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Aldi vs Walmart 2026: Prices, Locations & Variety

Walmart is a significantly larger retailer with 5,574 US locations and broader product selection across groceries, apparel, and electronics, while Aldi operates 2,300+ US stores focused exclusively on groceries with a limited-SKU model (1,400 items vs Walmart's 120,000+) and consistently lower prices. Aldi emphasizes quality through private labels, whereas Walmart competes primarily on scale and variety.

Aldi

Aldi

German-owned discount grocery chain with 2,300+ US stores focused on private-label products and low prices.

Price-conscious shoppers who value fresh groceries, repeat buyers of private-label brands, and those seeking quick, focused shopping trips

Score71%
VS
Walmart

Walmart

World's largest retailer with 5,574 US locations offering groceries, apparel, electronics, and general merchandise.

Families seeking comprehensive shopping destinations, those wanting apparel and electronics alongside groceries, and shoppers prioritizing convenience over lowest prices

Score71%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Walmart is a significantly larger retailer with 5,574 US locations and broader product selection across groceries, apparel, and electronics, while Aldi operates 2,300+ US stores focused exclusively on groceries with a limited-SKU model (1,400 items vs Walmart's 120,000+) and consistently lower prices. Aldi emphasizes quality through private labels, whereas Walmart competes primarily on scale and variety.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Walmart if you want one-stop shopping for groceries, clothing, electronics, and household items with maximum convenience and variety. Choose Aldi if you prioritize the lowest grocery prices, prefer curated private-label selections, and are willing to shop in a smaller format for faster, more focused shopping trips.

Community feedback

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Aldi
5.6/10
Walmart
9.4/10
Aldi

Choose Aldi if

Price-conscious shoppers who value fresh groceries, repeat buyers of private-label brands, and those seeking quick, focused shopping trips

Walmart

Choose Walmart if

Best pick

Families seeking comprehensive shopping destinations, those wanting apparel and electronics alongside groceries, and shoppers prioritizing convenience over lowest prices

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Number of US Locations:Walmart wins(5,574 vs 2,300+)
  • Product Categories:Walmart wins(Groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, pharmacy vs Groceries and limited fresh items only)
  • Average SKU Count (items per store):Walmart wins(120,000 vs 1,400)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

