Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page
Whether it’s for a home renovation, building project, or a long-distance move, portable storage companies are the ones that’ll help save your day. Right from loading all the bulky items into a moving container to transporting them to your desired location, portable storage companies can take care of everything for you.
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When speaking of storage companies, PODS is one of the best storage and moving companies for customers. They have been in the industry for a long time and so the quality of their service and costs are certainly as good as their competitors. If you think that PODS is way over your budget, there are several other moving companies you can consider. To help you decide, here’s everything you need to know about PODS Competitors or top alternatives to PODS.
Metro Hop Relocation is one of the best cheap moving companies.
They are a fully licensed interstate moving broker with a deep understanding of the challenges and stress associated with moving.
Metro Hop Relocation strives to provide customers with a hassle-free and straightforward relocation experience. Their competitive pricing is ideal for budget-conscious customers.
As a professional interstate moving brokerage, Metro Hop Relocation offers comprehensive moving services, and a personal moving consultant will handle every aspect of the process from start to finish. This includes organizing and coordinating the entire move, ensuring that clients can focus on the excitement of their new journey rather than the logistics.
Currently, Metro Hop Relocation specializes in long-distance moves and corporate moving services, catering to the unique needs of individuals and businesses alike.
Metro Hop Relocation is committed to providing affordable moving solutions without compromising on quality or customer service. Their services come in cheaper than most professional movers.
They understand that relocating can be a significant financial undertaking, so they offer competitive pricing tailored to each client's needs.
By carefully evaluating factors such as the size and distance of the move and the specific services required, Metro Hop Relocation can provide accurate estimates and ensure that customers receive the best value for their money.
Metro Hop Relocation strongly emphasizes delivering exceptional customer service, ensuring that every client receives the personalized attention they deserve.
From the initial consultation to the completion of the move, their friendly and professional staff are available to address any questions or concerns.
By carefully listening to each customer's needs and preferences, they create a customized moving plan that aligns with their client's expectations.
Midland Van Lines is a family-owned and operated business, and moving long distances is their specialty. Every year they help thousands of families move across the U.S.
Experience and going the extra mile set them apart from other national moving services; Midland Van Lines boasts a highly skilled and knowledgeable team with 15+ years of experience in interstate moving.
Midland Van Lines is ideal if you want to spend a little more to enjoy a seamless moving experience. They offer comprehensive moving services to fit your unique needs. Don’t worry if you don’t have an unlimited budget. If you book early with Midlands, you can receive up to 40% off the price of your move.
They are also well known for their white-glove professional moving services, great customer service, and innovative use of technology; the company has garnered an excellent reputation as one of the best in the business.
A one-size-fits-all approach may not work for everyone, as each individual or family has different requirements when it comes to moving. To go the extra mile for their customers, Midlands Van Lines provides personalized moving solutions.
A representative from Midlands Van Lines will create a customized plan to tailor their services to match your specific needs, including packing, storage, or additional services.
This level of personalization can make the transition to your new home smoother, as you can trust that everything is being taken care of in a way that fits your lifestyle and budget.
With Midlands Van Lines; you can expect nothing but the best from start to finish. Their team of highly trained and experienced professionals will handle every aspect of your move with white-glove care, ensuring that your belongings are transported safely and securely.
Midland Van Lines can also take on more unique or complex large homes or commercial space relocations. They are well equipped to transport heavy and valuable items like large furniture, antiques, and even priceless art.
It doesn’t stop there. They offer secure packaging and complete crating solutions for your high-value items. Also, Midland Van Lines is insured for up to $200,000 in the unlikely event of property loss or damage.
If you're looking for a genuinely luxurious moving experience, Midlands Van Lines provides a full-service moving package.
With this comprehensive package, you can expect a team of highly trained professionals to take care of everything, from packing your belongings to unloading them at your new home.Midlands’s experienced movers will care extra for your high-value items if needed.
In addition, they offer concierge services such as unpacking and setting up your new home, and arranging for storage solutions for any items you may not want to bring with you.
With a full-service package, you can relax and let Midlands Van Lines take care of every detail, ensuring a seamless and stress-free relocation.
🏆 Customer opinion
“I thought moving would be a disaster because I hired a moving company that I had no knowledge about. I expected the worst and just went on with it. But I did not know this moving company would impress me instead. They were amazing! All the people were professional, efficient and caring. They moved all the furniture very nicely and gently. They returned everything the way it was. Plus, their rate was very low and reasonable. I ended up with a great moving company! I highly recommend Midland van lines to all.” Philip R.
