You can check specials without setting foot in a store
Every major Australian supermarket publishes weekly specials online, usually dropping on a Wednesday. Coles, Woolworths and ALDI all have catalogues you can browse from your phone or laptop before you make a shopping list.
The catch is that flipping through three separate apps or websites takes time, and none of them will tell you whether a "special" price is actually lower than what you paid last month. Checking specials properly means comparing across stores and over time, not just scanning one catalogue.
Where each supermarket lists its specials
Each of the big three handles it differently. Knowing where to look saves you from missing deals or wasting time on the wrong page.
- Woolworths: The Woolworths app and woolworths.com.au both show current specials under the "Specials" tab. New specials usually go live on Wednesday morning.
- Coles: Browse coles.com.au or the Coles app. Half-price and multi-buy deals rotate weekly, also from Wednesday.
- ALDI: Check aldi.com.au under "Special Buys" for the Wednesday and Saturday drops. ALDI also runs grocery specials, but they are harder to browse online compared to the other two.
How to tell if a special is actually a good price
A yellow ticket or a "was/now" label does not always mean you are getting a bargain. Some products cycle between full price and half price every few weeks. Others get a small discount that looks dramatic next to an inflated "was" price.
The only reliable way to judge a special is to know what the product normally costs. That means checking price history, not just the sticker on the shelf today.
Unit pricing helps too. Supermarkets are required to show price per unit (per kg, per litre, per 100ml) on shelf labels. Comparing unit prices across brands and pack sizes often reveals that a "special" on a large pack is still more expensive per unit than the regular price on a smaller one.
A quick routine that takes five minutes
You do not need to spend an hour cross-referencing catalogues. A short pre-shop check makes a real difference without eating your evening.
- Pick your main store for the week based on which has the best specials on items you actually buy.
- Check if anything on your regular list is on special at a second store. If the saving is worth the extra stop, add it to a separate list.
- Look up price history on anything with a big discount claim. If it was the same price three weeks ago, it is not really a special.
- Compare unit prices when a deal involves a different size or brand than you usually buy.
Where Discount Trolley fits in
Discount Trolley pulls current specials from Coles, Woolworths and ALDI into one place so you can search and compare without switching between apps. You can check price history on individual products to see whether a special is genuinely lower than normal.
The app also lets you build a shopping list and see which store has the best price on each item. If splitting your shop across two stores saves enough to justify the trip, Smart Split works that out for you.
None of this guarantees you will save a specific dollar amount on every shop. Prices vary by week, by store, and by what is actually in stock. But having real price data in front of you before you leave the house puts you in a better position than guessing from a catalogue alone.
Questions shoppers still ask
When do Coles and Woolworths update their specials?
Both Coles and Woolworths typically update their weekly specials on Wednesday mornings. Some deals run for two weeks, so not everything changes each cycle.
Can I check grocery specials without downloading an app?
Yes. Coles, Woolworths and ALDI all publish specials on their websites. You can browse from any browser. Discount Trolley combines all three into one search if you prefer not to check each site separately.
How do I know if a half-price deal is actually worth it?
Check what the product normally sells for when it is not on special. Some items cycle between full price and half price every few weeks, so the discount is less impressive than it looks. Price history tools help you spot these patterns.
Is it worth shopping at two supermarkets to chase specials?
It depends on how much you would save versus the time and fuel cost of a second trip. If only one or two items are cheaper elsewhere, it is usually not worth it. If several staples are significantly cheaper, splitting the shop can make sense.
See the real price before you buy.
Discount Trolley helps Australians compare current grocery prices, check price history, and work out whether a special is actually worth chasing.
- Compare Coles, Woolworths and ALDI in one search
- Check price history before you trust a yellow ticket
- Build lists and see when an extra stop is actually worth it