MigrationMerlin vs PickMeApp

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.

PickMeApp packages applications and their settings from a Windows PC so they can be installed on another PC. PickMeApp Pro manages discovery, installation, upgrades, removal, capture, and transfer; its command-line commands can automate those functions. PickMeApp Installer works with MSI, EXE, and PAD packages as well as proprietary TAP and TAD formats, and can create collections from a list of 20,000 software titles. The software can work offline with local repositories of custom software. Pro supports Windows XP and later and manages 32-bit and 64-bit programs on either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows computers. The maker reports successful capture and transfer of more than 15,000 software products and versions. Relocator moves installed applications between drives on the same computer; some moves need a restart and another run. Transfers to another PC depend on compatibility with its operating system. Free Relocator and Installer plans have no license count or expiration and contain no adware. Light costs $10 a year; Pro costs 30.00 USD once.