15 Walmart Great Value Brand Foods to Shave $26 Off Your Grocery Bill (We Tasted Them All!)
We pinned the Walmart Great Value brand against name brand competitors – the taste results are in!
Tired of overpaying for those household brands? My family and I did a thorough test to see how some of Walmart’s Great Value Brand’s most popular foods stack up against name-brand competitors, and if they’re worth sacrificing your wallet or your tastebuds for 😉
Keep reading to see how your favorite Great Value brand foods fared (#9 shocked us!)
AND, spoiler alert! You’ll shave a nice $26.08 off your next Walmart bill if you stick to our Great Value winners!
1. Great Value Cheese Puffs vs. Cheetos Cheese Puffs
Winner: Great Value Cheese Puffs
Great Value Cheese Puffs 13.5oz bag $2.86
Cheetos Cheese Puffs 13.5oz bag $3.94 after Walmart Cash (reg. $5.94)
Total Great Value savings: $3.08!
Why we chose Great Value:
- larger size
- 5/5 family members could barely tell the difference OR chose GV after a blindfold taste test
- PLUS, several of Collin’s family members actually chose Great Value brand cheese puffs over classic Cheetos as well!
2. Great Value Potato Crisps vs. Pringles
Winner: Great Value Potato Crisps
Great Value Potato Crisps- Sour Cream & Onion $1.72
Pringles Sour Cream & Onion $2
Total Great Value savings: 28¢!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Same size, texture, and color
- 4/4 family members love the thin & crispy CRUNCH like a real Pringle!
DISCLAIMER: Although these GV crisps are a win for taste in my book, I was a little disappointed by how much space was left in the can upon first opening – even more so than the Pringles can?!
Could this make up for the 28¢ price difference since you’re getting more Pringles in the can? 🙃 You decide!
3. Great Value Donut Shop Ground Coffee vs. Dunkin’ Donuts Ground Coffee
Winner: Great Value Donut Shop Coffee
Great Value Donut Shop Ground Coffee 12oz $4.96
Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend Ground Coffee 12oz $8.46
Total Great Value savings: $3.50!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Aromatic
- Richer in color
- Not too bold, “just right” taste
- Nearly half the cost?!
4. Great Value Frosted Brown Sugar Toaster Pastries vs. Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Brown Sugar
Winner: Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts
Great Value Frosted Brown Sugar Toaster Pastries 6-Count $1.18 (19¢ per pastry)
Pop-Tarts Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toaster Pastries 8-Count $2.62 (43¢ per pastry)
Why we chose Kellogg’s:
- More icing
- Classic ‘sweet’ taste (GV was more artificial-y tasting and just plain gross. 😝)
- No weird spotting on icing
5. Great Value Chocolate Pudding vs. Snack-Pack Chocolate Pudding
Winner: Great Value Chocolate Pudding
Great Value Chocolate Pudding Cups 4-Count 88¢ – in-store only!
Snack Pak Chocolate Pudding 4-Pack $1.27
Total Great Value savings: 39¢!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Chocolate is chocolate! 🙌🏼
- Not a huge price difference, but if you’re making a cute classroom snack, hosting a party, etc., these small savings would definitely add up!
6. Great Value Classic Chippers vs. Chips Ahoy
Winner: Great Value Chippers
Great Value Classic Chippers 13oz $2.88
Nabisco Chips Ahoy! Original Chocolate Chip Cookies 13oz $3.46 (reg. $3.88)
Total Great Value savings: $1!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Identical size
- Same chocolate chip count
- Equally crunchy and sweet
7. Great Value Twist & Shout Cookies vs. OREO Cookies
Winner: Nabisco OREOS Sandwich Cookies
Great Value Twist & Shout Chocolate Sandwich Cookies $3.12
Nabisco OREOS Chocolate Sandwich Cookies $6.99 – in-store only!
Why we chose Nabisco:
- Can’t beat that classic OREO taste!