Mayzlin Relocation is a family-owned national carrier based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over a decade of industry experience, owner Semen Mayzlin founded the company in 2016 to offer premier national moving services.
Mayzlin Relocation strives to provide exceptional customer service and professionalism.The company handles local moves within Charlotte, interstate moves, and even overseas relocations to multiple locations.
As a reputable carrier, Mayzlin Relocation is a member of the American Trucking Association and an authorized Consumer Affairs partner. They are certified on Angie’s List and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Mayzlin relocation understands that life can be unpredictable. Plans can change at a moment's notice. They offer a cancellation policy to give customers flexibility and peace of mind.
Unlike many other carriers, they won't penalize you for changing your moving plans. Their customer-friendly policy lets you cancel your move up to seven days before the scheduled date and provides a full refund with no hidden fees.
Mayzlin Relocation makes getting in touch with them really easy. Customers can reach out via the phone number or email listed on the company's website to receive a free estimate or schedule an appointment. Mayzlin also offers a live chat feature for quick questions or concerns for convenient communication.
There is also a 24/7 emergency phone number to ensure customers can receive assistance outside of regular business hours.
Focusing on providing excellent customer service, Mayzlin Relocation strives to make every step of the moving process as stress-free as possible for its clients.
Mayzlin is a top-rated national moving company equipped to handle military moves. They understand that planning a PCS (permanent change of station) move can be overwhelming and are equipped to help military personnel with every aspect of their relocation.
As a registered Department of Transportation carrier, Mayzlin partners with carriers authorized to work with the military to ensure a smooth and seamless move. They have received General Services Administration approval, guaranteeing that there will be no issues obtaining personally procured move (PPM) reimbursements.
With Mayzlin, military personnel can rest assured that their move will be stress-free and handled with the utmost care and attention to detail.
Looking to move soon? Look no further than Van Lines Inc.! Van Lines Inc. is a nationwide moving broker based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 2001 by owner Efraim Balila who has over 20 years of experience in the industry, they specialize in a wide range of moves, from residential to commercial and industrial equipment relocations.
No matter what you need moving, Van Lines Inc. has the people and equipment to get you there. They're about more than just getting your belongings from point A to point B.
They go the extra mile to ensure your move is stress-free by providing a personal moving coordinator for each client, ensuring open communication. And with proper licensing and insurance, you can trust that your belongings are in good hands.
But what if you have fragile or high-value items that need extra care and protection? Van Lines Inc. offers exceptional white-glove moving services by highly trained professionals who have been thoroughly vetted. Yes, these services come at a premium price, but the extra care and protection they provide are well worth it.
Despite facilitating over 200 moves a week, Van Lines Inc. doesn't treat you like just another number. They take pride in providing personalized attention and care to each customer. So, whether you're moving across the state or the country, trust Van Lines Inc. and let them take care of the rest.
One of the reasons we recommend Van Lines Inc. is because they provide a lot of support for customers during what can be a stressful move.
From the start, a dedicated moving assistant supports you through the initial consultation to unpacking the last box. They’ll tell you what to expect throughout the process, so you’re never caught off guard.
Van Lines Inc. works hard to prevent the horror stories that are too common in the moving industry. Their team of experts serves as the go-between between you and the moving company, ensuring that your needs and expectations are always met. Customers are constantly kept informed and up to date on the progress of their move.
After your move is complete, Van Lines Inc. will continue to communicate with you to ensure that everything went smoothly and that you’re completely satisfied with the service provided.
Van Lines Inc. offers a range of flexible moving packages that can be customized to handle as much or as little as you need. Whether you’re a senior citizen with priceless china that need to be carefully crated or a business that needs to move across the country, Van Lines Inc. has the resources to help you.
Their consultants will take the time to listen to your concerns and preferences and will work with you to build a personalized moving plan that meets your needs – ranging from a full-service moving experience to handling some aspects of the move yourself.
This customized service means you can have peace of mind knowing you’re working with a company that genuinely cares about your moving experience.
From New York to California, Florida to Alaska, and everywhere in between, Van Lines Inc. can handle moves of any distance.
Their extensive network of resources and partners ensures they can provide seamless and efficient moving services to customers nationwide.
With Van Lines Inc., you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re working with a company that truly understands the complexities of long-distance moving and has the resources to get you there, wherever “there” may be.
PODS or Portable Demand On Storage has been in the moving and storage industry since 1998. At present, they offer their services in almost 46 states of America, along with parts of Canada, Australia, and also the UK. Depending on the type of your move, you can choose between a large container (16 feet), medium container (12 feet), and small container (8 feet) to store or move your items to a new location. You can seek their services for both local and long-distance moves.
