ShareGrid is an online marketplace where you can rent out your camera-related equipment, mostly higher end, in exchange for a fee.  From cameras to drones and tripods, the marketplace seems to have it all in the photography world.  It’s an idea to consider if you want to put your gear to work whenever you’re not using it.  Over time, these profits can potentially pay off your equipment, sometimes even more.

If you’re a photographer and you’re comfortable in renting out your equipment, you may want to consider this platform to make a few extra dollars on the side.

In today’s review, I talk about ShareGrid, simply showing you how it works, what you can potentially make as well as if it’s worth your time.  As in all of my reviews, I’m always 100% honest, only recommending what I feel is worth it.

With over 40,000 members sharing more than $40 million in equipment, there’s no doubt the company is legit.  The true question is if it’s worth your time.

What is ShareGrid?

ShareGrid is an equipment-sharing platform that caters to filmmakers; however, anyone who needs to rent high-end film equipment can use it as well.  Whether you’re looking to make a movie or perform a high-end shot, you can search this platform for anyone who owns cameras, lights or any equipment that’s needed to create a successful scene.

Aside from renting out equipment, you can also sell your equipment, look for freelance job opportunities as well as find locations for film shooting.  It’s much more than just renting out gear.

How it Works

Listing your equipment is straightforward and works much like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.  You will post pictures, what you have in the details section as well as what’s included.

Being the owner, you can also list the price as well as when people can pick up your equipment.  99% of the time, you will have to meet up with the renter, all of which you will work out the details in the messaging system.

Creating an account as well as listing your equipment is 100% free.  The website only charges a fee, which I will get into later when you successfully rent it out.

NOTE:  To see what you can make, search for the item you’re looking to rent out.  This should give you an idea of current market.  If you can’t find anything in your city, you may want to change it to another city nearby to see if anything is available.

Perks as an Owner

If you’re interested in renting out your equipment, the website provides a variety of benefits, including…

• Security.  Every renter who rents through you goes through a rigorous ID verification process, ensuring that you’re dealing with someone legitimate.
• Instant Insurance Coverage.  No matter who rents your equipment, it’s always insured.  Rest assured, your equipment will always be protected, no matter who uses it.
• Complete Control.  You’re in control of your equipment.  This means you get to set the rates, who can rent it as well as when you want to rent it out.
• Support.  Customer service is available through email, live chat or phone, with the ability to help you with any problems that arise.

The Fees

Of course, ShareGrid needs to make a profit and there will be fees involved.

If you’re interested in listing your items, the company will charge a small 15% service fee, which covers the payment processing, customer service as well as customer support.  This commission fee tends to be standard in the industry.  If you decide to sell your equipment, then there’s a small 5% fee for sellers and a payment processing fee for the buyer.  Yes, ShareGrid works as a seller’s platform as well.

Aside from the small service fee, the company offers a free concierge service that lists the gear for you if you want to list more than one item.  Yes, you can list the items yourself as well.  All listings are free and you’re only charged 15% if your gear is rented out.

I’m Afraid of my Equipment Getting Damaged

This was the first thing that came to my mind when I first started researching this company.  Since you’re renting out expensive equipment in most cases, you will want to be assured that your assets are protected.  The last thing you want to have happen is that you receive your equipment back, only to find out it’s not working as it should.

Thankfully, the company forces the buyer to choose a protection plan so that your equipment is always protected in case of damage, theft, etc.

According to the site, the company offers a variety of insurance plans, from damage only to damage plus theft.  You can read much more about the insurance policies via this FAQ page.

Now, the thing is that you should include everything that’s included with your rental because failing to do so may lead to an insurance claim that you won’t be happy with.  I have read some complaints stating that their product was damaged upon returning and the insurance claim ended up being lower than expected.  This will partly be the owner to blame because they didn’t include every item in the rental listing.

And, remember; you get to choose who you want to rent to, so if you feel uncomfortable with someone requesting to rent your equipment, you can always deny them.

If you do rent out, keep great records to cover yourself in case damage/theft does happen.

What the Internet Says

Reddit users in this thread loved ShareGrid in comparison to KitSplit for a few reasons.  One, they have real insurance as well as better pricing on gear almost 80% of the time.  They also liked that customer service was always readily available, helping them with whatever problem they have.  In this same thread, one user said they would make an average of $1,300 a month renting out their equipment.

Final Thoughts

7/10ShareGrid seems to be a fairly popular platform and I think you can do okay at it, depending on where you live and what you’re renting out.  There are too many factors to determine how much you can make on the platform, but they seem to have the most competitive rates and people looking for gear.  What I would do is look at related posts and see what people are charging.

If you’re not using your photography-related equipment, I say at least give it a shot.  Worst case, no one wants to rent it out.  Even if you get a few renters here and there, it’s a great way to pay off your equipment over time.  And, remember, even if you’re afraid of it getting damaged, the buyer will buy insurance, so there’s no worry there.  Just make sure you confirm what kind of insurance is being purchased before sending out your equipment.

That’s going to wrap it up.

If you have used ShareGrid, I would love to hear from you, whether it’s good or bad.  Be sure to me know in the comments below.