Blog / Comparisons
SpareFoot dominates box storage. But if you store a boat, RV, car, or motorcycle - here is why it falls short.
Updated April 2026
SpareFoot is the best directory for traditional self-storage units. But it was never designed for vehicle owners. If you need to store a boat, RV, car, motorcycle, ATV, jet ski, or trailer, StowHelp is built specifically for that purpose - with vehicle-specific filters, a size matcher, cost calculator, and facility listings that include the details vehicle owners actually need.
SpareFoot launched in 2008 as an online marketplace for self-storage units. It aggregates listings from thousands of storage facilities across the United States and lets users compare prices, read reviews, and reserve units online. In 2021, SpareFoot was acquired by StorageCafe's parent company Yardi Systems.
SpareFoot excels at what it was built for: helping people find 5x5, 10x10, and 10x20 storage units for household goods, furniture, and boxes. It has strong coverage, competitive pricing data, and a smooth reservation process for traditional storage.
The problem starts when you search for vehicle storage. SpareFoot treats vehicles as an afterthought. There are no filters for boat length, RV hookups, covered vs. uncovered parking, climate-controlled garages, or marina-specific features. Search results mix regular storage units with actual vehicle storage, making it hard to find what you need.
StowHelp is a vehicle storage directory built from the ground up for people who store boats, RVs, cars, motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, trailers, and other vehicles. Every feature - from search filters to cost estimates to facility profiles - is designed around the unique needs of vehicle storage.
StowHelp covers professional storage facilities, marinas, covered parking structures, outdoor lots, and climate-controlled garages across all 50 states. It is free for vehicle owners to search and compare facilities.
When you search SpareFoot for "boat storage" or "RV storage," you get a mix of results. Some are actual vehicle storage facilities. Others are large self-storage units that technically fit a small vehicle but lack pull-through access, outdoor clearance, or any vehicle-friendly features. There is no way to filter by vehicle type, vehicle length, covered vs. uncovered, or amenities like electrical hookups.
StowHelp lets you search by specific vehicle category - boat, RV, car, motorcycle, ATV, jet ski, trailer, and more - with filters that actually matter for each type.
Vehicle storage is not one-size-fits-all. A 32-foot RV does not fit in the same space as a 16-foot fishing boat. SpareFoot gives you generic unit sizes (5x10, 10x20, etc.) that do not translate to vehicle dimensions. StowHelp's size matcher tool takes your vehicle's make, model, or dimensions and shows you facilities that actually fit.
SpareFoot's pricing is built around self-storage unit rates. Vehicle storage pricing works differently - it is often per-foot, per-slip, or per-spot rather than per-unit. StowHelp's cost calculator is calibrated specifically for vehicle storage rates across all types and regions.
Vehicle owners need to know: Is there pull-through access? What is the height clearance? Are there electrical hookups for RVs? Does the marina have a boat launch? Is the lot paved or gravel? SpareFoot facility listings do not include these details because they were built for box storage. StowHelp facility profiles are designed to answer every question a vehicle owner has before visiting.
Both StowHelp and SpareFoot are free for people searching for storage. The business model for both directories is facility-side: storage facilities pay to list and get leads.
For facility operators, StowHelp offers free basic listings with optional premium upgrades for enhanced visibility. SpareFoot uses a pay-per-reservation model where facilities pay a fee for each customer who books through the platform.
For vehicle owners searching for storage, the cost difference is zero - both are free. The difference is in the quality and relevance of the results you get.
SpareFoot is a great tool if you need a storage unit for boxes, furniture, or household items. It has been the go-to self-storage marketplace for over 15 years and does that job well.
But if you own a boat, RV, car, motorcycle, ATV, jet ski, or trailer, SpareFoot was not built for you. The search experience, facility details, and tools are all oriented toward traditional box storage. You will spend more time sifting through irrelevant results than actually comparing vehicle storage options.
StowHelp was built specifically for vehicle owners. Every search filter, every facility profile field, every tool - from the cost calculator to the size matcher to the seasonal planner - exists because vehicle storage has unique requirements that generic storage directories do not address. If you store a vehicle, start your search on StowHelp.
Search by vehicle type, compare facilities, and get accurate cost estimates - all built for vehicle owners.