LoadUp is a nationwide junk removal company founded in 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. They offer instant online per-item pricing and operate in all 50 states across 18,000+ cities. LoadUp holds a 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot and an A+ BBB rating. But reviews are mixed — complaints about no-shows and cancellation policies appear alongside praise for easy booking and upfront pricing. Here is what real customers say in 2026.
LoadUp Ratings at a Glance
Here is how LoadUp rates across every major review platform in 2026:
| Platform | Rating | Number of Reviews | Key Themes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.2 / 5 (Great) | 1,000+ | Fast service when it works; stolen belongings complaint |
| BBB | A+ rating | Multiple complaints | No-shows, prepaid orders not fulfilled, cancellation disputes |
| Yelp (Atlanta) | Mixed | 1,324+ | Pros: affordable, easy booking. Cons: communication issues |
| Yelp (Orlando) | Mixed | 459+ | Some great experiences, some terrible no-shows |
| Yelp (San Francisco) | Low | 33 | Prepayment issues, driver confusion about signed paperwork |
| Negative | Multiple threads | "Please don't use GoLoadUp" — cancellation fees, no phone support | |
| Glassdoor (driver pay) | 1.2 / 5 | Loader compensation | Drivers report poor pay, which may affect service quality |
What LoadUp Does Well
Upfront online pricing. Unlike 1-800-GOT-JUNK or College Hunks which require in-person estimates, LoadUp lets you select your items online and see a price before booking. This transparency is genuinely useful when comparison shopping.
Nationwide coverage. LoadUp operates in all 50 states through a network of independent haulers, similar to how DoorDash uses gig drivers. One Yelp reviewer in Washington DC described it as "DoorDash for your junk," which is actually accurate.
Online scheduling. Booking takes about 5 minutes through their website. Same-day service is available if you book before noon. The interface is straightforward and does not require a phone call.
Price match guarantee. LoadUp will match a written quote from any licensed and insured competitor. This is a nice policy on paper, though actually using it requires getting a competing quote first.
Common Complaints About LoadUp
No-shows are the biggest issue. Multiple BBB complaints describe the same pattern: customer pays in advance, scheduled pickup time passes with no arrival, and customer service is slow to respond. In at least one BBB complaint, a customer reported prepaying for a service that was never performed and had difficulty getting a refund.
Cancellation policy is strict. LoadUp charges a 20% cancellation fee before the day of service and a 50% fee on the day of service. One Reddit user in r/RealEstate reported that this fee was not clearly disclosed during booking.
Communication is text-only for many issues. Multiple reviewers on Reddit and Yelp report that LoadUp customer support is primarily text-based with no way to actually speak to someone. One r/SFV user wrote: "Communication with service is only through texting. No one to actually talk to."
Driver quality is inconsistent. Because LoadUp uses independent contractors rather than employed crews, service quality varies dramatically. Some haulers get 5-star reviews; others are the subject of BBB complaints. Glassdoor ratings for LoadUp loader compensation sit at 1.2 out of 5, which may contribute to turnover and inconsistent service.
LoadUp Pricing Breakdown
LoadUp uses a service fee plus per-item add-on pricing plus applicable tax. The total you see online before booking is guaranteed. Here are per-item starting prices from goloadup.com:
| Item | LoadUp Per-Item Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Couch | $80–$100 |
| Mattress | $80–$89 |
| Dresser | $80–$85 |
| Refrigerator | $87–$95 |
| Desk | $85–$90 |
| TV | $82–$90 |
| Washer + Dryer (pair) | $117–$130 |
| Treadmill | $150+ |
Is LoadUp Legit?
Yes, LoadUp is a legitimate company. They are BBB accredited with an A+ rating, have been operating since 2014, and have thousands of verified customer reviews across Trustpilot, Yelp, and Google. They are not a scam.
But "legit" and "recommended" are different things. The no-show complaints, strict cancellation policy, and text-only customer support are real issues that affect a number of customers. When LoadUp works well, it works very well — the instant online pricing is competitive and the booking process is smooth. The problem is that when something goes wrong, getting it resolved is difficult.
The gig-economy model is the root of most complaints. LoadUp is a platform that connects you with independent haulers, not an employer of hauling crews. This means you get a different person every time, with varying levels of professionalism, reliability, and care.
LoadUp vs Alternatives: How They Compare
LoadUp competes with both franchise-based companies and curbside services. Here is how they stack up:
| Feature | LoadUp | 1-800-GOT-JUNK | College Hunks | Dropcurb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online pricing | Yes — instant per item | No — in-person estimate | No — in-person estimate | Yes — per item |
| Pricing model | Service fee + per item + tax | Volume-based estimate | Volume-based estimate | Flat per item |
| Who does the work | Independent contractors | Franchisee employees | Franchisee employees | Vetted local haulers |
| Cancellation policy | 20% before day, 50% day-of | Free cancellation | Varies by franchise | Free cancellation |
| Same-day service | If booked before noon | Available most areas | Available most areas | Yes — same day |
| Customer support | Text-based primarily | Phone + online | Phone + online | Text + online |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 | N/A | N/A (new) |
| In-home pickup | Yes — crew enters home | Yes | Yes | No — curbside only |
| Coverage | 18,000+ cities | Franchise markets | Franchise markets | 885 cities |
When LoadUp Makes Sense
LoadUp is a reasonable choice in specific situations:
- •You have heavy items inside your home that you physically cannot move to the curb. LoadUp's in-home pickup is valuable when you need someone to carry a 300-pound sleeper sofa down stairs.
- •You are in a market without better local options. LoadUp covers 18,000+ cities. In smaller markets, they may be the only option with online pricing.
- •You have a large multi-item job where the service fee gets diluted across many items.
When to Choose Something Else
- •You have 1 to 3 items you can get to the curb. A curbside-only service like Dropcurb uses flat per-item pricing with no separate service fee, which can be more affordable for small orders.
- •You want to talk to a human. If phone support matters to you, 1-800-GOT-JUNK and most local companies offer it. LoadUp's text-only support frustrates many customers.
- •You are booking for an important deadline. If you absolutely cannot risk a no-show — like before a move-out inspection or home sale — a local company with employed crews is more reliable than a gig-economy platform.
Looking for flat per-item curbside pickup? Dropcurb offers same-day junk removal starting at $79 per item.
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