Giant Van vs Shiply — 2026 Comparison
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right service for your move.
Shiply is a trademark of its respective owner. Giant Van is not affiliated with Shiply. This comparison reflects publicly available information reviewed on 21 July 2026; competitor details may change — check the provider for the latest.
Shiply uses a reverse auction where transport providers bid on your job — you wait for bids rather than getting an instant price. Giant Van gives you a fixed price in 60 seconds with a vetted driver, real-time tracking, and confirmed availability.
Shiply can deliver lower prices on some routes but requires more flexibility on timing and driver choice.
Who Shiply is
Reverse auction / bidding
Shiply runs a reverse auction model where transport providers bid on delivery jobs listed by customers. Founded in 2008 and based in London, Shiply is particularly popular for unusual or oversized items and for customers willing to wait for competitive bids on specific routes. Prices vary significantly depending on who bids and when.
This describes Shiply’s published model rather than a private experience of it, so you can check every part of it against their own site. Read how we research these pages and our editorial standards.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
How Giant Van and Shiply stack up across the features that matter most.
- Pricing model
- Giant Van
- Fixed upfront price
- Shiply
- Reverse auction — bid-dependent
- Price transparency
- Giant Van
- All-inclusive at booking
- Shiply
- Price known only after bids arrive
- UK coverage
- Giant Van
- Nationwide
- Shiply
- Nationwide (provider network)
- Transit insurance
- Giant Van
- Goods-in-transit cover: £500 included, £3,000 optional
- Shiply
- Provider-dependent; varies
- Same-day booking
- Giant Van
- Yes — available in most cities
- Shiply
- Not typical; waiting for bids required
- Weekend availability
- Giant Van
- Yes
- Shiply
- Yes — subject to provider bids
- Live GPS tracking
- Giant Van
- Yes — in-app real-time
- Shiply
- No integrated tracking
- Online booking
- Giant Van
- Yes — instant confirmation
- Shiply
- List job; wait for bids; then book
- Cancellation policy
- Giant Van
- Free up to 48 hours before
- Shiply
- Varies by provider
- Driver vetting
- Giant Van
- Vetted self-employed driver network
- Shiply
- Platform-registered; quality varies
- Furniture disassembly
- Giant Van
- Included on eligible moves
- Shiply
- Negotiated per bid
How each side arrives at a price
The pricing model matters more than the headline number, because it decides who carries the risk when a job takes longer than planned.
One fixed price, quoted up front
You enter the two addresses and what is moving, and the quote comes back priced on distance, access and the date you picked. That figure is what you book at — there is no callback, no survey and no bidding window, and nothing about the job is priced after the fact.
How their model reaches a number
You list the job and wait for transport providers to bid on it. The figure tends to fall as more bids arrive, so the price you end up with depends on how many hauliers want your route and how long you can afford to wait before committing to a date.
What every Giant Van booking includes
These are our own terms, and they are the same on every job. What the other service includes is set out in the table above.
A price fixed before you book
Stairs, difficult parking and London congestion or ULEZ charges are worked out and built into the quote you are shown, so the figure does not move between the quote and the invoice.
£500 of transit cover included
Goods-in-transit cover of £500 comes with every booking at no cost, and £3,000 Plus cover is available for £12 if you are moving something worth more.
Live tracking from collection to delivery
You can see where the van is in the app for the whole job, rather than ringing a depot to ask.
A vetted, self-employed driver network
Drivers are vetted before they take work, so the standard you get is set by the platform rather than by whoever happened to accept the job.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a full refund, and every booking includes one free reschedule at the same notice.
Extras approved by you, on the day
If something has to be added once the crew is on site, it is priced and sent to you to approve before any of it is done.
How Giant Van Works
- 01
Get an Instant Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery details online. Get a fixed price in under 60 seconds.
- 02
Book Your Slot
Choose your preferred date and time. Confirm online with no deposit required.
- 03
We Collect
Your vetted crew arrives on time, wraps and loads everything with care.
