Before you shop LIDL online or in store, read this LIDL review for all the pros and cons, plus my 5 best tips to get the most for your money!
What does your current grocery shopping routine look like?
Maybe you swing through multiple stores, grabbing the best deals at each place according to your price book.
Or maybe you order groceries for pickup or delivery from one store because that’s what’s most convenient for you.
Have you ever grocery shopped at LIDL supermarket? How about trying to shop LIDL online?
If you’ve never tried LIDL shopping before, keep reading, because I’m going to break down how to shop at LIDL, I’ll give you my LIDL review with all the pros and cons, plus my 5 best tips to get the most for your money!
WHERE TO FIND LIDL SHOPPING MARKETS
LIDL shops originated in Germany, but have expanded around the globe, including the eastern United States – you’ll find LIDL all along the east coast, from New York down to Georgia.
To me, shopping at LIDL online or in store feels like a mix between Aldi and discount grocery stores in terms of selection and prices, but it feels like a chain grocery store when you walk in the doors.
SHOP LIDL ONLINE
Would you rather shop LIDL online? No problem! They offer same-day delivery in select locations through Shipt. You can shop online at LIDL and still take advantage of some of their coupons and savings through the app!
Orders totaling more than $35 also meet the free delivery threshold, although you may have additional fees. They do offer a 14 day trial for new customers. Fees apply at the end of the trial.
SHOULD YOU SHOP ONLINE AT LIDL? PROS AND CONS
Before you choose whether to shop LIDL online or in-store, you probably want to know more about it. Here’s my shopping experience at LIDL.
LIDL MARKETS ARE EXCITING TO SHOP IN!
LIDL stores are clean, well-organized, and inviting. Seriously, they’re such a pleasure to shop in! The minimalist style and clean lines make them easy on the eyes.
Like shopping at Aldi, all LIDL stores have a similar layout, so if you’re traveling and you have to visit a store in another region, you’ll still be able to find all you need, which is always great when you’re shopping on vacation.
THE BAKERY AT LIDL IS A FAN FAVORITE!
You’ll only know by experiencing it for yourself! The delectable aromas, the beautiful pastries, and the breads. Oh my! LIDL’s signature croissants are worth a taste at least once.
If I ever fall short on time for making my own amazing recipes for Artisan Bread, Sourdough Sandwich Bread, or Maple Oatmeal Bread, I know exactly where to go.
LIDL HAS A VARIETY OF CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD
Need I say more? Organic food for prices that are often lower than conventional food at the big box grocery stores. If eating organic is a priority for your family, LIDL has great prices on quality products.
LIDL MEATS ARE ON SALE DAILY
The meat department is awesome because it is priced to match or beat big supermarket sales prices. Combine the already low prices with the markdowns, and a stretch-your-meat meal plan – now you are really saving money!
At LIDL, I have found a great selection of meat. They have conventional meat, plus organic and grass-fed meat. I love that they have a lot of cuts that I cannot find in other places. For example, I’ve found 99% fat-free turkey, whereas other grocery stores only carry 80/20 ground turkey or 93/7 turkey.
LIDL also has 99% lean beef and ground bison (which is naturally lean). There are scallops, breaded shrimp, wild-caught shrimp, salmon, and different types of fish.
If you’re looking for a place to get lean protein at a good price, LIDL online shopping might be a good option for you! Always be sure to shop around for the best price.
LIDL HAS THE BEST PRICES FOR DAIRY AND DAIRY-FREE MILK
When I’m not making my own almond milk, I love LIDL’s almond milk.
I used to buy almond milk at Walmart (either Silk or Almond Breeze), but a lot of LIDL store brand products are the same quality, if not better than, a lot of name brand products.
If you’re not in a season of making your own yogurt, LIDL has delicious fat-free and whole milk yogurt with simple ingredients at a great price.
SHOP LIDL ONLINE SALES
LIDL has weekly sales like your typical chain grocery store, but the bonus is that their regular prices already feel very low (much lower than chain supermarkets)!
LIDL tends to run sales in cycles, so you will find good deals on the same items every 4 to 6 weeks (sometimes they’re stretched to 8 weeks) consistently – it just depends on the season. If you pay attention, you will notice that they are indeed on a repeat cycle.
You can sign up for their free email newsletter to receive weekly offers.
Note: Most of LIDL’s sales have limits. You may only be able to buy five of an item that is on sale that week. Or if a sale is listed as 10 for $10, you actually have to buy 10 of the item, so be sure that you read the fine print of the sales ad.
LIDL SPECIAL BUYS AND IMPORTED FOODS
LIDL has a section of European foods called their “Preferred Selection,” each of which has a flag emblem that shows the country of origin. I especially love their Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Mediterranean flavors.
Select coffees, teas, and chocolates have a Fairtrade certification, and they also have UTZ-certified food (sustainable farming practices). Other amazing imports are cheese, olives, beans, and international sweets. YUM!
Depending on state laws for alcohol sales, you might be able to browse affordable wines, unique beers, and other alcoholic beverages at a much lower price than typical liquor stores.
