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AWS Mainframe Modernization
What AWS Mainframe Modernization is
AWS Mainframe Modernization provides tools for planning and carrying out mainframe application migration and modernization on AWS. Teams can assess projects and use automated refactoring or replatforming patterns. The service supports developing or updating COBOL and PL/I applications, with an on-demand IDE for editing, debugging, compilation, and unit testing. A managed runtime monitors clusters and provides self-healing compute and automated scaling; CI/CD capabilities support application code delivery. Integrations include AWS CloudFormation, AWS PrivateLink, and AWS Key Management Service. Resources use IAM protection. AWS requires TLS 1.2 for network clients and recommends TLS 1.3; KMS integration supports server-side encryption for dependent resources that persistently store data. The self-managed and managed runtime experiences are no longer available to new customers, although existing customers can continue using them. There is no free plan. Some analysis, developer, analyzer, and build tools have no additional charge, but AWS infrastructure and applicable supporting services are billed separately. Listed prices include AWS Transform for mainframe Runtime at $0.31 a month, billed at $0.31 per AWS CPU core per hour.
Who it suits
It is aimed at teams planning mainframe application migration or modernization on AWS, including teams working with COBOL or PL/I. AWS recommends delivery through professional services engagements and Mainframe Migration Competency Partners.
What it does well
- Supports automated refactoring and replatforming.
- Assessment tools help scope and plan migration projects.
- IDE includes debugging, compilation, and unit testing.
- Integrates with CloudFormation, PrivateLink, and AWS KMS.
What to know first
- No free plan.
- Some infrastructure and supporting services are billed separately.
- Self-managed and managed runtime experiences are closed to new customers.
Limits
There is no free plan. Some tools have no additional charge, but consumed AWS infrastructure and applicable supporting services are billed separately; self-managed and managed runtime experiences are unavailable to new customers.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Transform for mainframe Runtime | on demand per AWS CPU core per hour · M2.m6i.large $0.31/hour · xlarge $0.62/hour · 2xlarge $1.24/hour · 4xlarge $2.48/hour · 8xlarge $4.96/hour · 16xlarge $9.92/hour | $0.31 a month |
| File Transfer with BMC | per GB transferred from IBM z/OS · Source is IBM z/OS mainframe | $1.30, paid once |
| File Transfer with BMC (IBM z/OS) | $1.30 per GB · Charged by data transferred to Amazon S3; infrastructure charges may also apply | $1.30, paid once |
| Rocket Developer | on demand per AWS CPU core per hour · large $2.14/hour · xlarge $4.28/hour · 2xlarge $8.56/hour · 4xlarge $17.12/hour · 8xlarge $34.24/hour | $2.14 a month |
| AWS Mainframe Modernization Rocket Developer | $2.14 per AWS CPU core per hour · On-demand developer tool; AWS infrastructure charges may also apply | $2.14 a month |
| Code Conversion with mLogica | per line of code · Assembler to COBOL conversion · repeated conversions of the same lines in one environment have no additional charge | $2.75, paid once |
| Code Conversion with mLogica (Assembler to COBOL) | $2.75 per line of code · No additional charge for reconverting the same lines of code in the same environment | $2.75, paid once |
| Rocket Runtime | on demand per AWS CPU core per hour · M2.m6i.large $5.55/hour · xlarge $11.10/hour · 2xlarge $22.20/hour · 4xlarge $44.40/hour · 8xlarge $88.80/hour | $5.55 a month |
The first 8 of 11 plans, as aws.amazon.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word. Every plan
Getting started
- Open the AWS Mainframe Modernization website
- Choose an available paid option
- Select API or web access
- Choose a deployment model
- Use assessment, migration, or modernization capabilities
- Account for AWS infrastructure and supporting-service charges
Verdict
The service covers assessment, application changes, and runtime capabilities for mainframe modernization on AWS. Check which experiences are open to new customers and account for infrastructure and supporting-service charges.
Questions
How much does AWS Mainframe Modernization cost?
