including COBOL and PL/I applications, and supports migration teams, consultants,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Azure Migrate — where it wins

  • Agentless discovery, readiness checks, rightsizing, and Azure cost estimates
  • Dependency visualization, replication, testing, and cutover workflows
  • Integrated tools for servers, databases, web apps, and offline data transfer

  Where it doesn't

  • Server migration licensing is $25 per instance monthly after 180 days
  • Azure storage, transactions, and data transfer can add replication costs
  • Some dependency visualization uses agents and may incur separate charges

• AWS Mainframe Modernization — where it wins

  • Covers assessment, refactoring, replatforming, and deployment
  • Supports COBOL and PL/I modernization with dependency analysis
  • Integrates with AWS services for data migration and operations

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; pricing is usage-based across multiple components
  • Some legacy experience options are closed to new customers
  • Broad component pricing can be complex to estimate

• Azure Migrate9.4/10 · Free plan

  A broad Azure migration workspace with free assessment tools and time-limited server migration licensing.

  Visit Azure MigrateFull verdict →
• AWS Mainframe Modernization8.0/10 · Paid

  A specialized AWS service for modernizing mainframe applications, code, and data.

  Visit AWS MainframeFull verdict →