The cheapest grocery delivery, honestly.
Aldi has the lowest item prices; Walmart+ has the lowest fees. Which one actually saves you more money depends on how big your cart is — and whether free pickup would quietly beat both. Here's the honest math.
The verdict
our honest pickWinner: It depends
There's no single "cheapest" — it flips on basket size. Aldi via Instacart has the lowest modeled shelf prices (about 12% under Walmart), but Instacart's 5% service fee, delivery, and 10% tip can erase that edge on a small cart, where Walmart+'s $0 service fee and free delivery over $35 win. Batch a large order — ideally with Instacart+ — and Aldi pulls clearly ahead. If your only goal is spending the least, though, free curbside pickup or in-store beats every delivery option here.
The picks, ranked
- 1Aldi (delivery)Lowest item prices
Aldi's shelf prices model about 12% under Walmart on our canonical 12-item basket — $45.30 versus $51.29 — the lowest of any store we track. That edge only survives to your door on larger, batched orders, where Instacart's fixed $5.99 delivery gets diluted. Add Instacart+ ($99/yr) to kill the delivery fee, and Aldi becomes the clear all-in value winner.
- 2Walmart+Lowest fees, widest reach
Walmart+ charges no percentage service fee — the line that adds 5% at Instacart is simply $0 — and delivery is free over $35 with the $98/yr pass. On a typical ~$50 cart that $0 service fee nearly closes Aldi's item-price gap, and Walmart reaches far more suburban and rural ZIPs than Aldi does. It's the safest default for small or occasional budget orders.
- 3InstacartNo annual membership
Don't want to sink $98 or $99 into a pass up front? Instacart lets you shop Aldi (and dozens of stores) with no membership — you just pay 5% service, $5.99 delivery over $35, and a 10% suggested tip per order. For occasional budget shoppers who'd never hit a membership's break-even, pay-as-you-go avoids paying for a subscription you won't use enough.
Why the cheapest store isn't the cheapest cart
"Cheapest" has two layers, and budget shoppers get burned confusing them. Layer one is shelf price: Aldi wins, modeled about 12% under Walmart ($45.30 vs $51.29 on our 12-item basket). Layer two is the fee stack, and that's where Aldi's edge leaks. Every Aldi order rides Instacart's fees — a 5% service fee, $5.99 delivery over $35 (or $9.99 under), and a 10% suggested tip. On a ~$50 cart that's roughly $12–$14 in add-ons. Walmart+'s quiet weapon is a $0 service fee, which claws most of that item gap back before you even factor in coverage.
The flip: basket size and membership decide it
On our canonical basket, pay-per-order Aldi lands around $58 all-in versus about $56 for a Walmart+ member — modeled, and close enough to call a wash. The tie-breakers are size and commitment. Batch a big weekly haul and Instacart's fixed $5.99 delivery shrinks as a share of the cart, so Aldi's item savings survive; add Instacart+ ($99/yr, break-even near 17 orders) to erase delivery entirely and Aldi wins clearly. Order small or occasionally and Walmart+'s no-service-fee, free-over-$35 structure is cheaper. Either way, always clear $35 — under it, Instacart delivery jumps to $9.99.
The honest answer: pickup and in-store still win
If the literal goal is spending the least, delivery isn't it. Instacart's fees add roughly 20–32% over your groceries depending on basket size, and even Walmart+ layers on a suggested 10% tip plus a $98/yr pass. Free curbside pickup at Walmart skips the delivery fee entirely, and shopping Aldi in person beats Aldi delivery every time — in-app prices can even run above the shelf. Delivery buys back an hour and a car trip, which is worth real money to a lot of households. Just don't tell yourself it's the cheapest option. It's the convenient one.
Frequently asked
What's the cheapest grocery delivery service?
It depends on your basket. Aldi via Instacart has the lowest modeled item prices — about 12% under Walmart — while Walmart+ has the lowest fees, with no percentage service fee and free delivery over $35. On a small or occasional cart Walmart+ usually nets cheaper because Instacart's per-order fees erase Aldi's item savings; on a large batched order (especially with Instacart+), Aldi pulls ahead. These are modeled estimates, not guaranteed prices.
Is Aldi delivery cheaper than Walmart delivery?
On shelf price, yes — Aldi models around $45.30 versus $51.29 for Walmart+ on our 12-item basket. But Aldi runs on Instacart, so a 5% service fee, $5.99 delivery, and a 10% tip stack on top. Walmart+ charges $0 service fee and free delivery over $35, which nearly closes the gap. Pay-per-order, the two land within a dollar or two all-in; Aldi only wins clearly on big baskets or with Instacart+.
How do I avoid grocery delivery fees?
Three levers. First, clear $35: at Walmart+ that means free delivery, and on Instacart it drops delivery from $9.99 to $5.99. Second, use free curbside pickup instead of delivery — it skips the delivery fee entirely. Third, do the membership math: Walmart+ ($98/yr) pays off around 13 orders and Instacart+ ($99/yr) around 17; below that, pay per order, since Instacart requires no membership at all.
Is grocery delivery cheaper than shopping in store?
No. Every delivery option adds fees, a tip, or a membership on top of shelf prices — Instacart roughly 20–32%, and even Walmart+ a suggested 10% tip plus its annual pass. Free curbside pickup avoids the delivery fee, and shopping in person is cheaper still. Delivery is worth paying for when it saves you a trip and an hour, but if saving the most money is the only goal, in-store or pickup wins.
Should I pay for a membership to save money?
Only if you order often enough. Walmart+ ($98/yr) breaks even at roughly 13 deliveries — about one a month that clears $35 — and Instacart+ ($99/yr) at about 17 orders. Order weekly and a pass saves real money; order occasionally and you'll lose on it. Since Instacart charges no required membership, occasional budget shoppers are usually better off paying the per-order fee than pre-paying for a subscription.
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