U-Pack Vs. PODS: Which Is Best For You? (2024)

U-Pack Services Offered

U-Pack makes self-service moving easy by delivering portable storage containers directly to your point of origin. Though U-Pack does not offer packing of your belongings nor container loading services, it does partner with third-party companies in some states who can handle the moving labor for you.

Once packed, U-Pack will transport the containers to your new home where you can unload your belongings or hire another partner moving labor company to unload. A few more services U-Pack offers include:

• GPS tracking
• Protection plans
• Fuel calculators
• Space estimators
• Moving videos, checklists and advice guides
• Pay-for-what-you-use moving trailer services

U-Pack State Availability

U-Pack offers its services in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, but the company does not offer local moves. It requires a minimum move distance of 150 miles.

Fine Print

U-Pack is a self-service moving company offering fairly affordable moving container services, but you must be willing to do the packing and loading yourself. U-Pack’s pricing is some of the best in the business for both self-service and standard moving companies and its pay-for-what-you-use policy gives customers even more flexibility on cost.

If you’re looking for a local move option, find moving services elsewhere; U-Pack maintains a minimum requirement of 150 miles for moves. U-Pack also only provides three days for loading its containers and three days for unloading—other companies offer longer.

Services PODS Offers

Like U-Pack, PODS’ services follow a similar process. Customers request portable storage containers, pack them or hire others to pack them, then the company lines up the pickup and dropoff. PODS offers three different-length containers, each eight feet wide by eight feet high. Its large container iis 16 feet deep, the medium is 12 feet deep and the small is eight feet deep. PODS website offers online calculators to help determine which size POD is appropriate for your move.

PODS also partners with Hire-A-Helper to offer moving labor services including packing and unpacking, loading and unloading. PODS also offers long-term, climate controlled storage for its containers with 24/7 security. A few more services helping set PODS apart include:

• GPS tracking
• Moving supplies
• Protection plans
• Moving and storage checklists
• Commercial storage
• Moving and storage calculators
• Both long and short-term storage solutions

PODS State Availability

PODS services 46 U.S. states including Hawaii and Washington, D.C. It does not currently offer services to North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming or Alaska.

PODS is a solid choice for self-service, container-style moving—especially for those customers looking for local moves and/or for long-term storage of belongings. While PODS is not as affordable as other self-service moving companies and does require a deposit, the extensive list of services including moving labor, multiple container sizes and climate-controlled, onsite storage may make the higher cost worth paying for some customers.

Notably, PODS also gives 30 days to load and unload your belongings from its containers—significantly longer than U-Pack and many other competitors.

PODS offers long term storage of its moving containers while U-Pack does not. PODS allows customers up to 30 days of loading and unloading compared to only three days offered by U-Pack. For customers who need a bit more flexibility due to unpredictable moving schedules, or who want to prioritize convenience over cost, PODS is likely a better bet.

Additionally, PODS allows local moves with no minimum travel distance and partners with a third party company to provide packing and loading while U-Pack does not offer any moving labor.

PODS is not, however, available in all fifty states, so if you’re in Montana, Alaska, Wyoming or North Dakota you will have to find another option. PODS is also more expensive than U-Pack, with a $1,000 to $1,500 higher cost for a cross-country move of a two-bedroom house. U-Pack also helps save its customers money with its pay-for-what-you-use policy which only charges for space customers actually use.

Both U-Pack and PODS offer affordable moving containers for self-service moving. Each company provides customers free quotes and does not require upfront costs to book a container. U-Pack offers only one size of container which is similar in size to PODS’ “small” container but U-Pack also offers space on a full-size moving trailer, which gives customers up to 27 feet of space. Either company can handle nearly any size home.

Neither U-Pack nor PODS offer in-house packing or loading services but other moving third-party services can be hired to provide this kind of moving labor. Both U-Pack and PODS make moving as stress-free as possible by providing moving checklists, packing lists, moving and storage calculators and tips for packing and loading. Each company also offers multiple levels of protection plans to make sure your belongings are covered during the journey.

A more affordable self-service mover like U-Pack is a great option for those on a tight budget. In general, we found U-Pack offers the best prices out of all the self-service movers we researched. For people who don’t know how much space they need, the company offers a pay-for-what-you-use policy. Instead of paying for the entire container, customers can pay per square foot for a large moving trailer.

If you value flexibility and want to select from a range of moving services, PODS may be the better option. PODS offers a longer loading and unloading window than U-Pack does and it partners with Hire-A-Helper to provide comprehensive moving labor options. PODS has no minimum mileage for moves and it offers short and long term storage options on top of its already more flexible moving services.