PODS vs. U-Haul: Compare Your 2025 Moving and Storage Options

Preparing for a move typically means deciding between the DIY approach and hiring full-service movers. Most people opt for a DIY move — complete with a U-Haul truck and a group of friends to help you load it up — but not everyone wants to drive a huge truck across the country (or even across town). Full-service movers do it all, but simply might not be in your budget. Fortunately, there’s a third option — a hybrid move with PODS portable storage containers. When it comes to PODS vs. U-Haul, both options involve packing your own belongings, but when it comes to the overall moving timeline and the driving, there are key differences.

PODS vs. U-Haul: 2025 Comparison

PODS vs. U-Haul: Driving

Driving a Truck vs. Letting the Pros Drive

It’s difficult enough navigating some cities with an average-sized car, but driving a rental truck is an entirely new beast. You’ll have to be a lot more careful driving on busy city roads, and don’t even get us started on the bridges and tunnels. If you’re driving cross-country, you’ll need to be aware of height requirements to ensure clearance, rush hour in major cities and mountainous regions, and finding hotels that allow you to park your truck for the night. 

When you move with PODS, professional drivers take care of transporting your PODS storage container to your new home, so you have one less thing to worry about.

Driving vs. Shipping or Towing Your Car

When you decide to rent a portable moving container from PODS, you have the option to drive your own car, so you don’t need to worry about the hassle of shipping or towing it to your new home. With U-Haul, there’s a good chance you will need to ship or tow your car unless you have a second driver available. 

Fuel and Mileage Costs vs. None of Those

When using a service such as U-Haul, it’s important to go over everything in your contract before you sign to avoid getting surprised by additional costs such as coverage options, fuel, equipment or supply rentals, and taxes.

One-way moves (in which you return the truck to a different location than where you picked it up) are charged based on the distance traveled, and the fee structure depends on the trip. The basic package includes a set amount of mileage, and if you exceed this limit, you will be charged an extra fee. With PODS, there are no additional fuel and mileage costs to worry about. 

Loading heavy furniture at ground level with a PODS moving container is a lot easier than navigating a narrow ramp into a moving truck.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Loading and Unloading

Ground Level vs. Ramp Loading

PODS containers are positioned conveniently in your driveway or on the street in front of your home. Loading heavy furniture into a PODS moving container at ground level is a lot easier (and safer) than navigating a narrow ramp into a moving truck. PODS’ ground-level loading reduces the amount of lifting you have to do and minimizes your risk of injury. 

PODS vs. U-Haul: Storage Options

When you choose PODS, your moving container doubles as a storage unit. This means that, if you need to store your belongings temporarily, you can do so with no additional loading or unloading required. And with over 240 secure PODS storage facilities across the nation, you have plenty of options for where to safely store your belongings.

PODS On-Site Storage

If you’re not quite ready to move and have the space available at your current property, you can always keep your storage container in your driveway, parked in front of your home, or in another nearby spot with space for the container. 

On-site storage provides immediate and convenient accessibility, and the freedom to load as you pack (keeping your home from becoming a moving box showroom). It allows you to store all of your items, clothing, and other belongings in one convenient location (and to pull things out if you need them before moving day). You also have the freedom to implement additional security measures if you want! 

You can still access your items while they're at a storage facility by calling your local PODS representative. They'll help you schedule a time to access your container or you can have it delivered to your address. 

Loading and Unloading Once vs. Multiple Times

When using a U-Haul truck for storage, you'll end up doing twice the work — loading the truck, unloading into the storage unit. Then, when you’re ready to move things into your home, loading and unloading the truck a second time. Ultimately, all that extra loading and unloading brings with it a higher risk of damage and injury.

When you use PODS for storage, loading and unloading is only done once. Your loaded container is picked up and taken to a secure PODS storage facility where you can keep it as long as you want. When you’re ready for it, simply have your container delivered right where you need it.

With one month’s PODS storage cost built into every move, you can be flexible with your moving schedule.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Flexible Moving and Storage Options

The storage units PODS offers come with one month of storage built into the price, which allows you to have flexibility when packing and loading your belongings without worrying about unexpected mileage, fuel costs, and tight return deadlines.

With a PODS portable storage container in your driveway, you can declutter, organize, pack, and load without your home turning into a disaster zone.

Not sure how many containers you’ll need? You can stagger your container deliveries so you only pay for what you need. Just call PODS at (855) 706-4758 by 4 p.m. local time, at least three days before the container is scheduled to be delivered to cancel part of your order at no cost.

Need to store everything for a while? Keep your container at a secure PODS storage facility for as long as you want, then have it delivered right where you need it.

U-Haul has various storage options, including outdoor drive-up storage units and climate-controlled storage units. With these options, you can load and unload your items at your unit whenever you like, as long as it’s during open-access hours. U-Haul also offers U-Box portable storage containers in one size, with a capacity of 257 cubic feet — about 42 percent smaller than PODS’ smallest container.

PODS doesn’t permit the storage or shipment of cars within PODS containers, but PODS can refer customers to preferred car shipping providers as needed. U-Haul offers 45-foot-long vehicle storage spaces that can be used for boats, RVs, or cars. These spaces may be enclosed, uncovered, or covered storage areas.

With PODS City Service, the driver stays with your container while you load and unload to guard against parking tickets.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Specialized City Services

PODS City Service is one of the company's best features and is designed to address the unique challenges that people face when relocating to major metropolitan areas. Unlike with other companies — including U-Haul — when you move with PODS City Service, the driver stays with your container while you load and unload to prevent tickets or other logistical issues. Drivers also have knowledge of local parking laws and regulations, so you won’t have to worry about studying up before moving day.

PODS City Service is available in the following cities:

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Denver
• Houston
• Long Island
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Minneapolis
• Montreal, Québec, Canada
• New York City
• New Jersey
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• San Diego
• Seattle
• Staten Island
• Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Washington, D.C.

Active duty and retired service members can enjoy discounts on their moving expenses when they move with PODS.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Discounts & Specials

Both PODS and U-Haul offer promotions and discounts on their websites. PODS customers who are relocating within 50 miles may qualify for free deliveries and lower rent rates. In addition, active duty and retired service members can enjoy discounts on their PODS move.

PODZILLA was specially designed to maneuver PODS containers into place while keeping them level.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Storage Containers Quality 

Since its inception in the containerized storage industry, PODS has revolutionized the way people store their belongings. PODS offers three different container sizes* (8', 12', and 16') so you can mix and match to get the perfect fit for your move. Whereas U-Haul’s U-Box is only available in one size (4'8" x 7'11" x 6'11.5") — and it would take four of those to match the capacity of a single 16' PODS container.

U-Box containers are built with plywood framing and a vinyl cover, while PODS containers are reinforced with a steel frame and have plywood walls covered in aluminum or fiberglass on the interior. 

The extensive experience of PODS also led it to create the innovative PODZILLA level-lift system, which allows PODS containers to be expertly positioned in your driveway or onto the bed of a truck, all while remaining level. (Good news for all of the stuff inside!) 

*The 12' PODS container size is only available for local moving and storage.

PODS vs. U-Haul: Final Thoughts

If you don’t mind a tight deadline or driving a moving truck and you want to save as much money as possible, then U-Haul may be for you. But if you like the idea of having a full month to handle your move without feeling rushed or having to navigate unfamiliar streets with a large rental truck, then PODS is the way to go. 

Moving is one of the hardest things to do. It requires extensive planning and coordination (and stress), especially when you’re on a tight deadline. Moving with PODS and allowing yourself plenty of time to handle the unexpected things that come with moving can make all the difference.