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The Best Alternatives to U-Haul (Updated for 2026)
We reviewed 75+ movers to compare prices, service, and reviews. Find out why moving containers beat traditional U-Haul rentals for most DIY moves. 1-800-PACK-RAT is our top pick for the best DIY moving company in 2026.
*Limited time offer. See full disclaimers.
What’s the best moving alternative to a U-Haul truck?
When planning a DIY move, U-Haul is often the first — and sometimes only — option people consider. But renting and driving a moving truck isn’t the only way to move yourself.
Moving containers, like those from 1-800-PACK-RAT, are a simpler, more flexible alternative that can save time and money, reduce stress, and eliminate the need to drive a large truck, which is why they’re often a better fit for most moves. Make sure to check availability in your area.
If you don’t want to drive a moving truck, moving containers are the simpler choice. They’re dropped off at your place, picked up when you’re ready, and can store your stuff in between.
We compared the best container companies to U-Haul options. For most real-life moves, containers are more flexible, save time, and are often more cost-effective, especially if storage is involved.
Compare the best moving companies to U-haul
While U-Haul has more locations, 1-800-PACK-RAT has much better container quality, customer satisfaction scores, and is typically cheaper than U-Box (U-Haul's moving containers) when you apply the move.org discount.
Company | Type of mover | Median quote | # of states | Details |
 Hybrid* | $2,887 | 37 | Get My Quote | |
| Hybrid* | $2,743 | 37 | Get My Quote | |
 Container | $4,349 | 34 | Get My Quote | |
 U-box | Container | $3,700 | 50 |
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Pricing data collected by requesting estimates from top moving container companies for four home sizes across six distances. See full disclaimers for more details.
*A hybrid moving container company offers optional loading and unloading services for an extra fee.
Is it cheaper to use a moving container or rent a U-Haul truck?
A moving truck is typically cheaper than a moving container, but it depends on how many items you’re moving, gas prices, and how many miles you travel. If you only have a few large items, you can get a smaller container for just those items and then move everything else on your own or with a rental truck to try and save some money.
What should you look for in a moving storage company like PODS?
Here are the most important things to look for when picking a moving container company:
Reviews of the best moving container companies
1. 1-800-PACK-RAT—Move.org pick, Strongest containers
1-800-PACK-RAT barely missed out on our top spot. It boasts the most robust moving containers in the industry and lets you choose from multiple sizes. Plus, 1-800-PACK-RAT price matches with PODS. You even get free 24/7 surveillance if you use a 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility. On the downside, it’s available in only 37 states and tends to score below average with customers.
Pros
Steel containers
Price matching
No-hassle orders
24/7 storage surveillance 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Limited availability (37 states) Looking for the best container quality?
2. Zippy Shell—Best prices
Zippy Shell has the lowest moving container prices in the nation. It also has a sizable 15-foot steel container and lets you choose between at-home and facility storage options. Zippy Shell is available in 37 states and is continuously expanding. Even with its limited container sizes, its low prices and high-quality container are significant enough to warrant a fourth-place rank on our list of the best moving container companies. Zippy Shell is tough to beat if you can find a nearby location.
Pros
Low prices
Strong containers
Temperature-controlled storage
Flexible moving and storage options
Easy-to-add professional labor
Great for city moves Cons
Only two container sizes
Limited availability (37 states) Looking for low prices?
3. UNITS: Best reviews
UNITS has several great qualities as a container moving company, including fair prices, quality containers, customizable storage, and 24/7 customer service. It's clear that UNITS is an obvious customer favorite: the company has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot from over 270 reviews. Although the company currently offers service in 34 states, it is diligently working to expand its service area to the entire nation. Additionally, UNITS uses its proprietary “ROBO-UNIT Delivery System” to place your container in even the tightest spaces while always ensuring that it is placed on a level surface.
Pros
2 container sizes
Climate-controlled storage facilities
Excellent customer reviews
Locally owned and operated (personalized service)
$10,000 base insurance included for long-distance moves only
30-day free storage
Unique ability to deliver containers in tight spaces Cons
Only available in 34 states
Higher-than-average pricing Looking for the best customer service?
4. U-Haul U-Box
U-Haul is a well-known moving company because it's widely available nationwide and generally offers affordable rates. But there are drawbacks. The customer experience is inconsistent and often unsatisfactory, and your price tag can come out higher than expected if you need additional services, like storage. Plus, U-Haul’s single small container size could be limiting if you have oversized furniture. Also, its containers are made of plywood rather than steel, meaning your belongings aren't as well protected as those in the other container movers we recommend.
Pros
Nationwide availability
Affordable prices
Trucks, container and self-storage options Cons
Poor customer service reviews
Extra costs for storage
Only one size, small container
Requires up-front deposit, no finance options Best U-Haul alternatives:
Strongest containers
Lowest prices
How we chose the best moving companies
Move.org follows a six-step process to identify the nation’s best moving container companies:
- Compare quotes. We obtained and analyzed nearly 300 quotes from 7 of the nation’s largest moving container companies over 3 years.
