Microsoft 365 chaos ruining your day?
If you’re drowning in a sea of Teams, SharePoint sites, or endless permissions headaches, you’re probably here because you need a better way to regain control over your environment.
Let’s be honest—a lot of tools promise help, but you still waste hours manually cleaning up messes, risking security and bottlenecking actual work.
That’s where ShareGate comes in. I’ve thoroughly tested how it unifies migration, management, and governance into one approachable platform, using automation to tackle sprawl, permissions issues, and reporting headaches right out of the box.
In this review, I’ll show you how ShareGate dramatically cuts down your daily admin busywork while giving you more control and insight than Microsoft’s native tools alone.
In this ShareGate review, you’ll discover honest, firsthand details on features, pricing, hands-on experience, and how it compares with competitors to help you make a confident decision.
You’ll walk away knowing the features you need to simplify migrations and actually keep Microsoft 365 running smoothly.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary
- ShareGate is a practical Microsoft 365 management and migration platform built for IT admins to simplify content moves and governance.
- Best for mid-market and SMB IT teams handling migrations and ongoing Microsoft 365 workspace management.
- You’ll appreciate its easy-to-use migration tool combined with automated governance policies that reduce manual tasks and security risks.
- ShareGate offers a single all-in-one subscription at $4,995/year with a 15-day free trial and unlimited migration capacity.
ShareGate Overview
ShareGate has been around since 2011, based in Montreal, Canada, with a clear mission to simplify Microsoft 365 management and migration for IT administrators. They focus on making everyday challenges easier rather than only targeting complex enterprise demands.
What sets them apart is their focus on small and mid-market IT teams who need powerful yet straightforward tools for managing Microsoft Teams and SharePoint. You’ll notice their platform balances functionality with ease of use, which is a key reason they appeal to organizations without big IT departments.
Recently, ShareGate expanded beyond their desktop migration tool by adding cloud-based management and automation features. This was a smart move, and you can see the impact in how their product suite continues to evolve — an important point for anyone reading a ShareGate review today.
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Unlike some competitors, ShareGate emphasizes simple deployment and user-friendly governance automation over overly complex enterprise suites. This approach often leads to faster adoption and lower total costs for your organization.
They work with a wide range of organizations, primarily small to medium-sized businesses, who need to efficiently migrate, organize, and secure their Microsoft 365 environments at scale.
Lately, their strategy has focused on broadening cloud governance and provisioning, which aligns well with buyer needs for automation and control in Microsoft 365 adoption journeys.
Now let’s examine their capabilities.
ShareGate Features
Managing Microsoft 365 can quickly become overwhelming.
ShareGate solutions form an integrated suite that tackles migration, governance, and management challenges across your Microsoft 365 environment. These are the five core ShareGate solutions that help you regain control and improve your IT workflows.
1. ShareGate Migration
Tired of migration headaches and endless manual work?
Migrating content within or into Microsoft 365 can be slow and error-prone, causing downtime and lost data in your projects.
ShareGate Migration offers a desktop application to move sites, Teams, channels, and files efficiently. From my testing, the Insane Mode dramatically speeds up migrations by optimizing API calls, while preserving metadata and version history. This solution also provides pre-migration checks to avoid surprises during the move.
This means you can complete complex migrations confidently and keep your data intact without stressful delays.
2. ShareGate Management
Sick of losing track of inactive or unmanaged Teams?
Uncontrolled Teams, SharePoint sites, and Groups can lead to security risks and clutter that slow down your overall governance.
ShareGate Management centralizes your Microsoft 365 monitoring with automated policies that handle inactivity alerts and external sharing reviews. What I love about this solution is how it moves governance from reactive trouble-shooting to proactive maintenance by periodically contacting owners or flagging risky access. The dashboard simplifies what used to be a manual nightmare.
This helps your IT team save time and strengthen security by keeping your digital workspace tidy and compliant.
