Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Saturday, March 15th
Pods has been helping customers move and store their belongings for over 25 years, and it's one of the most often-used companies. Ever seen a neighbor with a storage unit sitting in their driveway? Odds are you saw one offered by Pods. Whether you're planning to move locally or move long-distance, Pods can help you. They start by dropping off a container at your home, and you can pack at your own pace. From there, you can choose to store the pod in your driveway or at a facility if you're going to take a while to move. Then, when you're ready, Pods will deliver the storage unit to your new home. The pods are all steel-framed, weatherproofed, locked with a key only you have, and include roll-up doors. The containers come in three sizes: 8 ft, 12 ft, and 16 ft.
Move local or long-distance
According to our research, Pods offers moving services for local, long-distance, military, and corporate moves. If you need it, Pods offers packing and storage solutions (either at your house or at a temperature-controlled facility). However, packing is a service that Pods subcontracts out to third-party companies. So, if you want everything to stay in-house, you may want to do your packing yourself.
Easy quotes online for local moves
You can put together a quote online by filling out the Pods questionnaire. This includes questions about your starting location and your future address (you can just use a zip code if you haven't chosen your new home yet). Pods will suggest a container size (and number) depending on the size of your house and how furnished it is. You'll need to put in an email to finish the quote process. Notably, the online quotes only work for local moves. If you want to do a long-distance move, you'll need to call to get a quote. The calling process is a little tedious, as you have to answer a bunch of "press one for... ” questions before you connect to a rep. However, once we were connected, the representative was helpful and polite throughout the call.
Local pricing from $466 to $506 and long-distance from $3,163.35 to $5,386.21
For our research, we created a test customer looking to do a long-distance and a local move. The pricing for a local move included a single Pods container sized 8 ft for $466. This includes the fee for drop-off and delivery ($307) and $149 per month for the container itself. For a 16 ft pod, the total price is $506 with a $189 pod monthly fee and a $307 drop-off and delivery fee. At the time of our review, we could not get a 12 ft pod delivered to our area for the next 7 months. For a long-distance move, we called in for a quote. They offered staggered pod delivery, so if you order too many pods, you can cancel the later pods so you don't pay for a container you don't need. For a shipment from Florida to Illinois, we were quoted $442.35 for a 16 ft container and $302.40 for an 8 ft container. We were not recommended the use of a 12 ft container. According to the representative, transport from Florida to Illinois was a separate cost of $4,387.06 (if we used two containers: one 16 ft and one 8 ft) or $2,593.80 for just a 16 ft container. Redelivery (to put the container down at your new location) was $254.40 for two containers or $127.20 for just a 16 ft container.
Add-on protection
There are two protection options at Pods: container-only protection, which covers only damage to the container itself for $10 per month, or container and contents protection, which costs $35 per month (for the amount of time you keep the pod). The second option covers damage to the containers plus all of your items.
High praise for going above and beyond
Our research indicates that Pods currently holds an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and it holds a solid reputation from reviewers as well. According to Trustpilot, which shows more than 7,000 individual reviews, Pods has a 4.2-star average rating out of 5. Recent feedback highlights the top-notch experience customers had with Pods as well as the fair price. The Pods containers are noted for being clean, easy to load, and truly weather-safe. There are also plenty of reviews praising Pods' professionalism. One reviewer said that Pods went the "extra mile” to put the container exactly where she needed it, and another customer was thrilled with the tips and tricks offered by Pods to make the move as smooth as possible. She noted that Pods went "beyond the scope” of their required assistance and made the process a breeze.
Top choice that doesn't break the bank
Pods stands out as one of the easiest moving companies to use on this list. With the container delivered right to your home, you can get everything packed on your schedule. The fees are listed online, and they are much lower than many other moving services in our review. Pods is also a company that has high praise from former customers, making it a fan-favorite across the board. With a solid reputation and lower-than-average costs, Pods earns a 5-star rating in our review.
Moving is a huge effort. Whether you're relocating to a new home, heading off to college, or need help transporting bulky furniture to your new apartment, finding the right movers can make all the difference. Moving is stressful - managing timelines, paperwork, and all the extra costs involved. If you can simplify one aspect of the process with the help of moving professionals, it can save you time, energy, and hassle.
On average, people in the U.S. move about 11.7 times in their lifetime, according to the United States Census Bureau. People between 18 and 45 are usually the most likely to move, and renters typically move more frequently than homeowners. Whether you're moving for a new job, a change in your finances, getting married, or grabbing a space to help your family grow, moving is a massive undertaking.
Depending on how many things you have to transport, you may not be able to fit your home in a few car trips. Plus, if you're renting alone, moving big items like your mattress, bed frame, appliances, or heavy wood furniture might be impossible without some help.
The price of hiring a moving company depends on several factors, including distance, home size, and what services you want to add on. For short-distance moves (under 100 miles), costs generally range from $800 to $2,500. Long-distance relocations (over 100 miles) can run anywhere from $2,200 to $5,700. Prices also fluctuate based on the time of year, location, and the specific services you choose, so make sure you score the best value for your money.
Moving companies are also not made the same. Some moving companies are brokerages that outsource your requests to other movers that aren't managed by the brokerage you contacted. Other moving companies are carriers who provide their fleet of trucks and employees to complete your move. Carriers often include extra security measures like background checks for employees, to ensure you get the best service each time.
You may also want to keep an eye on what different moving companies specialize in. Depending on their area of specialization and insurance options, moving companies may not offer services for unique items like pianos (in fact, some moving services may refuse to move instruments outright due to liability) or cars. So, if you have something special or an item that may need additional care when moving, make sure that your chosen moving service includes those items.
So, how do you pick the right moving company? With so many options available, it's not always easy to know where to begin. But don't worry - we've got you covered. Here are some key factors to consider when making your decision:
To help you find the best moving company to make your relocation a breeze, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the most popular moving companies out there today. Now, you can focus on making your new house your home and let the professionals handle the heavy lifting!
Select any 2 Moving Companies to compare them head to head