- Mystery shopping. We do a top-to-bottom analysis of each company’s website and even call posing as customers. It helps us get a feel for what real-life customers experience.
- Analyze reviews. We read dozens of reviews for each company to see what most impresses (and turns off) customers. We also conducted a meta-analysis of more than 16,000 reviews to calculate an industry customer review average.
- Pay real-life customers for honest feedback. Move.org routinely gives away $500 moving grants in exchange for candid feedback about using moving container companies.
- Site visits. We invite industry experts and company executives to visit our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT. We grill them on everything from pricing and customer reviews to insurance coverage and the latest industry trends.
- Annual review. Every year, we repeat the process to ensure that our list of the best moving container companies stays current. That means our top recommendations and industry prices may change each year.
Moving FAQ
We compared dozens of quotes from U-Haul and moving container companies to figure out which is cheaper. U-Haul might be the cheaper option in most cases, but spending a little extra money on a container might make the moving experience easier in the long run.
DIY moving with a rental truck comes with a lot of extra work and personal safety risks that you may be able to avoid by using a moving container company. Sometimes the timeline flexibility and storage ability moving containers provide is more important than overall cost. That’s why we’d definitely recommend a moving container if you can afford it.
Portable storage is a moving industry term that refers to moving containers (or moving cubes). Rather than storing belongings in a storage unit, a portable storage company (aka moving container company) brings a storage container to your home.
Moving containers cost approximately $3,870 for the average move. Prices vary depending on home size and distance. For example, it could cost as low as $850 to move a studio apartment within the same city, and from $6,000 to $10,000 or more to move a multi-bedroom home across the country.
We recommend booking your moving container at least 2–4 weeks in advance, and earlier if you’re moving during the busy season (summer, weekends, or the end of the month).
Here’s a quick rule of thumb:
- Local or short-distance moves:
- Book 2–3 weeks ahead if possible.
- Long-distance moves:
- Aim for at least 3–6 weeks ahead, especially if you have a firm move-out or move-in date.
- Peak season (summer and holiday weekends):
- The earlier the better. 6–8 weeks ahead gives you the best shot at your ideal dates and container size.
Most moving container companies can sometimes accommodate last-minute moves, but you’ll have fewer date and size options—and prices may be higher when availability is tight. Booking early gives you more flexibility if your plans change and more time to compare quotes from multiple companies.
Yes — many people use moving containers specifically for short-term and long-term storage.
Most container companies let you:
- Keep the container at your home as long as you want (for a monthly fee), or
- Store it at the company’s facility, where it’s kept in a secure, often climate- or temperature-controlled warehouse.
Using a moving container for storage can be especially helpful if:
- You’re in between homes and don’t want to unload everything into a traditional storage unit
- You’re remodeling and need your furniture out of the way for a few months
- You’re moving on a flexible timeline and don’t know your exact move-in date yet
Just be sure to check:
- Monthly storage rates (at home vs. at the facility)
- Whether the storage facility is climate- or temperature-controlled
- How easy it is to access your container while it’s in storage (hours, appointment rules, etc.)
If you need storage for several months or longer, it’s worth asking about long-term discounts — some companies lower your monthly rate once you hit a certain number of months.
Disclaimers
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.Â
*1-800-PACK-RAT and Zippy Shell: limited-time offers. Use promo code SAVE50. Must be mentioned at the time the order is placed and can only be used on new orders. Not available in all locations. The customer will receive a percentage off their container rental for the first month. The offer is valid for most moving and storage services and can be applied to orders booked online. Local restrictions may apply. Offers are void where prohibited and cannot be combined. 1-800-Pack-Rat and Zippy Shell are not currently available in these states: AK, DE, HI, ME, MS, MT, ND, RI, SD, VT, WV, WY, but ARE available in D.C.
*UNITS: limited-time offer. Use promo code MOVEORG. For local moves, offers include $30 off the first month’s storage, except when better discounts are locally available. For moves between two different UNITS Moving and Portable Storage locations, the offer does not apply. Available for a limited time only at participating locations. Offer void where prohibited by law. Please call or visit our website for service locations. Must mention promotional code at the time of order. It cannot be combined with any other offer. Any change to the products, dates, locations, or services by you after the order has been placed may result in a change in pricing and resulting charges as determined by UNITS Moving and Portable Storage in its sole discretion. UNITS is not currently available in: AK, AR, HI, IN, ME, MS, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, VT, WV, WY, and D.C.
*PODS: limited-time offer. Must visit PODS from Move.org for discount. Use promo code MOVEORG. *PODS: limited-time offer. Must visit PODS from Move.org for discount. Offer available for new orders only. Customer receives 30% off local delivery and redelivery/final pick-up fees and the first month’s rental. Must mention promotional code at the time of order. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Available for a limited time at participating locations only. Prices may vary based on market conditions. Promotional pricing applies to the price available at the time of purchase. Offer void where prohibited by law. Please call or visit the PODS website for service locations. PODS is not currently available in these states: AK, MT, ND, WY, but IS available in D.C. and HI.
