Choosing a self-storage provider can seem straightforward until you compare companies side by side. While both SmartStop Self Storage and Extra Space Storage offer nationwide storage solutions, the overall customer experience can differ in important ways. Those differences often become most apparent after you have signed a lease and started using your storage unit. Choosing the wrong provider can mean dealing with inconsistent on-site support, unexpected rate increases, or a storage experience that falls short of expectations.
This guide compares both providers across the factors renters actually weigh: pricing, lease flexibility, security, climate control, online tools, review scores, location coverage, and customer-service recognition. The short version is that SmartStop is the stronger overall choice for most renters, while Extra Space remains a practical option in markets SmartStop does not yet serve. The full comparison below shows how that conclusion is reached.
SmartStop vs. Extra Space Storage at a Glance
| Feature | SmartStop Self Storage | Extra Space Storage |
| Best For | Renters who prioritize award-winning service, transparent month-to-month pricing, and consistently high review scores | Renters who need the widest possible location coverage, including markets SmartStop does not yet serve |
| Pricing Model | Transparent online pricing, true month-to-month, no long-term commitment | Month-to-month, with promotional intro rates and periodic market-based increases widely documented by renters |
| Lease Flexibility | Month-to-month; no long-term commitment; no early termination fees | Month-to-month, with rates that can change on 30 days’ written notice |
| Security Features | 24/7 video surveillance, electronic gate access, and individually alarmed units at select locations | Video surveillance, gated and keypad or app-based access, and individual unit alarms at many locations |
| Climate Control | Available at select locations | Available at many locations |
| Online Reservations & Account Management | Reserve, rent, and manage your account online or on a mobile app | Reserve, rent, and manage your account online, plus a mobile app |
| Customer Review Score | 4.9 out of 5.0 reported Google average, with more than 130,000 five-star Google reviews | Varies widely by location, with no single published brand-wide Google average; brand-level third-party ratings skew low, for example 1.8 out of 5 across more than 7,400 Trustpilot reviews |
| Number of Locations | 460+ operating properties across 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada | 4,200+ properties across 42 to 43 states and Washington, D.C., the largest operator in the U.S. |
| Customer Service Recognition | Named top-ranked self-storage company for customer service by Newsweek and Statista in 2021, 2023, and 2024, the only self-storage brand to rank number one multiple times | The largest U.S. operator, with no comparable customer-service ranking |
SmartStop Self Storage: Award-Winning Service and Transparent Pricing
SmartStop is built around a customer-first model that pairs national reliability with on-site staff who handle each rental personally. Its strongest selling points are the things renters notice month after month: clear pricing, real month-to-month flexibility, and a service record validated by independent recognition rather than by marketing alone.
What sets SmartStop apart:
- Transparent pricing. Rates are listed upfront online. The rate you reserve is the rate you pay.
- Real lease flexibility. Every unit is month-to-month, so unpredictable timelines such as a move, a renovation, a deployment, or a business transition.
- Strong security. Facilities feature 24/7 video surveillance, electronic gate access, and individually alarmed units at select locations, with keypad entry and building intruder alarms at indoor properties.
- Climate control where it counts. Climate-controlled units are available at select locations to protect furniture, documents, electronics, and other temperature-sensitive belongings.
- Full online experience. You can reserve, rent, and manage your account entirely online, from booking a unit to making payments.
- Independent customer-service recognition. SmartStop was named the top-ranked self-storage company for customer service by Newsweek and Statista in 2021, 2023, and 2024, and is the only self-storage brand to rank number one multiple times. It was also the highest-ranked publicly traded provider on Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice list for climate-controlled storage.
- Proven customer satisfaction. SmartStop reports a 4.9 out of 5.0 Google average backed by more than 130,000 five-star Google reviews.
- Broad coverage with a local feel. SmartStop operates 460+ properties across 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada, including 50 properties across four Canadian provinces.
- Move-in extras. Complimentary carts and dollies and on-site packing and moving supplies make load-in and load-out easier.
