What is the cheapest supermarket in the UK 2026?

Aldi and Lidl consistently come out cheapest in 2026, typically 15–25% cheaper than the big four (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) on a like-for-like basket. Of the big four, Asda is usually the cheapest. Online-only options like Amazon Fresh and Ocado tend to be the most expensive overall, though Ocado's Smart Pass can reduce the gap.

Is Aldi really cheaper than Tesco?

Yes — consistently. On a typical weekly shop of 50+ items, Aldi is usually £10–£20 cheaper than Tesco. The gap is narrower on branded goods (which Aldi stocks less of) and wider on own-brand essentials. Tesco Clubcard Prices can close the gap on specific items, but Aldi's overall basket tends to be lower.

How can I save money on groceries UK?

Shop at Aldi or Lidl for the cheapest baseline prices. Use loyalty cards (Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Morrisons More) for targeted discounts. Buy own-brand over branded products. Plan meals weekly and shop from a list. Check yellow-sticker reduced items. Use apps like Too Good To Go. Buy frozen veg and long-life basics in bulk. Consider online delivery to avoid impulse buying.

Are loyalty cards worth it for supermarket savings?

Yes — especially Tesco Clubcard. Clubcard Prices offer significant discounts on hundreds of items, often matching Aldi prices. Nectar (Sainsbury's) gives points and personalised offers via the app. Morrisons More Card and Lidl Plus also offer savings. The key is using them consistently and checking personalised offers each week.

Cheapest Supermarket UK 2026 — Monthly Price Comparison | PocketWise

With food prices remaining high, choosing the right supermarket can save a typical family £50–£80 per month. Here is how the major UK supermarkets compare on price in 2026.

Overall Price Ranking — March 2026

Based on a basket of approximately 65 commonly purchased grocery items:

Rank	Supermarket	Typical weekly basket cost	vs. cheapest
1	Aldi	~£68	Baseline
2	Lidl	~£69	+£1 (+1.5%)
3	Asda	~£76	+£8 (+11.8%)
4	Tesco (with Clubcard)	~£78	+£10 (+14.7%)
5	Morrisons	~£80	+£12 (+17.6%)
6	Sainsbury’s	~£81	+£13 (+19.1%)
7	Tesco (without Clubcard)	~£83	+£15 (+22.1%)
8	Co-op	~£86	+£18 (+26.5%)
9	M&S	~£95	+£27 (+39.7%)
10	Waitrose	~£98	+£30 (+44.1%)
11	Ocado	~£96	+£28 (+41.2%)

Prices are indicative based on independent price comparison sources (Which?, The Grocer, trolley.co.uk). Actual costs vary by location and individual basket.

Annual Savings by Switching

Switch from	Switch to	Estimated annual saving
Waitrose → Aldi		~£1,560
Sainsbury’s → Aldi		~£676
Tesco → Aldi		~£520
Morrisons → Lidl		~£572
Co-op → Asda		~£520
Tesco (no Clubcard) → Tesco (with Clubcard)		~£260

Supermarket-by-Supermarket Breakdown

Aldi

Feature	Detail
Price position	Consistently cheapest or joint cheapest
Own brand quality	High — often wins blind taste tests against branded equivalents
Range	Limited — ~1,800 product lines vs ~30,000+ at Tesco
Online shopping	No standard grocery delivery
Loyalty scheme	None
Best for	Budget-conscious shoppers who are flexible on brands
Weaknesses	Small stores, limited range, no delivery, queues at checkouts

Lidl

Feature	Detail
Price position	Joint cheapest with Aldi — sometimes fractionally more
Own brand quality	High — regularly wins quality awards
Range	Limited — similar to Aldi
Online shopping	No standard grocery delivery
Loyalty scheme	Lidl Plus app — offers and coupons
Best for	Those who want Aldi-level prices with an app for extra savings
Weaknesses	Small stores, limited range, “middle aisle” impulse buys

Asda

Feature	Detail
Price position	Cheapest of the big four most months
Own brand	Smart Price (budget), Just Essentials, Asda own
Range	Full range — ~30,000+ product lines
Online shopping	Delivery from £3.50, click and collect available
Loyalty scheme	Asda Rewards — cashback on selected items
Best for	Those wanting big-four range at lower prices
Weaknesses	Quality perception lower than Sainsbury’s/Tesco on premium lines

Tesco

Feature	Detail
Price position	Mid-range — but Clubcard Prices close the gap
Own brand	Everyday Value (budget), Tesco own, Finest (premium)
Range	Largest range of any UK supermarket
Online shopping	Full delivery and click and collect
Loyalty scheme	Tesco Clubcard — significant discounts, points for Clubcard Plus/Avios
Best for	Those who want range, convenience, and are using Clubcard
Weaknesses	Expensive without Clubcard — one of the priciest without it