- Twist & Shout Sandwich Cookies just scream ‘school cafeteria food’
- NONE of my three kiddos, spouse, or I could even finish the entire cookie 😝
8. Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter vs Skippy Peanut Butter
Winner: Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter
Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter 18oz $2.18
Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter 16.3oz $2.98
Total Great Value savings: 80¢!
Why we chose Great Value:
- BIG peanut butter fans as we are, 0/6 family members could tell the difference 🙌🏼
- Unanimous verdict: GV creamy peanut butter was nearly identical in taste, texture, spreadability, and consistency!
- Fewer calories, less saturated fat, and lower sodium per serving! 🏆
9. Great Value Hazelnut Spread vs Nutella Spread
Winner: Great Value Hazelnut Spread
Great Value Hazelnut Spread 13oz $2.87
Nutella Hazelnut Spread 13oz $4.47
Total Great Value savings: $1.60!
Why we chose Great Value:
- The taste is SO spot-on, your tastebuds won’t know the difference!
- Smooth texture and not-too-sweet hazelnutty flavor
10. Great Value Honey Nut O’s vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
Winner: TIE!
Great Value Honey Nut O’s $1.87
General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios $3.68
Total Great Value savings: $1.81!
Throughout this taste test, if the two brands were almost identical in taste, we have been selecting Great Value as the winner, obviously, to save you the most 💰!
HOWEVER, in this case, while the Great Value Honey Nut cheerios didn’t necessarily taste better, or the same, they tasted yummy, just like regular cheerios (ya know, the original toasted oat ones). So, in that case, we think it’s worth it to save OVER $2 on classic cereal kids know and love, that’s still pretty tasty! 🙌🏼
11. Great Value Frosted Flakes Cereal vs. Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal
Winner: Great Value Frosted Flakes
Great Value Frosted Flakes Cereal 13.5oz $1.93
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal 13.5oz $8.83
Total Great Value savings: $6.90!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Better and sweeter according to 21-year-old brother and dad (who have had many-a bowls of Frosted Flakes😉)
- 3/3 kiddos picked GV over the real Frosted Flakes too!🏆
12. Great Value Mac n’ Cheese vs. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Winner: Great Value Original Macaroni & Cheese
Great Value Original Macaroni & Cheese 58¢
Kraft Original Macaroni & Cheese $1.24
Total Great Value savings: 66¢!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Same size and shape noodies
- Generously cheesy
- and totally had my kids (& me fooled)!
This is a HUGE deal as you can buy two of the GV boxes for less than the price of just one Kraft box- stock up!
13. Great Value Cheese Frozen Pizza vs DiGiorno Cheese Frozen Pizza
Winner: Great Value Cheese Frozen Pizza
Great Value Rising Crust Frozen Cheese Pizza 28.1oz $4.97
DiGiorno Four Cheese Rising Crust Pizza 28.2oz $5.97
Total Great Value savings: $1!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Less brown/ burned that DiGiornio
- Melted cheesy heaven
- Passed my picky-pizza-loving-kiddos’ tastebuds!
14. Great Value Flaky Biscuits vs Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Original Biscuits
Winner: Great Value Flaky Biscuits
Great Value Flaky Biscuits 8-Count $1.97
Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Original Biscuits 8-Count $2.87 (reg. $3.24)
Total Great Value savings: up to $1.27!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Identical in size and thickness
- Perfectly golden
Need an easy weeknight dinner idea? We used these biscuits to make Lina’s super-easy 4-ingredient Mini Chicken Pot Pies! 😋
15. Great Value Cinnamon Rolls vs. Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls
Winner: Great Value Original Cinnamon Rolls
Great Value Original Cinnamon Rolls w/ Icing 8-Count $2.24
Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls w/ Icing 8-Count 73¢
Total Great Value savings: $1.51!
In my 29 years of life, I would have never imagined that anyone could outdo Pillsbury… but here we are.
My honest-to-goodness truth: Great Value Cinnamon Rolls are actually better.
Why we chose Great Value:
- More swirl shaped than Pillsbury
- Icing comes in a squeezable pouch!
