Cloud Equivalents

Data transfer & migration

AWS DataSync vs Azure Storage Mover / AzCopy

AWS DataSync maps to Azure Storage Mover (managed migration from NFS, SMB, and S3 sources) and AzCopy (command-line copy, including directly from S3).

Microsoft's comparison page pairs DataSync with Azure File Sync, but File Sync is for ongoing sync of Windows servers, not migration.

Partial match Use it to: Copy large file shares or buckets into the cloud, or between clouds, over the network with verification and scheduling.

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Side-by-side comparison

Online file and object migration: AWS vs Azure side by side
AspectAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft Azure
ServiceAWS DataSyncAzure Storage Mover
AzCopy
LifecycleGenerally availableGenerally available
Generally available
What it isManaged online transfers between NFS, SMB, HDFS, object storage, other clouds (including Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, and Google Cloud Storage), and AWS storage services, with or without an agent depending on the location.Managed migration service for NFS and SMB shares (through a migration agent) and AWS S3 buckets into Blob Storage or Azure Files. FSx SMB and Google Cloud Storage sources are in preview. All current features are free of charge. Objects in S3 Glacier classes must be restored first.
Free command-line tool for copying data to, from, and between Blob Storage and Azure Files, including server-side copy directly from Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage.
Pricing modelPer GB transferred, plus any S3 request and data transfer charges.Storage Mover and AzCopy are free. You pay for target storage and transactions, plus any egress charged by the source.
DocsAWS DataSync docsAzure Storage Mover docs
AzCopy docs
Pricing pageAWS DataSync pricingAzure Storage Mover pricing
AzCopy pricing
ExamsSAA-C03 SAP-C02 RetiringAZ-104 AZ-305

Key differences

  • Direction. DataSync moves data into, out of, and between AWS storage services, including from Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, and Google Cloud Storage. Storage Mover moves data into Azure only.
  • Sources. Storage Mover supports NFS and SMB shares (through an agent) and AWS S3, with FSx SMB and Google Cloud Storage in preview. Objects in S3 Glacier classes must be restored first.
  • Cost. DataSync bills per GB transferred. Storage Mover features are currently free, and AzCopy is a free tool, so you pay only for storage, transactions, and network.

Pricing summary

Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.

AWS
Per GB transferred, plus any S3 request and data transfer charges. AWS DataSync pricing →
Azure
Storage Mover and AzCopy are free. You pay for target storage and transactions, plus any egress charged by the source. Azure Storage Mover pricing → AzCopy pricing →

Certification exam mapping

ExamProviderLevelStatus
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03AWSAssociatecurrent
Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional SAP-C02AWSProfessionalretiring
Being updated to SAP-C03. Registration for SAP-C03 opens Oct 27, 2026. Last day to take SAP-C02 is Nov 16, 2026.
Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104AzureAssociatecurrent
Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305AzureExpertcurrent
English version updated Apr 17, 2026.

Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.

Verification notes

  • Microsoft's aws-professional storage page maps DataSync to Azure File Sync. This guide maps it to Storage Mover and AzCopy because they match DataSync's migration purpose.

FAQ

What is the Azure equivalent of AWS DataSync?

AWS DataSync maps to Azure Storage Mover (managed migration from NFS, SMB, and S3 sources) and AzCopy (command-line copy, including directly from S3). Microsoft's comparison page pairs DataSync with Azure File Sync, but File Sync is for ongoing sync of Windows servers, not migration.

How does pricing compare between AWS DataSync and Azure Storage Mover and AzCopy?

AWS: Per GB transferred, plus any S3 request and data transfer charges. Azure: Storage Mover and AzCopy are free. You pay for target storage and transactions, plus any egress charged by the source. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.

Which certification exams cover this topic?

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).

Related comparisons

Official sources