95 numeric metrics compared

MetricAldiWalmartRatio
Planned New Stores (2026)(stores)180+ new stores
US Store Count(stores)~2,800
New Stores Planned (2026)(locations)180+
Projected Total US Locations (End 2026)(stores)~2,800 stores
Total Global Stores(locations)2,100+ stores10,500+ stores
Product SKUs per Store(items)~1,400 items30,000-40,000 items
Average Basket Price Difference(percent cheaper)20-30% cheaperBaseline pricing
Private Label Products(percent of inventory)90% private label25-30% private label
Integrated Services Offered(types of services)2 services (grocery, pharmacy)20+ services (grocery, pharmacy, gas, vision, financial, auto, home services)
US Weekly Customer Traffic(millions of visits)~30 million weekly~140 million weekly
Annual Revenue (US operations)(billions USD)$~20 billion USD$400+ billion USD
Average Basket Cost (Weekly Shop)(USD)$50
Total U.S. Store Locations(stores)2,250
Unique Product Selection(SKUs)1,450
Organic/Natural Products(%)18%
Customer Satisfaction (ACSI Score)(points/100)81
Starting Hourly Wage(USD/hour)$15.75
Private Label Product Share(%)90%
Average Store Size(square feet)12,500
Average Item Price (National Basket)(USD)$3.50 average
US Store Locations(stores)2,100 locations5,574
Product Selection (SKUs)(count)1,400 SKUs
Organic Certified Products(products)10-15 items
Private Label Percentage(%)90% private label
Prepared Foods Offering(items)10-15 frozen items
Customer Satisfaction (ACSI 2024)(score out of 100)80/100
Average Checkout Time(minutes)12-15 minutes5-7 minutes
Market Cap(USD)$450 Billion$450 Billion
US Stores~4,700 US~4,700 US
Annual Revenue per Store(millions USD)Walmart: $50-60 millionWalmart: $50-60 million
Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter Score)(NPS points)Walmart: 45-50Walmart: 45-50
Average Employee Wage(USD hourly)Walmart: $16-18Walmart: $16-18
Inventory Turnover(times per year)Walmart: 8-9xWalmart: 8-9x
Online Order Fulfillment(delivery time days)Walmart: Same-day availableWalmart: Same-day available
Global Employee Count(thousands)Walmart: 2.1+ millionWalmart: 2.1+ million
Product Return Rate(percentage)Walmart: 7-8%Walmart: 7-8%
Annual Membership Fee(USD)$0$0
Kirkland/Great Value Private Label Market Share(percent of sales)15-20%15-20%
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI)(points (0-100))7676
U.S. Store Count(stores)~3,600 stores~3,600 stores
Per-Unit Price on Bulk Staples(USD per unit)$1.20$1.20
Total Product SKUs(products)140,000+140,000+
US Store Locations(stores)3,5723,572
Average Transaction Value(USD)$45-55$45-55
Grocery Product Mix(percent of inventory)35-40%35-40%
Private Label Savings vs National Brands(percent discount)10-15% (Great Value brand)10-15% (Great Value brand)
Average Electronics Price Premium(%)Baseline (lower)Baseline (lower)
Membership Reward Rate(%)5-10% discount on select items (members only)5-10% discount on select items (members only)
Same-Day Delivery Availability(% metro coverage)~85% of metro areas~85% of metro areas
Product Categories Offered(primary categories)9+ (Groceries, apparel, electronics, furniture, etc.)9+ (Groceries, apparel, electronics, furniture, etc.)
Bulk Item Savings vs Retail(percent)5-10%5-10%
Fuel Discount Availability(cents per gallon)5-15¢ (Walmart+ only)5-15¢ (Walmart+ only)
Product SKU Count per Store(items)100,000+100,000+
Minimum Typical Purchase(USD)$20+$20+
Return Policy Window(days)90 days90 days
Member's Mark/Great Value Brand Savings(percent)10-20% (Great Value)10-20% (Great Value)
Physical Store Count(locations)10,500+10,500+
US E-commerce Market Share(%)7.2%7.2%
Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)$98$98
Standard Delivery Time(days)2-5 days (standard)2-5 days (standard)
US Grocery Market Share(%)17.4%17.4%
Estimated Active Users(millions)150M150M
Available Product SKUs(millions)80M+80M+
Total Pet Product Selection(products)8,000-12,000 SKUs8,000-12,000 SKUs
Price Comparison Index(percent difference)Baseline (0%)Baseline (0%)
Annual Membership Cost(USD)$98 for Walmart+$98 for Walmart+
Return Window(days)90 days90 days
Total Retail Categories(major categories)40+ categories40+ categories
Total Annual Revenue(USD (billions))$648 billion$648 billion
Physical Store Locations(count)4,700+4,700+
Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)Free (no membership required)Free (no membership required)
Standard Free Shipping Threshold(USD)$35$35
Average Standard Delivery Time(days)3-5 days (free over $35)3-5 days (free over $35)
Cloud/Tech Services Revenue(USD (billions))$0.5 billion (minimal)$0.5 billion (minimal)
Estimated Available Products(millions)80+ million80+ million
U.S. Physical Store Count(locations)~4,700~4,700
Price Difference on 4K Smart TVs(%)BaselineBaseline
Return Window (Electronics)(days)9090
Annual Revenue (2025)(billion USD)$648.1$648.1
Average Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5.0)3.63.6
Annual Revenue(USD billions)$648B (2024)$648B (2024)
Market Capitalization(USD trillions)$420B$420B
Online Product Selection(millions of SKUs)~70 million~70 million
U.S. Physical Store Locations(stores)4,700+ (Walmart/Sam's Club)4,700+ (Walmart/Sam's Club)
Prime/+ Membership Cost(USD per year)$98 (Walmart+)$98 (Walmart+)
Same-Day Delivery Coverage(metropolitan areas)<5 metros<5 metros
Grocery Price Index vs Baseline(percent difference)Baseline (0%)Baseline (0%)
AWS Revenue (Annual)(USD billions)$0 (retail-only focus)$0 (retail-only focus)
Product Selection (SKUs per store)(items)~120,000~120,000
Average Grocery Price Index(index (100=baseline))9595
Private Label Percentage of Sales(percent)28%28%
2024 Annual Revenue(USD billions)$648$648
Average Shopping Trip Duration(minutes)4545
Membership/Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year)$98 (Walmart+)$98 (Walmart+)
Average Savings vs Baseline Competitor(percent)2%2%

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

Aldi
3Aldi
Walmart leads
Walmart
4Walmart
  • Number of US Locations

    Aldi

    2,300+

    Walmart

    5,574(winner)

  • Product Categories

    Aldi

    Groceries and limited fresh items only

    Walmart

    Groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, pharmacy(winner)

