PODS and other portable storage units (like 1-800-PACK-RAT, U-Pack ReloCubes, and GoMini's) are designed for convenience. Shipping containers are designed for durability and volume. Both deliver a box to your property — but they're built for different needs, priced differently, and suit different situations.
This guide compares them head-to-head so you can make the right call for your situation rather than defaulting to whichever you've heard of first.
Shipping container
Steel intermodal unit, 20–40ft
$95–$249/mo rental
or $1,800–$8,000 to buy
POD / portable unit
Portable storage unit, 7–16ft
$150–$350/mo rental
not available to buy
Full comparison
| Factor | Shipping container | POD / portable unit |
|---|---|---|
| Typical sizes | 10ft, 20ft, 40ftMore options | 7ft, 8ft, 12ft, 16ft |
| Interior volume | 1,172–2,390 cu ft (20–40ft)Winner | 250–850 cu ft typical |
| Monthly rental cost | $95–$249/moCheaper | $150–$350/mo |
| Available to buy | Yes — buy outrightWinner | No — rental only |
| Delivery convenience | Tilt-bed truck, needs 40–70ft clearance | Lift system, fits tighter spacesWinner |
| Urban delivery | Difficult on narrow streets | More practical in citiesWinner |
| Access while stored | Full walk-in access at any timeWinner | Varies — some allow access at depot |
| Long-distance moving | Available nationwideWinner | Limited service areas, especially rural |
| Security | Heavy steel, lockable with padlocksWinner | Lighter construction, proprietary locks only |
| Weather resistance | Excellent — designed for ocean freightWinner | Good but not to the same standard |
| Brand recognition | No single national brand | PODS widely known, easy to book onlineWinner |
| Modify / convert | Yes — cut, weld, build onWinner | No — rental only, no modifications |
| Min. rental term | Typically 1 monthSimilar | Typically 1 month |
Which wins for each use case?
Moving across town
Both work, but PODs are more convenient for tight urban access and standard residential driveways. Shipping containers need more space to deliver and are often overkill in volume for a local move.
POD winsMoving cross-country
Shipping containers available through platforms like Shipped.com cover routes that POD-type services don't, especially rural destinations. Price is also typically lower for long hauls.
Container winsOn-site storage for 6+ months
Shipping containers are significantly cheaper per month, more secure, and allow you to keep them permanently or buy outright. PODs make no sense for extended on-site storage.
Container winsStoring a 1-bed apartment during renovation
A 10ft or small POD unit is a better fit than a 20ft shipping container — you pay for what you use, delivery is easier, and the rental is short enough that price difference doesn't matter much.
POD winsStoring tools and equipment on a job site
Shipping containers are purpose-built for this. Better security, lockable with your own padlocks, available in larger sizes, and cheaper to rent long-term. No contest.
Container winsYou want to own rather than rent
PODS and portable storage units are rental-only. If you want to own the storage unit — for permanent on-site storage, conversion, or to avoid ongoing rental costs — only shipping containers can be purchased outright.
Container winsThe honest verdict
PODs and portable storage units win on convenience — the delivery mechanism is easier on standard residential lots, the booking experience is more polished, and the brand recognition makes them easy to choose without much research. They're the right call for short-term, local moving situations where ease matters more than cost or volume.
Shipping containers win on almost everything else. They're cheaper per month, far more spacious, significantly more secure, available to buy, and can be converted or modified. For storage that lasts more than a few months, for larger volumes, for rural locations, for any situation where you want ownership rather than perpetual rental — shipping containers are the better choice by a meaningful margin.
Ready to compare container rental options?
Shipped.com lets you compare shipping container rental pricing from local suppliers — monthly rate, delivery, and pickup fees — side by side with buy and rent-to-own options.