And don’t forget the special buys! You never know what you’re going to find, from household essentials like toasters and kitchen storage, to unique freeze-dried candies, to exercise equipment and clothing. Like Aldi, you can’t miss the LIDL special buys aisle!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LIDL’S ORANGE MARKDOWN STICKERS
LIDL supermarket does markdowns at the end of the day with 30% off orange markdown stickers. Some marked-down foods are in their regularly stocked areas. For example, I recently found a marked-down guacamole with other guacamole products.
Some markdowns are in special clearance sections. I found marked-down vegetarian dumplings, along with a marked-down egg product, that were together in a small section next to the milk. So, be sure to take note that markdowns can be spread throughout the store.
You’ll almost always find marked-down items in produce, in the refrigerated section, and even meat too!
I once found a really great deal for marked-down ham. It was already on sale for that particular weekend, and then it had a 30% off sticker on top of it! When I ran the numbers, it came out to literal pennies per ounce versus buying pre-sliced ham lunch meat. And it was a nice big ham (perfect for making Honey Baked Ham in the Instant Pot).
LIDL definitely knows the importance of reducing food waste and making food affordable for customers. They actually have a section called “Too Good to Waste,” where they have deeply discounted items – like day-old bread (which is still perfectly fresh), and also produce that might be considered to be “ugly” fruits and vegetables.
All this means is that they may have a natural blemish on them or perhaps have become fully ripened. Still perfectly delicious and fresh to eat, at a cost that is much easier on the budget.
BRING YOUR OWN BAGS!
Make sure if you’re planning a LIDL shopping trip, to bring your own reusable bags. While you can purchase bags at the store, they’re not included in the price of the items. However, you don’t need a quarter for a cart or basket here.
RETURNS ARE EASY AT LIDL SUPERMARKET
If you are not happy with anything at all, you can return items to LIDL for a refund or exchange – no questions asked. Just be sure to hang on to your receipt.
MY 5 BEST LIDL ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS
Whether you choose to use the LIDL online shopping feature or shop in the store yourself, here are some of my best tips for making the most of your money at LIDL.
1. USE THE LIDL PLUS APP FOR GREAT DEALS
You need the LIDL Plus App in order to get super great deals. However, you don’t need to have your phone with you when you shop – just use your phone number at checkout to get your savings.
Your app rewards are personalized and flexible with discounts on whole categories of food, as well as coupons. You can even stack deals on markdowns with your app discounts. Score!
As a bonus, LIDL automatically loads digital coupons into your account and offers suggestions in the app for items that fit with the current discounts. If only all grocery store apps were that user-friendly!
2. MEAL PLAN WITH THE WEEKLY CIRCULARS IN THE APP
Being able to see the circulars in the app helps me to meal plan in advance. One strategy for meal planning on a frugal grocery budget is to plan around what is upcoming on sale, for even more savings.
3. USE MARKDOWNS FOR CONVENIENCE
Markdowns are especially great for organic or name-brand items on sale. I also find deals on items I might need in my meal plan that I sometimes make from scratch.
I once got an organic bottle of ketchup for $1. Although it’s yummy and I know what goes in it, making homemade ketchup takes a long time in the slow cooker, and it’s not cheap for all the separate organic ingredients. So, to buy high-quality food for such a low price is really nice.
The same goes for organic chicken stock, which I’ve also purchased on sale at LIDL for $1. Chicken stock is really easy to make, but it can be time-consuming when you’re waiting on a slow cooker, stove, or the Instant Pot.
Sometimes you just need a shortcut, and it really helps to get these great deals.
4. BUY FOODS IN BULK
Save the expensive membership fees for bulk warehouse stores like Costco. You can find family sizes and bulk items in fresh and frozen meats, snacks, sweets, and more.
Consider choosing to shop online at LIDL for your next grilling meal plan or party!
5. CHECK THE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TOO!
Did you know that you can find household items at LIDL? Although these may be limited, check the app for what items might be coming up for sale. I love it when I can get items for the house without having to make a second stop at Walmart!
ONLINE SHOP LIDL FAQS
Are LIDL and Aldi owned by the same company?
No. They have similar stores, and both are German-owned discount supermarket chains, but they are not part of the same brand.
How does Lidl market compare to Aldi?
Lidl offers groceries at discount prices like Aldi, many under their store brand, but they also stock name-brand products. Both stores also offer a unique selection of special items that change every week.
Can you online shop LIDL products in other areas of the country?
Not at this time. While LIDL delivery is in select areas through Shipt, they don’t ship products outside of their current shopping markets.
LIDL REVIEW – THE BOTTOM LINE
All in all, at LIDL, you get a large variety of high-quality foods at low prices. I see it as “the fun of shopping” meets “the practical side of shopping” at a beautiful grocery store where you don’t have to make more than one stop to get everything you need.
I love LIDL for so many reasons – the low prices, the daily markdowns, the store’s app, the bakery, and even the design and layout of the store! And the convenience of being able to shop LIDL online means that I can browse the deals in my pajamas.
If you live near a LIDL market, I hope you’ll consider adding shopping at LIDL online or in store to your grocery routine – it’s well worth your time and money!
How would you say Lidl compares to Aldi?