  • Average SKU Count (items per store)

    Aldi

    1,400

    Walmart

    120,000(winner)

  • Private Label Percentage of Sales

    Aldi

    90%(winner)

    Walmart

    28%

  • Average Grocery Price Index (lower = cheaper)

    Aldi

    89(winner)

    Walmart

    95

  • 2024 Revenue (USD Billions)

    Aldi

    $17.3

    Walmart

    $648(winner)

  • Average Trip Duration (minutes)

    Aldi

    25(winner)

    Walmart

    45

Full Comparison

Aldi
Walmart
Average Price Competitiveness(relative ranking)
Lowest
Price Consumer Reports Ranking(ranking)
Most competitive prices
Price Competitiveness
Ultra-low (leader)
Average Basket Price Difference(percent cheaper)
20-30% cheaper
Baseline pricing
Average Basket Cost (Weekly Shop)(USD)
$50
Show 16 more attributes
Average Item Price (National Basket)(USD)
$3.50 average
Per-Unit Price on Bulk Staples(USD per unit)
$1.20
Private Label Savings vs National Brands(percent discount)
10-15% (Great Value brand)
Average Electronics Price Premium(%)
Baseline (lower)
Bulk Item Savings vs Retail(percent)
5-10%
Member's Mark/Great Value Brand Savings(percent)
10-20% (Great Value)
Membership Cost (Annual)(USD)
$98
Price Comparison Index(percent difference)
Baseline (0%)
Auto-Ship Discount Maximum(percent off)
No dedicated program
Annual Membership Cost(USD)
$98 for Walmart+
Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)(USD)
Free (no membership required)
Price Difference on 4K Smart TVs(%)
Baseline
Prime/+ Membership Cost(USD per year)
$98 (Walmart+)
Grocery Price Index vs Baseline(percent difference)
Baseline (0%)
Average Grocery Price Index(index (100=baseline))
95
Average Savings vs Baseline Competitor(percent)
2%
Target Customer Income Level
Working/middle class
Planned New Stores (2026)(stores)
180+ new stores
US Store Count(stores)
~2,800
Market Share Momentum
Growing (low-price leader, 50-year presence)
US Weekly Customer Traffic(millions of visits)
~30 million weekly
~140 million weekly
US E-commerce Market Share(%)
7.2%
US Grocery Market Share(%)
17.4%
Geographic Expansion Strategy
Aggressive nationwide expansion (31 states + new markets)
New Stores Planned (2026)(locations)
180+
Product Differentiation
Low (staple essentials focus)
Employee Base (2026)(employees)
Data not specified
Inventory Turnover(times per year)
Walmart: 8-9x
Jobs Created by 2026 Expansion(jobs)
Significant (not quantified)
Starting Hourly Wage(USD/hour)
$15.75
Product SKU Variety
Limited
Product SKUs per Store(items)
~1,400 items
30,000-40,000 items
Unique Product Selection(SKUs)
1,450
Total Product SKUs(products)
140,000+
Product SKU Count per Store(items)
100,000+
Show 5 more attributes
Available Product SKUs(millions)
80M+
Total Pet Product Selection(products)
8,000-12,000 SKUs
Total Retail Categories(major categories)
40+ categories
Estimated Available Products(millions)
80+ million
Online Product Selection(millions of SKUs)
~70 million
Projected Total US Locations (End 2026)(stores)
~2,800 stores
Total Global Stores(locations)
2,100+ stores
10,500+ stores
Private Label Products(percent of inventory)
90% private label
25-30% private label
Organic/Natural Products(%)
18%
Private Label Product Share(%)
90%
Private Label Percentage(%)
90% private label
Grocery Product Mix(percent of inventory)
35-40%
Show 1 more attribute
Private Label Percentage of Sales(percent)
28%
Integrated Services Offered(types of services)
2 services (grocery, pharmacy)
20+ services (grocery, pharmacy, gas, vision, financial, auto, home services)
Prepared Foods Offering(items)
10-15 frozen items
Average Checkout Time(minutes)
12-15 minutes
5-7 minutes
Minimum Typical Purchase(USD)
$20+
Annual Revenue (US operations)(billions USD)
$~20 billion USD
$400+ billion USD
Total U.S. Store Locations(stores)
2,250
US Store Locations(stores)
3,572
Customer Satisfaction (ACSI Score)(points/100)
81
Average Store Size(square feet)
12,500
US Store Locations(stores)
2,100 locations
5,574
Product Selection (SKUs)(count)
1,400 SKUs
Organic Certified Products(products)
10-15 items
Customer Satisfaction (ACSI 2024)(score out of 100)
80/100
Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter Score)(NPS points)
Walmart: 45-50
Product Return Rate(percentage)
Walmart: 7-8%
Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI)(points (0-100))
76
Average Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5.0)
3.6
Market Cap(USD)
$450 Billion
US Stores
~4,700 US
Global Employee Count(thousands)
Walmart: 2.1+ million
Annual Revenue per Store(millions USD)
Walmart: $50-60 million
Market Capitalization(trillions USD)
Walmart: $400+ billion
Total Annual Revenue(USD (billions))
$648 billion
Annual Revenue(USD billions)
$648B (2024)
Market Capitalization(USD trillions)
$420B
Average Employee Wage(USD hourly)
Walmart: $16-18
Online Order Fulfillment(delivery time days)
Walmart: Same-day available
Annual Membership Fee(USD)
$0
Estimated Annual Savings Threshold(USD)
N/A (no membership)
Estimated Break-Even on Membership (annual savings needed)(months)
N/A
Kirkland/Great Value Private Label Market Share(percent of sales)
15-20%
Bulk Purchase Minimum Requirement(typical qty)
Single units available
U.S. Store Count(stores)
~3,600 stores
Average Transaction Value(USD)
$45-55
Membership Reward Rate(%)
5-10% discount on select items (members only)
Same-Day Delivery Availability(% metro coverage)
~85% of metro areas
Warranty Coverage for Electronics(coverage type)
Basic manufacturer defect coverage only
In-Store Tech Support(availability)
Limited technical support in electronics departments
Product Categories Offered(primary categories)
9+ (Groceries, apparel, electronics, furniture, etc.)
Fuel Discount Availability(cents per gallon)
5-15¢ (Walmart+ only)
Return Policy Window(days)
90 days
Return Window(days)
90 days
Return Window (Electronics)(days)
90
Physical Store Count(locations)
10,500+
U.S. Physical Store Count(locations)
~4,700
U.S. Physical Store Locations(stores)
4,700+ (Walmart/Sam's Club)
Standard Delivery Time(days)
2-5 days (standard)
Same-Day Delivery Coverage(metropolitan areas)
<5 metros
Estimated Active Users(millions)
150M
Customer Service Availability(hours/week)
Limited hours, chat/email
Physical Store Locations(count)
4,700+
Standard Free Shipping Threshold(USD)
$35
Average Standard Delivery Time(days)
3-5 days (free over $35)
Cloud/Tech Services Revenue(USD (billions))
$0.5 billion (minimal)
In-Store Tech Support Available
No
Annual Revenue (2025)(billion USD)
$648.1
Extended Protection Plan Options
Limited
AWS Revenue (Annual)(USD billions)
$0 (retail-only focus)
Product Selection (SKUs per store)(items)
~120,000
2024 Annual Revenue(USD billions)
$648
Average Shopping Trip Duration(minutes)
45
Membership/Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year)
$98 (Walmart+)

