AWS Application Migration Service (MGN, formerly CloudEndure) is the default migration tool for enterprises already in the AWS ecosystem. It's powerful, well-supported, and free for the first 90 days. But it has real limitations — and they show up exactly when migrations get complex.
Z-Move takes a fundamentally different approach. Here's an honest, side-by-side breakdown.
| Feature | Z-Move | AWS MGN |
|---|---|---|
| Agent required on source VM | ✓ Agentless | ✗ Agent required |
| Supported source clouds | Zadara, AWS, Azure + more on roadmap | AWS + on-prem (limited 3rd-party) |
| Supported target clouds | Zadara, AWS, Azure | AWS only |
| True multi-cloud (non-AWS targets) | ✓ Yes Z-Move wins | ✗ AWS-only target |
| Pricing model | $0.05/GB — pay per migration | Free 90 days, then $0.042/hr per replicated server |
| Cost for 10 TB one-time migration | ~$512 total Z-Move wins | Free (if within 90 days) / ~$730+ after |
| Cost for ongoing replication | Not designed for continuous replication | ✓ Continuous replication supported MGN wins |
| Ephemeral migration infrastructure | ✓ Auto-destroyed after every job | ~ Replication servers persist while active |
| SAP HANA migration support | ✓ Proven in production (7 disks) | ~ Supported but requires agent on HANA VM |
| Intercontinental (non-AWS) migration | ✓ Tested: Angola → Brazil, AWS → Zadara Africa | ✗ Target must be AWS region |
| Data sovereignty / regional clouds | ✓ Designed for it Z-Move wins | ✗ AWS hyperscaler only |
| White-label / MSP deployment | ✓ Available | ✗ Not available |
| Setup time | Minutes (credential entry only) | Hours (agent install + network config) |
| Vendor lock-in risk | ✓ None — cloud-agnostic | High — reinforces AWS dependency |
AWS MGN requires an AWS Replication Agent installed on every source VM. For most migrations, this means:
Z-Move requires zero agent installation. Authentication is done at the cloud API layer. Your VMs are never touched during the migration process.
AWS MGN is free for the first 90 days per server. After that, it charges per replicated server-hour — which adds up quickly for long-running or large environments. For a simple one-time migration, it's often free. For complex or repeated migrations, costs scale.
Z-Move charges $0.05 per GB of data transferred. For a 10 TB migration: $512. No subscriptions, no per-server fees, no idle charges. You pay only when you move something.
💡 Use the Z-Move cost calculator to estimate your specific migration cost. No signup required.
AWS MGN is designed to move workloads into AWS — and keep them there. If you want to migrate from AWS to Zadara, from Azure to Zadara, or between any non-AWS environments, MGN doesn't apply.
Z-Move was built for exactly this scenario. Angola Cables moved from AWS US East to Zadara Africa in 3 minutes 20 seconds. United Investment migrated SAP HANA between Zadara clusters. These migrations aren't possible with AWS MGN.
If you're migrating to AWS and you're comfortable with agents, AWS MGN is a reasonable choice — especially within the free tier. If you're migrating away from AWS, between regional clouds, or need an agentless approach for complex enterprise workloads, Z-Move is the better fit.
The two tools serve different migration directions. Choose based on where your workloads are going, not where they're coming from.
Tell us your source and target cloud, and we'll scope the migration — with a real cost estimate and timeline.
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