AWS Migration Hub, Azure Migrate, Google Cloud: Which Tool to Use in 2026

Cloud migration is no longer optional. It's the foundation for scalability, resilience, and competitive advantage. But choosing the wrong migration tool can turn your transformation into a costly nightmare.

For IT leaders, directors, and managers, the stakes are high. A failed migration means budget overruns, business disruption, and career risk. The right tool doesn't just move workloads. It protects your reputation while enabling the business outcomes your C-suite expects.

This article compares three major cloud migration platforms: AWS Migration Hub, Azure Migrate, and Google Cloud's Migration Portfolio. We'll help you match the right tool to your organizational reality.

Know Your Migration Context

Before comparing features, understand your starting point. The best migration tool depends entirely on your specific situation.

Your Current Infrastructure

What are you migrating from? VMware environments need different tools than Hyper-V deployments. Physical servers require different approaches than existing cloud workloads. Legacy applications with complex dependencies demand more sophisticated discovery than modern microservices.

Take inventory of your application portfolio. How many workloads are you moving? What databases are involved? Which applications have tight coupling that makes migration risky?

Your Team's Capabilities

Be honest about your team's expertise. Do you have certified cloud architects on staff? Can your team handle complex migrations independently? Or do you need guided processes with built-in best practices?

Your team's bandwidth matters too. Are they already stretched thin with operational demands? Migration projects require sustained attention. Understaffed teams need tools with stronger automation and less manual configuration.

Your Organizational Constraints

Budget reality shapes every decision. What's your migration budget? Can you absorb unexpected costs? Cloud migrations always cost more than initial estimates suggest.

Timeline pressures create additional constraints. Do you have business-driven deadlines? Compliance requirements? Executive expectations that may not align with technical reality?

Risk tolerance varies by industry and organization. Can you afford downtime during cutover? What's your rollback strategy if something breaks? How much business disruption can you absorb?

Your Strategic Intent

Are you doing lift-and-shift or pursuing modernization? Simple rehosting moves workloads with minimal changes. Replatforming makes modest optimizations. Refactoring rebuilds applications for cloud-native architectures.

Your cloud strategy matters. Are you committed to a single cloud provider? Or do you need multi-cloud flexibility? Single-cloud commitment enables deeper ecosystem integration. Multi-cloud strategies require more portable approaches.

Think about your three-year vision. Are you planning to containerize applications? Adopt serverless architectures? Integrate AI and machine learning? Your migration tool should support your long-term direction, not just immediate needs.

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AWS Migration Hub

AWS Migration Hub provides a unified dashboard for tracking and managing migrations to Amazon Web Services. It's designed for organizations with complex, multi-phase migrations requiring centralized control across multiple teams.

Best Features and Benefits

Guided Migration Journeys

AWS Migration Hub offers pre-built templates based on proven best practices. These guided journeys reduce planning burden and provide structure for teams without deep migration expertise. You're not starting from scratch. You're following paths that others have successfully traveled.

Centralized Visibility

Large migrations involve multiple teams, applications, and phases. Migration Hub provides a single pane of glass for tracking everything. You can see which workloads are in discovery, which are migrating, and which have completed. This visibility is critical for reporting to executives and coordinating across departments.

Discovery and Dependency Mapping

The platform automates discovery of your on-premises environment. It identifies servers, applications, and most importantly, dependencies between systems. Understanding these connections prevents the nightmare scenario where you migrate an application only to discover it depends on systems still on-premises.

Cross-Team Collaboration

Migration Hub enables multiple teams to work simultaneously on different migration waves. You can assign responsibilities, track progress, and maintain coordination without constant status meetings. Automated notifications keep stakeholders informed without manual reporting overhead.

Integration with AWS Ecosystem

Deep integration with AWS services streamlines execution. Migration Hub connects seamlessly with AWS Application Migration Service, Database Migration Service, and other AWS tools. This tight integration reduces friction when moving from planning to execution.

Cost-Effective Assessment

Discovery, planning, and tracking are free. You only pay for downstream execution tools and the AWS resources you provision. This allows thorough evaluation without upfront tooling investment.

