PODS vs. SMARTBOX: Compare Moving Containers

Winner: PODS

Looking for low prices and high-quality containers?

In general, SMARTBOX has lower prices than PODS. We gathered nearly 50 quotes from both companies to see how they compared across several home sizes and distances. We calculated an average cost and found that SMARTBOX is roughly $323 less than PODS.

PODS has higher prices than SMARTBOX and also has confusing bills. You pay for your low rates with an invoice with tons of fees due at different times. And you have to guess how much taxes cost since PODS doesn’t include tax estimates.

This is one area where SMARTBOX outshines PODS. There’s no hair-pulling while trying to make heads or tails of several different bills. You get a single invoice, pay it all at once, and even know how much tax costs. That’s the kind of simplicity we can get behind.

PODS and SMARTBOX both have low prices for certain distances, but there’s no rhyme or reason as to why. PODS typically has lower rates for short moves, while it goes back and forth with SMARTBOX for longer distances. It’s always good to get quotes from both companies to see what works best in your situation.

SMARTBOX is generally more affordable than PODS, aside from local moves (under 100 miles). In our research, PODS had lower costs for moves involving two and three rooms. It was also the only company to give us quotes for large homes (five rooms). To put PODS’s estimates for large home sizes in context, its cost of $5,530 (discount added) for a five-bedroom home is about $520 lower than the industry average.

PODS and SMARTBOX both have moving container discounts, but you can save a lot more money with PODS. While SMARTBOX trims $20 off its delivery costs for college students, faculty, and staff, PODS offers a 10% discount for Move.org readers that saves the average customer more than $300.

A price comparison between PODS and SMARTBOX comes down to one thing: which company is the most affordable? The math shows that SMARTBOX wins.

Winner: SMARTBOX

PODS is one of the most widely available storage container companies in the country. With locations in nearly every state, it has three times as many facilities as SMARTBOX. PODS is such a recognizable name in the business that you’ll often hear moving containers referred to as “moving pods.”

It’s tough to move if you can’t find a moving company near you. That’s what makes PODS an easy call.

Winner: PODS

PODS and SMARTBOX are as different as night and day when it comes to customer experience. PODS routinely pulls out the best customer reviews in the business, while SMARTBOX has some of the lowest ratings we’ve come across. PODS gets an average customer review score of 3.1 while SMARTBOX comes in nearly a full star lower than PODS at 1.9 out of 5 stars.

The differences boil down to a couple of issues:

1. Availability. It’s easy to get a hold of PODS to place an order or ask a question—not so much with SMARTBOX. The lack of available customer service reps is one of the most common complaints in SMARTBOX reviews.
2. Quality. PODS scores big with customers for delivering a quality service. Positive SMARTBOX reviews often mention a generally smooth process during the actual move. PODS gets much more specific praise. Customers repeatedly call out the company’s on-time delivery and professional drivers.

This would be tough to call if both companies had similar customer reviews, but that’s not what we’re dealing with. According to the customers, this comes down to one of the best-reviewed companies (PODS) versus one of the lowest-rated options (SMARTBOX).

Winner: PODS

PODS containers have better quality materials than SMARTBOX. The quality of construction matters because it can affect how much weight your containers can hold and how well they can weather the storm—literally. PODS makes its containers with a steel frame, and its walls use weather- and impact-resistant paneling. SMARTBOX performs better than low-quality options (like U-Haul’s U-Box), but its wood boxes and canvas paneling still leave something to be desired.

If Robin Hood used your moving containers for target practice, his arrow would bounce off the PODS container—but pierce the canvas of the SMARTBOX container and get stuck in its wood. While the scenario is a bit unlikely, we still prefer the idea of an indestructible container.

Winner: PODS

PODS has three container sizes, but SMARTBOX has only one. While you can order up to five SMARTBOX containers without running into any problems (you have to get special permission for larger orders), PODS gives you flexibility right off the bat. Thanks to its three sizes, you can choose the best option for your particular move. It’s also less cluttered. You need five SMARTBOX containers to move a three-room home; PODS gets the job done with one.

You don’t always want to supersize your fast food order, but it’s nice to at least have the choice. Same thing with moving containers: PODS gives you options—SMARTBOX doesn’t.

Winner: PODS

PODS has a slight edge over SMARTBOX when it comes to services. Both companies provide local and long-distance moves and allow you to store moving containers at your home or a company warehouse. But there’s a difference when it comes to home size.

While PODS can handle everything from a small apartment to a big home, SMARTBOX gave us quotes for only small and midsize homes. We struck out each time we tried to get SMARTBOX estimates for a large home.

Both PODS and SMARTBOX can meet most of your needs, but only PODS can help customers with large homes.

Winner: PODS

PODS has more insurance coverage options than SMARTBOX. While both companies let you choose how much coverage you want, SMARTBOX offers coverage for only long-distance moves—and only while your stuff is in transit. Once a SMARTBOX container reaches your home or a company storage facility, you have to fend for yourself. On the other hand, PODS offers insurance in transit, at a company warehouse, or your home.

Oh yeah, and PODS has a max coverage amount of $300,000 compared to a $70,000 max with SMARTBOX. You may not have a Picasso lithograph worth a quarter of a million dollars that you need to put in storage, but PODS has you covered (pun intended) if you do.

PODS has tons of insurance, whether your stuff is at home, a storage facility, or on the road. SMARTBOX has a much smaller amount of coverage, and you can’t get it if you’re moving locally or want to protect your stuff while it’s in storage. This one’s easy.

Winner: PODS

PODS is a great company (and one of our best moving container companies). It’s that simple. While SMARTBOX has lower prices, PODS gets outstanding customer reviews. You can also find a PODS facility in nearly every state, while SMARTBOX is available in less than half of the country. PODS has three sizes of steel containers to choose from, but SMARTBOX has only one, wood option. And so on.

We evaluated both companies in nearly a dozen different ways, and PODS came out on top almost every time (although SMARTBOX has lower and more straightforward pricing). But we agree with customers: PODS is an excellent moving container company.

Winner: PODS

Looking for a moving container that's better in almost every way?

PODS is an exceptional company, but some of the others aren’t too bad either:

• U-Pack Review
• 1-800-PACK-RAT Review
• Zippy Shell Review
• Go Mini’s Review
• U-Box Review

A portable moving container is a storage container that you can move from one place to another. It functions as both a moving truck (minus the wheels) and a portable storage unit.

Customers often leave SMARTBOX reviews saying it’s hard to reach company reps on the phone. The frustration is evident in SMARTBOX’s relatively low customer review score of 1.9 out of 5 stars.

SMARTBOX portable storage containers cost about $3,107 for the average move. Costs range from approximately $2,317 to $3,688 depending on your home’s size and the distance of your move.

The best container companies are PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, U-Pack, Zippy Shell, and U-Haul according to Move.org. These companies stand out because of their low costs, wide availability, and high quality.

The best storage unit companies are Extra Space Storage, CubeSmart, Life Storage, U-Haul and Neighbor.com. Learn why Move.org ranks these storage unit companies above the rest of the competition.

Yes, PODS is a storage company—and a moving company. PODS specializes in portable storage containers you can move from one place to another and store at your home or a PODS warehouse.

PODS is a good portable storage company for a local move. It has the lowest prices for moves under 500 miles and has locations in nearly all 50 states.

Yes, PODS has multiple containers. The company has three sizes of containers ranging from approximately 8 to 16 feet in length. However, the medium-size container is available for local moves only.

1. PODS, “Frequently Asked Questions: Containers and Storage, How Many PODS Containers Should I Order,” 2020. Accessed September 2, 2020.