AWS DMS vs DBConvert Streams

AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is a managed migration and CDC service inside AWS.

DBConvert Streams is a self-hosted database migration and CDC tool with a built-in IDE that runs anywhere — desktop, on-prem, or any cloud.

Try DBConvert Streams See the CDC workflow

Quick answer

Choose by job

Choose AWS DMS if

  • You want a fully AWS-managed service — IAM, CloudWatch, VPC, billing wired through your AWS account.
  • Your targets include AWS-native endpoints DBConvert Streams does not cover (Kinesis, Redshift as a CDC target, DocumentDB, DynamoDB).
  • You need Oracle / SQL Server / Db2 → PostgreSQL with the depth of AWS DMS + Schema Conversion Tool.
  • An RDS-to-RDS same-region move qualifies for the DMS free tier and you want the cheapest AWS-internal path.

Choose DBConvert Streams if

  • Your work crosses clouds, on-prem, or a mix — not exclusively inside AWS.
  • You want to pick your own host (EC2 next to RDS, or anything else) instead of a vendor-defined replication instance.
  • Your stack centers on MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, files, or S3.
  • You want predictable license pricing, not replication-instance hours plus data transfer.

At a glance

Side-by-side facts

Aspect
AWS DMS
DBConvert Streams
Tool type
AWS-managed migration & CDC service
Database IDE + migration + CDC
Deployment
AWS only (replication instance + console)
Self-hosted (Desktop + Docker, anywhere)
Cross-cloud / on-prem
Endpoints must terminate in AWS
Runs anywhere
Source coverage
20+ engines (with SCT for heterogeneous)
MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, files, S3
Native log-based CDC (MySQL/PG)
Yes
Yes
Heterogeneous schema conversion
Separate tool (AWS SCT)
Built into Load mode (MySQL/MariaDB ↔ PostgreSQL)
Built-in IDE / SQL editor
No (AWS console)
Yes
Source/target data comparison
No (manual)
Yes
Files and S3 as endpoints
S3 as endpoint
First-class (CSV, JSONL, Parquet)
Vendor lock-in
High (AWS)
None
Pricing model
Replication-instance hours + data transfer
License-based with evaluation tier

Where AWS DMS wins

Inherit AWS account integration

IAM, KMS, VPC, CloudWatch, and console wired in. For stacks fully on AWS, DMS removes most setup decisions.

Convert Oracle and SQL Server schemas at enterprise scale

AWS Schema Conversion Tool handles Oracle and SQL Server → PostgreSQL/Aurora translation patterns at scale — territory DBConvert Streams does not cover.

Note — For Oracle, SQL Server, and Db2 migrations outside AWS (or on-prem source/target), the broader DBConvert product line (DBConvert/DBSync and DBConvert Studio) handles migration and sync. Those are self-hosted dedicated tools, not managed AWS services or IDEs.

See the DBConvert product family

Hand replication infrastructure to AWS

AWS provisions and operates the replication instance. No servers to patch — the AWS account is the runtime.

Reach AWS-native endpoints DBConvert does not cover

Kinesis, Redshift as CDC target, DocumentDB, and DynamoDB are first-class targets inside DMS.

Move data RDS-to-RDS within a region for almost free

Same-region RDS migrations carry only the replication-instance cost — often the cheapest path inside AWS.

Where DBConvert Streams wins

Replicate between any cloud, on-prem, or laptop

Self-hosted in your environment, no AWS account required. Endpoints can sit on AWS, GCP, Azure, on-prem, or local — in any combination.

Pick your own host, not a managed replication instance

Self-contained desktop app or Docker distribution. For AWS-heavy moves, hosting on EC2 in the same VPC as RDS/Aurora is the natural choice — but the host and sizing are yours, not the service's.

Inspect data inside the same product that moves it

Browse schemas, run SQL, edit rows, inspect ER diagrams alongside the replication. DMS sends you to the AWS console or a separate SQL client.

Convert schema and data in one step (MySQL ↔ PG)

No separate AWS SCT step for MySQL/MariaDB ↔ PostgreSQL — Load mode handles schema and data together.

Validate the cutover before declaring it done

Compare row counts and sample data between source and target inside the same UI. DMS leaves validation to you.

Pay by license, not by replication-instance hour

No instance-hours billing or AWS data transfer line items. Cost does not scale with how long the migration runs.

