AWS DMS Pricing: Complete Guide to Database Migration Costs in 2025

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Last updated:
June 19, 2025

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Database migration is a critical decision for any organization, and understanding the true cost is essential for making informed choices. While AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) is a popular option, its complex pricing structure and hidden costs can lead to budget surprises. In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down AWS DMS pricing and show you why 5X offers a superior, more cost-effective alternative for your data migration needs.

What is AWS DMS?

AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) is a fully managed cloud service that enables you to migrate databases to AWS quickly and securely. AWS DMS helps you plan, assess, convert, and migrate databases and analytic workloads to AWS simply, securely, and at low cost. The service supports both homogeneous and heterogeneous database migrations with minimal downtime.

AWS DMS pricing models

1. On-Demand instance pricing

With on-demand instances, you only pay for your replication instances and any additional log storage, and you pay by the hour used. This model offers flexibility without long-term commitments.

Instance Classes:

  • T2/T3 Instances: Low-cost standard instances designed to provide a baseline level of CPU performance with the ability to burst above the baseline
  • C4/C5/C6i Instances: Compute-optimized for processor-intensive tasks
  • R4/R5/R6i Instances: Memory-optimized for high-throughput migrations

2. AWS DMS serverless pricing

With AWS DMS Serverless, you only pay for the capacity that is used. This model automatically scales based on workload demand and is measured in DMS Capacity Units (DCUs).

Key Features:

  • Pay-per-hour for actual capacity consumption
  • Automatic scaling up or down based on data volume
  • Available DCU increments: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 192, 256, and 384
  • One DCU equals 2GB of RAM

3. Homogeneous data migrations

For homogeneous migrations (same database engines), AWS offers specialized pricing where you pay by the hour only for the duration of the data migration without needing to provision replication instances.

AWS DMS cost components

1.Storage Costs

Each compute-optimized (C4) or memory-optimized (R4 and R5) instance type includes 100GB of GP2 network-attached storage; each burstable performance (T2 and T3) instance type includes 50GB of GP2 network-attached storage.

Additional storage costs range from $0.115 to $0.23 per GB per month depending on the storage type.

2.Data Transfer Costs

Understanding data transfer costs is crucial for AWS DMS pricing:

  • Free Data Transfer: All data transfer into AWS DMS is free, and data transferred between AWS DMS and databases in Amazon RDS and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances in the same Availability Zone is also free
  • Charged Data Transfer: Standard AWS data transfer rates apply when migrating across different AZs, regions, or outside AWS

Additional Feature Costs

Free Features:

  • AWS DMS Fleet Advisor: AWS DMS Fleet Advisor is a free, fully managed capability of AWS DMS. Only pay for the Amazon S3 storage used
  • AWS DMS Schema Conversion (SC): Free-to-use feature with S3 storage costs only

Paid Features:

  • T3 CPU Credits: $0.075 per vCPU hour for burst capacity
  • Public IPv4 addresses: Standard VPC pricing applies
  • Monitoring and logging: CloudWatch and KMS charges may apply

Factors affecting AWS DMS pricing

1. Migration complexity

The complexity of your migration significantly impacts costs:

  • Heterogeneous migrations: Require schema conversion, increasing time and resource requirements
  • Change Data Capture (CDC): Requires more powerful instances and storage for logs
  • Data transformation: Custom transformations need additional computing capacity

2. Migration duration

The duration for which the migration job runs is a critical cost factor, as AWS DMS evaluates the charge based on the hour the replication instance is running. For 24/7 continuous replication, costs can accumulate quickly.

3. Data volume

Higher data volumes require more computing and storage resources, directly translating to higher costs. Consider the following:

  • Initial data load size
  • Ongoing change volume for CDC
  • Network bandwidth requirements
  • Storage needs for logs and cache

4. Instance selection

Choosing the right instance type affects both performance and cost:

  • Under-provisioning: Can slow migration and increase duration costs
  • Over-provisioning: Wastes money on unused capacity
  • Serverless: Often more cost-effective for variable workloads

Cost optimization strategies

1. Choose the right pricing model

  • Serverless: AWS DMS Serverless is more cost effective than on-demand instances, as it automatically scales resources as needed to meet demand
  • On-Demand: Better for predictable, long-running migrations
  • Homogeneous: Most cost-effective for same-engine migrations

2. Optimize instance selection

  • Start with smaller instances and scale up if needed
  • Use T3 instances for development and testing
  • Reserve C5/R5 instances for production migrations
  • Consider Multi-AZ only when high availability is required

3. Minimize data transfer costs

  • Keep source and target in the same AZ when possible
  • Use Direct Connect for large on-premises migrations
  • Optimize network configuration to reduce cross-AZ traffic

4. Monitor and control costs

  • Use AWS Cost Explorer to track spending
  • Set up billing alerts for unexpected cost increases
  • Regularly review and optimize running instances
  • Terminate unused replication instances promptly

Comparing AWS DMS Pricing with Alternatives

When evaluating AWS DMS pricing, consider these factors:

AWS DMS advantages:

  • Pay-as-you-go model with no upfront costs
  • Free tier for testing and small migrations
  • Integrated with AWS ecosystem
  • Fully managed service reducing operational overhead

Potential drawbacks:

  • Costs can be unpredictable for variable workloads
  • Limited concurrent migration jobs per instance
  • Performance limitations for very large databases

Why 5X is the Superior Alternative to AWS DMS

While AWS DMS serves its purpose, 5X provides a more comprehensive, cost-effective, and user-friendly solution for modern data migration and integration needs. Here's why you should choose 5X:

