Software Comparison · 2026
Companies often migrate from IBM Lotus Notes to Microsoft Outlook as part of a transition to the Microsoft ecosystem. Unfortunately, the process isn't as simple as just copying the mailbox files, since IBM Lotus Notes stores data in NSF format, while Microsoft Outlook uses PST format. That's why there are many different options for NSF to PST conversion software, and it can be hard to know which one is the best choice for you.
To help you out, we evaluated a number of different NSF to PST conversion utilities, including their documentation, functionality, price, and ease of use. We then compared four of the most popular NSF to PST conversion software products based on their cost and capabilities to help you find the best NSF to PST conversion software for your needs.
Disclaimer: Both price and feature availability may change over time; therefore, make sure to check with the vendor directly to obtain current pricing and feature information before purchase.
Quick Comparison Table
Feature | GainTools NSF to PST | Shoviv NSF to PST | SysTools NSF Export | Aryson NSF to PST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Starting Price | Budget-Friendly | Premium | Premium | Mid-Range |
Convert NSF to PST | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Batch Conversion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
Preview Before Export | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
No Lotus Notes Installation Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Export to Office 365 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Export to Live Exchange | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Free Trial Available | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited |
Best For | Individual Users & Small Businesses | Enterprise Migration | Large Organizations | IT Professionals |
Why You Need an NSF to PST Converter
Many companies move from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Outlook due to the seamless integration of Outlook with Microsoft 365, Exchange Server, Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft Services. When you do so, you will need some sort of conversion software because Outlook cannot read the NSF file types directly from Lotus Notes.
To be effective in performing an accurate conversion from NSF files to Outlook MSG, a good converter will do the following:
Preserve the Original Hierarchical Structure of the Mailbox
Maintain Original Email Formatting
Maintain Original File Attachment
Export Contacts and Calendar Entries
Convert Large NSF databases
Perform batch conversions with no data damage
The four products listed below will meet these fundamental informational requirements; however, they will be best suited for their own audience.
Tools in Detail
1.GainTools NSF to PST Converter
Budget-Friendly · Best for Individual Users & Small Businesses
GainTools low-cost, user-friendly, feature-rich migration software is designed for simplicity. The GainTools program is lightweight and easy to use, converting NSF files to PST files efficiently while maintaining your email folder structure and email properties.
Unlike enterprise-focused applications, many of which incorporate features that will never be used by the majority of their users, GainTools has developed a straightforward interface. Users can have their mailboxes migrated within a few clicks and without any prior experience.
Key Features
Batch NSF conversion
Convert Emails, Contacts, Calendars, Journals, Notes and Attachments
Maintain your folder hierarchy
Preserve your email metadata
Convert to ANSI/PST or Unicode/PST files
Optional mailbox selection for conversion
View Mailbox before exporting
Compatible with all Outlook Versions
Imports large NSF Files
Window Compatible
Pros
Most Economical of All the Selected Tools
Straightforward and Easy-to-Use Program Interface for New Users
Fast NSF to PST Conversions
Preserves the Integrity of Your Mailbox
Lightweight Installation
No Technical Skills Required to use the program
Cons
No Direct Export to Office 365
No Enterprise-Level Migration to Exchange
Best For: Users needing fast, Reliable, Affordable Conversion from Mall NSFs to PST Formats.
Ideal Audience: Home users, Freelancers, Students, and Business users looking for an affordable solution.
2 Shoviv NSF to PST Converter
Premium · Best for Enterprise Migration
Shoviv provides the highest amount of enterprise features when compared to other desktop conversion tools. In addition to being able to export to PST, IT administrators can migrate from Exchange Server directly to an Office 365 mailbox.
The software also supports batch processing of exports, date filtering, and incremental exports of data, along with folder mapping. All of these features make it suitable for organisations with large-scale migration requirements.
Key Features
NSF to PST Conversion
Office 365 Migration
Live Exchange Migration
Batch Mailbox Export
Date Filtering
Incremental Exporting
Folder Mapping
Preview
Supports Encrypted NSF Files
Maintains Metadata
Pros
Great capabilities for enterprise-level migrations
Support for Office 365
Support for Exchange Migrations
Designed for IT Administrators
Works with very large mailbox databases
Cons
Costs are higher
More advanced interface than most personal users' needs
Some may not need all features
Ideal for: Both large Enterprises migrating to Office 365 and deploying Office 365 Enterprise customers not on Microsoft's Hosted Exchange platforms.
