Microsoft has launched a unified first-party toolset for migrating Google Workspace workloads to Microsoft 365—but is it the best fit for your company’s Google Workspace migration? To answer that question, we explore some of the top cloud migration tools on the market today.
While no migration tool can replace a solid strategy and skilled team, the right tech stack can certainly simplify your job as an IT admin, making the process smoother, faster, and more efficient. But with hundreds of cloud migration tools to choose from—ranging from budget-friendly to premium enterprise solutions—it can be overwhelming to sift through them all.
Our engineers did a ton of research into platform-to-platform cloud migration while developing ShareGate’s Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration functionality. A big part of that process included looking at Microsoft’s Migration Manager and leading third-party tools to understand their capabilities and limitations.
To help you assess which migration tool is the right fit for your organization, we decided to share what we learned and walk you through some of the top cloud migration tools currently on the market, helping you identify which is best suited for a seamless transition in your organization.
Table of contents
4 best Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration tools at a glance
Today’s cloud migration tools offer a wide range of features, from advanced data handling to real-time monitoring and post-migration support. Each tool brings unique strengths to the table, tailored to meet specific business needs and goals.
Ultimately, there’s a data migration tool for every business’s unique needs and goals—and we’re to help you pick the best-fit tool specifically for you.
We’re going to dive into the nitty gritty details of the Google Workspace migration tools from ShareGate, Microsoft, BitTitan, and AvePoint, but first, let’s do a quick overview!
| ShareGate Migrate Pro | Microsoft Migration Manager | BitTitan MigrationWiz | AvePoint Fly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Intuitive, user-friendly interface; designed for admins with limited or advanced experience | Basic interface; limited features for complex migrations | Moderate learning curve | User-friendly but requires customization for optimal setup |
| Speed of migration | Multi-activation license allows concurrent migrations, speeding up the process | No concurrent migrations; limited to smaller-scale moves | Moderate speed; concurrent options with additional licenses but limited control | Fast migrations but depends on number of licenses purchased |
| Data migration flexibility | Supports granular selection; migrate specific data (folders, permissions, etc.) | Limited flexibility; often used for file migration only | Good flexibility but may require custom configuration and additional licensing | High flexibility; strong document migration features |
| Cost | Flat-rate pricing model based on the number of machine activations; includes unlimited data, end users, and workloads | Free option but limited capabilities; may require additional tools | Metered licensing model with per/user or /GB pricing; higher cost for additional workloads, more data, and advanced configurations | Tiered pricing plan based on number of end users; may require additional license for each workload (e.g., Gmail + My Drive + Shared Drive) |
| Expertise needed | Low to moderate; user guides and built-in support ease learning curve | Low expertise needed, but limited feature set for complex migrations | Moderate, requires some existing setup knowledge | Low to moderate; onboarding resources available |
| Security & governance | Automated external sharing reviews; actionable permissions management; easy-to-set up provisioning templates to help end users collaborate with your guardrails in place | External sharing, permissions management, and provisioning templates can be set up manually or with the Power Platform, but it is time consuming and takes a certain skillset | Does not have features to manage security and governance of end users | Has external sharing, permissions management, and provisioning, but each requires a separate license |
| End-user onboarding support | Offers 15+ hours of M365 training for end users along with progress reports for IT admins to be able to report on adoption. Also has robust onboarding documentation and user guides for smooth transition | Minimal end-user resources; typically focused on admin-side migration | Moderate; requires admin-led onboarding process | Extensive onboarding resources and support |
| Scalability | Scalable for both small and large migrations; effective for ongoing transfers | More suitable for small to medium-scale migrations | Scalable but may incur higher costs for larger projects | Scalable but at a premium price |
| Overall recommendation | Best choice for IT admins seeking ease, flexibility, and optimized M365 adoption at a fixed cost | Good for small/simple migrations but lacks depth for complex needs | Suitable for experienced admins needing moderate flexibility, most affordable for very small migrations | Effective but will require a considerable budget to acquire licenses to support all workloads, security, governance, and adoption. |
ShareGate Migrate Pro/Essentials
ShareGate Migrate’s end-to-end software solution offers several advantages that make it a strong contender for the best Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration solution. Designed with IT admins in mind, its Google Workspace migration tool is intuitive and user-friendly. The simple user interface streamlines complicated migration tasks, so your team can migrate faster and meet tight deadlines. Plus, ShareGate’s out-of-the-box features go beyond Microsoft’s built-in tools, offering hassle-free deployments, concurrent migrations, and centralized reporting.
The ShareGate platform isn’t just about smooth migrations—it also provides security and governance guidance and strong post-migration support. ShareGate’s Migrate Pro and Enterprise plans give you access to our turnkey Microsoft 365 end-user training solution and ShareGate Protect, our SaaS solution for ongoing security and compliance. But no matter which plan you choose, you’ll always get unlimited data, workloads, and end users for one flat price.
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While ShareGate Migrate is a powerful cloud migration tool, it does come with a few limitations. For instance, it’s not free—though it offers a straightforward flat-rate pricing model, which can simplify budgeting for IT teams. Additionally, ShareGate does not currently support Gmail migrations. However, this gap can be easily managed with the help of Microsoft’s free migration tools for Gmail transfers to Exchange Online, making ShareGate an excellent option for the bulk of your data migration needs.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface suitable for all experience levels
- Powerful, trusted migration engine that leaves nothing behind and has the ability to run concurrent migrations while mitigating throttling to help you meet deadlines
- Post-migration optimization in Microsoft 365 with granular reporting, permissions management, security, and ongoing governance
- Unlimited end users, data, workflows, and support at a fixed price
- Turnkey Microsoft 365 end-user training resources to boost adoption
Cons:
- Not free, though priced at a flat rate
- Does not support mailbox migrations (can be supplemented with Microsoft’s free tool)
Microsoft’s built-in migration solutions
The primary appeal of Microsoft’s in-house solution is that it’s free, making it a cost-effective choice for those with tight budgets. Additionally, Microsoft’s first-party tools are capable of migrating mailboxes, a key feature for many businesses looking to transfer email histories seamlessly from Gmail to Exchange Online.