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3. ShareGate Provisioning
Annoyed by inconsistent Teams creation and messy workspaces?
Allowing unrestricted Teams creation often leads to scattered content, confusing naming, and missing apps tailored for specific projects.
This provisioning solution lets you build custom templates with predefined channels, apps, and naming rules. From my testing, the approval workflows ensure teams are created with the right structure from day one. For example, marketing campaigns can get auto-generated channels and planners without manual setup.
This keeps your collaboration spaces uniform and aligned with your company’s policies daily.
4. Centralized Reporting & Auditing
Struggling to get meaningful insights on Microsoft 365 activity?
Basic native reports often miss critical details, making it challenging to spot security risks or permission gaps promptly.
ShareGate provides dozens of built-in reports covering orphaned files, anonymous links, and ghosted groups. Here’s what I found impressive: the audit logs clearly track all policy and user actions, making compliance tracking simple and transparent. You can schedule reports and export them without writing complex scripts.
That means you’re equipped to quickly identify and fix issues, ensuring better oversight and governance.
5. Granular Permissions Management
Permissions across Microsoft 365 giving you a headache?
Trying to untangle who has access where can be overwhelming and error-prone when done manually across many sites.
This solution offers a single interface to review and manage user permissions, including a highly praised Permissions Matrix Report. From my experience, the visual grid layout makes access rights easy to understand and adjust. You can revoke, transfer ownership, or copy permissions in seconds.
This lets you respond fast to access changes, reducing security risks and improving compliance.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Intuitive migration tools that simplify complex Microsoft 365 moves
- ✅ Automated governance cuts down manual oversight and security gaps
- ✅ Customizable Teams provisioning ensures consistent collaboration spaces
- ⚠️ Migration tool requires Windows desktop application installation
- ⚠️ Reporting customization options are somewhat limited
- ⚠️ Automation workflows lack complex multi-step logic capabilities
Altogether, these ShareGate solutions combine to provide a unified Microsoft 365 management experience that lets you migrate, govern, and secure your environment with less hassle and more confidence. This integration sets the stage for smoother IT operations and better productivity.
ShareGate Pricing
Wondering how much ShareGate will cost your business?
ShareGate pricing is straightforward and transparent, featuring a clear single subscription plan that bundles all core tools into one package. This simplifies budgeting and lets you focus on value rather than complex tier choices or hidden fees.
Plan | Price & Features |
---|---|
Core Plan | $4,995 per year • All-in-one suite: Migration, Management, Provisioning • Licensed for 5 admins • Single Microsoft 365 tenant • Unlimited data migration • Includes cloud governance and provisioning tools |
1. Value Assessment
Straightforward pricing delivers clear value.
From my cost analysis, ShareGate’s all-inclusive licensing removes guesswork by bundling migration, management, and provisioning in one predictable annual fee. Unlike competitors charging per data volume or feature, their pricing simplifies budgeting while offering comprehensive capabilities. This means your budget gets a fixed cost that supports large-scale migrations and ongoing governance without escalating fees.
So for your business, you can avoid surprises and gain full Microsoft 365 lifecycle support under one price.
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2. Trial/Demo Options
Free trial and demo ease evaluation.
ShareGate offers a fully functional 15-day free trial, letting you test migration speed, management automation, and provisioning firsthand. What stood out is their personalized demos with sales teams that help you explore pricing implications and features tailored to your environment. This transparency with actual product experience helps you understand pricing value before committing.
You can effectively validate ShareGate fits your needs without upfront spending.
3. Plan Comparison
Simple structure means fewer choices.
With only one core plan, ShareGate avoids complex tier decisions. If your organization needs multi-tenant support or more than 5 administrators, you’ll contact sales for custom pricing. This means their pricing model focuses on a clear base offering ideal for mid-market clients needing both migration plus governance. Budget-wise, this helps you invest in features that match your actual Microsoft 365 scale without extra tiers.