Pros & Cons

10 pros·4 cons across both

Aldi
Walmart
Aldi

Aldi

+5-2

Pros

  • Lowest grocery prices in US market (6% cheaper than competitors on average)
  • 90% private label products with quality comparable to name brands
  • Fast shopping experience averaging 25 minutes per trip
  • Strong fresh produce selection with daily rotation
  • Environmental commitment with 80% recyclable packaging across products

Cons

  • Limited selection restricts meal planning flexibility (1,400 items vs competitors' 50,000+)
  • No pharmacy, apparel, electronics, or non-grocery departments requiring separate shopping trips
Walmart

Walmart

+5-2

Pros

  • One-stop shopping with 120,000+ items per store covering groceries, fashion, electronics, and home goods
  • 5,574 US locations provide unmatched convenience and accessibility
  • Walmart+ membership ($98/year) offers free delivery on orders over $35 and fuel discounts
  • Competitive grocery prices with price match guarantee on 10,000+ items
  • Strong Great Value and Great Lakes private brands across multiple categories

Cons

  • Longer average shopping trips (45 minutes) due to store size and broader selection
  • Grocery prices 6-7% higher than Aldi due to bulk/variety of offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Yes, Aldi's average grocery price index is 89 versus Walmart's 95, representing approximately 6% savings on identical items. Aldi achieves this through its limited-SKU model (1,400 items vs 120,000), which reduces overhead, and by sourcing 90% of products as private labels rather than paying for national brand markups.

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