With the retirement of Mover.io, Microsoft has also introduced a new comprehensive data migration toolset designed to assist with the transition from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365. The unified toolset, accessible via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, assists with migrating mailbox data (emails, contacts, and calendars) to Microsoft Exchange and moving content (files, metadata, and permissions) to OneDrive or SharePoint Online, making the process more straightforward for tenant administrators.
Screenshot of the Microsoft Migration Manager experience
One of the standout features is the Simplified Gmail Migration (SGM), tailored for small to medium-sized businesses with up to 1,000 users. This feature enables direct and seamless mailbox migrations, bypassing the need for complex batching processes, email-only IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocols) migrations, or PowerShell.
Note: If the user count in the source domain is greater than 1,000 users, the tenant admin is guided to the large tenant Gmail Migration experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, which focuses on making sure that both the source (Google Workspace Mail) and target (Microsoft 365 Exchange Online) are usable throughout the duration of the migration.
You can find more details on large tenant migration from Google Workspace Mail to Microsoft 365 Exchange Online in Microsoft’s official Google business email and calendar migration documentation.
Despite these improvements, some limitations remain. The built-in tools may still require manual configurations and a higher degree of technical expertise, which can extend the preparation and execution timelines. Additionally, they don’t offer the advanced reporting and monitoring functionalities available in third-party solutions — capabilities that can be vital for tracking progress and promptly resolving issues during and after the migration process.
Pros:
- Free to use
- Supports mailbox, contact, and calendar migrations (from Gmail to Exchange Online) and file, metadata, and permissions migration (from Google Drive to OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online) with enhanced, consolidated processes
Cons:
- Less intuitive compared to third-party tools
- Lacks advanced reporting and monitoring features
- Does not include the migration of version history
BitTitan MigrationWiz
BitTitan MigrationWiz is a popular choice for migrating data between platforms, particularly for its ability to migrate mailboxes. This feature can be an advantage for organizations if they need to transfer extensive email histories and user settings. For IT teams looking for a tool specifically to handle Gmail migrations, BitTitan offers a reliable solution.
However, BitTitan’s scope of capabilities doesn’t match the comprehensiveness found in tools like ShareGate. While it can manage straightforward data migrations, BitTitan lacks the in-depth reporting, monitoring, and customization options that make ShareGate so versatile. This can be a drawback for organizations with complex needs or those that require greater control over specific migration elements.
In addition, BitTitan’s pricing structure—charging per user and/or per GB—can lead to higher costs, especially for large-scale migrations. This pay-per-use model may result in unpredictable costs that exceed ShareGate’s flat-rate pricing, making it a less budget-friendly choice for IT teams managing tight budgets or larger migrations.
Pros:
- Supports Gmail migrations
- Flexible data migration
- Scalable
Cons:
- Not a comprehensive end-to-end solution compared to a tool like ShareGate, which has end-user training as well as security and governance features
- Charges per user or per GB, often resulting in higher costs, particularly when using custom configuration for flexibility and scaling
AvePoint Fly
AvePoint Fly is another well-regarded tool in the Microsoft 365/Office 365 cloud migration space, known for its ability to handle large-scale, complex migrations, including detailed pre-migration analysis and high-speed data transfers. With AvePoint, IT teams can effectively manage complex data structures and maintain consistency throughout the transition process, ensuring minimal disruption and a smooth shift to the new platform. This makes it a strong option for organizations that need to seamlessly move a wide range of data from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365.
However, AvePoint does have its limitations, especially when compared to more comprehensive tools like ShareGate. While AvePoint handles standard migrations well, it lacks some of the in-depth reporting, monitoring, and customization features that many IT admins find essential for complex migration projects unless you purchase a new license for each workload. This can be a drawback for organizations with specific data migration needs or those that require a higher level of control and flexibility throughout the process.
Additionally, AvePoint’s licensing model can make it a more expensive choice over time. Unlike ShareGate’s flat-rate pricing, AvePoint requires the purchase of multiple licenses for various functions, leading to potentially higher and less predictable costs. For larger organizations or those with extensive data to migrate, this multi-license structure can quickly become a budgetary concern.
Pros:
- Supports Gmail migrations with an additional license purchase
- Fast and flexible migrations, depending on the number of licenses purchased
- Has security and governance features, each with an additional license purchase
- Extensive onboarding resources
Cons:
- Doesn’t migrate permissions, versions, or metadata
- Requires multiple licenses, often resulting in higher costs
Ready to accelerate your Google Cloud to Microsoft Cloud transition?
Whether your organization is growing fast, merging, or rethinking Google Workspace’s costs—migrating to Microsoft 365 can feel like a big undertaking, especially with tight deadlines and keeping data safe and intact. IT teams are under pressure to make it happen smoothly, but a Google-to-Microsoft migration often means diving into unfamiliar territory. How do you make the move without losing data or hitting compatibility snags?
If you’re ready to drive your Google migration project to a successful finish, sign up for our upcoming webinar, How to migrate Google Workspace to Microsoft 365: Best Practices, with Microsoft MVP Denis Molodtsov. In this live session, he’ll walk you through the essentials of planning a seamless migration—from licensing to provisioning and storage—and share tips for converting files, identity mapping, and managing permissions and orphaned Google Drives. Plus, he’ll show you how automation with ShareGate’s PowerShell module can save you hours of manual work
This blog is part of our Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration strategy series. Check out the other articles in this series:
