SpareFoot Review: Costs, Services, and Alternatives

Here’s the bottom line: SpareFoot is a solid third-party marketplace for finding affordable storage solutions in your area. While they don’t manage facilities themselves, they still provide a user-friendly experience that seriously simplifies the search for self-storage.

SpareFoot isn’t the best option if you want to work with a storage facility directly. They also have some issues with pricing and inventory accuracy, according to customer reviews. But even then, they do their best to help storage customers if there’s ever an issue. When in doubt, call the self-storage company to verify their information on SpareFoot before booking — just to be safe.

SpareFoot is great if you’re trying to find the best self-storage deals in your area. The site doesn’t require a login, either, so it’s perfect if you’re just researching pricing or storage options. SpareFoot also has relationships with some of the best moving container companies, Penske Truck Rental, and packing material providers if you need a one-stop shop for moving help.

Not sure if SpareFoot is right for you? Let’s check out the good and the bad of working with this self-storage marketplace.

Pros & cons of SpareFoot

Key takeaways

• SpareFoot Storage is a third-party marketplace site that makes it easy to gather pricing information on local self-storage units quickly.
• Founded in 2008, Sparefoot is based in Austin and has helped more than one million customers nationwide find reliable storage solutions.
• SpareFoot is available in all 50 states and offers car, RV, and boat storage. They partner with Penske for truck rentals and several moving container companies for mobile storage.

Jump to the SpareFoot info you’re looking for:

• SpareFoot pricing: How much it costs for self-storage
• SpareFoot offers a wide variety of services
• How SpareFoot stacks up against the competition
• How self-storage with SpareFoot works
• Should you use SpareFoot?
• FAQ

SpareFoot pricing: How much it costs for self-storage

Most of the best self-storage companies charge anywhere from $149 to $210 per month. SpareFoot’s pricing ranges because it’s a national company, but even then, its average rates are below the national average.

SpareFoot cost factors

It’s hard to nail down a specific price for storage because SpareFoot pricing comes down to so many factors. If you’re trying to make heads or tails of a self-storage quote, these factors will play into your monthly fee:

• Location: The self-storage industry differs across the country, so your friend in California might have scored a sweet deal with SpareFoot while you pay more for storage in Austin. SpareFoot is an online marketplace, so they don’t own or run the storage units. Pricing depends on the people who actually own and operate your unit.
• Unit size: Smaller units are generally cheaper than larger units. A small unit starts at 25 square feet, while a large unit can be as much as 300 square feet. That’s a big range! The more space you need, the more you can expect to pay.
• Unit type: Self-storage is just one of many options on the SpareFoot marketplace. You can book RV storage, boat storage, and car storage, as well. There are also options for outdoor uncovered, outdoor covered, and indoor storage. Each unit type has different pricing, but you’ll usually pay more for indoor car, boat, and RV storage.
• Add-ons: Extra perks are nice, but they aren’t free. Your SpareFoot pricing will likely increase if you want a climate-controlled unit (a must-have if you live in a hot place like Texas). Electricity, 24-hour access, and added security measures like video surveillance, gates, or keypad entry will also cost more.

SpareFoot offers a wide variety of services

While SpareFoot doesn’t own or operate storage facilities, it does a great job connecting renters with open storage spaces in their area. They offer an impressive number of services for folks who need storage space.

Self-storage

Need to clear out your home or apartment? Whether you’re moving, renovating, or just need to declutter, SpareFoot’s primary offering is connecting you with local self-storage options.

For starters, figure out what storage unit size you need. Some people need a 5 x 5-foot space to store old bikes or a loveseat, while others might need a large 10 x 30-foot space to store their home’s contents.

Once you know what you’re looking for, enter your city or ZIP code, and SpareFoot will display a list of available units near you. You can also filter by unit size, amenities, customer reviews, distance, and price.

College storage

Sure, you could haul your college stuff back home for the summer, but storing it in your college town is way easier. SpareFoot connects college students with local 5 x 5- and 5 x 10-foot units to save you the hassle of frequent moves.

Car, boat, and RV storage

What happens when you outgrow your driveway? If you have an extra car, boat, or RV, SpareFoot connects you with specialized facilities for securely storing larger assets.

Most facilities offer outdoor and indoor storage. If you need to preserve your vehicle, indoor climate control is more expensive, but it’s secure. If you’re on a budget, go for outdoor uncovered storage.

Portable storage

SpareFoot partners with PODS, Zippy Shell, and U-Pack to connect you with portable storage options. Regardless of the company you pick, the service will drop off a moving container, give you time to pack everything, and return to ship the container for you.

Keep in mind that SpareFoot doesn’t manage these moves because it’s a third-party partner. You’ll work with the moving container company, not SpareFoot. Even so, booking a moving container through SpareFoot might be worthwhile thanks to their exclusive partnership discounts.

Moving trucks

SpareFoot also partners up with Penske to facilitate truck rentals. Again, you’ll work directly with Penske here, but booking from the SpareFoot site could score you better pricing.

