Comparison

CubeSmart Self vs Public Storage

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CubeSmart Self

Manage your self-storage account easily with this app. Access your rental details, gate codes, payment history, and set up autopay. Find store hours and directions to simplify your storage experience.

Highlights
  • My Unit dashboard
  • View rental details
  • Access gate codes
  • Payment history
  • Set up autopay
  • Store hours and directions
Read full description

At CubeSmart – it’s what’s inside that counts. And there’s no easier way to gain insider access to your account than with the refreshed CubeSmart Mobile App! Manage your account with your My Unit dashboard, a place to view all the details of your rental – your balance, your payment history, your unit features, and more. Need your gate code? It’s right in the app for your convenience. You can also set up autopay, check for store hours and get directions. CubeSmart is simplifying your self-storage experience to help simplify your life.

About

Public Storage

Manage your self-storage experience with ease. Access gates, pay bills, and manage your account all from your phone. Get quick customer support and enjoy a streamlined, contactless storage solution.

Highlights
  • Contactless gate access
  • One-tap bill payment
  • AutoPay activation
  • Account management
  • Customer support access
  • Notifications for rent due
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

ABOUT THIS APP We take the stress out of storage. Now we've made your self-storage experience even easier. With the free Public Storage app, you have everything you need for contactless storage in the palm of your hands: gate access, bill pay, account management, customer support and more! OPEN GATES & DOORS: Breeze right past the keypads at virtually every location. Just tap your phone and go. Once you’re within range of a gate, door or elevator, you gain access to your self-storage space with a touch. So every visit to your Public Storage unit is speedier. PAY YOUR BILL: Make monthly payments in a snap. Pay your bill or activate AutoPay with one tap for easy, contactless payments. Get notified when rent is due so you’re always on time and freed from late fees. KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT IN CHECK: Manage one or multiple accounts and storage units, all in one place. Update your payment preferences and other settings without a call to customer service or visit to your local Public Storage facility. TALK TO THE SUPPORT TEAM: Get the help you need, right when you need it. Find answers to critical questions. Call for instant support from our friendly customer service team. Drop us a quick note for important, but less timely storage needs. ABOUT PUBLIC STORAGE: Since opening our first self-storage location in 1972, we’ve grown to become the largest owner and operator of storage facilities in the world. With thousands of locations across the U.S. and Europe, and more than 170 million net rentable square feet of real estate, we have the space you need right in your neighborhood. With complete storage solutions of all sizes, there’s always a storage unit near you that lets you make extra space in your garage or basement, store your car or RV and find a temporary place for your furniture. Plus, flexible month-to-month contracts mean you can adjust your storage space to your short-term or long-term needs.

Screenshots

CubeSmart Self4 screens
Public Storage4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Public Storage at 4.5 against CubeSmart Self's 2.2. Public Storage also leads on ratings volume (104K vs 82) and chart position (#59 vs unranked). CubeSmart Self's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Public Storage holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Public Storage has 104K ratings behind it against 82, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 20% and 21% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CubeSmart Self ships an update every 3 weeks, Public Storage monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
CubeSmart Self versus Public Storage: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCubeSmart SelfPublic Storage
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (82 ratings)4.5 (104K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.1% of reviews20.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings82104K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#59 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCubeSmartPublic Storage

Customer experience

CubeSmart Self

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews149 reviews
Positive20.1%
Neutral0.7%
Negative79.2%

Public Storage

All ratings103,611 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews402 reviews
Positive20.9%
Neutral6.7%
Negative72.4%

User reviews

CubeSmart Self

From 82 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient and simple to use
  • 🔒 Secure payment processing
  • 👍 Straightforward user interface
  • 👍 Helpful location recommendations
  • 👍 Improved performance over time

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Login and registration issues
  • 🐛 Payment processing problems
  • 🐛 Inconsistent app behavior
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

Public Storage

From 104K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Helpful and friendly staff
  • 📱 Convenient mobile app
  • 🔒 Secure storage facilities
  • 🧹 Clean and well-maintained premises

Room to improve

  • 💰 Frequent and steep rent increases
  • 🚫 Poor customer service and lack of responsiveness
  • 🚧 Broken or malfunctioning access gates and elevators
  • 🐜 Pest and vermin issues in some locations
  • 🕰️ Reduced operating hours and limited access

Bugs and requests

CubeSmart Self

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App not opening or loading
  • Incorrect password errors
  • Inability to register new accounts
  • Sync issues between app and website

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to store payment information
  • Integration with web account
  • Improved gate/door access controls
  • Enhanced customer support

Public Storage

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Bluetooth and location services issues with mobile app
  • Billing and payment processing problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved mobile app functionality and reliability
  • Better communication and transparency around policy changes
  • Consistent and fair pricing across locations
  • Enhanced security measures and monitoring

In-app purchases

None

CubeSmart Self

No in-app purchases

None

Public Storage

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CubeSmart Self free?
CubeSmart Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Public Storage free?
Public Storage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CubeSmart Self or Public Storage?
Public Storage is rated higher. CubeSmart Self averages 2.2 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while Public Storage averages 4.5 from 104K ratings.
Do CubeSmart Self or Public Storage have ads?
Public Storage shows ads; CubeSmart Self does not.
Which is updated more often, CubeSmart Self or Public Storage?
CubeSmart Self ships an update every 3 weeks, and Public Storage monthly. Most recently, CubeSmart Self was updated on October 27, 2026 and Public Storage on October 28, 2026.

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