These 9 Aldi Products Are Way Better Than Brand Names

Which are some of the best Aldi products?

With about 2,300 stores throughout the US, the European grocery chain has become a familiar household name, known for better prices and great food. Originating in Germany, Aldi’s unique, no-frills business model is the secret to its success. By focusing on efficiency, such as requiring a quarter deposit for carts (which you get back upon return) and encouraging customers to bring their own bags, the company saves on operational costs and passes those savings directly to the shopper. It’s no wonder that Aldi is the place where many Americans, from budget-conscious families to savvy foodies, prefer to do their grocery shopping.

With rising food prices globally, the weekly shopping cart is costing us more compared to last year, putting a significant strain on household budgets. This economic pressure means we’re all looking for options that don’t break the bank while still not neglecting the quality and nutritional value of the food we eat. And Aldi is a place that masterfully combines those two essential characteristics. The store proves that you don’t have to sacrifice taste or quality for affordability, making it a vital resource for millions.

With its own brands, which are often produced by the same manufacturers that create well-known national products, the grocery chain has several items that are better than some of the universally recognized brands we all know and already love. These private-label products are rigorously tested to meet or exceed the quality of their competitors. The best part? Aldi sells them at a better price, often at a fraction of the cost, allowing shoppers to fill their pantries with high-quality goods for less.

More than 90% of the products you can find at Aldi are from store brands, also known as private labels. This strategic decision is the cornerstone of their low-price model. This allows the grocer to offer the same high-quality item without passing on all of the hidden costs associated with the bigger brands, such as multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, elaborate packaging, and marketing overhead. This lean approach means the price on the shelf reflects the product’s true cost, not its brand prestige.

Some of the most popular Aldi brands have become fan favorites in their own right. These include Simms (a comprehensive line of meat products from jerky to sausages), L’Oven Fresh (a wide assortment of breads, bagels, and baked goods), Savoritz (a delicious line of crackers and salty snacks perfect for any occasion), Priano (an authentic-tasting line of Italian pastas, pestos, and sauces), Benton’s (a beloved line of cookies and sweet snack foods), Elevation (a high-value line of protein powders, bars, and supplements for the fitness-conscious), and Little Journey (a complete line of baby products including diapers, wipes, and foods).

Without further ado, here are some of the best Aldi products that are better than brand names, proving that smart shopping doesn’t mean you have to compromise!

1. Cereals

Aldi offers a pretty decent selection of cereals, with its own take on nationally recognized cereal brands such as Raisin Bran, Cheerios, and Fruit Loops. You’ll find direct counterparts like Honey Nut Crispy Oats and Frosted Flakes that taste virtually identical to their famous inspirations. As some of the best Aldi products, the cereals sold under the Millville brand are at a fraction of the cost of the more popular name brands, with over a dozen consistent options to choose from, plus exciting seasonal varieties that pop up throughout the year.

For those looking for healthier options that don’t skimp on flavor, the Fit & Active brand has a selection of products, including bran-flake-based cereals with berries and nuts added. These cereals are often lower in sugar and higher in fiber, making them an excellent choice for a nutritious start to the day. You can also find Simply Nature organic cereals, including a popular granola that rivals brands charging twice the price. The quality is immediately apparent, with whole ingredients and a satisfying crunch that holds up well in milk.

Overall, the cereals at Aldi offer a great alternative for almost 50% the price of the name brands. A family that goes through a few boxes of cereal a week can see substantial savings over the course of a year just by making this one simple switch. The quality, taste, and variety make it a no-brainer for budget-conscious shoppers.

2. Canned Broth

The store’s canned broth also makes the list of some of the best Aldi products, serving as a foundational staple for any home cook’s pantry. Its cheap (and tasty) options include the Fit & Active version, which is low-sodium and perfect for controlling the salt level in your dishes, and the classic Chef’s Cupboard brand broth, which comes in chicken, beef, and vegetable varieties. These broths are rich and flavorful, ideal for building complex soups, hearty stews, and savory sauces.

Aldi sells the cans for less than $1, which is significantly less than canned broth from brand names that can often cost two or three times as much. For larger recipes, a full-size 32-ounce broth carton can be purchased for less than $2, an incredible value. This makes it affordable to use broth instead of water when cooking grains like rice, quinoa, or couscous, instantly elevating their flavor.

