Which online grocery in Singapore delivers the biggest savings?

Even with an NTUC or Sheng Siong in your estate, it's hard to resist the appeal of online grocery shopping. Besides being convenient, online groceries offer great variety, tempting deals, and comparable prices to real-world supermarkets.

It's easy to assume that online groceries are more expensive, but prices don't vary much among basic perishables-even when they're on sale.

BASKET PRICE COMPARISON BETWEEN ONLINE SUPERMARKETS

*Prices are accurate as at 12 March 2020.

And just like real-world shopping, you can score good deals on non-basic items.

So if prices are similar amongst digital grocers, which one should you be buying from? It helps to examine benefits beyond the price tag. Online supermarkets aren't just for groceries; they're a way to save time and money too.

We compared the key differences between the 4 most recognised online groceries in Singapore: RedMart, Amazon Prime Now, Sheng Siong Online and FairPrice Online.

COMPARISON OF TOP ONLINE GROCERS IN SINGAPORE  

REDMART - BEST REBATES

RedMart Pros:

• Wide variety of groceries, household items, and specialty items
• Similar prices to physical supermarkets
• Free delivery over $40 and 4 per cent rebate on every delivery with a LiveUp membership

RedMart Cons:

• Delivery can take up to 2 days if you buy from third-party merchants
• Free delivery over $60 without a LiveUp membership
• Lazada app provides a poorer shopping experience compared to the old RedMart app

RedMart carries a wide range of groceries and daily essentials that include basic perishables, gourmet food items, and beverages by the carton. Prices for these are similar to your nearby NTUC or Cold Storage, especially for the house brand.

Besides the basics, RedMart also offers beauty products, pet supplies, and home items from a number of third-party merchants. On top of weekly groceries, I've used RedMart to purchase specialty items like incense, a toaster, and pocket Moleskine notebooks.

ALSO READ: Online groceries in Singapore - RedMart vs NTUC FairPrice Online vs Sheng Siong & more

RedMart's delivery fees are quite reasonable at $3.99 for orders between $40-$60. You get it for free for orders over $60. The drawback is that it takes 1-3 days for delivery, depending on the items you bought.

Of the online groceries compared in this piece, I use RedMart the most because of my LiveUp! Membership. The $59.90 annual membership seems like a lot, but the perks outweigh the costs: Free delivery for orders over $40, and a 4 per cent rebate on every delivered order.

On that note, you could also save more on your next grocery if you use the right RedMart promo codes!

AMAZON PRIME NOW - BEST FOR DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT FANS

Amazon Prime Now Pros:

• Express and same-day delivery
• Similar prices to physical supermarkets
• Free international shipping from Amazon US
• Free access to Prime Video and Twitch Prime

Amazon Prime Now Cons:

• Requires an Amazon Prime Now membership at $2.99/month
• Delivery can take up to 4 hours, depending on where you live

Amazon Prime Now got everyone's attention when it came to Singapore with a 2-hour delivery service. During its launch, we checked how Prime Now's prices compare to other supermarkets and found that they have the lowest overall price.

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A year later, Prime Now's prices are still rather competitive, and they offer a rich item selection beyond groceries. Besides household goods, you can also buy clothing, electronics, and books.

It's also hard to beat the convenience of same-day delivery, though not all areas of Singapore get what they need in 2 hours. In my neck of the woods, I can only get delivery slot 4 hours after placing my order.

At the time it was launched, you could use Prime Now without signing up for a membership. Today, you need to be a Prime Now member, which costs $2.99/month.

Besides fast delivery, a Prime Now membership includes an underrated perk: free access to Prime Video! Think Netflix, but with its own roster of original shows such as Man in the High Castle.

In comparison, a LiveUp membership only gives you 2 months of free Netflix, after which you pay at least $10.98/month. If TV marathons are important to you, Prime Now offers the better groceries-and-TV bundle.

SHENGSIONG ONLINE - BEST FOR LOW PRICES

Sheng Siong Online Pros:

• Same low prices and variety as Sheng Siong stores
• Same day delivery, available daily
• No membership fees

Sheng Siong Online Cons:

• Free delivery requires a minimum order of $100
• No other rewards or benefits
• No mobile app

For fuss-free online groceries, you can't go wrong with Sheng Siong Online's All For You. Think of it as the digital version of shopping at your local Sheng Siong.

It has the same wide variety of fresh produce, meats, and pantry staples, at the same low prices you've come to expect. Plus, you've got the added bonus of having them delivered to your door!

ALSO READ: Is online grocery shopping in Singapore cheaper than going to a supermarket?

Deliveries are free for orders over $100, which makes it a good choice for bulk purchases or for restocking your fridge. You can even get same-day delivery if you placed your order 3 hours before your chosen time slot.

There are no memberships or fees required, other than a $6 flat shipping fee for orders below $100. You can even save if you pay with a POSB Everyday Card, which gives you a 5 per cent cash rebate!

If you can't be bothered with memberships, and just want a simple shopping experience, Sheng Siong Online is an excellent choice.

FAIRPRICE ONLINE

FairPrice Online Pro:

• Same low prices and variety as FairPrice stores
• Same day delivery, available daily
• No membership fees
• Low minimum spend for free delivery

FairPrice Online Cons:

• No mobile app
• Expensive delivery if you cannot hit the minimum spend
• Website isn't very easy to navigate

Yes, your friendly neighbourhood supermarket NTUC FairPrice has gone digital. From steamboat essentials like quail eggs and cheese tofu to daily needs like bread, laundry detergent and toilet paper, FairPrice online has it all.

You would also be happy to know that their weekly offers, 3-day specials and purchase-with-purchase promotions are also available online.

On top of the usual suspects available, FairPrice Online also offers a range of items from British supermarket, Tesco. Think along the lines of western groceries like dried herbs, tea biscuits, bottled pasta sauces, condiments and cereal at really affordable prices.

ALSO READ: More online grocery shopping, food delivery with coronavirus outbreak

Bottom Line

Which online grocer is best for you depends on your lifestyle habits. If you enjoy Amazon's all-round digital entertainment offerings, then Amazon Prime may be best for you. If you regularly dry clean or order food delivery, then accumulating points with HonestBee may provide the best value.

More importantly, once you've narrowed down your online grocer of choice, be sure to pay with the right credit card to earn as many rewards - be they air miles or cashback - from your online grocery shopping.

This article was first published in Singsaver.com.sg.