Skip to content
ALDI vs Coles comparison Australia

ALDI vs Coles

Everyday low prices and Special Buys vs weekly half price specials compared

ALDI vs Coles at a Glance

 ALDIColes
Store typeSupermarketsSupermarkets
New catalogue / salesSpecial Buys every Wed & Sat
Next: Wed 21 Oct		Every Wednesday (Wed–Tue)
Next: Wed 21 Oct
StoresAround 600 stores in NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA and WAMore than 800 supermarkets in every state and territory
Pricing styleEveryday low prices, mostly ALDI-exclusive brandsWeekly specials and half price deals on national and Coles brands
Loyalty programNoneFlybuys
Non-food bargainsSpecial Buys every Wednesday and SaturdaySelected general merchandise in the weekly catalogue
Online grocery shoppingMainly in-store shoppingHome delivery and Click & Collect
Range sizeSmaller, focused rangeLarge range with many national brands
Full store guideALDI Catalogue →Coles Catalogue →

Store numbers, programs and policies change over time. Always check the official ALDI and Coles websites for current details.

Latest ALDI Deals & Specials

Fresh ALDI deals, discounts and promo offers, updated every few hours.

Latest deal

Deals may have ended, be targeted to some customers or limited to some states. Always check the price in store or online before you buy.

Latest Coles Deals & Specials

Fresh Coles deals, discounts and promo offers, updated every few hours.

Latest deal

Deals may have ended, be targeted to some customers or limited to some states. Always check the price in store or online before you buy.

ALDI vs Coles: Two Very Different Ways to Save

ALDI and Coles both sell groceries, but they work in completely different ways. Coles is a full-range supermarket with thousands of national and Coles-brand products and a big weekly catalogue of half price specials. ALDI runs smaller stores with a focused range made up mostly of ALDI-exclusive brands, and it keeps prices low every day instead of running half price deals. Understanding that difference is the key to deciding where to shop.

Everyday prices vs weekly specials

In regular supermarket basket surveys by consumer group CHOICE, ALDI has consistently been the cheapest of the major supermarkets for a basket of everyday items when specials are excluded. Coles fights back with weekly specials: each Wednesday a new set of branded products drops to half price, and on those items Coles can be cheaper than ALDI for the week. A popular strategy is to do the main shop at ALDI and then pick up branded favourites from the Coles catalogue when they are half price.

Range and brands

If you are loyal to specific national brands, Coles will stock far more of them. ALDI replaces most national brands with its own labels, many of which have won taste and quality awards, but the choice in each category is smaller. Shoppers with specific dietary needs or favourite brands often find they still need a second store.

Special Buys vs the Coles catalogue

ALDI’s famous Special Buys arrive every Wednesday and Saturday and cover non-grocery items such as appliances, tools, outdoor gear, toys and homewares. They are limited stock and are not restocked, so popular items can sell out on the first morning. The Coles catalogue includes some general merchandise, but its focus stays on groceries and household essentials.

Loyalty points and convenience

Coles shoppers earn Flybuys points and can shop online with home delivery or Click & Collect. ALDI has no loyalty program and is mainly an in-store experience: bring a coin for the trolley and your own bags, and pack your groceries at the bench after the checkout. If convenience and points matter most, Coles has the edge; if the lowest basket price matters most, ALDI usually wins.

The Verdict

For the lowest everyday grocery bill, ALDI is hard to beat. For range, online shopping and Flybuys points, Coles is more convenient, and its half price specials can beat ALDI on branded items each week. Check the ALDI Special Buys and the Coles catalogue side by side, and see how Coles compares with its biggest rival in Coles vs Woolworths.

ALDI vs Coles – Questions & Answers

Is ALDI cheaper than Coles?

For a basket of everyday groceries without specials, ALDI has regularly come out cheapest in independent supermarket price surveys by consumer group CHOICE. Coles can be cheaper on individual branded items when they are on special, so many shoppers do their main shop at ALDI and buy the rest from the Coles specials.

Does ALDI have a loyalty program like Flybuys?

No. ALDI does not run a loyalty program, and it focuses on keeping shelf prices low instead. Coles customers can earn Flybuys points on eligible purchases.

When do ALDI Special Buys and Coles specials start?

ALDI Special Buys go on sale every Wednesday and Saturday, while the Coles catalogue runs from Wednesday to Tuesday. Wednesday is the busiest day to compare both stores.

Are the deals on this page checked?

Deals for both stores come from the OzBargain shopping community and are refreshed every few hours. Some may have ended or be limited to some states, so always confirm the price with the retailer before you buy.

See Each Store’s Catalogue

ALDI Catalogue AustraliaALDI CatalogueSpecial Buys Wed 21 Oct Coles Catalogue AustraliaColes CatalogueNext: Wed 21 Oct

More Store Comparisons

All store comparisons »