Upsides: PODS offers you easy scheduling for your pick-up and delivery dates for your moves. In addition to that, the company also gives you access to your items in storage, all you have to do is ask them over the phone and they will add or retrieve any items you want.
Downsides: There’s no doubt that PODS is a reliable moving and storage company, so you can rest assured that they will protect your items from rain and hail. But when it comes to high or freezing temperatures, PODS cannot help save your items as they don’t necessarily follow climate-controlled standards. If you’re hiring PODS, be prepared to load and unload your items in the containers yourself. That’s because the company doesn’t provide you with movers for helping you with your belongings.
Pricing: PODS offers you three types of moving containers - 8’, 12’, and 16’. As per their official website, the starting price of their containers is $149 on a monthly basis. Your other costs like delivery charges and pick-up charges will cost you around $74.99. To get an insight into your overall storage costs, you can go visit their website, fill in your essential details like ZIP code, kind of storage container you need, location, etc, and get a free quote from them.
If there’s any other storage company that can be considered the closest competitor to PODS, that would be 1-800-Pack-Rat. One of the things that make this company stand out from its competitors is its free insurance and 30 days of storage facilities that they provide at its base price. Just like PODS, 1-800-Pack-Rat can help you with both local and long-distance moves. They have moving containers of sizes 8’, 12’, and 16’, if you’re looking for storage facilities. When it comes to packing space in their storage containers, 1-800-Pack-Rat provides you with 30 more cubic feet of storage space as compared to PODS.
Upsides: One of the reasons why 1-800-Pack-Rat comes out as a strong competitor for PODS is that they sometimes have discounted prices for their services. So, if you’re on a tight budget, hiring 1-800-Pack-Rat can certainly suit your budget. Another advantage of hiring them is that they have corrugated steel containers that are weatherproof to protect all your items.
Downsides: Unlike PODS, 1-800-Pack-Rat operates in only 30 states of America. They can help you only with national storage, the company doesn’t offer you any services internationally. Many of their customers have also complained that their final cost is quite confusing and higher than their expectations. It can be because of the hidden costs that the company adds to your bills making the payment structure tricky to understand.
Pricing: Unlike PODS, 1-800-Pack-Rat doesn’t provide you with any approximate estimates for their storage services. So, you’ll have to get in touch with them via email or over the phone. One of the things you can do is check their website and get a free quote from the company. All you have to do is give them details like your delivery location, date, storage location, and email address.
Another affordable storage and moving company is U-Pack. They have their ReloCube moving containers in which they store your items and can deliver your items on the scheduled delivery date. If you’re looking for a portable storage solution, U-Pack can be one of your best options as they provide you with equipment to load and unload your items. The company also offers online quotes to give you an insight into your storage costs so that you can compare them with the prices of other companies.
Upsides: U-Pack stands out as a storage company for its policy of paying for the space you use. So, you’ll only be paying for the ReloCube containers that you’ll be using. And if you’ve asked for any other additional containers, you can just return them without worrying about their payment. That’s one of the reasons why U-Pack has a majority of positive reviews wherein customers have been satisfied with their service.
Downsides: One of the biggest downsides of U-Pack storage services is that they only provide off-site storage to customers. So, you can’t store your items in their ReloCube containers at your house. Also, they only provide their services for long-distance moves.
Pricing: U-Pack’s pricing is different from traditional storage companies whose pricing is solely based on the product’s dimensions. U-Pack on the other hand takes into consideration the number of Relocubes you accommodate in a storage container. Along with that, several other factors like size, location, etc influence the total storage cost. The lowest cost for a small-size container can be as cheap as $100 per month, whereas moves that involve long distances can cost you in the range of $1,500 to $3,000 as per their website. You can get a moving quote on the company’s website to understand your approximate storage costs.
Zippy Shell is a moving and storage company that operates in the U.S., Australia, and certain parts of Europe. You can hire the company for your local and long-distance moves. The company is known for its unique cage-design storage containers that assure you of safe transportation of your items. All of their storage containers are temperature-controlled, so you don’t have to worry about your items getting damaged. One of the perks of hiring them is that you get customized moving solutions that will suit both your budget and schedule.
Upsides: Zippy Shell provides 30 days of storage to their customers for every long-distance move. The company makes it easy for you to schedule and reserve your moving container which they deliver to your location. All of their storage containers are made of metal and have a cage-like design to ensure that none of your items fall off or get damaged during the move.
Downsides: Unfortunately, Zippy Shell operates in only 28 states of the U.S. One of their biggest disadvantages is that they’ve not mentioned the sizes of their storage containers on their website. The company has also had inconsistent reviews, majority of customers reporting about the rental fees not being included in the moving quote.
