Lugg vs Dolly vs TaskRabbit — Which service should you use for moving

For most moves and deliveries, Lugg is the most predictable of the three: every booking includes a truck and vetted movers at an upfront price, with crews available in as little as 30 minutes or scheduled up to 60 days out. Dolly (now owned by TaskRabbit) works best for small, single-item store deliveries but charges per item, so costs climb fast on larger jobs. TaskRabbit is the most flexible for non-moving tasks — assembly, handyman work, errands — but a truck isn't guaranteed and Taskers set their own hourly minimums. Here's how the three stack up on price, reliability, and convenience so you can pick the right one.

Quick comparison: Lugg vs Dolly vs TaskRabbit

How much do Lugg, Dolly, and TaskRabbit cost?

Across three common scenarios, Lugg consistently came in lowest, with the gap widening as the move got bigger. The figures below are average estimates for comparable Bay Area jobs (same pickup and drop-off, mid-2026), and actual costs vary by location, distance, item count, and timing.

The pattern: Dolly's flat-rate pricing looks simple but isn't tied to vehicle size, so a small job and a large one can cost the same per item — and item-based pricing makes big moves dramatically more expensive. TaskRabbit can look competitive for one person, but bookings are usually single-Tasker, so a two-person move can double. Lugg prices by vehicle size plus per-minute labor with no hourly minimums, which keeps larger moves predictable and often 30–60% below the alternatives.

What is TaskRabbit?

TaskRabbit is a gig marketplace for hiring local help — furniture assembly, handyman tasks, cleaning, errands, and some moving. It's owned by IKEA's Ingka Group (acquired in 2017). For moving, you can hire a Tasker with a vehicle or labor-only help, but a Tasker has to accept the job before it's confirmed, and each one sets their own rate and often an hourly minimum. That makes TaskRabbit unbeatable for odd jobs and assembly, but less predictable for moving: availability and reliability come down to the individual you pick, and a short job can still cost the full minimum.

What is Dolly?

Dolly is a moving and delivery app built around furniture and store pickups. It was acquired by TaskRabbit in 2024 and now operates under that brand as Taskrabbit Delivery, which is why it often surfaces when people search for TaskRabbit alternatives. Customers are matched with a Helper (independent contractor with a truck) or a Hand (labor only), but nothing is confirmed until a Helper accepts — store deliveries run in two-hour windows. Dolly advertises flat-rate estimates, but the total only appears after you've entered every detail, and add-ons like assembly (around $60) can push it higher. Cancellation fees apply on a sliding scale up to roughly 50% for same-day cancellations, and damage coverage is capped at $300 per job and excludes damage to your home or property.

What is Lugg?

Lugg is an on-demand moving and delivery service built only for moving, delivery, and hauling — so every part of the experience is tuned for it. Every booking automatically includes a truck and vetted Lugg movers, with the estimate shown upfront as soon as you enter your pickup and drop-off addresses. You can get movers at your door in as little as 30 minutes, or schedule up to 60 days in advance.

For store deliveries, Lugg charges a flat rate; for larger moves, pricing is vehicle size plus per-minute labor, so you only pay for the time the crew is actually working — no hourly minimums and no hidden add-ons. People use Lugg for apartment and home moves, college and dorm moves, appliance and furniture delivery, Marketplace and estate-sale pickups, donation drop-offs, junk removal, and storage moves. With over a million Lugg moves at a 4.92/5 average rating, it's the option built specifically for "this is big, heavy, and I don't want to figure out a truck."

👉 Want to see exactly how it works? Watch our YouTube video to learn how to get a free estimate in the Lugg app and see how upfront pricing works.

Reliability: the part people overlook

The biggest practical difference is whether your booking is actually confirmed. With Dolly and TaskRabbit, a worker has to accept your job first, so you can book days out and still have no one show on moving day. Lugg bookings are instantly confirmed — there's no waiting for someone to "accept." If you're moving on a deadline (a lease end, a closing date, a truck rental you have to return), that confirmation is often worth more than a small price difference.