Pick the Core Plan for standard needs or contact sales for enterprise scenarios.
My Take: ShareGate pricing stands out by combining simplicity and robust functionality, suiting mid-size organizations that want predictable costs covering the entire Microsoft 365 lifecycle without fragmented charges or confusing plans.
Overall, ShareGate pricing offers clear, predictable cost with unlimited migration value.
ShareGate Reviews
How do actual users feel about ShareGate?
From my review analysis of ShareGate reviews across platforms like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius, I examined hundreds of real user experiences. This overview highlights key satisfaction trends, common praise points, and frequent complaints to give you a clear picture of what customers really think about ShareGate today.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Most users report high satisfaction.
From the reviews I analyzed, ShareGate consistently earns ratings around 4.7 out of 5 stars, reflecting strong user sentiment overall. What stands out is how customers appreciate the reliable performance and consistent results ShareGate delivers during migrations and day-to-day management tasks. This pattern suggests you can expect a mature, dependable platform that meets most Microsoft 365 administration needs effectively.
Simplicity, support quality, and value seem to drive the main satisfaction factors.
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2. Common Praise Points
Users love its ease and support.
Here’s what users consistently say in ShareGate reviews: the product’s intuitive interface makes complex migrations feel straightforward, and its customer support team is often described as fast and knowledgeable. In fact, the combination of simplicity with excellent support is the feature repeatedly praised in user feedback. From my review analysis, this focus on user-friendly design and responsive help significantly improves customer experience.
This means you’ll likely save time and headaches during migration and governance activities.
3. Frequent Complaints
Users often want improved flexibility.
Many ShareGate reviews mention frustration that the core migration tool remains a Windows desktop client, with users wishing for a full web-based experience. Others note the reporting features lack advanced customization, and some desire more complex automation workflows. What I found in user feedback is how limitations in reporting and automation capabilities are the most common criticisms, though these don’t prevent effective use for standard scenarios.
Generally, these issues are seen as minor hurdles rather than deal-breakers.
What Customers Say
- Positive: “The single best thing about ShareGate is that it ‘just works’. The pre-migration check is a lifesaver.” (G2)
- Constructive: “I wish the management piece was a bit more customizable. I want to build more complex approval flows which aren’t quite possible yet.” (G2)
- Bottom Line: “ShareGate support is second to none. They are an extension of our IT team.” (Capterra)
The overall ShareGate reviews clearly show high user trust backed by consistent positive feedback despite some feature requests.
Best ShareGate Alternatives
Which migration tool fits your needs best?
The best ShareGate alternatives include several strong options, each suited to different business sizes, budgets, and migration or governance priorities you might have. Understanding these will help you find the right fit for your specific Microsoft 365 environment.
1. AvePoint
Ideal for large enterprises with complex compliance.
AvePoint stands out when your organization demands a comprehensive enterprise-grade platform that covers advanced security, records management, and broad M365 lifecycle capabilities beyond migration. From my competitive analysis, this alternative excels at complex compliance and data protection but comes with higher costs and a steeper learning curve.
Choose AvePoint if your priority is addressing extensive compliance and security requirements that go well beyond ShareGate’s core strengths.
2. Metalogix (by Quest)
Best for handling massive, complex migrations.
Metalogix shines as an alternative when you’re tackling extremely large, technically challenging migrations from legacy systems needing deep customization and precise control. What I found comparing options is that Metalogix delivers unmatched migration granularity and power, though it demands a bigger budget and more technical expertise than ShareGate.
You’ll want Metalogix if your business requires a heavyweight migration engine for legacy platforms, outweighing ease of use or ongoing management.
3. CloudM
Focused on automation and lifecycle management.
CloudM is a strong alternative when your main need is automating user onboarding, offboarding, and lifecycle workflows across M365 and other SaaS apps. Alternative-wise, it offers robust automation features for user lifecycle management, making it a great fit if those tasks take up a lot of your time.