Where It Might Lack

AWS Lock-In

Migration Hub is purpose-built for AWS migrations. If you're pursuing a multi-cloud strategy or want to maintain cloud portability, this creates dependency on Amazon's ecosystem. You're committing to AWS as your primary cloud platform.

Downstream Execution Costs

While the hub itself is free, execution tools like AWS MGN or DMS carry costs. Data transfer fees add up quickly. Provisioned AWS resources during migration can create unexpected expenses. Model these costs carefully before committing.

Complexity for Simple Migrations

If you're moving a handful of workloads, Migration Hub may be overkill. The platform shines for large, complex migrations with multiple teams. Smaller initiatives might benefit from simpler approaches.

AWS Expertise Required

Getting maximum value requires AWS knowledge. While guided journeys help, your team still needs to understand AWS services, networking, security models, and cost optimization. Plan for training or consulting support if your team lacks AWS experience.

How It Compares to the Others

vs. Azure Migrate

AWS Migration Hub offers stronger orchestration for multi-phase, multi-team migrations. Azure Migrate provides a more unified end-to-end platform with less setup complexity. If you need centralized control across diverse teams, AWS has the edge. If you want a simpler, more integrated experience, Azure may fit better.

vs. Google Cloud

Migration Hub provides a more unified experience than Google's specialized tool portfolio. Google offers more flexibility for specific workload types. AWS gives you guided structure. Google gives you purpose-built tools. Choose based on whether you value consistency or specialization.

Who Is Best Suited For

AWS Migration Hub works best for:

• Organizations committed to AWS as their primary cloud platform
• Enterprises migrating 500+ servers in multiple phases
• Companies needing centralized orchestration across multiple teams
• IT leaders who value guided, templated approaches over custom processes
• Teams with or able to access AWS-certified expertise

If you're already using AWS services or your C-suite has decided on Amazon as your cloud provider, Migration Hub is the logical choice. The ecosystem integration alone justifies the commitment.

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Azure Migrate

Azure Migrate provides an integrated platform for discovering, assessing, and migrating workloads to Microsoft Azure. It's built for organizations with significant Microsoft investments who want a unified migration experience.

Best Features and Benefits

End-to-End Unified Platform

Azure Migrate covers the entire migration lifecycle from discovery to modernization. You don't need to stitch together multiple tools. Everything works within a single, integrated environment. This reduces complexity and learning curve for your team.

Flexible Discovery Options

The platform supports both agent-based and agentless discovery. This flexibility matters when you have diverse environments. You can assess large VMware deployments without installing agents on every server. For physical servers or complex environments, agents provide deeper visibility.

Intelligent Sizing Recommendations

Azure Migrate analyzes historical utilization data to recommend appropriate cloud instance types. This prevents over-provisioning that wastes money and under-provisioning that creates performance issues. The recommendations account for actual usage patterns, not just peak capacity.

Deep Azure Integration

Seamless connection with Azure security, governance, and monitoring services simplifies post-migration operations. Role-based access control, Azure Policy, Azure Monitor, and Microsoft Defender work together out of the box. This integration reduces the operational overhead of managing migrated workloads.

Azure Hybrid Benefit

If you have existing Windows Server or SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance, you can reuse them in Azure. This licensing flexibility can reduce cloud costs by 40% or more. For Microsoft-heavy environments, this represents significant savings that other platforms can't match.

Cost-Effective Migration

Discovery and assessment are free. Server migration is free for the first 180 days per machine. After that, you pay a modest per-instance charge. Database and web app migrations remain free. This pricing structure makes Azure Migrate accessible even for budget-constrained migrations.

Where It Might Lack

Microsoft-Centric Approach

Azure Migrate is optimized for Microsoft technologies. If your environment is heavily Linux-based or uses non-Microsoft databases, you may not get the same level of optimization. The platform works best when migrating Windows Server, SQL Server, and Microsoft-stack applications.

Limited Multi-Cloud Capabilities

While you can use Azure Migrate for some multi-cloud scenarios, it's clearly designed for Azure-centric strategies. If you need to maintain workload portability across multiple clouds, this creates constraints.

