Tesco vs Asda: Which Supermarket Is Cheaper This Fall?

September 23rd, 2025

Quick answer: short verdict

Tesco vs Asda: If you want a crisp takeaway: Asda is pushing a strong low-price message this year (Rollback/price cuts) and will often be cheaper on a typical family basket; Tesco fights back with Clubcard prices and targeted Aldi-price-match lines, so the cheapest option depends on what you buy and whether you use Clubcard. In other words: Asda tends to win on headline everyday-price positioning, while Tesco can match or beat Asda on many individual items — especially if you’re a Clubcard user.

At UKDealsFinder.com, we conduct in-depth research to uncover where shoppers can save the most money this fall. Our comparison of Tesco vs Asda goes beyond just weekly promotions, analyzing product categories, seasonal discounts, loyalty programs, and everyday essentials. By reviewing price data, customer experiences, and value-for-money options, we provide readers with practical insights to make smarter shopping decisions without overspending.

Why this matters right now (fall 2025)

Autumn is when households start switching shopping patterns: pumpkins, seasonal baking, kids back at school, and early Christmas promos appear. Supermarkets respond with price campaigns and loyalty pushes to lock customers in through the busiest months. In 2025 both chains have launched visible campaigns:

Asda has revived and expanded its “Rollback / That’s Asda Price” positioning and cut prices on thousands of core products to reinforce value messaging.
Tesco has continued its Aldi-price-match and Clubcard price strategies, lowering many staple items and promoting Clubcard-only deals.

These moves make autumn an excellent moment to review where your money stretches furthest.

How we compare supermarkets (what to watch for)

When asking “which is cheaper” you need to define the lens:

Basket type: a family’s weekly shop (many value packs and basics) vs a single person buying convenience/ready meals. Discount stores like Aldi or Lidl often win on a low-cost basket, but comparing Tesco vs Asda matters when you need store variety, own-brand ranges, and availability.
Loyalty programs: Tesco Clubcard prices change the math for Clubcard holders — some items are lower behind those prices. Asda historically offers lower headline prices with fewer loyalty tiers, though it experiments with targeted promotions.
Promotions vs baseline: Some retailers show low “promotional” prices but higher baselines. Which? compares average prices over time to capture this.
Store format and local variation: A Tesco Express in a town centre will carry many convenience items at higher per-unit prices; a Tesco Extra or Asda superstore can offer bulk value. Always compare like-for-like formats.
Delivery and convenience fees: If you rely on home delivery, the cheapest product price can be offset by delivery or minimum order penalties.
Product mix: Fresh produce, meat, bakery, and branded goods vary in price differences much more than dry goods; check the categories you care about.

Head-to-head: pricing strategies explained

Asda: Rollback and “everyday low price”

Asda has reintroduced and amplified price cuts across thousands of products as part of a value-first strategy. They position themselves to attract budget-focused shoppers with broad, simple messaging (e.g., large lists of reduced lines and permanent price changes rather than short-term promos). This approach makes Asda appear cheaper for many staple and family-focused baskets.

Tesco: Clubcard, Aldi Price Match, and loyalty-driven savings

Tesco’s two main tactics are:

Clubcard prices — lower prices visible to Clubcard holders (and increasingly prominent in marketing). This makes Tesco competitive for customers who sign up and use the benefit.
Aldi Price Match campaign — Tesco lists specific own-brand staples that match Aldi’s prices, a direct admission of discounter competition and a tactic to retain customers who might otherwise switch.

Takeaway: Tesco’s pricing is more conditional (use the Clubcard), while Asda often competes on broad unconditional price cuts.

