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AWS Database Migration Service vs FME comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

AWS Database Migration Service
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
Cloud Data Integration (2nd)
FME
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
Data Integration (26th)
 

Featured Reviews

AG
Delivery Head Data Engineering at BAGIC
Streamlines data migration across platforms with cost-effective and scalable solutions
We have the continuous data integration feature, but it does not work very well in our given ecosystem because we have huge data volume, and it reads from archive log rather than the redo sequence. That is where it lacks, so we are not able to do continuous streaming data injection. The ability to handle heterogeneous migrations for our organization is adequate. I do not see a major value add, or see it as a marquee feature. It is a good tool, but we do not have that sort of uses requirement. In my 10 plus years of experience, I do not see that kind of requirement where I have to replicate it in real time. I leverage AWS CloudWatch for addressing migration issues. The major challenges come across CDC. We have created latency filter and everything, but there is no way to control it. Due to the nature of our business, the transactions increase during month end and year end. My transactions are supposed to increase, my workloads on my core system increases, but my DMS is not able to keep up with them, even if I increase it to a higher side. Improvements could be made in AWS Database Migration Service. Because of that, I am moving out of DMS now to a STRIIM solution. DMS works within AWS ecosystem, but they also have to look for third party solutions. Now Snowflake is a bigger player, or Databricks. Something that could be possible as a connector, whether paid or free, but giving as a connector to that ecosystem as well.
Gert Booysen - PeerSpot reviewer
Software Solutions Leader at GE Vernova
Extensive format support and reliable integration enhance data management while new pricing model requires reassessment
I haven't had any input or requirements from any customers that are not currently covered, so I don't have any additional needs that were identified or raised to me. Regarding pricing, with the model changes that they've implemented a while back, it actually made it more expensive to use, especially on the server side. They changed the licensing model, and that made customers think it is overpriced. Some customers were actually looking at alternatives. Pricing with the model changes was perceived negatively. I work primarily with enterprise customers, Vodacom, Eskom, so it's tier-one customers. For small customers, this solution is a bit too expensive. They don't really use it and just do direct integration on smaller implementations. This is basically used by tier-one customers. FME is still able to save time and money for clients. It's still a good investment. Regarding similar products to FME, GE developed a product called Data Fabric. That is a real-time operational integration platform, Data Fabric Network Connect, which is a GE Grid OS product. It is actually more expensive than FME, but the purpose is different as it's operational. The vendor in this case is GE, and it's a company that we bought that used to be called Greenbird. In current use scenarios, FME is still leading compared to Data Fabric. The GE product has a different application.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The solution is instantaneous. We can launch the service and reduce the end number of manpower."
"We particularly like that this solution has the facility to integrate with all ETL tools."
"The database migration services allow us to do real-time synchronization of on-premise and database to plan out our releases."
"The initial setup is very straightforward."
"If your infrastructure is already on Amazon, it simply makes the most sense to use a tool officially provided by them as an additional service, rather than having to rely on a third-party solution."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
"DMS's architecture is highly beneficial, allowing for scalable migrations of large datasets."
"As the solution is on the cloud, we don't have to worry about the maintenance of software."
"The most valuable feature of FME is the graphical user interface. There is nothing better. It is very easy to debug because you can see all steps where there are failures. Overall the software is easy to optimize a process."
"From my reseller perspective, the best features in FME are the ease of operation and the fact that it works."
"FME is spatially aware and understands how to deal with the conversion of spatial objects and their attributes."
"It has standard plug-ins available for different data sources."
"We make minor subtle changes to the workbenches to improve it. We can share the workbenches. We don't have to use GitHub or anything else."
"It has a very friendly user interface. You don't need to use a lot of code. For us that's the most important aspect about it. Also, it has a lot of connectors and few forms. It has a strong facial aspect. It can do a lot of facial analysis."
"All spatial features are unrivaled, and the possibility to execute them based on a scheduled trigger, manual, e-mail, Websocket, tweet, file/directory change or virtually any trigger is most valuable."
 

Cons

"When working with AWS GovCloud, we often did not get an answer in time because AWS seemed more focused on the commercial side."
"I was looking for a table that suggests which facets such services address with proofs of reference from professional conferences. The document is a 63 page read, making it very difficult to navigate without a summary."
"The names of the services need improvement since AWS doesn't indicate what the function of the product is presently. You need to read a lot to find the service that you want in the product."
"This solution is compatible with only AWS."
"Sometimes we encounter errors, and the error messages from DMS are very ambiguous and sometimes misleading."
"The cost is a concern. We use DMS because of its simplicity, but the price could definitely be more competitive."
"The live duplication has a delay of two minutes, which can be an issue."
"The server has limits on how many can connect to the database."
"To get a higher rating, it would have to improve the price and the associated scalability. These are the main issues."
"We are looking at the possibility of using Glue instead of FME, using the native AWS product."
"FME's price needs improvement for the African market."
"Improvements could be made to mapping presentations."
"FME can improve the geographical transformation. I've had some problems with the geographical transformations, but it's probably mostly because I'm not the most skilled geographer in-house. The solution requires some in-depth knowledge to perform some functions."
"The one thing that always appears in the community is the ability to make really easy loops to loop through data efficiently. That needs to be added at some point."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low price."
"For Egypt, the product's prices are high, making it a specific problem in one region and not globally."
"AWS Database Migration Service is the least expensive solution, but is still expensive."
"Pricing can be improved."
"The pricing is on the higher side."
"Cost is the only factor that is challenging."
"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."
"The pricing is per hour, though I do not have the exact figures. If you have specific questions about the service, a personal support team from Amazon is available, but this will bring in additional costs."
"We used the standard licensing for our use of FME. The cost was approximately €15,000 annually. We always welcome less expensive solutions, if the solution could be less expensive it would be helpful."
"The product's price is reasonable."
"FME Server used to cost £10,000; now it can cost over £100,000."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
20%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Government
6%
Government
32%
Energy/Utilities Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Computer Software Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise8
Large Enterprise17
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business2
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise4
 

Questions from the Community

What resources can you use to learn how to utilize AWS Database Migration Service?
As with all AWS products, you are given very useful documentation with AWS Database Migration Service. Before we started using this product, we went over it and we were able to learn the basics an...
Would you recommend AWS Database Migration Service as a cloud data integration tool?
My current company started using AWS Database Migration Service upon my recommendation, and I continue telling people how good of a product it is. However, users should keep in mind a few things. ...
Is AWS Database Migration Service an affordable solution?
Compared to similar solutions, AWS Database Migration Service falls somewhere in the middle price-wise, at least from my experience. This being said, it is not a very affordable solution, especial...
What needs improvement with FME?
I haven't had any input or requirements from any customers that are not currently covered, so I don't have any additional needs that were identified or raised to me. Regarding pricing, with the mod...
What is your primary use case for FME?
The use cases for FME are mainly integration to the GE Smallworld product. GE Smallworld is a GE product, and we are using it to integrate with other third-party products into GE Smallworld and ADM...
What advice do you have for others considering FME?
The overall rating for FME is eight out of ten, and I prefer the feedback to be anonymous. My job title is Senior Solutions Architect.
 

Also Known As

AWS Data Migration Service
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Veoci, Trimble, Nasdaq, shaadi.com, Hotelbeds, SysAid, Verizon, Expedia, Pega
Shell, US Department of Commerce, PG&E, BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, Enel, Iowa DoT, San Antonio Water System
Find out what your peers are saying about AWS Database Migration Service vs. FME and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
879,477 professionals have used our research since 2012.