Whether you’re looking for a rich bone broth to sip on or a light veggie broth for a vegetarian dish, there are several options to choose from. The grocery store even sells organic broth under its Simply Nature label, ensuring that even health-conscious cooks on a budget have access to high-quality ingredients. All-in-all, the canned broth selection is one of the best Aldi products and a steal of a deal that helps home cooks create delicious meals without overspending.

3. String cheese

With a surprisingly good cheese selection that often includes award-winning European imports, Aldi comes first among the stores that sell good diary products at an amazing value. While the rotating “Aldi Finds” section might feature gourmet goudas or aged cheddars, the everyday basics are where the store truly shines. The store sells many different types of soft cheeses, as well as the popular string cheese snack sticks that are a staple in lunchboxes across the country.

When it comes to those, Aldi has both standard and organic options, and they are some of the best Aldi products for a quick, protein-packed snack. The standard packs of Happy Farms string cheese can be purchased for about $3, and the Simply Nature organic packs for about $4 per pack, a significant saving compared to national brands. The quality is excellent, with a perfectly “stringable” texture and a mild, milky flavor that kids and adults love.

The store’s brand, Happy Farms, offers two types of string cheese, including the classic part-skim mozzarella, and a more flavorful Monterey Jack and Colby swirl option. Also, Simply Nature is the organic string cheese option that only comes in mozzarella, made from the milk of cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. It’s an easy and affordable way to provide a wholesome snack for your family.

4. Barissimo coffee

Coffee is definitely one of the best Aldi products, and for many shoppers, it’s the primary reason for their weekly trip. The store’s brand coffee (under the Barissimo label) offers a wide range of different coffee styles, including whole bean, ground coffee, Keurig-compatible coffee cup style, and multiple organic ground coffee options. You can also find a few ready-to-drink iced coffee options, like cold brew and bottled lattes, for a convenient to-go treat that’s far cheaper than a coffee shop.

For those on a budget who drink multiple cups a day, they can choose the larger cans of classic roast coffee. The store also has an instant coffee brand called Beaumont for those who need their caffeine fix in a hurry. The Barissimo line is where the real quality lies, with fair trade certified beans and single-origin varieties from places like Honduras and Peru that appear periodically. Twelve-ounce bags of this high-quality coffee can be purchased for less than $5, which is almost half the price of comparable brand names like Starbucks or Dunkin’.

This being said, we think Aldi sells an inexpensive coffee selection that allows you to save some money while making your daily caffeine shot at home. The flavor profiles are robust and well-balanced, easily satisfying even discerning coffee drinkers. Whether you prefer a light breakfast blend or a dark French roast, Barissimo delivers exceptional quality for the price.

5. Organic fruit snacks

While Aldi offers several types of fruit snacks, all of which are affordable and delicious, the store also sells organic fruit snacks under its Simply Nature brand that are a standout favorite for parents. What’s great about them is that they are made with real fruit juice as the first ingredient, are USDA organic certified, gluten-free, and fat-free. They also contain no artificial colors or flavors, relying on natural sources like black carrot juice for color. We love those, and we think they are some of the best Aldi products for a guilt-free treat.

And while you can also find name-brand fruit snacks at Aldi, its house brand Lunch Buddies will offer you similar quality and fun shapes for nearly $2 less per box. This may not seem much on a single purchase, but if you have kids who love fruit snacks, saving money on several products each week can end up paying for a significantly lower grocery bill over the course of a month. The taste and chewy texture are on par with brands like Welch’s, making the switch an easy one for kids to accept.

Overall, Aldi fruit snacks offer both a healthier, organic alternative and a standard, budget-friendly option to the big brands. It’s a perfect example of Aldi’s commitment to providing choices that fit different family needs and values without compromising on affordability.

6. Winking Owl wine

Aldi also has a house wine brand that has achieved a cult-like following for its incredible price point. It’s called Winking Owl, and its wines also make the list of some of the best Aldi products. Whether you’re looking for a crisp white like Pinot Grigio, a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, or for a rosé (this one is called white Zinfandel), the grocery store has everything you need for an astonishingly low price.

