PODS Review: Costs, Services, and Customer Reviews
Here’s the bottom line: PODS is one of the most affordable and flexible moving and storage solutions. It’s ideal if you need a mix of moving and storage, don’t have defined moving dates, or need an affordable DIY option for a long-distance move. In this PODS review, you’ll see why customers like the company — including their convenient services, accurate quotes, and on-time delivery.
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
93% of users select this mover
At moveBuddha, we’ve worked with hundreds of people through our Better Moves Project. They shared the good, the bad, and the ugly of working with PODS for their local, long-distance, and cross-country moves. We’ll share some of their moving experiences here in our PODS review to give you a taste of what real customers think about this moving container company.
But PODS might not be the best fit for every move. Check out this in-depth PODS review to learn more about their flexible moving and storage options — and whether it’s right for you.
Pros and cons of moving with PODS
- Generally less expensive than full-service movers
- Multiple container sizes
- Moving and storage combination options available
- Offers options to make changes mid-move
- Has a money-back cancellation policy
- Free storage included with all moves up to 30-days
- Professionals do all the driving
- Available in most U.S. states, Washington D.C., and abroad
- It is possible to book last minute
- Must book long-distance moves by phone
- Not available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- Long-distance moves are limited to two storage container sizes
- No tracking options available on your move
Key takeaways
- PODS (USDOT#1397252) is a flexible container moving company that operates in 44 states in the U.S. It’s an affordable option, but be prepared to pack, load, and unload the container yourself.
- PODs makes it easy to combine moving and storage into one solution with a variety of storage facilities across the U.S.
- PODS offers a variety of sizes for local moves, but you can only book the eight- or 16-foot container for long-distance moves.
- PODS makes it easy to adjust your pickup and drop-off times, but you might need to call a customer service representative to book a cross-country move
Jump to the PODS info you’re looking for:
- Featured PODS reviews: What PODS customers have to say
- PODS pricing: How much it costs to move
- PODS offers a wide variety of services
- How PODS stacks up against the competition
- How moving with PODS works
- Should you use PODS to move?
- FAQ
Featured PODS reviews: What customers have to say
“I got quotes from PODS, American Van Lines, and Safeway Van Lines, but chose PODS because they offered the best price and the best ease of access, with 2-3 days on either side to move things into the vehicle. I would use PODS again because the actual cost of the move was almost exactly (just a little under) what they quoted; the delivery drivers were very communicative, friendly, and skilled; and the services were always on time and our items barely shifted at all. The container has more space than you’d expect. PODS provided no guidance on applying for permits so be sure to research and secure any necessary permits well in advance as the application processes can take multiple days.” – Alex H.
“I chose to move with North American Van Lines and PODS (which I used to move my belongings from a woodshop). I feel like I got my money’s worth because my stuff arrived when they said it would & overall was in great shape. I wish there was a little more communication on arrival before the 8pm the night before the truck arrived. I thought this would be significantly more stressful to move over 2000 miles and the movers made it stress free with my belongings.” – Michele R.
“I got quotes from 5 different container companies and chose PODS because they offered the most convenience and a middle of the road price tag, plus more positive than negative online reviews. I had two good experiences and one awful experience with their customer service to book, but overall it was good enough that it didn’t change my mind. I would use PODS again because they got the job done anddelivered when and how I wanted.” – Kyle S
“This was my first time funding my own move and cost is the most important. I wanted a mover that did both packing and loading, and was not the most expensive option. POD was the least expensive moving option. Book the POD and movers and early as possible, especially when moving in the spring or summer since availability is limited. There are a lot of logisitics to manage when coordinating the moving date and time with your apartment buildng, movers, and POD. PODs was incredibly accomodating, responsive, and punctual. I would recommend them to any of my friends who are in the process of moving. HireAHelper was also an affordable way to find local movers.” – Bethany D.
PODS pricing: How much it costs to move
We love how easy PODS makes it to get an instant online quote. Just visit the site, plug in your details, and you’ll get one of the most accurate quotes in the moving biz. If you’re more of a phone person, you can also give them a call. Here’s what to expect for average PODS costs.
| Distance | 1 bedroom | 2-3 bedrooms | 4-5 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (>50 miles) | $225 – $435 | $345 – $650 | $330 – $830 |
| Long distance (up to 250 miles) | $760 – $1,970 | $930 – $2,150 | |
| Cross Country | $2,110 – $4,110 | $3,060 – $4,960 | $5,550 – $7,660 |
PODS pricing varies a lot, but you only pay one flat fee for the cost of the shipping container based on its size. You pay for it regardless of whether you fill it to the brim or not.
