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5 min readPODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT are two of the best moving container companies in the industry. Honestly, the two container companies came very close in our comparison (like one point). While 1-800-PACK-RAT scores big in container quality and price-matching its competitors, PODS has low prices, more locations, and better customer reviews.
Winner: PODS. Between its low prices (and generous discounts), availability, and exceptional customer service, PODS squeaks out on top.
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PODS has lower initial prices than 1-800-PACK-RAT, but 1-800-PACK-RAT often has lower final prices (because of discounts and aggressive price matching). PODS typically has lower prices for small homes and short distances, while 1-800-PACK-RAT is usually more affordable for big houses and long distances.
Pricing | PODS | 1-800-PACK-RAT |
| Average cost |  $3,810 | $3,850 |
|---|---|---|
| Discounts |  Yes | Yes |
| Price matching | Sometimes | Yes |
| Taxes included in quotes |  No
| Sometimes |
Data as of March 2022. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing moving costs for four home sizes across three distances.
We collected quotes from PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT to see how their prices match up. To identify each company’s strengths, we requested quotes for six distances and four home sizes.
Both companies offer discounts, and price matching (1-800-PACK-RAT is more aggressive). Taxes aren’t part of your quotes, but 1-800-PACK-RAT sometimes gives you a tax estimate upon request. PODS's 30% discount is a game-changer. Its average price is $3,810, but after applying the discount, the final price is about $400 cheaper.
Data as of March 2022. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing moving costs for four home sizes across six distances.
PODS has lower rates for most home sizes, while 1-800-PACK-RAT has better prices for the largest home size of the quotes we gathered. PODS’s average cost of $2,559 for one room is about $200 lower than 1-800-PACK-RAT’s fee of $2,760. 1-800-PACK-RAT’s average cost of $5,879 for five rooms is about $266 lower than PODS’s average cost of $6,145.
Data as of March 2022. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing moving costs for four home sizes across six distances.
PODS has cheaper rates for most distances. 1-800-PACK-RAT is slightly less expensive for moves between 1,050–1,7550 miles. PODS’s average cost of $1,367 for a 100-mile move is approximately $577 cheaper than 1-800-PACK-RAT. 1-800-PACK-RAT’s average cost of $4,559 for moves around 1,750 miles is about $438 less expensive than PODS.
PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT have discounts and price matching that affect your final costs. 1-800-PACK-RAT beats out PODS in price-matching.
While PODS sometimes offers price matching, it can depend on the customer service rep you talk to. On the other hand, 1-800-PACK-RAT offered PODS price matching virtually every time we spoke to them when we posed as customers.
While 1-800-PACK-RAT has ton of discounts for everyone from teachers to first responders, PODS offers large discounts primarily for Move.org readers, military, and long-term storage. More recently, we've noticed PODS's uptick in seasonal promotions. For example, it had a 30% Black Friday discount on end of year moves. This adds up to almost $1,000 in savings on an average PODS move.
1-800-PACK-RAT's price-matching is no match, but in the end, PODS has lower prices for most home sizes and distances and competes with its regular and seasonal discounts for customers.
Winner: PODS
It will be easy for you to find a PODS location. PODS has about three times as many sites as 1-800-PACK-RAT. While 1-800-PACK-RAT has 61 facilities in 31 states, PODS has 184 locations in 46 states.
Data as of March 2022.
Winner: PODS
PODS customers generally leave better reviews than 1-800-PACK-RAT customers. 1-800-PACK-RAT has an average of 2.4 out of 5 stars, while PODS has 3.1 out of 5 stars. Customers routinely give PODS much higher reviews than 1-800-PACK-RAT’s customers. They especially love PODS' customer service.
While both companies typically get praise for their professionalism, we recently found in our 1-800-PACK-RAT review that the company's customer service rating fell twice as far as the average container company over the last few years.
Winner: PODS
PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT have the two best containers on the market—but 1-800-PACK-RAT takes our top spot. Though both companies have three container sizes, the PODS container is made with steel frames while 1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers are entirely made of steel. That extra layer ensures even more protection for your stuff. (More security equals more peace of mind.)
Data as of March 2022.
It's also worth noting that while PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT have similar sized containers that fit the same number of rooms, 1-800-PACK-RAT's containers hold heavier loads.
Data as of November 2022.
Winner: 1-800-PACK-RAT
PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT offer comparable services. Both companies have three container sizes, provide portable storage, and service local and long-distance moves. PODS has more locations (184 vs. 61), but 1-800-PACK-RAT has better containers (all steel vs. steel frames).
Container info | PODS | 1-800-PACK-RAT |
| # of locations | 184
| 61
|
|---|---|---|
| # of container sizes | 3
| 3
|
| Container material | Steel frames
| All steel
|
| Local and long-distance moves | Yes | Yes
|
| Portable storage | Yes
| Yes
|
Data as of March 2022.
Winner: Tie
Moving containers double as storage units (hence the term portable storage). Your storage options include keeping the shipping containers at your home or a moving container company’s storage facility.
PODS has more coverage options than 1-800-PACK-RAT. While each moving container company has identical prices for similar coverage amounts, PODS offers up to $300,000, and 1-800-PACK-RAT caps out at $75,000.
PODS data as of March 2022.1 Pricing for US Contents Protection only and subject to change. 1-800-PACK-RAT data as of March 2022.2 Pricing may vary by location and are subject to change. Individuals should review their rental contract—including addendums—for a complete description of the policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Winner: PODS
PODS wins because of its pricing, customer reviews, and availability. 1-800-PACK-RAT consistently offers customers price-matching and has unbeatable container quality. It is a very close match, but in the end PODS is our top-rated company.
Want low prices and service customers love?
PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT have a lot to offer—but they aren’t the only container companies out there. Learn more about the competition:
Yes, moving container companies offer portable storage. Besides providing local moves and long-distance moves, portable moving container companies let you use the containers as portable storage units.
Yes, there are moving services that offer hourly moving help. The best moving labor companies are HireAHelper, Dolly, and TaskRabbit.
Yes, a moving truck is generally cheaper than a portable storage container. However, a storage container becomes more affordable than a truck over longer distances because you don’t have to pay for fuel, food, and lodging.
Yes, PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT have more than one container size. Each company has three sizes. The smallest container sizes often fit one room of belongings while the largest container sizes can fit up to four rooms.
PODS has a lower initial moving cost than 1-800-PACK-RAT ($3,810 vs. $3,850 for an average move) and offers a 10% discount for Move.org readers. 1-800-PACK-RAT also offers discounts, and it price matches, which can result in lower final prices.
1. 1-800-PACK-RAT, “Contents Protection Plans,” September 2022. Accessed March 2022.
2. PODS. “Contents Protection Option.” Accessed March 2022.
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