Order Groceries Online in Canada: Save Money, Eat Better

It's easier than ever to order groceries online, but you might be asking yourself if there are ways to save more on your grocery budget. The good news: you can keep more of your hard-earned money by doing some quick research before you shop.

Since pickup and delivery fees vary considerably by grocer or retailer, compare service costs before you put food into your online grocery shopping cart. You can also earn valuable rewards on your purchase by using the right grocery store credit card. We'll highlight your best options.

Online grocery shopping in Canada at a glance

You have more options than ever for ordering groceries online, but not all online grocers are equal. Here's a quick review of fees and things to consider before you sign up for a pickup or grocery delivery service.

The most widely available options are major chain grocery stores, of course, with Loblaws-owned stores being the most common. With their PC Express pickup and delivery service, and a strong partnership with Instacart, Loblaws seems to have a clear advantage in the world of online grocery shopping.

The grocery superstores are also widely available, but it's a little less straightforward than simply shopping online through Loblaws, Atlantic Superstore, and other PC Express-supported stores.

Online shopping for groceries at chain grocery stores

Major chain grocery stores are some of the most widely available options. Here's how they compare.

For the most part, pickup and delivery fees are very reasonable, given how much time and effort they can save. It's hard to argue with spending a few bucks on a grocery pickup or delivery service when it can save you time or both time and gas.

Another major advantage of shopping at one of these grocery chains is that they all have some form of rewards program, including the always-popular PC Optimum Rewards.

You can typically expect a $1.00 to $5.00 fee for most grocery pickup services, including at many No Frills grocery stores, although some stores offer free in-store pickup.

Grocery deliveries from major chain stores are a bit more expensive, with most around $10 when delivery and service fees are included.

Again, this isn't exceptionally high, given that it can save you both time and gas, but you will want to factor these fees into your overall grocery budget if you're going to take advantage of it regularly.

Online shopping for groceries at grocery superstores

Of course, many Canadians love the savings opportunities at the grocery superstores, such as Walmart and Costco. And these grocery giants also offer online grocery shopping.

We looked at the four major grocery superstores in Canada, and while all offer grocery delivery, Costco online grocery doesn't seem to offer any sort of pickup service. This is a bit of a shame, given how popular Costco is with Canadians, but so it goes. There's no shortage of other stores that offer pickup services, if that's what you prefer.

Walmart online grocery does offer both pickup and delivery services.

While Costco doesn't seem to offer curbside pickup service, the other 3 grocery superstores do. Walmart offers this service for free (for orders over $35), while the Real Canadian Superstore and Wholesale Club charge a reasonable fee.

Are you a Walmart fan? Find the best credit card for shopping at Walmart.

Online shopping for groceries with third-party grocery delivery services

If your local grocery store doesn't offer pickup or delivery services, you may be able to find this option through a third-party delivery service. There are several online grocery delivery services available to shoppers across Canada, including Cornershop, Grocery Gateway, Inabuggy, and Instacart.

Of these, however, only Instacart offers online grocery delivery to most of Canada, while the other three are more limited in their delivery areas.

Here's how these third-party grocery delivery services measure up in terms of their fees.

As you can see, Instacart offers cheap delivery in many areas, but this doesn't include their added service fees, which can be steep. To see how much you'll pay for Instacart or Uber Eats, you'll have to put together an order for shops in your area and check the final costs when you go to check out.

As with all of these services, your mileage may vary as fees and service charges will depend on the service, your location, and the stores you're ordering from.

Did you know you can earn American Express Membership Rewards with Instacart?

Online shopping for groceries with meal kit delivery services

Meal kits and food boxes are a type of online grocery delivery service that is increasingly popular in Canada.

With a food or recipe subscription service, you don't make your own grocery list. Instead, you specify how many people you're ordering for, how many meals you want per week, and then you select which dishes you would like to cook.

These services then deliver pre-portioned and prepared ingredients, including everything you need for each dish, and you cook the meals for yourself in the comfort of your own home.

Recipes and detailed cooking instructions are included, and you are free to make the meals at your convenience.

All of these services deliver meal kits to you weekly, and some offer free shipping.

There are 2 major problems with meal kit delivery services.

First, you still have to cook the meals yourself, which is less convenient than just ordering delivery or pickup from a local restaurant.

Second, the price-per-serving costs are extraordinarily high. If you're looking to save money on groceries, a meal kit delivery service is clearly not a good strategy.

While paying for meal kit delivery doesn't seem that bad at first glance, you have to remember that this is only for 4 meals, not 7, and doesn't take breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and other grocery staples into account.

You'll save money on groceries by putting together your own menu plans and doing your own online grocery shopping with one of the major Canadian grocery chains, such as Sobeys or Loblaws.

Best credit cards for ordering groceries

Groceries are one of the major items on any Canadian's budget. Since we're all going to be spending money on groceries, one of the best ways you can save on online grocery shopping is to use a credit card and earn rewards on those purchases.

Here are some of the best credit cards for buying groceries in Canada, whether you prefer earning cash back rewards or would like to earn flexible rewards that you can redeem for a variety of different options.

FAQ

Where is the best place to buy groceries online?

Since service availability varies widely by location, it's hard to say which grocery stores are best for online shopping in your area. Check out the major stores in your area to see which one is best for you.

Who has the cheapest groceries in Canada?

According to a recent survey, Canadians tend to think that No Frills, Food Basics, Giant Tiger, Walmart, and Costco have the cheapest groceries in the country. However, prices for groceries can be wildly different across the country.

What are the disadvantages of online grocery shopping?

Sometimes, stores might be out of an item you requested, and you won't get what you need. Plus, you can't select the quality of your fresh food, and you might miss out on in-store discounts that aren't available online.

Which online grocery store has the best produce?

When you're getting produce delivered through online grocery stores, the quality of the produce ultimately comes down to the personal shopper fulfilling your order, so it can vary greatly.

Is Instacart cheaper than stores?

Instacart states that retailers they work with determine the price that's charged, so read the terms and conditions carefully. You will have to pay Instacart a delivery fee on most orders.

Is Voila more expensive than in-store?

Voila states that it charges the same price for groceries as in store. However, you will pay delivery or service fees to have Voila deliver your grocery order.