Pricing: Zippy Shell does not provide any approximate storage costs on their website. But you can get a free quote on their website by filling in the necessary details for your storage needs. Don’t forget that you may also need to pay your delivery charges, which will include the pick-up of the container and the re-delivery which differs for different locations.
Need a portable storage solution for PODS? U-Haul is one of the best alternatives out there for both moving and storage solutions. You can choose from their small, medium, and large storage units to store your items when relocating to a new location. Just so you know, all of their storage units are climate-controlled. So, you can rest assured that your items are safe from weather and humidity. U-Haul is also best known for their vehicle storage facilities.
Upsides: You can get a customized storage service from U-Haul; for example, you can choose to pack and load your items yourself and seek their help for getting a trailer to move your containers. One of the best things about U-Haul is that they don’t charge you any deposit or admin fee.
Downsides: One of the biggest downsides of U-Haul is its comparatively poor customer service. Even when the company boasts of reasonable prices for its services, it’s not always reflected in its customer feedback. Many people have reportedly stated that getting in touch with the company’s agent is difficult.
Pricing: The average cost for a single container from U-Haul will cost you around $50 to $100. Along with that, you’ll also have to pay the delivery charges to the company. Do keep in mind that these delivery charges will differ depending on your location and the size of the container.
See also: U-Haul Competitors – Top Alternatives to U-Haul
SMARTBOX provides professional storage services for your local and long-distance moves. Their storage containers are 8’ deep, 7’ tall, and 5’ wide to offer safety and security for all your items. In addition to that, all their storage containers are weatherproof, so that your items are protected from harsh weather conditions. The company offers you a 30-day rental wherein you can seek long-term storage services that come at an additional cost.
Upsides: SMARTBOX is known for not charging any hidden fees to its customers. Unlike PODS, you won’t be charged for moving containers that you won’t be using. They also offer discounts to college students and military personnel.
Downsides: One of the biggest downsides of SMARTBOX is that they have only one storage container. So, it won’t necessarily meet the needs of all kinds of moves. The company is also known to have poor customer reviews for the company’s unavailability over the phone.
Pricing: The average monthly price for a storage container from SMARTBOX will cost you around $89. Along with that, you might also have to pay other fees like $99 as your delivery charges and $99 for drop-off.
We want to remind you that every move is different from each other, so you’ll have to choose a moving company that best suits your needs. That’s why it’s best if you start planning your move early and book your movers well in advance. You can compare the prices and services of at least 3-5 moving companies and then decide which company works best for you.
Here are some things to consider before hiring a storage company:
Before you hire a storage company, you first need to get an idea of the right-sized container for your items. One of the best things to do is to make a home inventory of your items. That’ll give you an idea of what things you want to take along with you to your new location and what needs to be in a storage container. We suggest you find out about the different types of storage containers in 3 or more storage companies and see which one can store all your items in the most reasonable manner.
If you have items made of wood, then there are chances that they might get damaged because of humidity or moisture. That’s why it’s best if you look out for storage companies that have climate-controlled containers. Keep in mind that not all storage companies offer climate-controlled containers, so make sure that you enquire about the same in advance.
If you want the best deals on storage containers, then you can always ask the storage company whether they have any discounts. Most companies offer discounts to college students, military members, etc. So don’t forget to check out for any offers and discounts before hiring a storage company.
If you want your items to be safe and secure, you should check out the security systems of storage containers. You can ask the company about what kind of locks they use, security systems like video surveillance cameras, etc. The storage company can charge you a little extra for security and other equipment, so see to it that you revise your contract thoroughly before hiring a company.
Summing Up
When it comes to storage services, PODS certainly has trustworthy and reliable storage units and containers for you. That being said, there are other companies like 1-800-Pack-Rat, U-Pack, Zippy Shell, U-Haul, SMARTBOX, and many more that also offer storage services for you. So figure out the size of the container, date, and time for a storage service, and then check out for a company that’ll meet your needs.
1-800-Pack-Rat, U-Pack. Zippy Shell, U-Haul, and SMARTBOX are some other companies similar to PODS. While each of them offers similar services, you can choose the best one for you as per your specific needs and budget.
Here are some of the cheapest ways to move long distances:
This would depend on the kind of services you need. If you’re planning a budget-friendly move, then hiring PODS over a professional moving company might definitely be a cheaper option. However, if you’re planning a last-minute move or if it’s a hectic move where you would require help, it’s better if you reach out to a moving company for all the assistance that you need.
Also See: How to Pack PODS and Other Moving Containers
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