Sainsbury’s

Feature	Detail
Price position	Upper mid-range — similar to Morrisons
Own brand	Stamford Street (budget), Sainsbury’s own, Taste the Difference
Range	Full range
Online shopping	Full delivery and click and collect
Loyalty scheme	Nectar — personalised app offers, Nectar Prices
Best for	Those who value quality own-brand and use Nectar app actively
Weaknesses	Pricier than Asda/Tesco on many everyday items

Morrisons

Feature	Detail
Price position	Mid-range — sometimes cheaper than Tesco on fresh items
Own brand	Savers (budget), Morrisons own, The Best
Range	Strong fresh food counters — deli, butcher, fishmonger
Online shopping	Delivery via Amazon (Morrisons on Amazon) and own service
Loyalty scheme	Morrisons More Card — points and offers
Best for	Those who value fresh food counters and in-store preparation
Weaknesses	Fewer stores, online delivery less developed

Loyalty Cards Compared

Card	Supermarket	Key benefits	Worth it?
Clubcard	Tesco	Clubcard Prices (huge discounts on 100s of items), points (1p per £1), Clubcard Plus subscription	Yes — essential if you shop at Tesco
Nectar	Sainsbury’s	Nectar Prices, personalised offers via app, points at multiple retailers	Yes — especially with active app use
Asda Rewards	Asda	Cashback on selected items, Star Products	Modest savings — worth using
Morrisons More	Morrisons	Points, personalised offers	Moderate — smaller discounts
Lidl Plus	Lidl	In-app coupons, weekly offers, scratch cards	Yes — small but regular savings
myWaitrose	Waitrose	Free tea/coffee, 10% off selected items	Small perks — won’t offset premium prices
Co-op membership	Co-op	2p per £1 on own-brand, community support	Limited savings unless you shop there regularly

Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bill

Shopping Strategy

Tip	Estimated saving
Switch from big four to Aldi/Lidl	£40–£80/month
Buy own-brand instead of branded	£15–£30/month
Plan meals weekly and shop from a list	£20–£40/month
Use yellow-sticker reduced items	£10–£20/month
Buy frozen veg instead of fresh (where appropriate)	£5–£10/month
Batch cook and freeze	£20–£30/month
Use loyalty card offers actively	£10–£20/month
Check unit prices (price per kg/litre) not just total price	Variable
Avoid shopping while hungry	Impulse buys add £5–£15/trip
Try online delivery to reduce impulse purchases	£15–£25/month

Apps and Tools

App/Tool	What it does
Too Good To Go	Surplus food bags from supermarkets and restaurants — typically £3–£4 for £10+ of food
Approved Food	Online clearance store for short-dated stock
trolley.co.uk	Price comparison across major supermarkets
Latest Deals / HotUKDeals	Community-sourced deals and offers
Supermarket own apps	Personalised offers, digital coupons, and loyalty points

Price Comparison by Category

Everyday Essentials (March 2026)

Item	Aldi	Lidl	Asda	Tesco (Clubcard)	Sainsbury’s
Semi-skimmed milk (2 pint)	£1.15	£1.15	£1.15	£1.15	£1.15
White bread (800g)	£0.39	£0.39	£0.47	£0.47	£0.50
6 free-range eggs	£1.29	£1.29	£1.50	£1.40	£1.60
Butter (250g)	£1.69	£1.69	£1.85	£1.79	£1.85
Cheddar cheese (400g)	£2.19	£2.19	£2.50	£2.35	£2.60
Chicken breast (1kg)	£5.49	£5.49	£5.99	£5.75	£6.00
Bananas (5 pack)	£0.69	£0.69	£0.73	£0.75	£0.75
Pasta (500g own brand)	£0.55	£0.55	£0.70	£0.70	£0.75
Tinned tomatoes (400g)	£0.29	£0.29	£0.33	£0.35	£0.35

Prices are indicative and vary by region and date.

The Split-Shop Strategy

Many savvy shoppers use a split-shop approach:

Shop	What to buy
Aldi / Lidl	Fresh fruit, veg, meat, dairy, bakery, own-brand staples (70–80% of your shop)
Tesco / Sainsbury’s (with loyalty card)	Specific branded products on Clubcard/Nectar Prices, anything you can’t get at discounters
Local market	Fresh fruit and veg (often cheapest and freshest)

This approach gets you the best prices on bulk essentials while still picking up specific branded items at the best loyalty-card price.