- Sweeter, more cinnamon taste
16. Great Value Apple Juice vs. Tree Top Apple Juice
Winner: Great Value Apple Juice
Great Value Apple Juice 64oz. $1.98
Tree Top Apple Juice 64oz. $3.28
Total Great Value savings: $1.30!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Same golden color
- Delicious taste
17. Great Value Garlic Knots vs New York Bakery Garlic Knots
Winner: Great Value Garlic Knots
Great Value Garlic Knots 6-Count $2.78
New York Bakery Garlic Knots 6-Count $3.76
Total Great Value savings: 98¢!
Why we chose Great Value:
- Identical in size
- Same garlic-buttery goodness
Did any of our Great Value picks surprise you? How about that $22.20 in savings?! 🔥😱 We’d love to know what Great Value food items you love too!
One of my favorite posts! I love so many great value items. Had the great value turkey gravy this past thanksgiving and everyone loved it!! Total hit and under $1!
YES! I had that gravy mix too, Patti! I agree, so good! 😋 Thanks for the sweet feedback! Glad you enjoyed the post! ❤️🤗
Thank you for these great money saving tips ( some of the math is off though😊). Great to save money without sacrificing flavor. Keep up the good work!
You’re so welcome! 💞 Thank YOU! We’ll take a 2nd look! 👀
Both GV a and Skippy are processed in the same plant. Just diff jars (sometimes) and labeling
Oh wow! Thanks for mentioning that, Allison! So interesting. 🙌
In an effort to cut grocery costs I’ve been trying more of the great value brand products. Their veggie straws are good too and so much cheaper! Thanks for this comparison I’ll try them out.
You’re most welcome! My kids and I like their veggie straws too! We’ve even enjoyed their regular potato chips! 😋💞🙌
Thanks for mentioning Tallycat86. I haven’t tried the GV veggie straws.
Great value items used to be a much larger % savings than the national brands. In my Walmart (smaller town no competition) it has become more like the pudding comparison above. If I drive 30 miles away, to a medium sized town, the Walmart there is more price friendly. Sad to see pricing zones that pretty much negate the overall great value and equate savings.
Walmart stores in rural areas are generally less expensive, for the exact same food items, than the Walmart stores in high traffic suburb areas.
Actually where we live, it’s just the opposite. When the kids were babies we would drive to Atlanta once a month to buy formula because it was so much cheaper, $60 a month cheaper than our local Walmart.
Great post! Last week you posted that Walmart now carries Great Value “Kit Kat” and “Twix” candy bars. We are going to taste test those to see which is better.
YES! I’m curious about those too and can’t wait to try. 🎉🙌 Let us know what you think of them! 🥰
I did that yesterday for the Kit Kat version…lol! I feel like the Kit Kats brand is superior to the Great Value because the chocolate on the Great Value is definitely darker like dark chocolate even though it is labeled as milk chocolate. I didn’t hate it but I am letting the kids finish them off.
OMG! I didn’t see that post. I am all over this. Thanks
Just a suggestion, you show the cookies side by side and say: “Got an upcoming picnic? Save yourself a little over a buck and switch out the classic Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies for Great Value Chippers and they’ll never notice! 😉” And yes, it’s true. This is an example I use ALL the time, with this exact item. If you are switching, please don’t discard the original packaging. A guest or a child might assume these are Chips Ahoy cookies, thinking it’s safe for any food allergies they have, and eat one, when in fact, these cookies may contain peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and other allergens. Never, never, switch out food for friends, extended family, or classmates without letting them see the label. The consequences could be deadly.
Thanks so much for mentioning that, Sarah! 💞 Great idea to keep the packaging to check for any possible food allergies.
Great post, I always buy quite a few GV products, the ones that surprised me most were the pizza and biscuits. Who knew! 😊 thanks
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy their pizza and biscuits too if you decide to try them! 💞
We love many of their products! Always buy the chippers, twists, potato chips, canned beans to name a few. Here are some of our opinions: chippers are better than name brand and Aldi brand. The twists are equal to Oreo and better than Aldi. The ripple potato chips have just the right crunch and saltiness. Aldi brand tends to be too salty for us.