Best for: Renters who want consistently high-rated, award-winning service and transparent month-to-month pricing, whether they are storing across the U.S. or in Canada.
Extra Space Storage: Large Network, Variable Service Consistency
Extra Space Storage is the largest self-storage operator in the United States, and its scale is its defining strength. With facilities in nearly every state, it is often the most convenient option in markets where smaller or regional brands have no presence. That reach comes with a service experience that varies more from location to location, and a pricing structure that renters should understand before signing.
Key considerations for renters:
- Pricing model. Units rent month-to-month, often with a promotional introductory rate. Rates are reviewed periodically based on market conditions and can be raised on 30 days’ written notice, a pattern many renters report encountering within the first year.
- Lease terms. Leases are strictly month-to-month, with no fixed-rate guarantee for any set period.
- Security features. Facilities offer video surveillance, gated access, keypad or app-based entry, and individual unit alarms at many locations.
- Climate control. Climate-controlled units are available at many locations, alongside drive-up and indoor units.
- Online tools. Renters can reserve, rent, and manage their account online, and a mobile app handles gate access at many stores.
- Reviews. With thousands of individually rated stores, Extra Space has no single published brand-wide Google average. Individual locations often rate well, but brand-level third-party platforms skew low, including a 1.8 out of 5 average across more than 7,400 Trustpilot reviews, where rate increases are a recurring complaint.
- Location count. Extra Space operates more than 4,200 properties across 42 to 43 states and Washington, D.C., making it the most widely available option nationally.
Best for: Renters who need a facility in a specific U.S. market where SmartStop does not yet operate, or who simply want the largest available network of locations.
Which Is Right for You?
| If you need to… | Choose… |
| Store with a provider that reports a 4.9 out of 5.0 Google average across 130,000+ reviews | SmartStop |
| Access customer service independently recognized as number one by Newsweek and Statista | SmartStop |
| Lock in transparent, upfront month-to-month pricing without a documented pattern of steep post-move-in increases | SmartStop |
| Reserve, rent, and manage your unit entirely online with consistent service across locations | SmartStop |
| Store in Canada or in a market SmartStop already serves | SmartStop |
| Need the largest possible geographic footprint across the U.S. | Extra Space Storage |
| Choose from the single largest network of self-storage locations nationwide | Extra Space Storage |
The Bottom Line
For most renters, SmartStop is the stronger choice. It pairs transparent month-to-month pricing with a customer-service record that independent organizations, not just the company itself, have recognized year after year, and it backs that up with a 4.9 reported Google average across more than 130,000 reviews. Extra Space still serves a clear purpose: with 4,200+ locations it has the broadest footprint in the country, so it is often the most practical option in markets SmartStop has not reached yet. But where both operate, the combination of consistent service, straightforward pricing, and award-winning support makes SmartStop the better pick. If SmartStop has a facility near you, you can reserve or rent your unit online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SmartStop or Extra Space Storage better for month-to-month rentals?
Both offer month-to-month leases, but they differ in pricing experience. SmartStop emphasizes transparent, upfront online rates with no long-term commitment. Extra Space also rents month-to-month, but renters frequently report promotional introductory rates that rise on 30 days’ notice within the first year, so it is worth confirming the long-term rate before committing.
Does SmartStop have as many locations as Extra Space Storage?
No. Extra Space is the largest U.S. operator with more than 4,200 properties, while SmartStop operates 460+ properties across 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. If you need a facility in a market SmartStop has not yet entered, Extra Space may be your only option there. Where both operate, SmartStop’s service record and review scores give it the edge.
Which provider has better customer service?
By independent measures, SmartStop. It was named the top-ranked self-storage company for customer service by Newsweek and Statista in 2021, 2023, and 2024, the only self-storage brand to win that recognition multiple times, and it reports a 4.9 out of 5.0 Google average across more than 130,000 five-star reviews. Extra Space’s service quality varies more by location, and its brand-level third-party ratings are lower.
