Azure Storage Mover vs Peer Global File Service
Azure Storage Mover
azure.microsoft.com
Peer Global File Service
peersoftware.comSide by side
| Figure | Azure Storage Mover | Peer Global File Service |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Storage Migration Software | 7.8 (#7) | 7.7 (#10) |
| Intended users | The product page describes the service for hybrid and multicloud migrations, including enterprise-scale workloads. | The product is described for distributed project teams and enterprise environments using multi-site, multi-platform, or hybrid multi-cloud storage. |
| Purpose | Azure Storage Mover is a fully managed service for migrating files and folders from on-premises, AWS S3, and other cloud platforms to Azure Storage. | PeerGFS is software for real-time file replication, management, and synchronization across sites, servers, platforms, clouds, and storage systems. |
| Security | Transfers use HTTPS, and Storage Mover optionally supports Private Link to storage accounts; the FAQ says only metadata passes through the Storage Mover resource region for on-premises migrations. | The product page states that traffic is SSL-encrypted up to AES-256 and describes Active Directory integration for delegated administration and policy-based access. |
Plans
In their own words
Azure Storage Mover
Azure Storage Mover moves files and folders from on-premises systems and cloud sources into Azure Storage. It can transfer to Azure Blob Storage or Azure Files from sources using SMB 2.x/3.x, NFS 3/4 or S3. Choose a one-time migration, recurring transfers, or a metadata-only run that creates folder structures and permissions without transferring file contents. Transfers can retain file structure, permissions, attributes and metadata. An Azure-hosted resource coordinates jobs, authentication and progress; agents scan and transfer data from on-premises systems or cloud virtual machines. For AWS S3-to-Azure moves, Azure Arc connectors provide source access and allow server-to-server copying without an agent. Transfers use HTTPS, and Private Link to storage accounts is optional. Storage Mover is free for on-premises-to-Azure and AWS-to-Azure scenarios, though standard storage, transaction and networking charges apply. Resources can be created in six listed regions, while data can be ingested into all Azure public regions. Microsoft reports no per-job file or directory limit and testing up to 500 million objects in on-premises scenarios.
Peer Global File Service
Peer Global File Service (PeerGFS) replicates, manages, and synchronizes files across sites, platforms, clouds, and storage systems. It sends changes in real time for active-active file sharing, uses distributed file locking to help prevent conflicts, and transfers changed data rather than whole files through delta-level replication. The product supports SMB and NFS workloads and lists Windows and Linux file servers, NetApp, Nutanix Files, Dell systems, and cloud targets including S3 and Azure Blob. Microsoft DFS Namespaces can unify SMB access across sites and support failover and failback. Security descriptions include SSL-encrypted traffic up to AES-256, role-based controls through Active Directory, and monitoring for suspicious file activity. The product also lists local caching, edge synchronization, metadata and access preservation, cutover orchestration, and migration reporting. Capabilities depend on configuration: edge caching is limited to Windows file servers, and NFS supports only replication and synchronization jobs. Pricing is available on request. A trial request includes a guided proof of concept with the pre-sales team. Peer Software says it began in 1993.