1. Transparent, Predictable Pricing

Unlike AWS DMS's complex hourly pricing with multiple variables, 5X offers simple, transparent pricing:

5X pricing structure:

  • Power Plan: $500/month - Complete data platform for small to medium workloads
  • Pro Plan: $1,500/month - Enhanced capacity and premium support
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing with volume discounts

No hidden costs:

  • ✅ Unlimited users included
  • ✅ Implementation and setup included
  • ✅ 500+ connectors at no additional cost
  • ✅ Support and training included
  • ✅ No per-hour charges

2. Complete end-to-End data platform

While AWS DMS focuses solely on database migration, 5X provides a comprehensive data platform:

5X complete stack:

  • Data Ingestion: 500+ pre-built connectors
  • Data Warehousing: Integration with Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks
  • Data Modeling: Advanced transformation and orchestration
  • Data Migration: Seamless database and application migrations
  • Business Intelligence: Built-in analytics and visualization
  • Real-time Processing: Stream processing and CDC capabilities

3. Dramatic cost savings

Let's compare real-world scenarios:

Small business migration (5-10 databases)

AWS DMS costs (Annual):

  • Instances: $200-500/month × 12 = $2,400-6,000
  • Implementation: $20,000-50,000
  • Maintenance: $10,000-25,000
  • Total Year 1: $32,400-81,000

5X costs (Annual):

  • Platform: $500/month × 12 = $6,000
  • Implementation: Included (48-hour setup)
  • Maintenance: Included
  • Total Year 1: $6,000

5X savings: $26,400-75,000 (81-92% cost reduction)

Enterprise migration (50+ databases)

AWS DMS costs (Annual):

  • Instances: $2,000-8,000/month × 12 = $24,000-96,000
  • Implementation: $100,000-300,000
  • Ongoing operations: $50,000-150,000
  • Total Year 1: $174,000-546,000

5X costs (Annual):

  • Enterprise Plan: $96,000/year (estimated)
  • Implementation: Included
  • Operations: Included
  • Total Year 1: $96,000

5X savings: $78,000-450,000 (45-82% cost reduction)

4. Lightning-fast implementation

AWS DMS timeline:

  • Planning: 2-4 weeks
  • Setup and configuration: 2-6 weeks
  • Testing and validation: 2-4 weeks
  • Total: 6-14 weeks

5X timeline:

  • Setup: 48 hours
  • Data migration: Days, not weeks
  • Total: Under 1 week

5. Superior features and capabilities

Feature

AWS DMS

5X

Database Migration
✅ Primary focus
✅ Included + enhanced
Real-time Data Sync
✅ Limited
✅ Advanced CDC
Data Transformation
❌ Requires additional tools
✅ Built-in advanced transformations
Business Intelligence
❌ Separate service needed
✅ Integrated BI platform
Custom Connectors
❌ Complex development
✅ Zero additional cost
Unlimited Users
❌ Pay per resource
✅ Included
White-glove Support
❌ Premium support costs extra
✅ Included

6. Proven customer success

Real testimonials from 5X customers:

5X has transformed the way we work. The automated data collection & reporting saves us 300 hours+ / month in manual work. And the insights help us identify & double down on activities that boost store revenue.

We leverage 5X as a one-stop solution for all our data needs. It helps us manage all data-related tasks from a single pane instead of toggling between multiple tools.

7. Zero risk, maximum value

5X advantage:

  • 14-day free trial with full platform access
  • First use case is completely free
  • No long-term contracts required
  • 48-hour implementation guarantee
  • Dedicated support throughout onboarding

Why 5X is the Clear Winner

The evidence is compelling. While AWS DMS serves as a basic database migration tool, it comes with:

  • ❌ Complex, unpredictable pricing ($0.018-21.65/hour plus hidden costs)
  • ❌ Limited scope (migration only)
  • ❌ Lengthy implementations (6-14 weeks)
  • ❌ Operational overhead and maintenance
  • ❌ Performance limitations and constraints

5X delivers everything AWS DMS promises and significantly more:

  • ✅ Transparent, all-inclusive pricing (starting at $500/month)
  • ✅ Complete end-to-end data platform
  • ✅ 48-hour implementation
  • ✅ 45-92% cost savings vs. AWS DMS
  • ✅ Unlimited users and advanced features
  • ✅ White-glove support and consultancy

The numbers don't lie

For most organizations, 5X delivers:

  • 45-92% cost reduction compared to AWS DMS total costs
  • 10x faster implementation (days vs. weeks)
  • Complete data platform vs. migration-only solution
  • Unlimited scalability without resource constraints
  • Enterprise-grade support included, not extra

Ready to transform your data migration?

Stop overpaying for complex migration tools. Join hundreds of companies that have made the smart switch from AWS DMS to 5X for better migration capabilities, lower costs, and faster results.

Take action today:

  1. Start Your Free Trial - 14-day full platform access, no strings attached
  2. Book a Custom Demo - See 5X in action with your specific data
  3. Schedule a Consultation - Get personalized ROI analysis vs. AWS DMS

FAQs

Remove the frustration of setting up a data platform!

Building a data platform doesn’t have to be hectic. Spending over four months and 20% dev time just to set up your data platform is ridiculous. Make 5X your data partner with faster setups, lower upfront costs, and 0% dev time. Let your data engineering team focus on actioning insights, not building infrastructure ;)

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