17 Affordable Store Brands Our Readers Prefer Over Name Brands

One of the perks of having such smart and savvy readers is that I know just who to go to when I need advice or input! :-) I did just that a few weeks ago when I started thinking about name brand products versus their generic or store brand equivalents.

I usually buy name brands for certain products and generic brands for others, and sometimes I don’t even have a specific reason for choosing one over the other. I wondered if there were any great generic or store brand products that I was missing out on, so I knew exactly what I needed to do next!

I logged on to Facebook and asked my followers which generic products they prefer over the name brand equivalent, and I ended up receiving nearly 70 thoughtful replies that were packed with great recommendations! (A big THANK YOU to those of you who responded—I appreciate your input more than you know!)

In fact, I found the input so helpful that I sifted through the replies and organized them into a handy list so I could share them here with all of you! So in today’s post, you’ll learn about over a dozen of the best generic and store brand products according to readers like you!

This list really helped me to reevaluate my own shopping habits, and I hope it will do the same for you! :-)

17 of the Best Store Brand Products, According to OGT Readers

From Target:

1. up & up Advanced Therapy Lotion

This thick and creamy lotion helps to soften and moisturize even the driest of skin. Reader Joy says it’s “better than Eucerin,” which was all I needed to hear!

Eucerin has always been my go-to when I’ve had really dry skin. But the up & up product is less than half the cost of a smaller bottle of Eucerin, so that’s a big motivator to make the switch!

2. Market Pantry Butter

Market Pantry is another of Target’s many store brands. I’ve heard several good things about Market Pantry butter, both in terms of quality and price!

From Costco:

3. Kirkland Signature Toilet Paper

You didn’t think I’d write a post about generic brands without mentioning Kirkland, did you? Many Costco members (including myself!) swear by the products from Costco’s store brand Kirkland Signature.

The most frequently mentioned product, surprisingly enough, ended up being toilet paper! Reader Michele says, “I think the best toilet paper out there is Kirkland’s, for the quality and the price!”

4. Kirkland Signature Batteries

People say these batteries work just as well as the name brand ones. Plus, they’re quite a bit cheaper than the name brands, so you can save yourself a considerable amount by buying a big pack that will last for months!

5. Kirkland Signature Pet Food

Kirkland Signature pet foods come in a couple of different varieties, but many people rave about the Nature’s Domain line in particular. These are high-quality grain-free pet foods that you’d likely pay an arm and a leg for at any other store. (There’s even an organic option available, if that’s your thing!)

From Kroger:

6. Simple Truth Canned Goods

If you shop at Kroger stores (which includes Smith’s, King Soopers, Fry’s, etc.), then you may be familiar with the store brand Simple Truth. This brand aims to offer organic, “free from,” and natural foods at an affordable cost.

Simple Truth canned goods are a particularly popular choice due to their price and overall quality. They also appear to contain less sodium than some of the name brand canned goods, which is another plus.

From Walmart:

7. Great Value Single Serve Coffee Cups

Walmart’s store brand Great Value offers items like single serve coffee pods at a reasonable price. Reader Holly likes the French Roast and Colombian varieties in particular. She says they are “…the only ones I’ve found that are strong enough for me. I think they’re better than Starbucks!”

8. Great Value Pie Crusts

These pie crusts are inexpensive, but they have a good texture and a neutral flavor. If you’re making a labor-intensive pie filling, using a pie crust like this is an easy way to save yourself some time and effort!

9. Great Value Ketchup

Readers like this ketchup for its smooth texture. They also like that it has a bit of a vinegar-y bite to it and a sweet finish.

10. Great Value Sunscreen

All sunscreen is held to the same FDA standards, so a store brand like Great Value will work just as effectively as the name brand stuff. And sunscreen can be quite expensive, so it’s a great way to save!

From Aldi:

11. Berryhill Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Reader Sandy actually prefers Aldi’s version of Nutella to the name brand stuff. She says it’s “…more chocolate-y and has a better mouthfeel.”

12. Meat Counter Products

Reader Keriann thinks that the quality of the products from Aldi’s meat counter is worth the slightly higher price tag. She claims that “…Aldi meat is by far better than almost anywhere I’ve been to.”

13. …And Everything Else!

Reader Stacey is a big fan of almost all of Aldi’s store brand products. She says, “I use their brand of taco seasoning and love it more than any of the brand names. The cheeses are delicious and so are the sandwich meats. The veggies and fruits are the best too.”

From Trader Joe’s:

14. Trader Joe’s Canned Tuna

Reader Diane prefers the texture of Trader Joe’s store brand canned tuna. She says, “There’s actually meat in there, not mush.”

From Whole Foods:

15. 365 Organic Whole Wheat Bread

Whole wheat bread can be really hit or miss, but people seem to like Whole Foods’ store brand bread. They say it’s hearty and tastes great toasted!

From Multiple Stores:

16. Malt-O-Meal Cereals

While the Malt-O-Meal brand was acquired by Post Cereals in 2015, and thus no longer technically qualifies as a generic brand, I couldn’t bring myself to take exclude Malt-O-Meal cereals from this list. They are still reliably cheaper than the name brands, after all!

Everyone has their own favorite variety, and many people prefer the Malt-O-Meal versions to their name brand counterparts. (The “Marshmallow Mateys vs. Lucky Charms” debate can be particularly lively!)

17. Medications

Generic medications cost less than their name brand counterparts because the seller isn’t spending as much to package or market them. Whether you’re buying store brand over-the-counter pain relievers or a generic prescription medication, they can save a lot of money over the name brand offerings!

What’s your favorite generic or store-brand product?

NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?