By the end of my comparison, it was clear that shopping at Aldi would have saved me a couple of dollars off my bill.
Many products I looked at were priced the same at both retailers, but most were a few cents cheaper at Aldi. It feels like the best chain for anyone who’s truly obsessed with savings.
Personally, though, I preferred my shopping experience at Lidl. The store felt more welcoming and larger, with a broader mix of products.
Lidl’s prices may not have beaten Aldi’s overall, but I’d likely still save money by shopping there rather than at a traditional supermarket.
Of course, prices vary, and this is based on my local store locations and the limited number of products I reviewed during these trips. I’d be curious to visit a newer, more recently updated Aldi to see if it changes my perspective.
I’m also aware that shopping at Lidl won’t be an option for as many people in the US. Lidl has around 200 stores in nine US states, all on the East Coast, whereas Aldi is projected to have 2,800 locations across more than 30 US states by the end of this year.
I would shop at Aldi if I didn’t have a Lidl nearby to take advantage of the savings — but for now, I’ll stick to the brighter, more welcoming store.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Lidl said:
“At Lidl, we are committed to an Everyday Low Price (EDLP) discounter model while offering our customers a significantly broader selection—carrying around 3,100 items compared to the roughly 2,400 items typically found at competitors like Aldi. This allows our shoppers to complete their entire grocery trip in one stop. Additionally, through our Lidl Plus loyalty program, customers enjoy personalized offers and extra savings every day.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Aldi said:
“Genuine savings and quality products are at the heart of how we operate at ALDI. For example, 90% of around 2,100 products are ALDI-exclusive, which allows us to work with top suppliers to offer the highest quality products at the best prices possible. Even details like our iconic quarter cart system and multiple barcodes on products help our teams work more efficiently so they can focus on helping shoppers move through stores faster. And if you’re new to ALDI or simply forget your quarter, our employees are always happy to lend you one. It’s a shopping experience our customers have embraced, and we’re fortunate to have an incredibly loyal community of ALDI fans, something we see firsthand when shoppers line up before sunrise for new store openings. It all comes back to helping shoppers save time and money every time they shop at ALDI.”
