PODS vs U-Haul U-Box:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PODS had more branded searches than U-Haul U-Box among moving container companies in the United States. PODS had about 83,000 branded searches, while U-Haul U-Box had 12,100. PODS made up 55.7% of all moving container company searches we track, and U-Haul U-Box accounted for 8.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about moving container companies, PODS appeared in all four answers and U-Haul U-Box in three. PODS was mentioned before U-Haul U-Box in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
PODS, about 7 searches for every 1 for U-Haul U-Box
Who does AI mention more?
PODS, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
PODS, named ahead of U-Haul U-Box in 3 of 4 answers
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Top moving container companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, PODS appeared in all four answers. U-Haul U-Box was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. PODS was listed before U-Haul U-Box in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- PODS1st
U-Pack2nd
1-800-PACK-RAT3rd
U-Haul U-Box4th
Zippy Shell5th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- PODS4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- 1-800-PACK-RAT4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- U-Pack3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- U-Haul U-Box3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Zippy Shell1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about moving container companies
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which moving container company should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best moving container companies in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest moving container company in the US for a long-distance move?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“portable storage containers”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“moving containers”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is PODS or U-Haul U-Box more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for PODS and U-Haul U-Box by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five moving container companies we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for PODS, U-Haul U-Box. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PODS | U-Pack | 1-800-PACK-RAT | U-Haul U-Box | Zippy Shell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 60.6% | 16.2% | 12% | 7.2% | 3.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 57.4% | 18.8% | 13.3% | 6.8% | 3.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.2% | 17.7% | 17.3% | 6.5% | 4.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 59.3% | 21.1% | 9.1% | 6.3% | 4.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.9% | 19.7% | 10.4% | 7.2% | 4.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.5% | 21.7% | 11.5% | 7.9% | 4.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 60.3% | 17.9% | 9.4% | 8% | 4.4% |
| May 2026 | 58.2% | 17.1% | 11.1% | 9.4% | 4.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 54.9% | 18.8% | 12.2% | 10.3% | 3.8% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.8% | 19.3% | 12.5% | 8.6% | 3.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 54% | 18.5% | 14.7% | 8.3% | 4.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 55.7% | 18.2% | 14.4% | 8.1% | 3.6% |
How has the PODS and U-Haul U-Box comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PODS was ahead of U-Haul U-Box in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PODS’s share of searches among moving container companies in the United States moved from 60.6% to 55.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 83K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, U-Haul U-Box’s share of searches among moving container companies in the United States moved from 7.2% to 8.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for United States moving container companies in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, PODS gained share of searches among moving container companies in the United States, from 54% to 55.7%.
U-Haul U-Box’s share of searches among moving container companies in the United States has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 10.3% to 8.1% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PODS’s and U-Haul U-Box’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
PODS
3 branded search terms
- pods containers
- pods moving
- pods storage
U-Haul U-Box
1 branded search term
- u-haul u-box
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