YES! Thanks for this review, LisaK! I totally agree on the ripple chips! Just the right crunch and saltiness for us too! 😋💞🙌
Yes we have stopped buying chips from Aldi. Too dang salty!
Not only that but by me the generic Walmart chips are almost $.50 cheaper per bag than aldi. I feel like prices have gone up everywhere but since aldi has gained popularity I don’t feel their prices are as competitive as they once were. I often choose Walmart over aldi now as I don’t see much difference in generic prices.
I’ve seen the savings percentages shrink at Aldi as well over the past few years. Mine is directly across the street from Hyvee. Last week potatoes were the same price at both stores. Occasionally Hyvee sale prices will even be cheaper.
So funny that I see this post today. Just yesterday I went and got snacks for BF’s hunting trip this weekend. I bought the Nutty Buddy that he loves so much. I also bought the GV brand equivalent PB bars. I told him try them over the weekend and see if he would notice a difference then let me know so I can save a little on his hunting snacks 🙂 I already get the GV ham, water, etc but swapping out a little at a time to save more!
YES! Love the idea of giving each a try to swap out a little at a time. I regularly buy their water! 🥰🙌 Thanks for commenting, Michelle! Hope the snacks are a hit!😋
The snacks were a hit and now preferred over the name brand!!! The chocolate is richer and the peanut butter flavor is stronger. More satisfying than the name brand. THANKS!!!!
Great post!! I’ve been slowly transitioning over to Great Value because as you discovered, the taste is so close or better and the price is much cheaper. My son and I also did a taste comparison between popular Girl Scout cookies and the Aldi dupes, and Aldi won for taste and price!
The Great Value pinwheel cookies (chocolate covered marshmallow) are much better than the Nabisco brand. My problem is, they haven’t had them in stock for months now. Can anyone tell me if they are discontinued, or just temporarily out of stock? Aldi also had a generic brand for these. Same. Haven’t seen them fo months. Can anyone help me, with an answer to this. I’ve tried googling for an answer. Could not find an answer. Thank you, and I would appreciate any information on this.
My Walmart has their brand of marshmallow fudge cookies.
My uncle worked for Nabisco years ago. It was always the same with their Mallowmar cookies because they are seasonal. He said it was because they melt easily and don’t stay as nice in warmer months.
Great value unsweetened almond milk and unsweetened vanilla almond milk are preferred in our house over Silk. GV is 30% less cost than Silk.
Happy their almond milk has been a favorite, Christy! 🙌💞
Great value lemonade water enhancer is better tasting, in my opinion, than Lemonade Mio. Their veggie straws are a good dupe for name brand, too.
Would love to see this with Target brand foods because i dont have a Walmart near me
Thanks for the request, Vanessa! We have done a similar post a while back – https://hip2save.com/tips/target-brands-cheaper-name-brands/
I’ll be sure to pass this along to the team! 🤗💞
Great value cheese is also amazing flavor!
I love their cheese too! 😋🧀
Is their American cheese comparable to Kraft at all? I typically buy the big 3 or 4 pound boxes at sams club or Costco but ran out the other day and remembered while at Walmart. The cost of kraft was obscenely more than buying Kraft at the big box store. I thought about buying the great value as typically I’m all for generic brands but all the generic American cheese we’ve tried has been gross.
IWe like GV American cheese. None of my family has ever complained and believe me they would if there was a problem.
Oh, no, no, no, don’t mess with my cheese! 🙂 I’m a glorified snob when it comes to the regular cheese I use and I can only use the Kraft Deli Deluxe American (5 pounds of sliced gooiness for grilled cheese). I can only find it at a local grocery chain and even then it’s a hit or miss finding it in stock. I have tried (and failed) to find something that is comparable.
I do most of my grocery shopping at Walmart (online, hate going in) because of all the GV options. Great post!