Your total PODS cost will come down to:
- Container size
- How many containers you use
- The distance between your old and new residences. Local moves are generally low-cost with PODS (rarely more than $1,000). For long-distance moves, your final cost will vary depending on how far you plan to move
- Whether you need additional storage after 30 days
- If you need additional services, like packing materials and moving equipment
- If you purchase additional content protection plan coverage
The great thing about the pay-by-container policy is you don’t have to pay extra for heavy items. This worked out well for moveBuddha reader Michele. She booked PODS because it was one of the lowest-price options at $4,000 for moving her husband’s wood shop filled with specialty equipment (which was heavy!).
While she did have to pack and unpack the POD herself, she reported that it showed up on time and the final cost was slightly less than originally quoted.
Of course, you could pay more if you need a second container, so measure wisely! PODS also includes one month of storage for free on all moves. But if you need storage beyond that, you’ll pay a fee each day they store your items.
PODS is an affordable and hassle-free alternative to hiring a full-service moving company. In fact, many moveBuddha Better Moves participants choose PODS as an alternative to expensive full-service movers.
Kyle loved how accurate his PODS quote ($3,252) was, especially considering his long-distance move. ZippyShell was actually a little cheaper than PODS, but he’s glad he went with PODS because all his belongings showed up on time and in pristine condition.
Alex went with PODS for his move from Minnesota to Washington, largely because their quote was the best ($2,836) and was also dead-on. He didn’t pay a dime over his original estimate, and it didn’t hurt that PODS also happened to be the cheapest option for his long-distance move.
moveBuddha readers overwhelmingly say PODS has some of the most accurate pricing in the industry. The average PODS quote for moveBuddha readers is around $4,000, although the exact pricing depends on the details of your move.
PODS offers a wide variety of services
PODS is a great option if you’re planning a move and know you’ll need storage. Whether you’re moving locally or to, say, Canada, PODS customers love their rates.
PODS offers these services:
- Long-distance moves: PODS can move you across the country or even from the U.S. to Canada.
- Storage solutions: You can store your items at one of several PODS facilities for up to 30 days — which is included in your initial quote — or longer for an extra fee.
- Insurance: PODS offers a variety of insurance options for homeowners. If you want more peace of mind, you can pay extra to insure items up to $10,000.
- Flat-rate pricing: You won’t pay extra for large, heavy, or specialty items. You pay the flat rate as long as everything fits in the POD.
- Multiple storage size options: PODS offers steel-framed, weather-resistant 16-, 12-, and eight-foot containers for most moves. Some moves only have the option of large and small containers, though, so request a quote online to see what your move qualifies for.
- Professional drivers: No need to rent a moving truck! A professional PODS driver will move your storage unit to its final destination.
Now, PODS is a moving container company, not a full-service mover — that’s why they’re so affordable. That means you’re on the hook for packing, loading, and unloading. If you don’t want to handle that yourself, you’ll need to book a separate moving company for labor.
That’s what moveBuddha reader Bethany did for her cross-country move from California to Virginia. Movers in California were super pricey, so she enlisted her friends to help her load the POD. She didn’t know as many people in Virginia, so she hired a professional moving crew to unload the POD at her new home.
How PODS stacks up against the competition
Look, PODS is hard to beat when it comes to their low pricing, national coverage, and reliable service, but how do they stack up against other container companies? Here’s a look at how PODS stacks up against two of our other best moving container companies.
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PODS vs. 1-800-PACK-RAT
1-800-PACK-RAT shares a lot of similarities with PODS. Both companies allow last-minute cancellations, onsite storage, and local and long-distance moves.
rating
4.45 / 5
89% of users select this mover
However, 1-800-PACK-RAT is only available in 29 states, while PODS is available in 44. You can’t get online quotes with 1-800-PACK-RAT, which is a big turnoff for some people. The upside is that you can haggle with them over the phone, so it could be worth your time to give them a call.
PODS offers insurance, but you have to pay extra for coverage. 1-800-PACK-RAT includes insurance with its pricing on all long-distance moves, although it isn’t available for local moves.
