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Head-to-head · File Migration Software

NetApp Data Migrator vs rclone

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score NetApp Data Migrator #3 in File Migration Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit NetApp
rclone #8 in File Migration Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit rclone

NetApp Data Migrator leads on 0 checks, rclone on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 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 · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresNetApp Data Migrator · 1 of 3

NetApp Data Migrator scores higher on our rubric for file migration software: 9.0 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

NetApp Data Migrator is the better fit for enterprise NAS migrations to NetApp cloud storage. rclone is the better fit for technical users moving or syncing cloud files cheaply.

  • NetApp Data Migrator fits best

    Enterprise NAS migrations to NetApp cloud storage

  • rclone fits best

    Technical users moving or syncing cloud files cheaply

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Side by side

Feature NetApp Data Migrator 9.0/10 Visit ↗ rclone 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.9
Ranking #3 in File Migration Software #8 in File Migration Software
Best for Enterprise NAS migrations to NetApp cloud storage Technical users moving or syncing cloud files cheaply
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Support Email, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 7 integrations 70+ integrations
Built for Enterprise, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NetApp Data Migrator 1/3 · rclone 0/3
Migration validation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Metadata preservation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Scheduled migrations Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Source connectors Not checked yet Not checked yet
Destination connectors Not checked yet Not checked yet
Max file size Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Migrates NFS and SMB data with incremental synchronization and cutover jobs
  • Preserves permissions, ACLs, IDs, and file access and modification times
  • Validates checksums and provides migration logs, metrics, and reports
  • Copies and syncs files across cloud services and transfer protocols
  • Verifies checksums and preserves timestamps
  • Mounts remote storage as a local filesystem or drive
Cons
  • Destinations are centered on NetApp cloud storage services
  • Runs on user-managed virtual machines with separate worker nodes
  • Professional services are priced separately from the free application
  • Primarily command-line, rather than a conventional graphical client
  • Does not describe migration-specific access preservation or cutover orchestration
  • Official Android builds are not first-class builds
Our verdict

NetApp Data Migrator moves unstructured file data from on-premises or third-party NAS systems to NetApp cloud storage. It is aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations planning NFS or SMB migrations, including moves from systems such…

Read the review →

rclone is an open-source command-line program for managing files across cloud storage and standard transfer protocols, including WebDAV. It suits individuals, developers, administrators, and organisations that want to copy, move, check, or…

Read the review →
  1. NetApp Data MigratorFile Migration Software 9.0Free plan
  2. rcloneFile Migration Software 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • NetApp Data Migrator — where it wins

    • Migrates NFS and SMB data with incremental synchronization and cutover jobs
    • Preserves permissions, ACLs, IDs, and file access and modification times
    • Validates checksums and provides migration logs, metrics, and reports

    Where it doesn't

    • Destinations are centered on NetApp cloud storage services
    • Runs on user-managed virtual machines with separate worker nodes
    • Professional services are priced separately from the free application

  • rclone — where it wins

    • Copies and syncs files across cloud services and transfer protocols
    • Verifies checksums and preserves timestamps
    • Mounts remote storage as a local filesystem or drive

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily command-line, rather than a conventional graphical client
    • Does not describe migration-specific access preservation or cutover orchestration
    • Official Android builds are not first-class builds
  • NetApp Data Migrator9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free migration tool for NAS data moving to NetApp cloud destinations.

    Visit NetAppFull verdict →
  • rclone7.9/10 · Free plan

    A flexible, free file-transfer toolkit for technical users—not a guided migration suite.

    Visit rcloneFull verdict →

More comparisons

All file migration software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update