AnyVan Review & Comparison With Relōku As An Alternative For Moving In London
When it comes to London moving services, efficiency, reliability, and affordability are key, especially for light, smaller urban moves. There are a number of platforms designed to make moving more accessible, and among the most well-known is AnyVan. While AnyVan offers a solid service for moving anything anywhere (as the Anyvan website states!), there’s a new name in the London moving landscape that is quickly gaining a reputation for being a viable alternative to Anyvan for many reasons: Relōku.
In this post, we’ll review how Relōku compares to AnyVan and weigh up which might be the better Anyvan alternative for your next London move.
1. Specialised Moving Expertise
AnyVan are a huge company, with many registered independent van drivers, although it's unclear if Anyvan have any vans themselves, or if any vans in their fleet are specifically branded with Anyvan colours and logos. The Anyvan website offers moving services across a wide variety of transport, from car delivery to eBay or store collections to house moves - it caters to a very broad market, which is great if you need lots of options as they literally have any van type available - but such broad services may not be what you need for an urban home/office removal, or self storage run, stock movement and other more urban specific use-cases.
Relōku on the other hand, is laser-focused on smaller urban home and office relocations. This means that the movers at Relōku are specifically trained to handle every aspect of moving 1-3 bed homes or 3-7 person offices, ensuring fast and easy booking, live tracking and people specifically trained how to pack, load, transport, and unload your possessions with care and precision.
So while AnyVan are great for many different use cases, sometime you need a specialist - and by specialising in London office and home moves, Relōku has optimised every step of the moving process, making it more seamless, transparent, reliable and stress-free Anyvan alternative for London customers.
2. Transparent Pricing
One of the common themes in AnyVan reviews is its variable pricing model. Anyvan's platform offers fixed prices and then connects users with a variety of movers, but users report that costs can vary on moving day based on demand, location, and even timing. This can sometimes lead to unexpected charges that weren't initially clear from the initial Anyvan quote. Reviews often say that Anyvan's subcontracted movers charged extra, either without Anyvan knowing, or outside of Anyvan's pricing stipulations. Of course, while this is not Anyvan's fault directly, it evidently can lead to confusion.
Relōku offers unique ‘exact use’ pricing for its services, ensuring that you know exactly what you’re paying from the start. With no hidden fees or last-minute surprises, you can budget your move confidently. Relōku‘s transparent pricing model is designed to put customers at ease, focusing on simplicity and fairness, unlike the fluctuating rates or surprising extras that users say can come when booking a move with AnyVan (or more accurately, Anyvan’s moving partners), like added charges for stairs, mileage or extra items that were not initially entered on the Anyvan platform.
3. Personalised Customer Support
Moving can be a stressful experience, and having access to reliable customer support is crucial. While AnyVan offers chat support through its platform, it's reported in reviews that Anyvan's customer service experience can vary, largely because Anyvan acts as a middleman between the customer and the independent moving companies on the Anyvan platform.
Relōku, on the other hand, offers a dedicated support team that works directly with its customers, giving a personalised approach. If you need help, a move coordinator manages the details of your relocation, ensuring nothing is overlooked. This high-touch service ensures that any questions or concerns you have are addressed immediately, helping you feel in control every step of the way.
4. Efficiency and Speed
When you’re in a rush to move, timing is everything. One downside of AnyVan is that scheduling can sometimes be cumbersome, especially when trying to match your timeline with an available mover. With AnyVan, you are often dependent on the schedules of independent transporters, which may lead to delays or limited availability.
A recurring comment on Anyvan reviews is that removal teams were late, or did not communicate delays to customers. Again, while this is not directly Anyvans fault (or even Anyvan's responsibility, as the Anyvan website clearly states that Anyvan act as an intermediary), it can still cause stress - particularly if you are moving home or office as schedules tend to be much tighter than if you are just expecting a delivery.
As an alternative, Relōku is built around efficiency. The platform is designed to work on your schedule, offering faster booking and more flexible scheduling options compared to AnyVan - all in real-time, live on the website. This makes it an ideal choice for those with tight moving deadlines or anyone who values punctuality and precision. Relōku’s emphasis on efficiency ensures that your move happens exactly when you need it to, without unnecessary waiting or rescheduling.
5. Comprehensive Insurance and Safety Measures
While both AnyVan and Relōku offer insurance for your belongings during the move, Relōku takes extra steps to ensure that your items are fully protected. The company’s strict safety protocols with their own trained and vetted teams ensure that your possessions are loaded securely, transported with care, and delivered in the same condition they left in, which is more difficult for Anyvan as they outsource the work and therefore have less direct control over subcontractors actions.
Relōku also offers optional comprehensive insurance option upgrades, giving customers greater peace of mind. In the rare event that something does go wrong, you can rest assured that you are fully covered, without the difficulty of chasing third-party contractors for claims—as can be the case with the AnyVan platform for moving.
6. Tech-Driven Simplicity
Both AnyVan and Relōku offer easy-to-use platforms, but Relōku goes a step further by focusing on a user-friendly interface designed specifically for home relocations. The Relōku app and website are intuitive, allowing you to book a move in just a few clicks, track your movers in real-time, and manage every aspect of your move from your mobile device.
Some Anyvan user reviews report that not all Anyvan jobs have tracking, and this appears to be a cause for user concern especially when Anyvan's subcontracted removal teams are running late and can't be contacted, and also when Anyvan themselves have been unable to assist with an accurate ETA. Conversely every one of Relōku's vans has full live tracking and offers real-time accurate ETA's as standard.
Relōku also provides automated reminders and updates throughout to help you stay organised and informed, making the entire process stress-free. While AnyVan does provide digital booking options, Relōku’s alternative tech-driven approach is built around making the city moving experience as smooth as possible.
7. Reliability and Trust
When you book a move with AnyVan, you’re essentially hiring an independent transporter which reviews suggest can sometimes lead to inconsistent experiences. The quality of service can vary depending on which contractor you end up with - for example, user reviews for AnyVan often mention variability in service quality, punctuality, and professionalism across movers. Of course, with a company as big as Anyvan this is to be expected, and is not the fault of the Anyvan moving platform.
However, by being smaller and more specialised, Relōku takes full responsibility for your move by using its own vetted and trained teams of movers, alongside a dedicated office team, all trained to meet Relōku’s high standards of service to ensure a consistent, reliable, and professional experience. With Relōku, you know you’re getting a trusted team that’s been handpicked and trained for the job, rather than any man with a van who is looking to earn extra money on the side - for example, check and compare the 5 star reviews on Trustpilot and Google.
So in summary, while AnyVan offers a great and convenient solution for those needing any broad van transportation services, Relōku might be a better alternative in the realm of home removals and office relocations. From personalised customer service and transparent pricing to reliability and specialised expertise, Relōku is designed to make your London removal as smooth, safe, and efficient as possible.
If you’re planning a home move and want an alternative moving service that prioritises your needs, delivers excellent customer care, and provides a stress-free experience from start to finish, Relōku is a highly recommended alternative to AnyVan. Let Relōku take the burden off your shoulders and handle your next move with the care and personal attention it deserves.
