SharePoint Migration Tool & Alternatives

Choosing the right migration tool is key to a smooth move into SharePoint Online — we help you select, configure, and run the best option for your needs.

Book a MeetingSend Us a Message

Overview

SharePoint Migration Tools We Work With

The SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) is Microsoft’s free solution for moving files from on-premises SharePoint or file shares into SharePoint Online. Designed for straightforward migrations, it’s secure, reliable, and integrates with Microsoft 365’s authentication and governance features. 

Best For: Straightforward moves from file shares or on-premises SharePoint to SharePoint Online. Ideal when no major restructuring or metadata mapping is needed.

SharePoint is a powerful migration and management tool for SharePoint and Microsoft 365. It supports advanced metadata mapping, tenant-to-tenant migrations, restructuring, and bulk permissions management.

Best For: Complex migrations involving restructuring, tenant-to-tenant moves, or advanced metadata and permissions work.

LinkFixer is specialist software for scanning and repairing embedded hyperlinks in migrated documents — especially useful when moving large document libraries with crosslinked content.

Best For: Scenarios where maintaining the integrity of large numbers of embedded links is critical. Often used alongside SPMT or ShareGate.

For highly bespoke requirements, we create scripts to address niche needs such as workflow migration, content transformation, or integration with legacy systems.

Best For: Unique migration requirements or when existing tools can’t handle specific integrations or transformations.

How We Work with Migration Tools

Choosing the Right Tool

We match your migration needs to the best tool for the job — using SPMT for straightforward moves, ShareGate for complex restructuring, and LinkFixer or scripts where link integrity is critical. This ensures a smooth, reliable transfer from the start.

Migration Delivery

We migrate in phases, starting with a pilot to test and refine the process before moving the rest in manageable batches. By locking old content once it’s migrated, we keep your teams working in the right place from day one. 

Planning & Discovery

Before we move anything, we analyse your existing content, run discovery workshops, and map your current structure to the new SharePoint environment. This planning phase helps avoid surprises and ensures the migration tool is configured correctly. 

Validation & Support

After migration, we verify that all content has arrived intact and works as expected. We also provide user and admin training, plus hands-on support to help your organisation fully adopt the new SharePoint environment. 
Warner Bros Discovery Logo
Met Office
University of Leeds logo - PNG version
BMG_Audio_WF_pos_KV_flat_mint_RGB-4@2x
Ofwat_logo.svg
TP ICAP Logo
King's College London - Logo
SOAS Logo
Unilever Logo
Santen_Pharmaceutical_company_logo.svg
Argent
Gulf Oil - Logo
Asahi logo
SOAS Logo
Unilever Logo
Santen_Pharmaceutical_company_logo.svg
Argent
Willmott Dixon Logo

Example Migration Scenarios

Every migration is different — the right approach depends on your starting point, your goals, and the complexity of your content. Below are common situations where the SharePoint Migration Tool and other tools we use have delivered smooth, secure transitions.

Merging Microsoft 365 Tenants After an Acquisition

When two organisations merge, combining their Microsoft 365 environments is often essential.

We use ShareGate to manage tenant-to-tenant moves, restructure content, and align permissions, while ensuring business-critical files remain accessible throughout the process. 

Moving Legacy File Shares into SharePoint Online

For businesses with years of files stored on local servers or shared drives, the SharePoint Migration Tool offers a straightforward, cost-effective way to move them into a secure, cloud-based environment.

We help by designing the new information architecture before migration, so content is easier to find and manage from day one. 

Preserving Complex Metadata and Permissions

When metadata is critical to operations — for example, in regulated industries — we often pair ShareGate with the SharePoint Migration Tool to map and preserve it accurately. 

This ensures that search, compliance, and governance policies continue to function postmigration. 

Replacing Outdated Document Management Systems

If you’re moving from a legacy DMS with heavily linked content, broken links can quickly cause disruption.

In these cases, we use LinkFixer alongside the SharePoint Migration Tool to automatically repair and update embedded links, so documents work exactly as they did before. 

Client Stories

TP ICAP logo

7 Day Intranet Transformation

A brand-aligned design refresh for financial services firm TP ICAP.

University of Leeds logo - PNG version

Empowering Higher Education Comms

A new branded intranet with custom page templates for the University of Leeds.

Met Office Logo

Award Winning Intranet

Storming success as the Met Office sets the standard for accessible collaboration for 2,000+ employees.

Bauer Media Group set out to create a personalised intranet experience that truly works for every employee.

In this 60 second overview, see how we brought that vision to life using SharePoint and Beacon.

Video created by our friends at The Surgery

Let’s Talk Migration

Whether you’re migrating from one tenant to another, or from a third-party platform, we’ll find the right SharePoint migration tool for you.

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve answered some of the common ones here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop us a note.

What role does a migration tool play in SharePoint projects?

A migration tool simplifies the transfer of files, metadata, permissions, and structures between environments. It can speed up the process, reduce human error, and offer reporting capabilities to validate results. However, the tool itself is only part of the solution — effective migration still requires planning, governance, and user engagement.  

At Silicon Reef, we select tools like ShareGate or the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) based on project scope, complexity, and compliance needs, ensuring they’re used within a structured migration framework to deliver accuracy, efficiency, and minimal disruption.

How do I choose the right SharePoint migration tool?

The right tool depends on factors like data volume, complexity, security requirements, and budget. Some tools excel at handling legacy systems, others at maintaining metadata or supporting complex workflows.  

Silicon Reef evaluates these needs during the discovery phase, matching tools to business priorities rather than simply choosing the most popular option. This ensures the chosen solution aligns with both technical and strategic goals, making it a supportive enabler of migration success rather than a limiting factor in the process. 

Can a migration tool handle custom workflows and integrations?

Most migration tools can move standard content and metadata, but custom workflows, integrations, or SPFx components often require additional configuration or manual steps. Automated tools may not fully replicate bespoke functionality without intervention.  

At Silicon Reef, we identify these custom elements early, testing them in the target environment before cutover. This approach ensures that business-critical processes and integrations are preserved, avoiding costly post-migration fixes and ensuring a seamless transition for teams who rely on these capabilities. 

What are the risks of relying solely on a migration tool?

Over-reliance on a tool without proper planning can lead to incomplete transfers, broken links, or permission issues. Tools also don’t address governance, change management, or adoption challenges.  

Silicon Reef treats migration tools as part of a broader framework — one that includes content audits, stakeholder engagement, and post-migration support. This ensures the migration delivers both technical accuracy and lasting value, rather than simply moving content from one system to another without considering how it will be used in the new environment. 

How do migration tools fit into a wider migration strategy?

Migration tools are most effective when integrated into a structured migration plan that includes governance, testing, and user adoption strategies. They provide the efficiency and reporting capabilities, while the strategy ensures alignment with organisational goals. At Silicon Reef, we embed tool use within a discovery-to-delivery process, ensuring every migration is tailored to business needs, risk appetite, and compliance requirements. This combination delivers a smooth technical transition and sets the foundation for improved collaboration and productivity in SharePoint.

Send us a message

Whether you’ve got a Microsoft 365 project in mind or just want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you.