I Tried Amazon’s New Cheap Grocery Line for a Month — And There Were Some Very Clear Winners

So when I heard that Amazon recently expanded its Amazon Saver, a budget line of select grocery items, I had to give it a try. I tasted more than a dozen staples over the past month. These are the five worth adding to your cart.

You’ll still need to pick up other essentials, like eggs and milk, via Amazon Fresh or elsewhere (for now). The company has plans to add more items in the future. You don’t need a membership to buy Amazon Saver items either, but Prime Members score an extra 10% off and exclusive grocery deals. 

Shopping with Amazon Saver is simple. If you have a physical Amazon Fresh store near you, you can buy products without a membership. Like I mentioned, online shoppers don’t need a membership, but you will need an account to check out. 

To shop, browse through the countless grocery offerings and place your order. Just make sure you live in an Amazon Fresh delivery area (which is available in over 3,500 U.S. cities) and search for “Amazon Saver” to browse the full product line. The catalog is divided into five categories: snacks, breakfast items, coffee, baking, and spices and seasoning. Notably, items like cheese and boxed macaroni and cheese don’t fit into any of those buckets and are instead searchable. 

I tried 15 Amazon Saver items over the past few months, and right away I noticed that many — although not all — were nearly half the price of comparable name-brand products. The product selection is a bit limited, and it’s not yet a one-stop shop. As the catalog continues to grow, I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing what comes next. In the meantime, these are the five I’ll definitely be repurchasing. 

I love cereal. I typically buy the big name-brand version of honey nut oats. If you were to put a bowl of each in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to tell which is which. This one is sweet and slightly nutty (despite no nuts!). I also am particularly fond of its budget-conscious price tag. 

Buy: Honey Nut Oats Cereal, $1.69 for 12.25 ounces at Amazon

This boxed macaroni and cheese comes in a familiar-shaped box with the Amazon Saver red coloring. (Fun fact: This boxed mac used to be part of the Amazon Happy Belly line.) It’s got the same classic pasta shape and powdery cheese packet, and calls for butter or margarine and a bit of milk to make the sauce. It tastes like the standard boxed version I’ve had before — cheesy, creamy sauce over tender noodles — but is far cheaper. I’ll definitely be stocking up on a few boxes to keep on hand for quick meals. 

Buy: Boxed Macaroni and Cheese, $0.59 for 7.25 ounces at Amazon

I’ve never had duplex sandwich cookies before (shocking, I know). They’re essentially a sandwich cookie with a vanilla and chocolate cookie and they’re truly the best of both worlds. The cream filling is sweet and creamy, and the cookies are firm but tender after a few bites. Dreamy! I don’t have much else to compare them to, but they’re really great.

Buy: Duplex Sandwich Cookies, $2.69 for 25 ounces at Amazon

I go through about a box of crackers a week. I eat them plain or as a vessel for dips, put them on a charcuterie board, and even add them to kitchen sink cookie dough. These crackers are buttery, crunchy and really everything I look for in a cracker. Plus, they’re about a dollar less than the name brand, which really adds up for me.

Buy: Country Club Crackers, $2.89 for 13.7 ounces at Amazon

Have you tried Amazon Saver? Tell us about it in the comments below.