Google Migrate to Containers
Cloud migration software
Data integration tools
Cloud data integration software
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What is Google Migrate to Containers
Google Migrate to Containers is a Google Cloud service that helps organizations modernize existing applications by converting them into container images and Kubernetes resources. It targets teams moving workloads from virtual machines or legacy environments into Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) or other Kubernetes platforms. The product focuses on application-to-container transformation, including dependency discovery and generation of deployment artifacts, rather than general-purpose file or SaaS tenant migration.
VM-to-container transformation focus
The product is designed specifically to convert existing VM-based applications into container images and Kubernetes manifests. This supports modernization scenarios where teams want to move from VM operations to Kubernetes operations without rewriting the application immediately. It is more aligned to application runtime migration than tools that primarily move files, mailboxes, or SaaS content.
Kubernetes deployment artifacts generated
It generates Kubernetes resources (for example, deployment configurations) alongside container images, which reduces manual work to create initial Kubernetes deployment definitions. This can accelerate proof-of-concept and early production cutovers for migrated applications. It fits teams standardizing on Kubernetes as the target operating model.
Integrates with Google Cloud stack
As a Google Cloud offering, it aligns with GKE-based deployment patterns and related Google Cloud services used in migration programs. This can simplify governance and operations for organizations already using Google Cloud identity, networking, and monitoring. It is typically procured and managed within the same cloud account and tooling used for other Google Cloud services.
Narrow scope vs data migration
It is not a general data integration or data replication tool for moving datasets between storage systems or SaaS tenants. Organizations still need separate tooling and processes for migrating databases, file shares, and application data synchronization. This can increase overall migration complexity when both app runtime and data movement are in scope.
Kubernetes skills required
Teams need Kubernetes operational knowledge to run, secure, and troubleshoot the resulting workloads. The conversion output often requires review and adjustment for production readiness (for example, networking, storage, secrets, and scaling behavior). Organizations without an established Kubernetes platform team may face a longer adoption curve.
Best fit for GKE-centric targets
While the output is Kubernetes-oriented, the service is designed around Google Cloud workflows and is most straightforward when the target is GKE. Multi-cloud or non-Google target environments may require additional adaptation and validation. This can be a limitation for organizations seeking a single migration toolchain across multiple cloud providers.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (Migrate to Containers itself is provided at no charge; underlying Google Cloud resources used for the migration are billed per their SKUs)
Free tier/trial: The Migrate to Containers solution is provided at no charge for migrations into GKE. GKE offers a free tier credit of $74.40 per billing account per month (equivalent to one free Autopilot or zonal Standard cluster per month). No time-limited trial for Migrate to Containers was stated on the official pricing page.
Example costs (from GKE pricing, official):
- GKE cluster management fee: $0.10 per cluster per hour (charged in 1-second increments).
- GKE Autopilot vCPU price (default): $0.0445 (list/default rate shown on GKE pricing page).
- Other compute/storage/networking SKUs (Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, egress) are billed separately per their respective Google Cloud pricing.
Discount options: Committed use discounts and other consumption/commitment discounts apply to underlying resources (e.g., Compute Engine committed use discounts, GKE consumption-model discounts). Custom quotes/enterprise pricing available via sales.
Seller details
Google LLC
Mountain View, CA, USA
1998
Subsidiary
https://cloud.google.com/deep-learning-vm
https://x.com/googlecloud
https://www.linkedin.com/company/google/
