AWS Database Migration Service

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What is AWS Database Migration Service

AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) is a managed service for migrating and continuously replicating data between databases and data stores. It is used by cloud and data platform teams to move data to AWS targets or to synchronize data across heterogeneous sources with minimal downtime. The service supports full-load and change data capture (CDC) patterns and is typically paired with AWS Schema Conversion Tool when source and target engines require schema and code conversion. AWS DMS runs replication tasks on provisioned replication instances and integrates with AWS networking, security, and monitoring services.

Broad source/target support

AWS DMS supports migrations and replication across multiple commercial and open-source database engines and several AWS data stores. This enables heterogeneous moves (for example, from one engine family to another) as well as same-engine lift-and-shift scenarios. It also supports both one-time migrations and ongoing replication via CDC, which fits cutover and coexistence use cases.

Managed CDC replication workflows

The service provides built-in task types for full load, full load plus CDC, and CDC-only replication. It includes task monitoring, error handling, and restart behavior that reduces the amount of custom replication code teams need to maintain. For AWS-centric environments, it integrates with IAM, CloudWatch, KMS, and VPC networking controls commonly required for production operations.

Scales via replication instances

AWS DMS uses replication instances and task configuration to scale throughput and handle multiple endpoints and tasks. Teams can choose instance classes and storage to match workload size and adjust as requirements change. This model can be simpler to operationalize than self-managed replication pipelines when the primary goal is database migration or near-real-time replication.

Not a general ETL tool

AWS DMS focuses on moving and replicating data rather than performing complex transformations and data quality workflows. Transformations are limited compared with dedicated ETL and data integration platforms. Organizations often need additional services or tooling for enrichment, orchestration, and downstream modeling.

Schema conversion handled separately

When migrating between different database engines, schema and procedural code conversion is not fully handled by AWS DMS alone. Teams typically use AWS Schema Conversion Tool and still perform manual remediation for incompatible objects and application changes. This can extend project timelines beyond the data-movement portion.

Operational tuning can be required

Performance and reliability depend on correct sizing of replication instances, task settings, network throughput, and source database logging/CDC configuration. Large tables, LOBs, and high-change-rate workloads may require careful tuning and testing to meet cutover windows. Troubleshooting can involve multiple layers (source logs, task settings, AWS networking, and target constraints).

Plan & Pricing

Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (usage-based)

Free tier/trial: AWS Free Tier — 750 hours/month of Single-AZ dms.t3.micro instance usage for one year plus 50 GB General Purpose (SSD) storage (applies to accounts that qualify; free-tier credits valid up to 12 months). After July 15, 2025 new AWS Free Tier signups may choose between a Free Plan or a Paid Plan that include introductory credits.

On-demand instances (hourly): Pay per replication instance hour. AWS DMS supports T2, T3, C4, C5, C6i, R4, R5, and R6i instance classes. Exact hourly rates vary by instance type and AWS Region (hourly rates not enumerated on this summary pricing page).

Serverless: AWS DMS Serverless — pay per hour for capacity used measured in AWS DMS Capacity Units (DCU). One DCU = 2 GB RAM. DCU increments: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 192, 256, 384. (DCU/hour prices are region-dependent and not listed on the summary page.)

Storage & other usage: Included storage per instance: T2/T3 include 50 GB GP2; C4/R4/R5 include 100 GB GP2. Additional log/storage rates are charged (rates vary by region; not enumerated on the summary page). All data transfer into DMS is free; transfers between DMS and RDS/EC2 in the same AZ are free. Public IPv4 and standard AWS data transfer rates apply where noted.

Example costs (explicit values listed on the official page):

T3 CPU credits: $0.075 per vCPU-hour. (Other explicit per-hour instance/DCU prices are region- and instance-specific and are not listed directly on the AWS DMS summary pricing page.)

Discount/commitment options: Database Savings Plans — commit to a specified $/hour usage for a 1-year term to receive discounts.

Free features: AWS DMS Fleet Advisor and AWS DMS SC are free-to-use features within DMS; you only pay for Amazon S3 storage used by those features.

Seller details

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

Seattle, Washington, USA

2006

Subsidiary

https://aws.amazon.com/

https://x.com/awscloud

https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/

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AWS Database Migration Service

What is AWS Database Migration Service

Broad source/target support

Managed CDC replication workflows

Scales via replication instances

Not a general ETL tool

Schema conversion handled separately

Operational tuning can be required

Plan & Pricing

Seller details

Tools by Amazon Web Services, Inc.

Best AWS Database Migration Service alternatives

Popular categories

Generative AI & LLM

Agents, autonomous & workflow automation

Vertical AI

Sales

Marketing

Security

Analytics

Collaboration & productivity

Commerce

Content management

Customer service

Development

ERP

HR

IT infrastructure

IT management