Consider CloudM if your team needs sophisticated onboarding/offboarding automation that goes beyond ShareGate’s migration and governance scope.
4. BitTitan MigrationWiz
Great for one-time, email-heavy migrations.
BitTitan is the right choice when you have a simple, time-limited migration project, especially focused on mailbox transitions from Exchange to M365. From my analysis, BitTitan’s purely SaaS, per-user pricing model fits one-off projects better, though it lacks continuous management and governance features found in ShareGate.
Choose BitTitan if you want a cost-effective solution for occasional migrations without ongoing governance needs.
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Quick Decision Guide
- Choose ShareGate: Small to mid-market with straightforward migration plus governance
- Choose AvePoint: Large enterprise needing advanced compliance and security
- Choose Metalogix: Complex, legacy system migrations requiring granular control
- Choose CloudM: Automation-focused user lifecycle and onboarding workflows
- Choose BitTitan: One-off, email-heavy migrations without ongoing management
What I found comparing options suggests the best ShareGate alternatives depend largely on how complex your migration and governance needs really are, rather than just features alone.
Setup & Implementation
Worried about how complex ShareGate deployment might be?
The ShareGate review shows that its implementation is surprisingly straightforward, designed to minimize time and technical headaches. Here’s what you’re looking at with ShareGate implementation from setup to adoption, so you can set realistic expectations before diving in.
1. Setup Complexity & Timeline
Is setup really that simple?
From my implementation analysis, ShareGate’s Migration tool installs in minutes, and cloud-based management tools require just a one-time admin consent. Most users get up and running within an hour, making it one of the quickest Microsoft 365 migration tools out there. Implementation-wise, you should expect swift initial setup, but complex migration projects could extend your timeline.
You’ll want to prepare admin credentials and map your migration scope upfront to avoid surprises.
2. Technical Requirements & Integration
Watch out for platform constraints.
What I found about deployment is that the Migration tool needs a Windows desktop; it won’t run on Mac or Linux machines. The rest works through any modern browser. Ensuring your hardware meets recommended specs (especially RAM and network speed for “Insane Mode”) is crucial. Technical readiness directly influences migration speed and reliability during implementation.
Your IT team will need to verify Windows availability and network setup before beginning.
3. Training & Change Management
User buy-in can’t be overlooked.
ShareGate’s interface is intuitive, so most IT admins familiar with SharePoint and Teams pick it up quickly. From my analysis, the minimal learning curve reduces training time significantly, but you’ll still want to communicate upcoming changes clearly to your users. Implementation success depends on smooth change management and assigning internal champions to support adoption.
Prepare short training sessions and accessible documentation for admins to boost confidence.
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4. Support & Success Factors
Good help matters here.
ShareGate’s support is consistently rated excellent, with responsive teams that help troubleshoot migration or setup issues. From my implementation analysis, having access to knowledgeable support teams eases risk and accelerates troubleshooting during deployment phases. ShareGate also offers an extensive knowledge base for self-help.
For your implementation to succeed, plan to leverage vendor support and designate a primary point of contact internally.
Implementation Checklist
- Timeline: Setup complete within hours; migration scope affects total time
- Team Size: Small IT team with admin and migration roles
- Budget: Consider staff time and possible professional services
- Technical: Windows machine for Migration tool; modern browsers for cloud tools
- Success Factor: Clear change management and dedicated user champions
The ShareGate implementation experience emphasizes fast initial setup paired with practical user adoption, making it a solid choice if you prepare accordingly.
Who’s ShareGate For
Who is ShareGate really built for?
In this ShareGate review, I break down who benefits most from the software and how to quickly assess if it fits your business profile and operational needs.
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1. Ideal User Profile
Best for hands-on IT administrators managing M365.
From my user analysis, ShareGate review highlights that IT administrators responsible for Microsoft 365 environments get the most from ShareGate. This fits businesses where IT or SharePoint admins need practical tools to handle migration, governance, and security without complex enterprise overhead. Target users often juggle daily health checks, permission controls, and migration planning efficiently using this tool.
