Tenant-to-tenant migration software
Checked October 27, 2026 by Accred Consulting
A Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migration runs on Microsoft’s native cross-tenant tools, a third-party migration tool, or a consultant who runs the project. Native tools move mailboxes, OneDrive, and SharePoint, need a Cross Tenant User Data Migration license per user, and cannot run delta passes for files. Accred Migrate plans and runs moves by client, wave, and workload, but it is in early access: no workload has finished real-tenant validation yet.
Scans, prechecks, and validation are read-only and never write to the destination tenant. Runs execute on a secure runner that must be online. Cancelling a run does not roll it back. Treat every workload as early access until it passes real-tenant validation.
Native tools or third-party software
| Microsoft native cross-tenant tools | Third-party tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Workloads | Mailboxes, OneDrive accounts, and SharePoint sites, each with its own process | Varies by vendor; compare coverage before you buy |
| Licensing | A Cross Tenant User Data Migration license for each migrated user | The vendor’s own licenses, usually per user or per object |
| Delta passes for files | None for OneDrive and SharePoint, so moves run close to cutover | Offered by some tools |
| Mailboxes on hold | Not migrated; the move is blocked | Check each vendor’s documentation |
| Setup | Admin configuration in both tenants, including PowerShell | The vendor’s console, plus admin consent in both tenants |
Native tools suit a team comfortable with PowerShell, a move that fits their workload list, and a cutover that can absorb a single file pass. A third-party tool suits a team that needs other workloads, delta passes, or one console for every wave.
How a project runs, start to finish
The length depends on object count, data size, and how many waves the business can absorb, so plan in phases rather than dates:
- Discovery: inventory users, mailboxes, OneDrive accounts, sites, teams, groups, and holds.
- Setup: connect both tenants and assign any licenses the method needs.
- Pilot: move a small group and check what arrived.
- Waves: move the rest in batches the help desk can support.
- Cutover: final file passes, the domain move, and sign-in changes.
- Cleanup: validate, then retire the source tenant on your own schedule.
With native tools, OneDrive and SharePoint cannot run delta passes, so schedule those moves close to cutover. Up to 4,000 OneDrive accounts can be scheduled in advance at a time.
Buyer checklist
- List every workload you must move: mail, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, chat, and groups.
- Find mailboxes on hold before you pick a method; native moves skip them.
- Decide whether you need delta passes for files, or can take one pass near cutover.
- Count users and objects to price licenses for each option.
- Ask each vendor which workloads are validated today, and how a failed run is retried.
- Plan a pilot, user communication, and help desk cover for cutover day.
- Decide who does the work: your team with a tool, or a consultant end to end.
The project path in Migrate
- Connect the source and destination tenants for the client.
- Map users, mailboxes, OneDrive accounts, sites, teams, and groups.
- Precheck readiness. Prechecks are read-only.
- Run a pilot with a small set of objects.
- Migrate in scheduled waves.
- Validate what moved. Validation is read-only.
- Cut over.
- Certify the project.
For what a wave is and how to size one, see what a migration wave is.
Workloads
Migrate plans Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, chat, and Microsoft 365 Group workloads. Each one is labelled not yet validated until it passes real-tenant testing for data fidelity, feature parity, and interrupt-and-resume.
Pricing
Operators need a Migrate seat ($15 per seat per month on Starter or $12 on Professional), with a 30-day free trial. Each migrated object uses one license: $8 per mailbox, $8 per OneDrive, and $20 per SharePoint site, team, or Microsoft 365 group. Scans, prechecks, and validation never use a license.
When to choose something else
If you need a production migration this month, use a tool with validated workloads, or have the migration done for you. The MigrationWiz, ShareGate, and Quest comparison covers the established options. Accred Consulting’s tenant-to-tenant migration service runs the project end to end.
Questions
Should I use Microsoft’s native tools or a third-party tool for a tenant-to-tenant migration?
Use native tools when you only need mailboxes, OneDrive, and SharePoint, can license each user for Cross Tenant User Data Migration, and can run one file pass near cutover. Use a third-party tool when you need other workloads, delta passes, or one console for every wave.
Is Accred Migrate ready for production migrations?
Migrate is in early access. No workload has finished real-tenant validation yet, so treat every workload as early access before committing to a production run.
Does Accred Migrate write to the destination tenant during prechecks?
No. Scans, prechecks, and validation are read-only and never write to the destination tenant.
How is a tenant-to-tenant migration priced in Accred Migrate?
Each operator needs a Migrate seat, and each migrated object uses one license: $8 per mailbox or OneDrive and $20 per SharePoint site, team, or Microsoft 365 group. Programs above 500 objects get volume pricing.
Sources
- Cross-tenant mailbox migration · Microsoft Learn
- Cross-tenant OneDrive migration · Microsoft Learn
- Cross-tenant SharePoint migration · Microsoft Learn
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