Learning Curve for Non-Microsoft Teams

Teams without strong Azure or Microsoft expertise face a steeper learning curve. The platform assumes familiarity with Azure concepts, services, and management approaches. Plan for training if your team comes from different technology backgrounds.

How It Compares to the Others

vs. AWS Migration Hub

Azure Migrate offers a more unified platform with less orchestration complexity. AWS provides stronger capabilities for managing large, multi-team migrations. Azure is simpler to get started. AWS offers more sophisticated coordination for complex enterprises.

vs. Google Cloud

Azure Migrate provides a single integrated platform. Google offers specialized tools for different workload types. If you want simplicity and don't need specialized migration capabilities, Azure wins. If you have diverse workloads requiring different approaches, Google's portfolio may serve you better.

Who Is Best Suited For

Azure Migrate is the right choice for:

• Organizations with significant Microsoft licensing investments
• Windows Server and SQL Server-heavy environments
• IT leaders leveraging Enterprise Agreements and Azure Hybrid Benefit
• Teams with strong Microsoft and Azure expertise
• Companies prioritizing a unified platform experience over specialized tools

If you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure Migrate is the path of least resistance. The licensing benefits alone often justify the choice. Your team's existing Microsoft knowledge transfers directly.

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Google Cloud's Migration Portfolio

Google Cloud doesn't offer a single migration tool. Instead, it provides a portfolio of specialized solutions for different migration scenarios, coordinated through the Migration Center for unified visibility.

Best Features and Benefits

Purpose-Built Specialized Tools

Google provides dedicated tools for specific workload types. Migrate for Compute Engine handles VMs. Database Migration Service manages databases. Migrate for Anthos enables container migration. This specialization allows optimization that general-purpose tools can't match.

Migration Center for Unified Visibility

While the tools are specialized, Migration Center provides centralized discovery, assessment, planning, and tracking. You get the benefits of specialization without losing overall visibility and control.

Transparent Cost Model

Google emphasizes pay-as-you-go pricing with substantial committed use discounts. The pricing model is more transparent than competitors. Cost management tools are robust. You can forecast expenses accurately and optimize continuously.

Generous Free Tier and Credits

Google provides substantial free credits for new customers and maintains a generous free tier. This makes proof-of-concept migrations essentially risk-free. You can validate the approach before committing significant budget.

Modernization Capabilities

Tools like Migrate for Anthos enable simultaneous migration and containerization. You're not just moving workloads. You're modernizing them for cloud-native architectures. This approach aligns with long-term application strategy.

Specialized Legacy Support

Google offers tools specifically designed for mainframe and SAP migrations. If you have these specialized workloads, Google's purpose-built solutions provide capabilities that general platforms lack.

Where It Might Lack

Tool Integration Complexity

Multiple specialized tools mean you need to select, configure, and integrate them appropriately. This adds complexity compared to single, unified platforms. Your team needs to understand which tool applies to which scenario.

Smaller Partner Ecosystem

AWS and Azure have larger partner networks for migration support. If you need extensive consulting or specialized services, you may find fewer options in Google's ecosystem.

More Technical Expertise Required

The specialized tool approach assumes higher technical sophistication. Your team needs to understand the nuances of different migration patterns and select appropriate tools. Less technical teams may struggle without guidance.

Less Mature Guided Templates

Google's migration guidance is more technical and less prescriptive than AWS's guided journeys. If you want step-by-step templates based on industry patterns, Google provides less structure.

How It Compares to the Others

vs. AWS Migration Hub

Google offers more specialized tools for diverse workloads. AWS provides more unified orchestration. If you have varied migration needs requiring different approaches, Google's flexibility is advantageous. If you want consistent processes across all migrations, AWS may fit better.

vs. Azure Migrate

Google's portfolio provides greater flexibility and specialization. Azure offers a simpler, more integrated platform. Google excels for organizations with diverse, complex workloads. Azure wins for straightforward Microsoft-stack migrations.

Who Is Best Suited For

Google Cloud's Migration Portfolio works best for:

• Organizations with diverse workloads needing specialized approaches
• IT leaders prioritizing cost transparency and optimization
• Teams pursuing aggressive modernization alongside migration
• Companies wanting to maintain multi-cloud optionality
• Technical teams comfortable integrating multiple specialized tools

If you have mainframe systems, SAP environments, or want to containerize during migration, Google's specialized tools provide unique value. The cost transparency also appeals to budget-conscious IT leaders.

