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Head-to-head · Storage Migration Software

NetApp Data Migrator vs Azure Storage Mover

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score NetApp Data Migrator #1 in Storage Migration Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit NetApp
Azure Storage Mover #3 in Storage Migration Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit site

NetApp Data Migrator leads on 0 checks, Azure Storage Mover on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreNetApp Data Migrator · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

NetApp Data Migrator scores higher on our rubric for storage migration software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

On migration mode, NetApp Data Migrator gives you Both where Azure Storage Mover offers Batch.

NetApp Data Migrator is the better fit for free enterprise NAS migrations. Azure Storage Mover is the better fit for free migrations into Azure Storage.

  • NetApp Data Migrator fits best

    Free enterprise NAS migrations

  • Azure Storage Mover fits best

    Free migrations into Azure Storage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature NetApp Data Migrator 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Azure Storage Mover 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in Storage Migration Software #3 in Storage Migration Software
Best for Free enterprise NAS migrations Free migrations into Azure Storage
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows, Linux Web
Support Email, Docs Docs
Integrations 7 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Enterprise, Mid-market Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NetApp Data Migrator 4/4 · Azure Storage Mover 4/4
Metadata preservation ✓ ✓
Access preservation ✓ ✓
Cutover orchestration ✓ ✓
Migration reporting ✓ ✓
Specs
Workload scope File File
Migration mode Both Batch
Supported platforms Any NAS server, including Dell Isilon, ONTAP, Vanilla Linux, Windows, and Cloud Volumes ONTAP; destinations include Azure NetApp Files, Google Cloud NetApp Volumes, Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, and Cloud Volumes ONTAP; protocols include NFS 4.1/3.0 and SMB 3.1/3.0/2.0 SMB 2.x/3.x, NFS 3/4, AWS S3, AWS FSx SMB, GCS S3, Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, NAS, servers, workstations
Our review
Pros
  • Supports NFS and SMB migrations with incremental synchronization
  • Preserves permissions, ACLs, identities, and file timestamps
  • Provides cutover workflows and checksum-validated custody reports
  • All current capabilities are available at no charge
  • Supports SMB, NFS, S3, Blob, agent-based, and agentless workloads
  • Preserves supported metadata with scheduling, cutover, and telemetry
Cons
  • Runs on user-managed virtual machines and worker nodes
  • Destinations focus on NetApp cloud storage services
  • Professional services are priced separately
  • Targets are centered on Azure Blob Storage and Azure Files
  • Azure storage, transaction, and networking charges can still apply
  • Recurring jobs are batch migrations, not always-on continuous transfer
Our verdict

NetApp Data Migrator is software for moving unstructured file data from on-premises or third-party NAS storage to NetApp cloud storage services. It supports NFS and SMB workloads, including sources such as Dell Isilon, ONTAP, Vanilla…

Read the review →

Azure Storage Mover is a Microsoft-managed hybrid service for moving files and folders from on-premises shares and supported cloud sources into Azure Storage. It is designed for organizations planning cloud, multicloud, or large-scale…

Read the review →
  1. NetApp Data MigratorStorage Migration Software 9.4Free plan
  2. Azure Storage MoverStorage Migration Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • NetApp Data Migrator — where it wins

    • Supports NFS and SMB migrations with incremental synchronization
    • Preserves permissions, ACLs, identities, and file timestamps
    • Provides cutover workflows and checksum-validated custody reports

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs on user-managed virtual machines and worker nodes
    • Destinations focus on NetApp cloud storage services
    • Professional services are priced separately
  • Azure Storage Mover — where it wins

    • All current capabilities are available at no charge
    • Supports SMB, NFS, S3, Blob, agent-based, and agentless workloads
    • Preserves supported metadata with scheduling, cutover, and telemetry

    Where it doesn't

    • Targets are centered on Azure Blob Storage and Azure Files
    • Azure storage, transaction, and networking charges can still apply
    • Recurring jobs are batch migrations, not always-on continuous transfer
  • NetApp Data Migrator9.4/10 · Free plan

    A free, migration-focused option for enterprise NAS moves into NetApp cloud storage.

    Visit NetAppFull verdict →
  • Azure Storage Mover9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, Azure-focused service for scheduled file and object-storage migrations.

    Visit siteFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update