LensRentals and BorrowLenses are two of the most popular and reliable online camera rental services in the US. They both allow you to rent camera lenses and other equipment for your photography or videography projects, without having to buy them.
But which one is better for your needs? How do they compare in terms of selection, pricing, shipping, insurance and customer service?
In this article, we will compare LensRentals vs. BorrowLenses in detail and help you decide which online camera rental service is the best fit for your needs.
LensRentals vs. BorrowLenses: Overview
Before we dive into the comparison, let's take a quick look at what each service is and what it does.
LensRentals
LensRentals is one of the largest and oldest online camera rental services in the US. It was founded in 2006 and has a huge inventory of over 250,000 items, including lenses, cameras, drones, lighting, audio and more.
With LensRentals, you can:
- Rent camera lenses and other equipment for any system, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic and more
- Choose from different rental periods, from 3 days to 90 days
- Get free shipping both ways for orders over $49
- Add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order
- Buy used gear at discounted prices from their sister site LensAuthority
- Join their premium membership program Lensrentals HD for extra benefits
BorrowLenses
BorrowLenses is another online camera rental service that was founded in 2007 and has a large inventory of over 60,000 items, including lenses, cameras, drones, lighting, audio and more.
With BorrowLenses, you can:
- Rent camera lenses and other equipment for any system, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic and more
- Choose from different rental periods, from 3 days to 90 days
- Get free shipping both ways for orders over $99
- Add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order
- Buy used gear at discounted prices from their sister site BL Gear Shop
- Join their premium membership program BL Pro for extra benefits
LensRentals vs. BorrowLenses: Comparison Table
Now that we have a general idea of what each service offers, let's compare them side by side in terms of their key features and functionalities.
| Feature | LensRentals | BorrowLenses |
| Selection | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Service | Yes | Yes |
| Membership Program | Yes | Yes |
Both services have similar features and functionalities. But there are some differences that might make one service better than the other for your specific needs. Let's go over them in more detail below.
LensRentals vs. BorrowLenses: Pros and Cons
LensRentals Pros
- More selection: LensRentals has more selection than BorrowLenses in terms of inventory size and variety. LensRentals has over 250,000 items available for rent, while BorrowLenses has over 60,000 items. LensRentals also has more options for less popular systems like Fuji or Pentax.
- Lower shipping threshold: LensRentals has a lower shipping threshold than BorrowLenses for free shipping both ways. You only need to spend $49 or more to qualify for free shipping with LensRentals, while you need to spend $99 or more with BorrowLenses.
- Better insurance options: LensRentals has better insurance options than BorrowLenses in terms of coverage and cost. You can add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order with LensRentals for a variable fee based on the rental period and the item value. The damage waiver covers accidental damage up to the full replacement value of the item, while the theft insurance covers theft up to $1000 per item. With BorrowLenses, you can add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order for a fixed fee per item regardless of the rental period. The damage waiver covers accidental damage up to 50% of the replacement value of the item, while the theft insurance covers theft up to $500 per item.
LensRentals Cons
- No local pickup option: LensRentals does not offer any local pickup option for your order. You have to rely on shipping services to get your order delivered and returned. BorrowLenses, on the other hand, offers local pickup option in some areas, such as San Francisco, Boston and Washington DC.
- No trend alerts feature: LensRentals does not offer any trend alerts feature that helps you discover and rent popular or trending items. BorrowLenses, on the other hand, has a feature that shows you the most rented items in different categories, such as lenses, cameras, drones, and more.
BorrowLenses Pros
- Local pickup option: BorrowLenses offers local pickup option in some areas, such as San Francisco, Boston and Washington DC. This can save you time and money on shipping fees and also give you more flexibility on your rental period. LensRentals does not offer any local pickup option for your order.
- Trend alerts feature: BorrowLenses has a trend alerts feature that helps you discover and rent popular or trending items. You can see the most rented items in different categories, such as lenses, cameras, drones and more. This can help you find the best gear for your project or inspire you to try something new. LensRentals does not offer any trend alerts feature.
BorrowLenses Cons
- Less selection: BorrowLenses has less selection than LensRentals in terms of inventory size and variety. BorrowLenses has over 60,000 items available for rent, while LensRentals has over 250,000 items. BorrowLenses also has fewer options for less popular systems like Fuji or Pentax.
- Higher shipping threshold: BorrowLenses has a higher shipping threshold than LensRentals for free shipping both ways. You need to spend $99 or more to qualify for free shipping with BorrowLenses, while you only need to spend $49 or more with LensRentals.
- Worse insurance options: BorrowLenses has worse insurance options than LensRentals in terms of coverage and cost. You can add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order with BorrowLenses for a fixed fee per item regardless of the rental period. The damage waiver covers accidental damage up to 50% of the replacement value of the item, while the theft insurance covers theft up to $500 per item. With LensRentals, you can add optional damage waiver or theft insurance to your order for a variable fee based on the rental period and the item value. The damage waiver covers accidental damage up to the full replacement value of the item, while the theft insurance covers theft up to $1000 per item.
Conclusion
Which online camera rental service should you use in 2023? The answer to this question depends on your needs, preferences and budget.
If you are looking for a service that has more selection, lower shipping threshold and better insurance options, then LensRentals might be a better choice for you.
But if you are looking for a service that offers local pickup option and trend alerts feature, then BorrowLenses might be a better choice for you.
Ultimately, both services are excellent and reliable online camera rental services that can help you rent camera lenses and other equipment for your photography or videography projects. You can't go wrong with either one of them.
However, if you want to get the best of both worlds, you might want to consider using both services together. By combining the strengths of LensRentals and BorrowLenses, you can get access to more selection, features and benefits that can help you rent camera gear more easily and affordably.
Further Reading
(1) Lensrentals Review: My Experience + Lensrentals Promo Code