MigrationMerlin vs PC Migration Pro

MigrationMerlin is a free Windows tool for moving user state between PCs, aimed at sysadmins and power users. It wraps Microsoft’s User State Migration Tool, including scanstate.exe and loadstate.exe, and provides an arrow-key-driven text interface plus numbered batch wrappers for step-by-step migration. Both source and destination PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11, have administrator privileges, and be reachable on the same network with SMB port 445 open. The tool can configure an SMB transfer share on the destination PC, including a firewall rule. IncludeUsers and ExcludeUsers options let users select profiles. ExtraData can include taskbar pins, Wi-Fi profiles, power plans, and items covered by custom migration XML. Migration stores can be encrypted with AES-256, but the README says there is no recovery path if the key is lost. During capture and restore, the tool displays progress, file counts, and throughput. It writes transcript logs to the migration folder’s Logs directory and masks credentials in those logs. The project is MIT-licensed and distributes downloadable ZIP artifacts through rolling GitHub releases.

PC Migration Pro helps IT technicians move a user’s data and profile settings to a new Windows computer while the user continues working. The old and new computers connect with a unique link code, and migration runs device to device over a network. Technicians can remotely start and monitor migrations from the new computer. Transferable information includes data, profile settings, cloud drive locations, Desktop and Documents shortcuts, OneDrive and other volumes, email and profile settings, browser favorites, extensions, and history. File transfers are described as optimized for speed with smart network-route discovery. An update migration can transfer files added or changed after the initial move. Applications themselves are not migrated; the new computer should have applications such as Office and the browser installed beforehand so settings can be applied. The free edition covers three computers and includes all features. Paid per-migration plans cost 25.00 USD, 22.50 USD, or 19.95 USD once, depending on migration volume.