The Softonic piece this week about Android 17 making the iPhone-to-Android switch easier isn’t marketing. iMessage bridging, Wi-Fi-based Contact and Photos transfer, and cleaner iCloud imports all landed in stock Android in the last two releases. The OEM tools shipped their answers on top. If you’re moving off iOS, the migration doesn’t have to burn a Saturday. These are the eight Android apps we run to bring photos, messages, contacts, calendars, and even app data across the platform gap.
What to look for in an iPhone-to-Android migration app
- What actually transfers. Photos and contacts are easy. Messages, health data, and paid app receipts are hard. Read the “transfers” list before committing.
- iCloud vs cable. iCloud pulls need Wi-Fi and time. Direct cable transfers are faster and don’t touch Apple’s cloud.
- Manufacturer lock-in. Some tools only work on one Android brand. Fine if you know the new phone; not fine if you’re comparing.
- Encrypted backups. iMessage history and Health data live inside encrypted iCloud stores. Only tools with Apple’s supported flows can read them.
- Two-factor cooperation. SIM-based 2FA moves with the SIM. App-based 2FA has to be re-set up on the new phone.
- Time to finish. A 128 GB iCloud photo library takes hours over Wi-Fi. Plan accordingly.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Wireless | Cable | iCloud pull | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Smart Switch | Any Samsung Galaxy | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.5 |
| Google Switch to Android | Any Pixel or stock Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.4 |
| Xiaomi Mi Mover | Xiaomi and Redmi phones | Yes | No | Limited | 4.3 |
| OnePlus Switch | OnePlus and Oppo devices | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4.4 |
| Copy My Data | Cross-brand contacts + calendar | Yes | No | No | 4.5 |
| MobileTrans | PC-mediated full transfer | via PC | Yes | Yes | 4.2 |
| SHAREit | Simple file transfers | Yes | No | No | 4.3 |
| Send Anywhere | One-off file transfers | Yes | No | No | 4.6 |
The 8 best iPhone-to-Android migration apps
1. Samsung Smart Switch, best for any Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Smart Switch is the official Samsung tool and one of the most complete migration flows for iOS-to-Android that exists. Wireless over Wi-Fi Direct, USB-C cable with an Apple-supplied adapter, or a Windows/Mac desktop mediator. Transfers photos, videos, contacts, calendars, notes, alarms, browser bookmarks, and select app data.
Where it falls short: Only lands on Galaxy phones. Won’t set up an Xperia or a Pixel.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android (Samsung Galaxy).
Download: Smart Switch on Google Play · Smart Switch on Aptoide
Bottom line: The one to install first if the new phone is a Galaxy. Complete flow, well documented.
2. Google Switch to Android, best for any Pixel or stock Android
Google Switch to Android is Google’s own iOS-to-Android tool, pre-installed on Pixel and available for any Android on Google Play. Wi-Fi Direct or Lightning-to-USB-C cable. Handles photos and videos via iCloud pull, contacts and calendar via Google account, iMessage disable prompt built into the flow.
Where it falls short: Handles less app-side data than Smart Switch. Some browser data doesn’t come across.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android.
Download: Switch to Android on Google Play
Bottom line: The default for a Pixel migration. Google’s iMessage-disable step alone is worth using it.
3. Xiaomi Mi Mover, best for Xiaomi and Redmi phones
Xiaomi Mi Mover is the official companion for Xiaomi’s HyperOS. Wireless-only, quicker than Smart Switch on comparable hardware, and includes a “big files first” mode that gets the video library across before smaller items.
Where it falls short: iCloud pull is limited to photos and contacts. No cable option.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android (Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO).
Download: Mi Mover on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for Xiaomi. Otherwise not general-purpose.
4. OnePlus Switch, best for OnePlus and Oppo devices
OnePlus Switch covers OnePlus and Oppo migrations with a shared underlying stack. Handles photos, contacts, messages via SMS Backup, and paid app receipts. Cable transfer over Lightning-to-USB-C works and is faster than Wi-Fi Direct.