3. SysTools NSF Export
Premium · Best for Large Organisations
SysTools has been a leading provider in the email migration sector for years. The NSF Export tool from SysTools aids the user in converting data between PST and other source email systems, such as Office 365 and Exchange, as well as through additional advanced options.
In addition to the conversion feature, the software has additional advanced functions for enterprise customers, including sophisticated filtering and reporting options, command line processing capabilities, and enterprise-wide deployment options.
Key Features
NSF to PST conversion
Export to Office 365
Migrating from Exchange to PST
Batch conversion
Date Filtering
Category Filtering
Command Line Support
Detailed migration reports
Maintain Mailbox hierarchy
Supports Large NSF Databases
Pros
Full set of enterprise features
Reliable migration engine
Excellent filtering
Reporting ability
Good administrator tool
Cons
Premium pricing
Overkill for a single user
Steep learning curve
Ideal for: Large Enterprises with Complex Migration Needs
4 Aryson NSF to PST Converter
Mid-Range · Best for IT Professionals
Aryson offers a good compromise between price and migration options. It supports more than PSTs for moving to the cloud as well, and has other filtering options.
It presents a relatively user-friendly experience for being a feature-rich conversion tool, particularly compared to the typical desktop converters.
Key Features
NSF to PST conversion
Batch processing
Office 365 Integration
Exporting from live exchanges
Preview
Filter by date range
Keep original formatting of emails
Support for encrypted NSF
Folder hierarchy preserved
Supports mailboxes greater than 100MB
Advantages
Features offer a reasonable balance
Can export to Office 365
User-friendly interface
Good performance
Many options for output
Disadvantages
Can be slow with very large mailboxes
To take full advantage of premium features, you need to purchase higher editions of the software
Recommended for: IT professionals and medium-sized companies.
Pricing Comparison
GainTools NSF to PST
Budget-Friendly
5/5
Aryson NSF to PST
Mid-Range
4/5
Shoviv NSF to PST
Premium
4/5
SysTools NSF Export
Premium
4/5
Which Software Should You Choose?
Choose GainTools if:
You need budget-friendly software
You only need to know what the NSF to PST conversion is
You want a user-friendly interface for new users
You want fast conversion without unnecessary enterprise features
Choose Shoviv if:
You are migrating to Office 365 directly
You are using an Exchange Server within your organisation
You need scheduling and enterprise migration capabilities
Choose SysTools if:
You are managing enterprise-level migrations
You require reporting and command-line support
You require advanced filtering options
Choose Aryson if:
You require additional Cloud Migration options
You require Features beyond basic-level software
You are managing medium size organization migrations
Final Verdict
Out of all these applications that allow you to convert NSF files into PST files, each of them is capable of performing basic conversions. But they help different types of users.
If your main concerns are low price, simple to use and quality, GainTools NSF to PST Converter will give you the best combination of all 3 features. It will offer everything you need if you are an individual or small business without having to pay for a large (enterprise-level) tool.
If your organisation has plans to move to Microsoft 365 or Exchange directly, you may want to consider Shoviv, SysTools, or Aryson, as they have more advanced functions and features, such as filtering and migrating to cloud services. While they all cost a little more than GainTools NSF to PST Converter, if you are doing a large mail migration, they will probably be worth it.
The correct way to choose which product to use for the migration ultimately depends on what you want to accomplish with your mail migration, the technical requirements, and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can all four NSF to PST converters perform batch conversion of multiple NSF files in one process?
Yes. All four of these NSF to PST converters allow for batch conversion of multiple NSF files in an individual process.
Do all four of these NSF to PST conversion tools preserve email messages, contacts, calendar events, and other attachments during conversion?
Yes. Each converter can recreate all of your major Lotus Notes mailbox items while still being true to their original folder structure and keeping track of their metadata.
Does the user need to have IBM Lotus Notes installed before using the NSF to PST conversion tools?
No, these tools can import and convert NSF files directly without requiring IBM Lotus Notes to be installed on the system beforehand.
Which NSF to PST converter is considered to provide the best value for a user's investment?
If you are only looking for accurate conversions from NSF files to PST files, then GainTools provides the best value since it delivers essential features required for migrating NSF files at a reasonable cost. However, users within larger businesses who need to migrate to Office 365 accounts or Exchange servers may experience better results and value with Shoviv, SysTools, or Aryson, which are significantly more expensive than GainTools products.
Do any of these NSF to PST conversion tools offer free trial versions?
Yes, all four vendors provide trial products so that users can evaluate their functionality and performance before making their purchasing decisions, although these trial products place limits on the number of items that a user can convert.