PODS vs. U-Pack
With U-Pack, you only pay for the space you use. You can book four of U-Pack’s ReloCubes, fill three, and send the fourth back without an additional charge. Nice, right?
rating
5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Unlike PODS, U-Pack doesn’t allow for onsite storage. They also only give you three business days to load and unload your stuff from the container, so it’s not a good option if you’re in a hurry. The minimum rental time for PODS is 30 days, so you’re free to pack and unpack at your leisure.
| Company | BBB score | State availability | Average cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| PODS | A+ | 44 states | $3,000 to $4,900 |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT | A+ | 29 states | $2,400 to $4,600 |
| U-Pack | A+ | 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico | $2,400 to $3,900 |
*Average cost is for a cross-country move of a two- to three-bedroom home
How moving with PODS works
Moving with PODS is a more of a DIY solution than traditional full-service moving companies, but moveBuddha readers are (almost) always happy when they choose PODS. Let’s take a look at how the moving process with PODS works.
Request a quote
For most moves, you’ll start your journey on PODS.com. Enter your move deets, ZIP codes, timeframe, and storage information. You do have to provide your email and PODS will send you a quote.
The downside is that cross-country moves might require a phone call. Interstate moves are tricky, so it’s best to chat with someone on the phone, anyway. moveBuddha reader Bethany spoke on the phone with a rep about her move from California and Virgina and was glad for it — she got a lot of information by chatting with a friendly customer service pro.
The quote process might seem like a hassle, but it’s super important. You pay a flat rate for PODS, so it’s very important to accurately estimate how much space you need. Otherwise, you risk needing to order a second container, which will drive up your moving costs.
Schedule delivery
You can book your POD unit online using a credit card. When you book the move with PODS, choose a container delivery location and a date. We recommend giving yourself a few days to pack your belongings in your POD before your moving date, so be generous with the timeline.
Kyle loved working with PODS, but he wishes he started packing sooner. Even with a 30-day rental, loading the container in time was hectic.
Pack at your leisure
PODS will drop the container off in your driveway or parking spot. You don’t need to be onsite for pickup or delivery, which is nice.
You have the POD for at least 30 days so that you can pack at your leisure. When you’re ready for PODS to pick your stuff up, call them or request a pickup online.
PODS will return to either transport the container to your new home or a storage facility, depending on your request.
PODS doesn’t provide any kind of tracking on its containers, so if you’re itching to track the location, place an AirTag with your belongings to track everything in real time. You can also chat with a customer service agent about your container’s location.
Move the POD to your new home
Most PODS arrive at their destination within 30 days, but oddball cases do happen. moveBuddha reader Hassan waited 40 days for his stuff to arrive during a Navy relocation. This isn’t typical for PODS, but even so, it’s good to pack like you won’t have access to your stuff for 30 days.
PODS doesn’t have an on-time delivery guarantee. Some PODS customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) mention late delivery as an issue, but most moveBuddha readers have a great experience with PODS.
Once your stuff arrives at your new home, you’ll unload everything and request a pickup from PODS.
Should you use PODS to move?
PODS is a solid option for any DIY move, especially for longer distances. But it isn’t for everybody, so weigh these factors to decide whether to use PODS.
Use PODS if:
- You’re making a long-distance or interstate move
- You don’t have exact move-in dates and need storage for a while
- You don’t mind doing the packing, loading, and unloading yourself
- You don’t want to drive a moving truck
- You want to take your time with packing and unpacking
- You have pretty heavy items and don’t want to pay a premium to move them
Hassan chose PODS because he didn’t want to drive a large moving truck for his cross-country move from Pennsylvania to Washington. He also wanted to take his time unloading items in his new home. While he didn’t like that PODS delivered his container late, he found they were the most affordable for his move and he enjoyed the flexibility PODS provided.
Don’t use PODS if:
- You need to move quickly
- Your local city has strict regulations about moving containers or parking
- You live in the six states PODS doesn’t service
- You want a moving service to help with packing, loading, and unloading
FAQ
Is PODS available in all U.S. states?
PODS is available in 44 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. They aren’t available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
How much is the cheapest PODS container?
The smallest PODS unit starts at approximately $150 per month, with a $75 pickup and drop-off charge. The cost will vary based on your location and distance to the nearest PODS facility.
Is PODS cheaper than 1-800-PACK-RAT?
The cost of PODS versus 1-800-PACK-RAT varies based on your location and the distance of your move. moveBuddha readers report that the costs vary, but PODS is typically the cheaper option for longer-term storage.
Are PODS waterproof?
All PODS containers are waterproof and weather-resistant. They protect your belongings from rain, snow, and inclement weather. But that won’t protect your stuff from jostling in transit, so it’s still important to pack a POD carefully to prevent damage.
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