Lidl Or Aldi: Which Grocery Store Is Worth Your Time? 

Aldi and Lidl―you could spell either store name with almost the same set of Scrabble letters. But not only are the stores not the same, they’re not (as I once thought) related. In fact, they’re stout competitors―both based out of Germany and both aggressively value-based. 

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There’s a lot of interesting history between the two companies, though Aldi’s probably better known to consumers (if you need a primer on Lidl, here you go). What matters more to us at this cash-strapped moment is which store, if either, is better and cheaper for the consumer? The simple answer: both. 

Which Store Is More Affordable?

As far as prices go, both Aldi and Lidl are that strange brand of European discount store―lower overhead, lower investment on the Whole Foods vibe, with a ton of investment in store brands. As a result, both stores are generally well-regarded for their value. However, historically speaking, Aldi seems to beat out Lidl for savings―by just a bit, but consistently. But that might be changing. Especially as Lidl continues expanding, and competition between the stores remains heated, they have incentive to get seriously competitive about pricing. And, at least according to this Reddit thread, it’s working, with Lidl coming in strong with cheaper staples while Aldi’s prices rise and/or quality falls. One Redditor noted, “I started keeping a note on my phone with prices for stuff I buy regularly at both stores. Sounds kinda obsessive but once u see it side by side its wild how often Lidl wins now on basics.”

It seriously gets thorough out there, friends. (And we’re lucky.) One shopper recently actually did a detailed breakdown of their usual weekly shopping, ingredient by ingredient, and Lidl ended up about $6 more expensive. And while they liked that Lidl had Red Baron frozen pizza and a (generally beloved) bakery, that “wasn’t enough for [the shopper] to switch.” 

A Clear Favorite On Reddit

People do seem to prefer Aldi in general. But since prices are nearly identical, people are going with their guts, it seems: Aldi is smaller, better known, and just has a more manageable vibe than Lidl (which one one reddit reviewer recently said “feels dystopian,” to which another added “Lidl is like post nuclear war dystopian”).

Be that as it may, like we said at the beginning, both stores have their strengths―so, dystopian or not, “Lidl wins hands down in the bakery department.” 

(True story. You gotta try it. It’s just so, so good.)