So happy you enjoyed this post, v! Good to know you enjoy the Great Value options also! 🎉❤️
30+ years ago when my kids were little, I started putting store brand cereal in the name brand box. They never new the difference and it saved me some money.
Thanks for sharing, VickiL! My mom did the same when I was younger, and you’re right, I didn’t notice the difference until she told me! 😆🙌
Thank you for sharing! At the beginning of the pandemic we switched to all GV items and my family actually prefers it over the name brand. We’ve done all the frozen fish and chicken as well. I won’t go back to name brand if Walmart offers a store brand!
You’re welcome! 💞 So glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying the Great Value brand! 🙌
Id like to add Saltine Crackers. I went to Walmart to purchase a box when my husband was sick and the name brand wasn’t available so i got the Great Value. DELICIOUS! So much better than the Saltine brand and $1.37 a box vs. $4+ for the name brand!
WOOHOO! Glad to hear you enjoyed the GV brand of the saltine crackers, Rosa! Thanks for the recommendation! 💞
We buy the GV saltines also. They used to be under a $1. Still happy they are much less than the name brand. It all adds up.
Amazon fresh has toaster pastries in a variety pack of 12. I paid $2.14 when I ordered them recently. The taste is great and no complaints plus I didn’t have to leave the house. 🙂 Also if anyone didn’t like them I’m thinking Amazon would refund you without a hassle.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing about their toaster pastries, hip2trade! So happy to hear they were tasty! 🤗❤️
No I have to stick to name brand when it comes to biscuits …nothing else compares
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts with us on your preference for biscuits, Rn404! I also have a few items that I’m particular about buying the name-brand of. 🥰
I grew up with Aldi in Germany. I can only shop there when I am travelling but I stock up on German products when I do go to Aldi. Sometimes produce depending on price etc but mostly just German products that I miss from growing up overseas. I shop Aldi when I hit Germany to see my family and always bring back German food and real Kinder eggs.
So awesome that you’re able to grab your favorites when you visit friends and family in Germany, Patricia! Thanks so much for sharing! 💕
Yeah, what’s up with these Kinder Joy eggs. We always grab real Kinder eggs when we travel as well.
Kinder surprise eggs are banned in the US. There is a law that states there can be no inedible parts inside edible items. That is why they are separate in the kinder joy. Since the law has been on the books for over 40 years chances of them coming here are slim to none.
Not true. Every time I take my kids with me to any grocery store I always buy Kinder surprise eggs with the chocolate and the little toy inside. I’m surprised you haven’t seen them 😳😳.
Btw, excellent article!
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2006/CPSC-Warns-of-Banned-Kinder-Chocolate-Eggs-Containing-Toys-Which-Can-Pose-Choking-Aspiration-Hazards-to-Young-Children#:~:text=In%20August%201997%2C%20CPSC%20conducted,than%203%20years%20of%20age.
If you are buying the kinder surprise then they are being sold illegally. If you are buying the kinder joy those are fine. I personally think it’s crazy to think kids can’t figure out to break the egg and remove toy before eating it. They seem to do just fine in other countries.
Great post 👍🏼👍🏼Now it would be great to go the same with the target brand (and I love this one more than the name brand 99% of the time) and even another one for the Kroger one also 😉.
Happy to hear you enjoyed this post, Jackie! 💞 I’ll pass along your request to the team! 🥰
The Walmart Vanilla wafers are better and cheaper.
YUM! Good to know you prefer the GV brand of those, Julie! 🍪🤗
Not everything taste better! Bought Walmart brand pork n beans and they were gross. But we really like their brand of green beans.
Thanks, Anne! I haven’t tried their Pork N Beans, but I always grab their green beans and corn! 😋
Great value smoked bone in ham and Sams choice hams are all Smithfield hams.
Oh wow! That must be why I’ve liked them! 😋 Thanks, Deborah!
