Einstein is one of the best-reviewed movers in Austin, and one of the priciest. We compare its full-service rate, minimum and damage coverage with our labor-only crews, and run a small move both ways.
The short version
- Einstein is a full-service Austin mover founded in 2012, with branches in North Austin, South Austin and Leander, and a 9.63 out of 10 score across 1,992 reviews on Great Guys Moving.
- It's also the highest hourly rate on Yahoo Local's Austin list: about $90 per mover, or $270 an hour for three, with a 2.5-hour minimum that starts a job at $675.
- No deposit and $2,000 of damage coverage are included, but it won't move items over 400 pounds, grand pianos or attic items, and it doesn't run interstate moves.
- Three hours with Einstein's three movers is about $810. Three hours with our two movers is $336, plus the truck you rent.
Trying to choose between Einstein Moving Company and Undergrads Moving in Austin? Well, you came to the right place. We checked: Einstein has won the Austin Chronicle's "Best of Austin" award for movers nearly every year since 2016, and Great Guys Moving scores it 9.63 out of 10 across 1,992 reviews (June 2025).
Spoiler alert: we're Undergrads Moving, so this comparison is in part a shamelessly self-promotional tactic. And yes, we picked a fight with the most decorated mover in town. Read below, and make up your own conclusions.
How they compare
Einstein is a Texas-grown full-service mover, founded in 2012, with branches in North Austin, South Austin, and Leander. They bring a 26-foot truck and a vetted crew. We're labor-only: you rent the truck, and our crews load and unload it.
| Einstein Moving Company | Undergrads Moving | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Truck, crew, packing, Texas long-distance | Crew for loading and unloading; you rent the truck |
| Hourly rate | About $90 per mover; $270 for three (Yahoo Local, October 2025) | $112 per hour for two movers |
| Minimum | 2.5 hours | 2 hours |
| Deposit | None; free cancellation | $5 reservation; free cancellation 48 hours out |
| Damage coverage | $2,000 included | $1,000 included |
| Late guarantee | Discount that grows the longer you wait | $50 off if a mover is 30+ minutes late |
| Google rating | 4.9 from 1,550+ reviews (per Extra Space Storage, September 2026) | 4.8 from 223+ Austin reviews |
What Einstein does well
- Consistency at scale. About 97% of Great Guys reviewers who rated care with belongings scored it positively. That's rare for a company running 80 trucks.
- Handling problems. Accident handling is the weakest category for almost every mover we looked at. Einstein still scores 9.03 out of 10 there.
- Agreement across platforms. Extra Space lists Yelp at 4.8 from 694+ reviews and a Better Business Bureau grade of A+. No Google-versus-Yelp gap to explain.
- Honest fine print. No deposit, taxes and fuel inside the rate, and twice our damage coverage. We'll say it plainly: that's a better coverage number than ours.
Where reviewers push back
- Price. Yahoo Local called it the highest hourly rate on its Austin list. A 2.5-hour minimum at $270 per hour starts at $675.
- Limits on what they'll move. Their site excludes items over 400 pounds, grand pianos, and attic items. They accept cards only, and they don't run interstate moves.
- The occasional damage report. moveBuddha (November 2026) names damaged items as the most common complaint, though only about 1% of its 1,535 reviews are negative at all.
When to pick them instead of us
Go with Einstein if you want the whole move handled, you're moving a three-bedroom house, or you're relocating elsewhere in Texas. If your budget fits their rate, the reviews say you'll get what you paid for.
Skip them if: you have a one-bedroom apartment and a tight budget, or you're loading a rental truck or container. Their damage coverage applies only to their own trucks.
The Undergrads comparison
Run a small move both ways. Three hours with Einstein's three-mover crew is roughly $810 at the rate above. Three hours with our two movers is $336, plus the truck you rent. They include the truck and a third mover, so it isn't the same product. It's the same couch, though.
Our rate is locked before the crew arrives, with no stair or fuel fees, and crews are university students.
Bottom line
Einstein has earned its reputation, and we won't pretend otherwise. If you can drive a truck across town, our Austin movers can cut the bill by doing only the heavy part (shameless self-promotion). Check Austin rates before you book. The math is the argument.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Einstein Moving cost in Austin?+
Yahoo Local (October 2025) puts Einstein at about $90 per mover per hour, or $270 an hour for a three-mover crew. With a 2.5-hour minimum, the smallest job starts at $675.
Does Einstein require a deposit?+
No. Einstein takes no deposit, offers free cancellation, and includes taxes and fuel in the rate. It accepts cards only.
What won't Einstein move?+
Its site excludes items over 400 pounds, grand pianos and attic items. Einstein also doesn't run interstate moves.
Does Einstein's damage coverage apply if I rent my own truck?+
No. Einstein includes $2,000 of damage coverage, but it applies only to moves in Einstein's own trucks, not to loading a rental truck or container.
How are Einstein's reviews?+
Strong on every platform. Extra Space Storage lists 4.9 stars on Google from 1,550+ reviews, 4.8 on Yelp from 694+ and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. moveBuddha counts only about 1% of 1,535 reviews as negative.
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