Listed options include AWS Transform for mainframe Runtime at $0.31 a month, File Transfer with BMC at $1.30, paid once, Rocket Developer at $2.14 a month, Code Conversion with mLogica at $2.75, paid once, Rocket Runtime at $5.55 a month, and Data Replication with Precisely at $60, paid once. AWS infrastructure and applicable supporting services may also be billed.
Is there a free plan?
No. Some analysis, developer, analyzer, and build tools have no additional charge, but AWS infrastructure and supporting services are billed separately.
Which languages are supported?
The service supports developing or updating applications using COBOL or PL/I.
What platforms and deployment models are available?
AWS Mainframe Modernization has API and web platforms and supports both deployment models.
Which integrations are supported?
Integrations include AWS CloudFormation, AWS PrivateLink, and AWS Key Management Service.
Facts from AWS Mainframe Modernization's own pages
- Assessment
- The assessment capability helps scope and plan a mainframe migration or modernization project. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Automated refactoring
- AWS Transform for mainframe can convert legacy application languages into macroservices or microservices and modernize user interfaces and application stacks. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Availability limit
- The self-managed experience and the managed runtime experience are no longer open to new customers; existing customers can continue using them. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 8 Oct 2026
- AWS integrations
- Documented integrations include CloudFormation, PrivateLink, KMS, RDS, S3, FSx, EFS, AppStream, Migration Hub and Database Migration Service. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- CI/CD
- Built-in continuous integration and delivery capabilities are intended to make code changes more frequent and reliable. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Code conversion
- mLogica code conversion automatically translates legacy Assembler code into COBOL while preserving business logic. · aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company profile
- LinkedIn lists Amazon Web Services as a public IT-services company headquartered in Seattle, founded in 2006, with more than 10,001 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Data replication
- Precisely integration replicates mainframe data near real time so AWS analytics and machine-learning services can use it while the mainframe remains the system of record. · aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment options
- Refactored applications can be deployed on Windows Server, Linux servers or Docker Linux containers, with managed and non-managed runtime choices. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer IDE
- The service offers an on-demand IDE with smart editing, debugging, compilation and unit-testing capabilities. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- The on-demand IDE offers smart editing and debugging, instant code compilation, and unit testing. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- S3, DynamoDB and EBS data are encrypted by default with KMS; customer-managed keys can be used for S3 and EBS, while DynamoDB uses an AWS-managed key. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- File transfer
- BMC file transfer automates mainframe data-set movement, code-page conversion, compression and parallel transfers. · aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Free assessment
- AWS says an initial AWS Transform for mainframe assessment can be run at no cost, but this is not presented as a general product trial. · aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The service supports AWS CloudFormation, AWS PrivateLink, and AWS Key Management Service integrations. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 8 Oct 2026
- JavaScript SDK
- AWS SDK for JavaScript v3 provides the installable @aws-sdk/client-m2 package and command-based API operations. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The service supports developing or updating applications using COBOL or PL/I. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Limit: additional charges
- Customers can incur separate AppStream, CodeBuild, EC2, S3, RDS, file-system, database and public IPv4 charges when using related components. · aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: billing and suspension
- Trustpilot reviewers frequently report unexpected charges after cancellation and sudden account suspensions without clear warning. · trustpilot.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: new customers
- AWS documentation says the managed-runtime and self-managed experiences are closed to new customers, while existing customers can continue using them. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: support
- Trustpilot's recent-review summary repeatedly cites difficulty reaching human support and unresponsive assistance. · trustpilot.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: TrustRadius pricing
- TrustRadius lists no pricing plans and says the Blu Age offering has no free version or trial. · trustradius.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Managed runtime
- The managed runtime monitors clusters and provides self-healing compute and automated scaling for enterprise workloads. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Modernization patterns
- The service supports automated refactoring and replatforming patterns for mainframe applications. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 8 Oct 2026
Where AWS Mainframe Modernization stands on Freedom251
- Cloud Migration Tools#20 of 32