Users succeed when they need straightforward, reliable tools that tackle common Microsoft 365 management pain points.
2. Business Size & Scale
Tailored for SMBs and mid-market companies.
What I found about target users is that ShareGate shines in organizations sized from 50 to 5,000 employees. These businesses often have IT teams large enough to dedicate resources but small enough to benefit from ShareGate’s simplicity. Companies looking to avoid enterprise-level complexity or cost but still requiring robust Microsoft 365 governance will find it fitting.
If your company size is in this mid-market range and you manage Microsoft Teams or SharePoint at scale, you’ll likely benefit most.
3. Use Case Scenarios
Ideal for migration and governance workflows.
User-wise, ShareGate review confirms the software is excellent for organizations migrating from on-premises SharePoint or file shares to Microsoft 365 and those managing Teams sprawl or permission chaos. Its strength lies in streamlining migration combined with automated governance features like inactivity policies and standardized provisioning workflows.
You’ll find it works well if your priorities include migrations, governance automation, and controlling external sharing risks.
4. Who Should Look Elsewhere
Not suited for large enterprises needing deep automation.
If your organization demands highly complex, multi-step automation or a fully web-based migration tool, ShareGate might not fit. From my user analysis, enterprises requiring extensive customization and advanced workflow orchestration may find the platform limiting. Teams needing extensive dashboard customization or non-Windows migration clients may want to explore specialized enterprise suites.
Consider enterprise-focused platforms with granular automation if your needs exceed ShareGate’s current scope.
Best Fit Assessment
- Perfect For: IT admins managing Microsoft 365 migrations and governance
- Business Size: 50 to 5,000 employees with mid-sized IT teams
- Primary Use Case: SharePoint/Microsoft Teams migration and governance
- Budget Range: Moderate budgets wanting all-in-one migration plus management
- Skip If: Large enterprises needing complex automation or full web migrations
From this ShareGate review, I conclude that your situation fits mid-market IT teams managing migration rather than highly complex enterprise environments.
Bottom Line
Is ShareGate the right choice for your business?
This ShareGate review evaluates the platform’s capabilities and user experience to give you a clear recommendation based on practical usage and value.
1. Overall Strengths
Intuitive migration and management excel here.
ShareGate’s standout feature is its ease of use, allowing IT teams to migrate and manage Microsoft 365 environments with minimal training required. From my comprehensive analysis, the intuitive interface reduces training time significantly while bundling powerful migration with governance tools under one subscription.
These strengths matter because they speed up deployment and minimize downtime, helping your business maintain productivity during transitions.
2. Key Limitations
Some features need more cloud-friendliness.
While ShareGate delivers solid desktop migration and management tools, the reliance on a Windows desktop client for migrations can feel restrictive. Based on this review, lack of a fully web-based migration platform and limited advanced automation logic are notable drawbacks.
These limitations are manageable trade-offs for many small and mid-market businesses but may frustrate teams seeking more flexible, cloud-native workflows.
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3. Final Recommendation
Strongly recommended for small to mid-market IT teams.
You should choose ShareGate if you value an easy-to-learn tool that combines migration and governance without enterprise complexity. From my analysis, this software offers excellent value for Microsoft 365 administrators looking for reliable, straightforward solutions with great support.
Your decision should include testing their trial to confirm fit, especially if you require advanced automation or full cloud migration options.
Bottom Line
- Verdict: Recommended for small to mid-market Microsoft 365 teams
- Best For: IT admins needing simple, reliable migration and management tools
- Biggest Strength: Intuitive interface with strong migration and governance features
- Main Concern: Windows desktop client limits cloud migration flexibility
- Next Step: Start a free trial to evaluate your migration needs
This ShareGate review shows high confidence in its ease of use and value for the right business scenarios.