Workflow

Migrate or replicate a database without committing to AWS as the platform

  1. 1Install DBConvert Streams as a desktop app or Docker distribution in any environment — laptop, on-prem, EC2, GCE, Azure VM.
  2. 2Connect source and target databases — on-prem, RDS, Cloud SQL, Azure Database, or anywhere reachable. Credentials stay in your environment.
  3. 3Run a Load-mode stream with table mapping and filters; schema conversion happens in the same step.
  4. 4Open the Compare tab and validate row counts and sample data on the target before cutover.
  5. 5Switch to CDC mode and monitor throughput, lag, and run history in Stream Monitor.

AWS DMS terminates one side inside AWS and bills replication-instance hours. DBConvert Streams runs wherever you do, no AWS account required.

Also supported

The same workflow runs for other source/target combinations:

  • RDS MySQL/MariaDB → RDS or Aurora PostgreSQL (cross-engine within AWS)
  • RDS/Aurora PostgreSQL → RDS MySQL/MariaDB (reverse direction)
  • On-prem MySQL/PostgreSQL → RDS or Aurora (migration into AWS)
  • RDS/Aurora → on-prem, GCP Cloud SQL, or Azure Database (migration out of AWS / cross-cloud)
  • RDS/Aurora → S3 (CSV, JSONL, Parquet) for archival or downstream pipelines
  • MySQL/MariaDB ↔ MySQL/MariaDB across regions, accounts, or providers
  • PostgreSQL ↔ PostgreSQL across regions, accounts, or providers

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is DBConvert Streams an AWS DMS replacement?

For most database moves, yes. A few specific AWS scenarios still favor DMS.

  • AWS DMS — A managed service inside AWS — endpoints must terminate in AWS, and the replication instance runs in your AWS account. Strong when you want IAM/CloudWatch/billing integrated or need DMS + Schema Conversion Tool depth for Oracle/SQL Server/Db2.
  • DBConvert Streams — Self-hosted, cloud-agnostic. Migrates and replicates between any combination of clouds, on-prem, and local environments — including AWS-internal moves when hosted on EC2 next to RDS/Aurora.

Pick DMS for AWS-managed-everything or heterogeneous Oracle/SQL Server work. Pick DBConvert Streams for cross-cloud flexibility, a self-hosted footprint, and a built-in IDE — RDS/Aurora endpoints included.

Can I use DBConvert Streams to migrate into AWS?

Yes. Treat RDS, Aurora, or self-managed PostgreSQL/MySQL on EC2 as the target like any other database. DBConvert Streams connects from outside AWS, no replication instance to provision. For the reverse — moving out of AWS — the same workflow applies in reverse.

Does DBConvert Streams need a replication instance like AWS DMS?

No managed replication instance — but you still pick where to run it.

  • Default — Self-contained desktop app (Windows/macOS/Linux) or Docker distribution. Runs on a laptop, a VM, or a cluster node.
  • For RDS / Aurora workloads — Running on an EC2 instance in the same VPC keeps replication traffic on the AWS network, reduces latency, and avoids cross-region data transfer charges. Common pattern, but your choice — not the service's.

The difference from DMS is that you choose the host (or skip it entirely for a desktop run). There is no DMS-style replication instance you have to provision through the service.

Which supports more database engines?

AWS DMS, especially with AWS Schema Conversion Tool. The honest answer depends on which engines you need.

  • AWS DMS + SCT — 20+ engines including Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, MongoDB, DocumentDB, DynamoDB, Redshift, Kafka, Kinesis.
  • DBConvert Streams — MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, files, and S3 (Snowflake target coming soon). For Oracle, SQL Server, DB2 migrations, see the broader DBConvert product line — DBConvert/DBSync or DBConvert Studio — covering 30+ engines and 400+ migration directions.
See the DBConvert product family

How does pricing compare?

Different models — compare against your migration timeline and data volume.

  • AWS DMS — Replication-instance hours + data transfer + storage. Cost scales with how long the migration runs and how much data moves. Free tier exists for some AWS-internal scenarios.
  • DBConvert Streams — License-based with an evaluation tier (~500 MB Load, 48 hours CDC). Cost does not scale with runtime or data volume.

For long-running CDC across clouds, license-based pricing is usually more predictable. For short AWS-internal cutovers, DMS can be effectively free.

When should I not use DBConvert Streams?

When you specifically want AWS-managed services with IAM, CloudWatch, and billing wired through your AWS account, or when you need heterogeneous migrations across Oracle, SQL Server, or Db2 with the depth that AWS DMS + Schema Conversion Tool provides. Also when your target is Kinesis, Redshift, DocumentDB, or DynamoDB — DBConvert Streams does not cover those. AWS-internal moves alone are not a reason: you can run DBConvert Streams on an EC2 instance next to RDS/Aurora and get the same result.

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