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Decision Framework: Matching Tool to Your Reality

The right migration tool depends on your specific context. Use these decision criteria to narrow your options.

Choose AWS Migration Hub If:

You're already committed to AWS as your primary cloud platform. Your C-suite has decided on Amazon. Your applications will run primarily on AWS services.

You're managing a large, complex migration with 500+ servers. Multiple teams need to coordinate. You need centralized visibility and control across migration waves.

You value guided approaches over building custom processes. You want templates based on proven patterns. Your team benefits from structured methodologies.

You have or can access AWS-certified expertise. Your team has AWS experience. Or you're willing to invest in training and consulting support.

Ecosystem integration outweighs multi-cloud flexibility. You prioritize deep integration with AWS services over maintaining cloud portability.

Choose Azure Migrate If:

You have significant Microsoft licensing investments. You're running Windows Server and SQL Server extensively. You have Enterprise Agreements with Microsoft.

You can leverage Azure Hybrid Benefit. Your existing licenses can transfer to Azure. This provides substantial cost savings that justify the platform choice.

You need deep integration with Microsoft security and governance. You're using Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Defender, or other Microsoft security tools. Unified management across your Microsoft stack matters.

Your team has strong Windows and Microsoft expertise. They're comfortable with Microsoft tools and concepts. The learning curve for Azure is minimal.

You prioritize a unified platform experience. You want discovery through post-migration optimization handled in one environment. Simplicity matters more than specialized capabilities.

Choose Google Cloud's Migration Portfolio If:

You have specialized workloads requiring purpose-built tools. You're migrating mainframes, SAP systems, or want to containerize during migration. Google's specialized tools provide unique capabilities.

Cost transparency and optimization are top priorities. You need clear visibility into spending. You want robust cost management tools. Google's pricing model and optimization focus align with your needs.

You're pursuing aggressive modernization. You don't just want to move workloads. You want to transform them for cloud-native architectures. Migrate for Anthos and similar tools enable this.

You want multi-cloud optionality. You're not ready to commit exclusively to one provider. You value workload portability. Google's approach maintains more flexibility.

Your team can handle tool integration complexity. You have strong technical capabilities. Your architects can select and integrate specialized tools appropriately.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

About Your Environment:

• What percentage of your workloads run on Microsoft technologies?
• Do you have mainframe or legacy systems requiring specialized migration approaches?
• How complex are your application dependencies?
• What's your current cloud footprint, if any?

About Your Organization:

• What's your realistic migration budget including contingency?
• What timeline are you actually working with, not just the executive expectation?
• How much business disruption can you absorb during migration?
• What's your tolerance for vendor lock-in?

About Your Team:

• What cloud platforms does your team have experience with?
• Can you dedicate resources full-time to migration, or is this on top of existing responsibilities?
• Do you need extensive vendor support, or can you largely self-execute?
• What's your team's capacity to learn new tools and platforms?

About Your Strategy:

• Are you committed to a single cloud provider, or keeping options open?
• Is this pure lift-and-shift, or are you modernizing during migration?
• What's your three-year application architecture vision?
• How important is maintaining workload portability?

These questions help you move from abstract comparison to concrete decision-making based on your reality.

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Real-World Scenarios: Which Tool Wins?

Let's examine specific scenarios that IT leaders commonly face.

Scenario 1: Mid-Sized Financial Services Company

The Context: 300 virtual machines, predominantly Windows Server and SQL Server. Strict compliance requirements including SOX and PCI-DSS. Limited IT team of 12 people with strong Microsoft background. Budget constraints require clear ROI justification.

The Decision: Azure Migrate

Why It Makes Sense: The licensing leverage is immediate. Azure Hybrid Benefit reduces cloud costs by 40%, making the business case straightforward. The team's Microsoft expertise transfers directly, minimizing training needs. Deep integration with Azure security and compliance tools addresses regulatory requirements. The unified platform reduces complexity for a small team managing everything from discovery to optimization.