Where it falls short: OnePlus/Oppo only. UI still has translation rough edges in a few languages.
Pricing:
- Free: full features
- Paid: none
Platforms: Android (OnePlus, Oppo, Realme).
Download: OnePlus Switch on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for a OnePlus. Skip on any other brand.
5. Copy My Data, best for cross-brand contacts + calendar
Copy My Data is the pragmatic pick when the new phone isn’t a Galaxy, a Pixel, a Xiaomi, or a OnePlus. Wi-Fi transfers of contacts, calendar entries, photos, and videos across any Android from any iOS. Doesn’t touch messages or app data.
Where it falls short: Not a full migration. Covers what Google Account sync doesn’t already do automatically.
Pricing:
- Free: contacts, calendar, photos
- Paid: Media Mover in-app purchase for large libraries
Platforms: Android.
Download: Copy My Data on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for less mainstream brands or for a partial cross-check migration.
6. MobileTrans, best for PC-mediated full transfer
MobileTrans by Wondershare turns a Windows or Mac into the middle-man. Both phones plug in over USB, and the desktop app pulls, translates, and pushes. Supports the widest range of data types, including WhatsApp history and select messenger backups.
Where it falls short: Paid. Cross-app backups have platform-specific limitations.
Pricing:
- Free: preview and small transfers
- Paid: 1-year plan starts around $29.95
Platforms: Android (companion to Windows/macOS desktop client).
Download: MobileTrans on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick when you need messenger histories to survive the move.
7. SHAREit, best for simple file transfers
SHAREit is the general-purpose peer-to-peer transfer app used across South and Southeast Asia. Ideal for the “just move the photo library” case: works over Wi-Fi Direct at speeds a cable would struggle to beat, and doesn’t touch contacts or messages.
Where it falls short: Files only, no messages, no contacts. Historical ads-heaviness has calmed but is still notable.
Pricing:
- Free: full features with ads
- Paid: Premium removes ads
Platforms: Android.
Download: SHAREit on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for one-off file bulk transfers.
8. Send Anywhere, best for one-off file transfers
Send Anywhere is the cleaner, ad-lighter alternative to SHAREit. Wi-Fi Direct or link-based transfers, no account required. Perfect for the final “one folder I forgot” transfer after the main migration.
Where it falls short: Files only. 10 GB free per link, larger transfers hit paid tiers.
Pricing:
- Free: 10 GB per link
- Paid: Plus at $6/month for unlimited size
Platforms: Android.
Download: Send Anywhere on Google Play
Bottom line: The pick for the final one-off transfer once the main flow is done.
How to pick the right one
- If the new phone is a Galaxy: Samsung Smart Switch, first.
- If the new phone is a Pixel or stock Android: Google Switch to Android.
- If the new phone is a Xiaomi: Mi Mover.
- If the new phone is a OnePlus or Oppo: OnePlus Switch.
- If you already used one of the OEM tools and need to top up: Copy My Data.
- If chat history has to survive: MobileTrans on a laptop.
- If it’s just one folder left behind: Send Anywhere.
FAQ
Does iMessage come across? No. Turn iMessage off inside Settings on the iPhone before you swap the SIM to avoid missing SMS from other iPhones.
What about WhatsApp history? Google Switch to Android and Samsung Smart Switch both include WhatsApp-supported flows now. MobileTrans covers WhatsApp in more markets.
Are photos transferred at full resolution? Smart Switch, Google Switch to Android, and Mi Mover pull at full resolution. iCloud pulls at the iCloud copy’s resolution, which is usually the original.
Do paid iOS apps re-appear as paid Android apps? No. Purchases don’t carry across ecosystems. Free tiers of the same apps do sign in with the same account.
Should I plan for two-factor authentication changes? Yes. App-based 2FA (Authy, Google Authenticator) has to be moved manually. Set aside 30 minutes for banking and email.
