{"id":"comparisons.cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers","url":"/faq/comparisons/cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers","category":{"id":"comparisons","title":"Comparisons & alternatives"},"subcategory":{"id":"cloud-and-online-only","title":"Cloud storage and online-only files"},"question":"How does Data Transfers compare with web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer services?","alt_questions":["cloud migration service vs storage studio","move google drive to onedrive service","online tool to transfer between cloud accounts","web cloud transfer app vs data transfers"],"short_answer":"Web services copy on their own servers using your sign-ins. Data Transfers runs on your Mac with the accounts you've connected, so nothing sits in between, and jobs resume after interruptions — but your Mac needs to be on while it works.","answer_markdown":"Web-based transfer services run the copy on their own servers, which means signing your accounts in to them. **Data Transfers** runs on **your Mac**, using the accounts you've connected to Storage Studio — no third-party service sits between your accounts.\n\nWhat that means in practice:\n\n- your Mac needs to be on and connected while a job runs, though jobs resume where they left off after a restart or a dropped connection;\n- you can copy, move, sync one way or both ways between any two connected accounts, folders or servers;\n- you can schedule repeats and preview with a dry run.\n\nIf you need a huge migration to run while your Mac is switched off, a server-side service may suit that one job better. See [Data Transfers](/faq/data-transfers/).","answer_html":"

Web-based transfer services run the copy on their own servers, which means signing your accounts in to them. Data Transfers runs on your Mac, using the accounts you've connected to Storage Studio — no third-party service sits between your accounts.

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What that means in practice:

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If you need a huge migration to run while your Mac is switched off, a server-side service may suit that one job better. See Data Transfers.

","answer_text":"Web-based transfer services run the copy on their own servers, which means signing your accounts in to them. Data Transfers runs on your Mac, using the accounts you've connected to Storage Studio — no third-party service sits between your accounts.\n\nWhat that means in practice:\n\n- your Mac needs to be on and connected while a job runs, though jobs resume where they left off after a restart or a dropped connection;\n- you can copy, move, sync one way or both ways between any two connected accounts, folders or servers;\n- you can schedule repeats and preview with a dry run.\n\nIf you need a huge migration to run while your Mac is switched off, a server-side service may suit that one job better. See Data Transfers.","tags":["data transfers","cloud migration","privacy"],"related":[{"id":"comparisons.data-transfers-vs-provider-website-uploads","question":"Why use Data Transfers instead of uploading through a cloud provider's website?","url":"/faq/comparisons/data-transfers-vs-provider-website-uploads"},{"id":"comparisons.dedicated-sync-apps-vs-data-transfers","question":"How does Data Transfers compare with dedicated sync apps like ChronoSync or GoodSync?","url":"/faq/comparisons/dedicated-sync-apps-vs-data-transfers"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How does Data Transfers compare with web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer services? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Web services copy on their own servers using your sign-ins. Data Transfers runs on your Mac with the accounts you've connected, so nothing sits in between, and jobs resume after interruptions — but your Mac needs to be on while it works.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Comparisons & alternatives","path":"/faq/comparisons/"},{"name":"How does Data Transfers compare with web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer services?","path":"/faq/comparisons/cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How does Data Transfers compare with web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer services?","alternateName":["cloud migration service vs storage studio","move google drive to onedrive service","online tool to transfer between cloud accounts","web cloud transfer app vs data transfers"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Web-based transfer services run the copy on their own servers, which means signing your accounts in to them. Data Transfers runs on your Mac, using the accounts you've connected to Storage Studio — no third-party service sits between your accounts.\n\nWhat that means in practice:\n\n- your Mac needs to be on and connected while a job runs, though jobs resume where they left off after a restart or a dropped connection;\n- you can copy, move, sync one way or both ways between any two connected accounts, folders or servers;\n- you can schedule repeats and preview with a dry run.\n\nIf you need a huge migration to run while your Mac is switched off, a server-side service may suit that one job better. See Data Transfers.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers"}}]},"fragment":"
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Comparisons & alternatives · Cloud storage and online-only files

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How does Data Transfers compare with web-based cloud-to-cloud transfer services?

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Short answer: Web services copy on their own servers using your sign-ins. Data Transfers runs on your Mac with the accounts you've connected, so nothing sits in between, and jobs resume after interruptions — but your Mac needs to be on while it works.

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Web-based transfer services run the copy on their own servers, which means signing your accounts in to them. Data Transfers runs on your Mac, using the accounts you've connected to Storage Studio — no third-party service sits between your accounts.

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What that means in practice:

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  • your Mac needs to be on and connected while a job runs, though jobs resume where they left off after a restart or a dropped connection;
  • you can copy, move, sync one way or both ways between any two connected accounts, folders or servers;
  • you can schedule repeats and preview with a dry run.
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If you need a huge migration to run while your Mac is switched off, a server-side service may suit that one job better. See Data Transfers.

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Last reviewed

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