Allied Van Lines vs United Van Lines

An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top moving companies picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines

Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory

Global moving expertise with over 95 years of experience

Paid
United Van Lines

United Van Lines

Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory

America's #1 mover for long-distance household relocations

Paid

Our pick: United Van Lines. Our editors rank United Van Lines higher overall in Moving Companies — but Allied Van Lines can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review

Compare the details

Allied Van LinesUnited Van Lines
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting priceSee websiteSee website
CategoryLong DistanceLong Distance
Editorial rank#2 of 15#1 of 15

Strengths

Allied Van Lines

  • Nearly a century of moving industry experience and expertise
  • International moving capabilities to over 40 countries
  • Custom crating services for high-value and fragile items
  • Vehicle shipping available as part of household moves
  • Dedicated move coordinator assigned to each relocation

United Van Lines

  • Consistently ranked as the #1 long-distance mover in the US
  • Extensive nationwide agent network for local pickup and delivery
  • Full-service options including packing, unpacking, and storage
  • Real-time shipment tracking through online portal
  • Protection plans covering full replacement value of belongings

Watch out for

Allied Van Lines

  • !International moves can be expensive with many add-on fees
  • !Local agent quality varies across the franchise network
  • !Peak season availability can be limited
  • !Online quote process requires phone follow-up for accurate pricing

United Van Lines

  • !Premium pricing compared to smaller regional movers
  • !Quality of service varies by local agent franchise
  • !Scheduling flexibility is limited during peak summer moving season
  • !Binding estimates still sometimes result in unexpected charges

Best use cases

Allied Van Lines

  • Families or professionals relocating internationally for work
  • Long-distance moves requiring custom crating for antiques or artwork
  • Corporate employees needing vehicle shipping alongside household goods

United Van Lines

  • Families relocating across states who need comprehensive full-service moving
  • Corporate relocations where reliability and tracking are paramount
  • Moves requiring temporary storage between pickup and delivery dates

About each tool

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines offers domestic and international moving services backed by nearly a century of experience. The company provides full-service moving including packing, custom crating for fragile items, vehicle shipping, and temporary storage. Allied's global network makes it a top choice for international relocations.

United Van Lines

United Van Lines has been the top long-distance mover in the US for years, handling hundreds of thousands of interstate moves annually. The company operates through a network of local agents who provide personalized service while leveraging United's national logistics infrastructure for reliable cross-country transport.

Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.

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