Moving supplies

Need moving supplies? SpareFoot has a partnership with uBoxes for Smart Move Kits. Get moving boxes, wardrobe boxes, kitchen boxes, moving blankets, and more. You order everything online and it arrives within three business days.

How SpareFoot stacks up against the competition

SpareFoot is a popular option because of its extensive network of storage facilities, but it’s far from the only self-storage platform on the block. Let’s see how SpareFoot compares to two similar third-party providers — SelfStorage.com and Storage.com. You can also check out our picks for best self-storage companies for more options.

SpareFoot vs. SelfStorage.com

SelfStorage.com lets you search for differently-sized units and even vehicle storage. However, the search options are more finicky than SpareFoot’s, so it can be tricky to find a unit with the amenities you need.

We like that SelfStorage.com displays results in a Google maps-like results page, which is perfect for visualizing how far away the units are. Like SpareFoot, they also display customer reviews for each location, although SpareFoot does a better job of telling you how many reviews there are, so it seems more reputable.

All in all, both SpareFoot and SelfStorage.com will help you find local storage options, but SelfStorage.com is a little more finicky to use. SelfStorage.com has a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot (64,000 reviews), and SpareFoot has a 4.3 rating (44,000 reviews), so they’re on par in terms of customer satisfaction.

SpareFoot vs. Storage.com

Storage.com has a very simple search tool that we love. They don’t offer partnerships with moving containers, truck rentals, or packing materials like SpareFoot does, but Storage.com is still a decent option for finding a self-storage unit.

You do need to jump through more hoops to get information from Storage.com. You have to click through to a facility’s full profile to see their units and pricing breakdowns. However, we like that Storage.com lists the requirements for rentals, which is something first-time renters might not know to look for.

In terms of customer reviews, Storage.com has a 3.5 Trustpilot rating (140 reviews), while SpareFoot has a 4.3 rating (44,000 reviews). Based on customer reviews, SpareFoot may the more reputable option here.

How self-storage with SpareFoot works

We like how simple SpareFoot makes the self-storage process. There’s no need to visit a unit in person before booking (unless you want to, of course). The bulk of the process happens online, which is a real time-saver.

Here’s how SpareFoot works:

• Search for units. Visit the SpareFoot site and enter your city or ZIP code. They will display a range of local storage options with details on size, pricing, and distance.
• Compare options. SpareFoot gives pretty comprehensive information about each storage facility. Compare their pricing, amenities, hours, and customer reviews side-by-side to find the best option.
• Reserve a unit. Once you’ve found the perfect unit, reserve it directly through the SpareFoot website by submitting your contact information. The reservation process doesn’t require a credit card, and there’s no obligation to rent.
• Confirm the order. After you reserve a unit, you’ll get a confirmation email. The email will also outline the move-in process and give you details about documentation and unit access.
• Move in. On move-in day, you go to the storage facility, complete the paperwork, and load the unit. You’ll place a card on file at this point.
• Manage your unit. You have access to the unit based on the facility’s hours. You can manage your payments and account either through the facility directly or through SpareFoot. If you’re ever done with your storage rental, follow the instructions in your account for move-out instructions.

Should you use SpareFoot for self-storage?

SpareFoot has its pros and cons. If you’re torn on whether you should use SpareFoot or not, it comes down to your preferences and storage needs.

Use SpareFoot if:

• You want to research average pricing for storage units in your area. SpareFoot’s information might not always be up-to-date, but it’s freely available without creating an account.
• You want to book a storage unit online quickly
• You want to compare multiple unit types and sizes
• You plan on storing your car and belongings and need help finding a moving truck, moving container, or packing materials

Don’t use SpareFoot if:

• You live in a rural area without a lot of storage options
• You need really specialized storage services
• You want to work with storage facilities that SpareFoot doesn’t have agreements with
• You want to work with the storage facility directly instead of a middleman

FAQ

Is SpareFoot legitimate?

Yes, SpareFoot is a legitimate company. SpareFoot has an average 3.8 out of five stars on Google. Some verified reviews say there are discrepancies between SpareFoot pricing and your facility’s real pricing. Others say available units on SpareFoot aren’t actually available.

Despite these hiccups, the company responds to SpareFoot customer issues promptly, so if you ever have an issue, they’re here to help.

Why should I rent a self-storage unit?

You might want a self-storage unit if you:

• Need to declutter: Store items that you don’t need on a daily basis but that you aren’t ready to get rid of. This is a great way to declutter your home while creating more livable space.
• Plan on moving: A storage unit provides a temporary space for holding your stuff until you’re settled. It’s also a smart option if there’s a gap between moving out of one place and into another.
• Need to store a car, boat, or RV: These vehicles take up a lot of space in your driveway. If you don’t use them often, store them at a self-storage facility to keep them secure while freeing up your driveway.

How does SpareFoot work?

SpareFoot is like Airbnb but for self-storage. Browse their marketplace to find self-storage options in your local area. After comparing options, you book a unit through SpareFoot, confirm the order, and move in on the designated date.

You’ll visit the storage facility on move-in day to sign paperwork and place a card on file. From there, it’s as easy as managing your account and unit via www.SpareFoot.com.