The Implementation: Start with agentless discovery to map the environment quickly. Use Azure's assessment tools to build the business case with accurate cost projections. Migrate in waves, starting with development environments to build team confidence. Leverage Azure Migrate's integration with Azure Security Center and Azure Policy to maintain compliance throughout migration.

Scenario 2: Large Retail Enterprise

The Context: 1,500 servers supporting e-commerce, point-of-sale, inventory management, and supply chain systems. Multi-year, three-phase migration program. Multiple teams across IT, operations, and business units. Mix of Windows and Linux workloads. Existing small AWS footprint.

The Decision: AWS Migration Hub

Why It Makes Sense: The scale and complexity demand centralized orchestration. Multiple teams need coordinated visibility. The existing AWS footprint provides a starting foundation. AWS's guided migration journeys provide structure for a complex, multi-year program. Cross-team collaboration features enable coordination without constant status meetings.

The Implementation: Begin with comprehensive discovery using AWS Application Discovery Service. Use Migration Hub to create migration waves organized by business function. Assign wave ownership to different teams while maintaining central visibility. Leverage guided journeys to standardize approach across teams. Use the hub's reporting to keep executives informed without creating manual overhead.

Scenario 3: Tech-Forward Manufacturing Company

The Context: Legacy mainframe systems running critical production scheduling. Modern containerized applications for customer portal and analytics. 400 servers total. Priority on modernization, not just migration. Technical team comfortable with multiple cloud platforms. Strong focus on cost control.

The Decision: Google Cloud's Migration Portfolio

Why It Makes Sense: The specialized mainframe migration tools address the legacy challenge. Migrate for Anthos enables containerization of appropriate workloads during migration. The technical team can handle integrating multiple specialized tools. Cost transparency and optimization tools align with budget priorities. Multi-cloud approach maintains flexibility as the company evolves.

The Implementation: Use Migrate for Compute Engine for standard VM migrations. Deploy specialized mainframe migration tools for legacy systems. Leverage Migrate for Anthos for applications suited to containerization. Utilize Migration Center for unified visibility across these different approaches. Take advantage of free credits to validate approach before full commitment.

Scenario 4: Healthcare Organization

The Context: 600 servers supporting electronic health records, patient portal, and clinical systems. Hybrid approach maintaining some on-premises for compliance. Gradual migration over 24 months. Small IT team with limited cloud experience. Strict uptime requirements.

The Decision: Azure Migrate (with careful planning)

Why It Makes Sense: The Windows-heavy healthcare environment aligns with Azure's strengths. Hybrid capabilities support the partial migration strategy. Azure's healthcare-specific compliance certifications reduce regulatory risk. The unified platform reduces complexity for a small team. Integration with Microsoft security tools addresses healthcare's stringent security requirements.

The Implementation: Start with comprehensive assessment to identify dependencies. Use Azure's hybrid capabilities to maintain some workloads on-premises while migrating others. Migrate in very small waves to minimize risk. Leverage Azure Site Recovery for business continuity during migration. Work closely with Azure support given limited internal expertise.

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Closing Thoughts

There's no universal "best" cloud migration tool. There's only the best tool for your specific situation.

AWS Migration Hub excels for large, complex migrations to AWS with multiple teams requiring coordination. Azure Migrate wins for Microsoft-heavy environments where licensing leverage and unified platforms matter. Google Cloud's portfolio provides flexibility and specialization for diverse workloads and modernization priorities.

No tool eliminates migration risk. They manage it differently. Your people and processes matter more than the tool. The best technology can't compensate for poor planning or inadequate change management.

Free assessment phases often lead to expensive execution lock-in. Understand the total cost of ownership, not just the initial tooling costs. Factor in training, consulting, extended timelines, and post-migration optimization.

Migration timelines always take longer than projected. Build in contingency. Unexpected dependencies emerge. Integrations prove more complex than anticipated. Business priorities shift mid-migration. Plan for these realities.

Post-migration optimization requires ongoing investment. Moving to the cloud is just the beginning. Right-sizing, cost optimization, and performance tuning require sustained attention. Budget for this from day one.