- 04
We Deliver
Track your move in real time. We unload at your new address and place items where you want them.
Price Comparison: Giant Van vs Shiply
Indicative prices for common move types. Get a live quote for your exact move — prices depend on distance, access, and date.
- Single item (specific route)
- Giant Van
- From £45
- Shiply
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Man and van (half day)
- Giant Van
- From £150
- Shiply
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Full house removal (2-bed)
- Giant Van
- From £280
- Shiply
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Long-distance move (200+ miles)
- Giant Van
- From £350
- Shiply
- Pricing varies — check provider
Prices are indicative and accurate as of June 2026. Actual prices vary by distance, date, floor level, and access conditions.
Before you book with Shiply
Whichever way you go, these are the things worth settling in writing first. Most moving-day disputes trace back to one of them being left vague.
Read the bidder's feedback history and how many jobs they have actually completed.
Pin down the collection and delivery windows — cheap bids usually assume you are flexible.
Ask what cover applies to your items and, more importantly, what it excludes.
Agree who does the loading and unloading before you accept a bid, not after.
Which Service Is Right for You?
Choose Shiply If…
- Your move is non-urgent and you're happy to wait for bids
- You have an unusual or oversized item on a specific route
- Price is the sole priority and you're flexible on timing
- You want to see multiple provider options before committing
Choose Giant Van If…
- You need an instant fixed price without waiting for bids
- Same-day or next-day confirmed availability matters
- You want live GPS tracking throughout the move
- Consistent, vetted driver quality is important
- You're moving a full household and need a reliable crew
How this comparison was made
We compare the things that can be checked: the pricing model each service uses, what a booking includes, and the terms you agree to. Where Shiply’s answer varies by provider or by job, the table says so instead of printing a number that would be wrong by the time you read it.
We do not publish a competitor rating, review count or price we cannot point at, and we do not rank providers on anything we cannot show you. Giant Van’s own figures come from the same price engine and insurance products the booking flow uses, so the numbers here and the numbers at checkout are the same numbers.
This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. If something here no longer matches what Shiply actually does, that is a defect and we would rather fix it than defend it.
If you want a fixed price, live tracking, and a vetted crew, Giant Van is the better choice. Shiply may suit you if your move is non-urgent and you're happy to wait for bids.
Giant Van vs Shiply — FAQs
Is Shiply cheaper than Giant Van?
Shiply can produce very competitive prices on specific routes, particularly for non-urgent items where you're willing to wait for bids. Giant Van offers a fixed all-inclusive price instantly — no waiting, no uncertainty.
How long does it take to get a quote on Shiply?
Shiply typically takes hours to days for bids to arrive, and not all jobs receive bids. Giant Van gives you a confirmed fixed quote in 60 seconds, with instant booking.
Is Shiply safe to use?
Shiply requires transport providers to register and carry insurance, and has a reviews system. That said, you're choosing from bidders rather than a vetted network. Giant Van's self-employed drivers are background-checked and trained.
Does Shiply offer GPS tracking?
Shiply has no integrated tracking — you'd contact the driver directly for updates. Giant Van provides live in-app GPS tracking so you always know where your belongings are.
Is Giant Van a good Shiply alternative?
Yes — if you value instant pricing, a confirmed booking, and real-time tracking over Shiply's auction model. Giant Van is particularly suitable for time-sensitive moves and full house removals.
Which is better for unusual or oversized items — Shiply or Giant Van?
Shiply's auction model is well-suited to unusual items on specific routes, as providers can evaluate the job and bid accordingly. Giant Van handles most furniture and moving jobs through its standard booking flow.
Can I book Shiply for same-day moves?
Same-day bookings are rarely practical on Shiply because you need to list the job and wait for bids. Giant Van offers confirmed same-day availability in most major UK cities.
What insurance does Shiply provide?
Shiply requires providers to carry their own insurance, but the level varies. Giant Van includes £500 of goods-in-transit cover free on every move, with £3,000 Plus cover available as an optional add-on, covering accidental damage in transit.