Thanks for this post. To be honest, we always just get the name brand bc I’m not sure how the generic will taste but I’m so excited to try some of the winners. ESPECIALLY the hazelnut spread! That would save us SOOO much money! We buy 2 large bottles of Nutella a week. 😬
You’re welcome, Laura! 💞 Nutella is my weakness. Especially all of their candy / snack options. 😋 SO yummy! I’ll be trying the store brand soon too! Hope you love it! 🙌
Great Value frozen broccoli florets are better than any of the brand names or Kroger brand. It it far superior in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing, Lois! ❤️ I have several recipes that I use broccoli in – I’ll have to grab the GV brand next time! 🥦🙌
I bought GV frozen broccoli florets and it was mostly stems. I’ll pay more and stick with a name brand so I can actually get florets.
GV mint chocolate chip ice cream is amazing, I will never spend the money for name brand again. However we tried the GV vanilla ice cream and was not impressed, will continue to buy name brand for vanilla.
On a side note, is anyone else having a problem with scheduling grocery delivery on Walmart’s website? I have Walmart+. I create a cart of items and as soon as I choose a delivery time, over half the cart goes out of stock. I switch back to pickup and everything is magically back in stock. I have called them multiple times reporting this issue, but they do nothing. Anyone else having this problem?
Glad to hear which flavor of store brand ice cream you prefer, Sandra! 🍦 So sorry to hear about the Walmart grocery delivery issues! You might try using the app, to see if that might do the trick with resolving any stock issues! 🤞💕
They finally had the Great Value brand pinwheel cookies when I shopped there today. YAY!! They have been out of them for months. Good to have them back.
WOOHOO! Those are one of my favorites, Debbie! Thanks for the heads up! Glad your location had them back in stock! 🙌💕
The Great Value pizza sauce and marinara are both very good options too!
The GV cream cheese is better than name brand and way cheaper. I buy the vegetable and brown sugar cinnamon. Great value 2.12 and Kraft 3.98. GV has more flavors than Kraft I think. Thank you so much for this post I’ve learned a lot.
You’re welcome, Sue G! So glad this post was helpful for you! Thanks for sharing about the GV items you prefer! 🤗❤️
Great value Ice cream cookie chipwich Sandwiches are AMAZING and way better than the M&M ones.
Thanks so much for sharing which ice cream cookie sandwiches you prefer, Dave! I’ll have to check those out next time! ❤️ 🍪
My nine year old disagrees about the cheese puffs and mac & cheese. The Walmart brand doesn’t even come close in the mac & cheese category. They don’t even taste the same and he wouldn’t eat it. As for the cheese puffs, I tried to sneak them past him, and he immediately said somethings wrong with these cheese puffs 😂
Thanks for commenting, Kari! My teenage daughter is very picky and she also didn’t care for the Walmart brand mac & cheese! 🤗 Hoping you might find some other options that your son likes! ❤️
In Canada. Great Value here is made by the big guys. Canada the food ingredients are different as well on a lot of things. Same as no name products. Costco has some good stuff.
Thanks for sharing about the brands in Canada – so interesting! I’ve heard about the ingredients being different than the US as well. 😊
I infrequently swap out the name brand for great value. I do it infrequently so she is not skeptical of everything I serve her. I’d say most of the time my wife will catch it and ask me what brand is this because it doesn’t taste right 😂 There are a few on your list she knew it wasn’t the name brand immediately! If a company makes a product and just slaps Great Value on it, she never notices, naturally. She definitely knows when I swap out a cookie or a snack! Would like a lot more comparisons in the future! 😊
Thanks for running this post again! Love great value products….very few that are not the same or better. Plus, full money back guarantee if not up to par.
You’re so welcome, Patti! 😊 That money-back guarantee definitely helps to try out their options! 💕 Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and Happy New Year! 🎉
I vehemently disagree on Nutella. I started this experiment in February/March 2021. I bought the Great Value version. The taste and consistency is just…off. I could immediately tell the difference. I continued eating it but only because I didn’t want to waste it. I finally threw out the half eaten jar last month. I couldn’t force myself to eat it any longer.
Oh bummer! SO sorry to hear how disappointing that one was. Thanks for the honest review on what you thought of it! ❤️