---
id: comparisons.cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/cloud-to-cloud-transfer-services-vs-data-transfers
category: "Comparisons & alternatives"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["data transfers", "cloud migration", "privacy"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/data-transfers-vs-provider-website-uploads", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/dedicated-sync-apps-vs-data-transfers"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

What that means in practice:

- 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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/).