AnyVan Alternatives: 7 Options for Moves and Deliveries

Quick summary (October 2026): The main UK alternatives to AnyVan are The Van Man Co, Compare The Man And Van, Shiply, Getamover, reallymoving, a removals firm found through the British Association of Removers, and hiring a van yourself. The Van Man Co gives an instant price based on time and distance, including the driver’s travel both ways, and charges a 20% deposit only once a driver confirms. Shiply suits single items, and Getamover or reallymoving suit full house moves. To see drivers and prices, start with the Bristol man and van page.

AnyVan is an online marketplace that has been around since 2009. It matches your delivery or move to transport providers who are already doing that route, or are nearby, which can make some jobs cheaper. If you’ve already looked at how AnyVan pricing works and want to see what else is out there, this is the list.

How AnyVan works, in short

You enter your job, AnyVan matches it to transport firms with space on that route, and you book through the platform. The model works best when your move fits around someone else’s journey. People usually look for alternatives when they want something different: a price straight away from a driver who’s doing just your job, or proper quotes from removals firms for a full house move.

The 7 AnyVan alternatives

1. The Van Man Co

We’re a network of man and van drivers across the UK, and we book jobs in for them. You put in your pickup and drop-off postcodes and get a price straight away. It’s an estimate based on time and distance, and it includes the driver’s travel from their base to your pickup and back from your drop-off, because that’s the actual shape of the job.

You submit a booking request, a driver confirms, and only then is the 20% deposit charged. The rest is paid in cash to the driver on the day. If loading runs over the time quoted, the extra time is charged at the hourly rate. Drivers bring blankets, straps and a trolley. Packing materials aren’t included.

There are three van sizes: a medium van (Ford Transit Custom, around 6m³), a large van (Ford Transit, around 10m³) and a Luton (around 18m³). For full house moves, we also do removals: we get quotes from local removals partners and send you a price. To see how a city page looks, with local drivers and prices, try Bristol.

Good for: flat and small house moves, single items, student moves, and anyone who wants a price without waiting for quotes.

2. Compare The Man And Van

A comparison site for man and van services. You enter your collection and delivery details, the date, the van size and how much help you need, and it shows instant quotes from local drivers that you can compare on price, availability and ratings, then book online.

Good for: small moves where you want to see several drivers side by side.

3. Shiply

Shiply is a transport marketplace where delivery firms compete for your job. You fill in one form, quotes come to you by email, and you pick one based on price and previous customer feedback. It covers furniture, household goods, cars, motorbikes, pianos and more, across the UK and further afield.

Good for: single large items and long-distance deliveries where you don’t mind waiting for quotes to come in.

4. Getamover

Getamover is a removals comparison site. You describe your move, and it matches you with up to six removal companies from its network so you can compare quotes, profiles and reviews. It covers UK and international moves, with packing available.

Good for: full house moves where you want quotes from proper removals firms.

5. reallymoving

reallymoving compares quotes from local removal firms, and also from conveyancing solicitors and surveyors, so it’s useful if you’re buying or selling at the same time. You fill in one form and the firms get in touch with you.

Good for: homeowners sorting the removal alongside the rest of a house purchase or sale.

6. A local removals firm, through BAR

The British Association of Removers is the trade association for UK removal companies. Members are audited every year and follow a code of practice approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The BAR website has a “find a mover” search by postcode, and a “check a mover” tool to confirm a firm really is a member.

Good for: larger or more complicated house moves, where you want an established removals company and a formal route if something goes wrong.

7. Hire a van and do it yourself

If you’re happy to drive and lift, hiring a van is the other option. A standard car licence (category B, if you passed on or after 1 January 1997) lets you drive vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass for petrol and diesel, according to GOV.UK’s licence categories page. Check the van’s maximum authorised mass with the hire company before you book. Our guide to 3.5 tonne vans explains what that weight limit actually means.

Good for: small moves with a couple of strong friends and a free weekend. Bear in mind you’re doing all of the lifting and the driving, and your time has a cost too.

Which one fits your move?

Your move	Worth looking at
A few items or a single piece of furniture	The Van Man Co, Shiply, Compare The Man And Van
A studio or one or two bed flat	The Van Man Co, Compare The Man And Van
A three bed house or bigger	Getamover, reallymoving, a BAR removals firm, The Van Man Co removals
A long-distance delivery with no rush	Shiply
A tight budget and willing to do the work	Self-drive van hire

Quotes from bidders or a price straight away?

The biggest difference between these options is how you get a price. With Shiply-style marketplaces, you post the job and wait for firms to send quotes. That can work out well on long routes, but it takes time, and you’re comparing firms you haven’t heard of. With an instant-price platform, you see an estimate straight away and book.

The thing most people get wrong is comparing the headline number and nothing else. Check what the price includes, whether there’s a helper, how extra time is charged, and what happens if the driver can’t make it. A slightly higher price with a clear answer on all of those is usually the better deal. If you’re weighing up a man and van against a full removals company, our piece on whether a man and van is cheaper than a removal company goes through it in more detail.

FAQs

Is there anything cheaper than AnyVan?

Sometimes. It depends on the job. AnyVan can be cheap on routes where a driver already has a van going that way. For local moves, an instant-price man and van or a self-drive van is often comparable or cheaper. Get two or three prices for the same job and compare what each one includes.

Is Shiply the same as AnyVan?

They’re similar but not the same. On Shiply, delivery firms compete for your job and send you quotes by email. AnyVan matches your job to transport providers already doing your route. Both cover furniture and larger items across the UK.

Do I need a special licence to drive a removal van?

Usually not. If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, a category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass for petrol and diesel. The hire company can tell you the weight of the van you’re booking, and anything heavier needs a different licence category.

Can a man and van do a full house move?

Yes, for a lot of homes. A Luton van holds around 18m³, which suits many house moves, and some drivers offer an extra pair of hands. For bigger homes, or if you want packing done for you, a removals service is usually the better fit.

How do I check a removals company is reputable?

Look at recent reviews, ask what insurance they hold, and check whether they’re a member of the British Association of Removers. BAR has a tool on its website to confirm membership.