While the wine isn’t going to win any prestigious international competitions, you can enjoy a decent, very drinkable glass without spending too much money. It is the perfect “weeknight wine.” For under $4 per bottle in most locations, it won’t break the bank on the next dinner party at your house, and it’s also a fantastic, economical choice for making large-batch cocktails like sangria or mulled wine.

Beyond the famous Winking Owl, Aldi also carries several other exclusive wine options from lesser-known wineries, such as the Sunshine Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and the Evanta Malbec from Argentina, which often receive surprisingly high ratings for their quality and value. If you’re in the mood for wine and don’t want to spend more than $10 on a bottle, the store has you completely covered with a variety of excellent choices.

Overall, the wine selection is among some of the best Aldi products, providing unparalleled value for casual wine drinkers. You should give it a try sometimes if you haven’t already!

7. LiveGfree (gluten-free foods)

If you have a gluten sensitivity, Celiac disease, or simply choose to avoid gluten, the Aldi private label liveGfree carries a dedicated selection of certified gluten-free foods. This line is a lifesaver for those on a GF diet, as comparable products at other stores can be prohibitively expensive. There are over a dozen core options to choose from, including soft white and whole grain breads, pastas, pretzels, granola bars, frozen foods, snacks, and other pantry goods, to enjoy good alternatives while sticking to your gluten-free lifestyle.

LiveGfree also offers fantastic pancake and brownie mixes, so you can enjoy some delicious homemade sweets too without the gluten. These baking mixes are easy to prepare and produce results that are moist and flavorful, avoiding the dry, crumbly texture that plagues some GF baked goods. These are some of the best Aldi products, and while the everyday selection is more limited compared to larger grocery stores, the prices are consistently much lower than other popular gluten-free brands, so we think that the trade-off can be well worth it. You’ll also find seasonal GF items, like stuffing mix around the holidays.

By the way, if you need highly specialized gluten-free ingredients that Aldi may not carry, you may want to take a look at Amazon’s selection of gluten-free products for a wider variety!

8. Spices

Aldi sells lots of spices under its own brand, Stone Mill, and the prices are pretty hard to beat, making it the most economical place to build or restock a spice collection. With most common spices priced at just over $1 per bottle, you can stock up on them and fill your pantry with everyday essentials like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, ground cinnamon, and onion powder without a second thought. This is a stark contrast to other supermarkets where a single jar of a common spice can cost $4 or more.

Aldi also periodically offers exciting spice blends in their “Aldi Finds” aisle, such as Everything Bagel Seasoning or various grilling rubs, which are always a fantastic value. Also, some of the best Aldi products you can buy are the organic spices sold under the Simply Nature brand. Yes, the everyday selection is limited compared to a specialty spice shop, and you may have to go elsewhere to find more obscure herbs to complete your spice collection, but the prices are unbeatable for the high-quality staples you can find.

The quality of Stone Mill spices is excellent, with fresh aromas and potent flavors that will enhance any dish. So, next time you run out of spices or want to try a new recipe that calls for something you don’t have, keep in mind that Aldi has your back with incredible prices on these pantry must-haves.

9. Yogurt

Yogurt and other dairy products are getting more expensive everywhere, but Aldi does a great job keeping the price low on its diverse range of yogurt options. A prime example is the Friendly Farms Moo Tubes. As one of the best Aldi products for families, this squeezable yogurt is functionally identical to the much more expensive Go-GURT from the popular Yoplait brand, but costs less than $2 for an eight-pack. A great tip is to freeze them; they make a perfect, slushy treat for lunchboxes that helps keep other items cold.

There are a few kid-friendly flavors available, including green apple, strawberry, raspberry, and the whimsical cotton candy and melonberry. Beyond the tubes, Friendly Farms also offers several other excellent yogurt products, including large tubs of plain and vanilla non-fat yogurt, gut-healthy kefir, and a wide array of Greek yogurt cups in various flavors. The Greek yogurt, in particular, is thick, creamy, and high in protein, making it a great breakfast or snack.

Occasionally, you can even find specialty yogurts, like Icelandic-style Skyr or indulgent dessert-style yogurts, under the Specially Selected brand. So, if you’re a fan of yogurt for its taste, versatility, or health benefits, Aldi has some of the greatest deals around, allowing you to incorporate this dairy staple into your diet without straining your wallet.

If you liked our article on the best Aldi products, you may also want to read 11 Costco Items That Make Even Canadians Cross the Border.