plant hire - head to head
Genie vs Niftylift
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| Genie | Niftylift | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | United States (Terex group) | England (Milton Keynes) |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | Scissor lifts, Articulated and telescopic boom lifts, Material lifts | Trailer-mounted boom lifts, Self-propelled boom lifts, Vehicle-mounted platforms |
| Best known for | GS series | HR series |
Choose Genie if...
Powered access in Britain is largely a two-horse conversation, and Genie is one of the horses. The GS scissor lifts are the machine most people mean when they ask to hire a scissor lift.
Look at: GS series, Z series, S series
Full Genie profile →Choose Niftylift if...
The British answer in powered access, and particularly strong in trailer-mounted booms - the machines a small contractor can tow to site behind a van rather than needing a low-loader.
Look at: HR series
Full Niftylift profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK plant hire companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
Genie vs Niftylift - common questions
Is Genie better than Niftylift?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Powered access in Britain is largely a two-horse conversation, and Genie is one of the horses. The GS scissor lifts are the machine most people mean when they ask to hire a scissor lift. The British answer in powered access, and particularly strong in trailer-mounted booms - the machines a small contractor can tow to site behind a van rather than needing a low-loader.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Genie or Niftylift?
Genie: One of the two names that dominate UK powered access fleets. Niftylift: A British access manufacturer stocked throughout UK hire fleets.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK plant hire companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.