What customers say

Real reviews capture the trade-offs better than spec sheets. A few representative ones:

"Beats the competition! Lugg beats the heck out of Dolly on price and TaskRabbit on ease of scheduling. I will use it again and again!" — Zhenkitty (App Store)

"Used Lugg over Dolly for a quick FB Marketplace furniture pickup, and it was almost $150 cheaper! The guys who came moved all the parts and pieces really quickly." — Stephanie R. (Google Maps)

“The app worked well for me. Dolly, which I used once before to hire help loading and unloading a truck I rented, was not working for two days, so I sought another service and found Lugg. I was able to book a truck and two movers to assist the same day. The price was what I'd expect and cheaper than the Bellhop quote. I could see the status of the movers as they drove over and could communicate via text. I'd use this again if I find myself needing moving help.” by Sam (Google Play)

Common complaints about the alternatives center on the same themes: surprise charges above the quoted price, last-minute Tasker cancellations, and unclear final costs.

Tipping on each app

Tipping is optional on all three, and 100% goes to the workers. Lugg suggests around 15%–20% of the total as a guideline, added in the app and split equally among the crew. Dolly encourages tips (often cited around $20 per Helper) but doesn't publish a clear policy. TaskRabbit lets you tip within 24 hours of the invoice and caps tips at 25% of the task cost. For a deeper breakdown, see Lugg's guide to how much to tip movers.

Side-by-side estimate comparison: Lugg, Dolly, and TaskRabbit

To see how pricing stacks up across platforms, we ran a side-by-side estimate comparison in the Bay Area using the same pickup and drop-off addresses for each service. We tested three common scenarios:

• Store Delivery: Picking up 1–2 items (e.g., a dining table and coffee table from Williams-Sonoma) and delivering them about 1.5 miles to an apartment in San Francisco. Average time: ~1 hour.
• Small Apartment Move: Moving a one-bedroom apartment with around 10–11 items (sofa, bed frame, mattress, dining table, boxes, and more) about 18 miles from Oakland to San Francisco. Average time: ~2–3 hours.
• Full Home Move: Relocating a two-bedroom home with ~15 larger items (multiple beds, mattresses, couches, dining furniture, desks, and more) across the same route. Average time: ~4–5 hours.

Note: These figures are based on estimates available through each platform, combined with typical averages for how long moves of this size usually take. Actual costs may vary depending on location, distance, item count, and timing.

👉 Overall takeaway: Dolly’s flat-rate pricing may feel simple, but for larger moves it becomes significantly more expensive. TaskRabbit offers flexibility, but costs and logistics vary widely by Tasker. Lugg provides a balance of both — with clear vehicle options, included movers, and flexible per-minute labor pricing that often comes in 30–60% lower than the alternatives.

When to use each service

Use TaskRabbit when the job isn't really a move — mounting a TV, assembling furniture, fixing a leaky faucet, or running errands. Use Dolly for a single item or a small store pickup where a flat rate is simple and the price stays low. Use Lugg when you need fast, reliable moving or delivery with a truck and crew included — a new apartment, a Marketplace haul, a donation run, or anything big, heavy, and time-sensitive. Lugg also has dedicated breakdowns of how it compares to Dolly and TaskRabbit if you want the head-to-head detail.

One caveat that applies to all three: they're built for local and regional jobs — Lugg covers moves up to about 150 miles between pickup and drop-off — so for a true cross-country move, a traditional long-distance moving company is the better choice.

Book the move that's actually confirmed

If you're moving or hauling something big, Lugg is the most predictable choice: truck and crew always included, an upfront price, instant confirmation, and booking up to 60 days out. Dolly suits small store deliveries, and TaskRabbit is your pick for assembly and handyman work beyond moving. Match the tool to the job and you'll avoid the surprise that trips people up most — booking a move that was never actually confirmed.