8 Cheap Off Brand Foods Better Than Name Brand (2026)

Trying to make the most of cheap off brand foods? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• High inflation impacted how many people choose private label brands (aka store brands) over national brands.
• Here are 10+ items to try.  If you’ve been getting sticker shock at the grocery store every time you pick up your favorite name-brand f...
• New research shows private label sales across all U.S.

High inflation impacted how numerous people choose private label brands (aka store brands) over national brands. Here are 10+ items to try. 

If you’ve been getting sticker shock at the grocery store every time you pick up your favorite name-brand foods, you may be considering switching to store-brand, generic or off-brand foods. New research shows private label sales across all U.S. retail outlets recently hit record highs of $271 billion in 2024. That’s up nearly 4% from the year prior. 

It’s amazing that more of us are looking for a bargain in order to keep our budgets in line, because not only do we stand to save money, but numerous off-brand foods are just as good (if not better!) than their name-brand counterparts. But just how much do you stand to save when opting for off-brand foods? About 25% on food, according to data from Consumer Reports, and about 20%-40% on health and beauty products, according to CVS Health. With this kind of savings on the table, it’s time to give cheaper generic products a shot. Here’s a look at 8 of our favorites. 

Almond Milk

For those with dairy allergies, choosing an alternative to traditional cow’s milk can be time-consuming and expensive. To the rescue is HerMoney’s Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Tuggle, who says the Thrive Market almond beverage is better than any pricey brand she’s tried. ($3.19 per carton at Thrive vs. $4.79-$4.99 for numerous other brands) 

Baked Beans

If you haven’t heard, baked beans are not just for barbecues anymore. They pair well with rotisserie chicken or even a side salad when you need a quick lunch. Tuggle’s go-to is the Excellent Value brand “Original” Baked Beans sold at Walmart, which are just as good as Bush’s, she says. The Excellent Value brand is $1.94 for 28 ounces, compared to $2.48 for Bush’s. 

Canned Tomatoes

A excellent thing about tomatoes is that they don’t need to be fresh from the vine to taste delicious. “Wegmans has wonderful canned tomatoes ,   stewed, diced, and whole,” says HerMoney community member Pesha L. There’s also “much less peel left than most of the major brands I’ve tried.” She buys in bulk when she can to stock up when her favorites are on sale. The Wegmans canned tomatoes retail for $1.69 for 28 ounces vs. nearly $3 for numerous other brands. 

Chicken Nuggets

Attention, everyone out there with a picky eater who loathes sitting in those long drive-through lines at fast food chains. There’s an off-brand food that can make dinnertime a lot easier. HerMoney community member Keri K. says the Kirkwood brand of chicken nuggets from Aldi is a low-cost favorite at her house. They retail for around $6 for a one-pound bag, and comparable brands like Tyson or Earth’s Best cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $8-$10 for the same size. 

Plant-based Protein Powder 

Another favorite private brand found at brick-and-mortar Walmart locations as well as walmart.com is the Equate brand of plant-based protein powder. HerMoney community member Diana B. says she prefers it over the Orgain brand. And the savings here are enormous , the Equate brand is $18.41 for 32 ounces, vs. about $30 for the same size of Orgain. 

Greek Yogurt

Yogurt has come a long way in the last few decades, with dozens of varieties now available on local dairy aisles across the U.S. When it comes to the nonfat variety of Greek yogurt, HerMoney community member Heidi Y. says the Friendly Farms nonfat Greek yogurt from Aldi is her favorite. The savings here is substantial , the Aldi brand is around $3.69 for a 32-ounce container, compared to $6.69 for the same size of Fage. 

Macaroni and Cheese

When it comes to comfort food or a super quick side dish, it’s hard to beat a warm bowl of macaroni and cheese. Marcia T. says her daughter prefers Wegmans Mac n’ Cheese to the ones made by Kraft “by a long shot.” It also typically sells for less than half the cost. Wegmans is 50 cents per box, compared to Kraft at $1.39.

White Cheddar Puffcorn 

If you’re looking to save with off-brand food, look no further than on-the-go bagged snacks. HerMoney community member Kat E. reaches for Walmart’s Excellent Value brand of cheddar-flavored puff corn, she says, noting it’s “better Pirate’s Booty in my opinion!” And at $2.56 for the 5-ounce Walmart brand vs. $6.98 for 5 ounces of Pirate’s Booty, we couldn’t agree more. 

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Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on cheap off brand foods goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at savingswitch.com.