Hard numbers & independent market checks (what recent studies say)

A few independent surveys and trade publications give good context for autumn 2025:

Which? supermarket monthly price comparison monitors a basket of 60–200 items and found that although discounters (Aldi/Lidl) are typically the cheapest, among the big four Tesco and Asda trade places depending on the month and basket size — with Asda often cheaper on larger branded baskets and Tesco competitive when Clubcard prices are counted. Use Which? as an ongoing indicator rather than a one-off snapshot.
The Grocer’s Grocer 33 price checks frequently show Asda performing strongly on headline baskets, with recent wins in their Grocer 33 survey, reinforcing Asda’s low-price momentum.
Industry coverage (Reuters, Grocery Gazette) notes that Tesco is actively addressing price competition from Asda and discounters, confirming a market-level price battle.

These independent checks show no absolute winner every month — the cheapest retailer can change by category and whether you use loyalty pricing.

Typical basket comparison — examples and where the savings hide

To illustrate, here are simplified, typical fall baskets and where you usually see differences. (These are representative categories — for live exact prices check Which? monthly or retailer apps.)

Example A — Weekly family staples (value-focused)

Milk (4 pints), bread (white loaf), eggs (12), sugar (1kg), pasta, canned tomatoes, frozen peas, chicken breasts (2kg), potatoes (bag), own-brand cereal, entry-level tea/coffee.

Likely winner: Asda — strong on family-sized packs, permanent rollback prices. Tesco may match several items via Aldi price match or Clubcard prices, but Asda’s everyday low-price approach usually helps the total.

Example B — Branded-heavy basket

Name-brand cereals, branded yoghurts, branded ready meals, premium washing liquid, branded coffee.

Likely winner: Asda or Tesco depending on promotions — Asda often runs rollback on many brands; Tesco’s Clubcard and weekly promotions can lower the out-of-pocket cost if you time it right. Check both apps for current promos.

Example C — Convenience / urban quick shop

Sandwich, snack, bottled drink, premium ready meal.

Likely winner: Tesco Express may be more convenient but not cheaper. Convenience formats have higher per-unit prices. Asda’s smaller formats are fewer; supermarket value advantage shows up in larger stores.

Where the savings hide:

Own-label family packs (Asda Smart Price / Tesco’s Everyday Value)
Clubcard-only prices (Tesco) on staples and frozen lines.
Rollback multi-pack deals (Asda) — they reduce per-unit costs on large packs.

Loyalty schemes, coupons and hidden value (Clubcard vs offers)

Tesco Clubcard

Clubcard prices meaningfully reduce prices on many staple items. If you scan your Clubcard on every shop, the savings add up — especially for repeat buys (fuel rewards, vouchers for partners). Tesco continues to promote Clubcard as part of its competitive defence.

Asda membership/offers

Asda historically has fewer tiered loyalty discounts and instead focuses on transparent low prices (Rollback). They also run targeted promotions and app deals but the headline advantage is straightforward low base prices without the need to redeem points.

Which is better? If you shop frequently and use Tesco Clubcard plus partner vouchers often (fuel, Tesco Bank offers), Tesco’s conditional savings can beat Asda for your exact basket. If you want low friction (no app or loyalty), Asda’s simpler price cuts can be easier to convert into savings.

Own-brand vs branded goods: the big lever for savings

Both retailers have tiered own-label ranges:

Value / Basics: cheapest
Standard own-brand: good value
Premium own-brand: better quality but higher price

Switching a portion of your basket from branded items to standard own-label will almost always yield bigger savings than shopping chain-to-chain. Tesco has aggressively matched some Aldi prices on own label lines, and Asda’s own-brand ranges are usually positioned strongly on price.

Practical tip: Identify 8–12 items you regularly buy and swap to own-brand equivalents for 2–3 weeks to evaluate taste/quality — the savings can be immediate.

Store formats: convenience vs big-box value

Tesco Express/Metro — convenient but higher per-unit pricing. Good for top-ups or immediate needs.
Tesco Superstore / Tesco Extra — broader ranges, Clubcard-only bargains on bulk products.
Asda Superstore / Asda Extra — big packs, rollback deals, petrol/forecourt integration.

If you live near both a Tesco Extra and an Asda superstore, the Asda will usually give a lower per-item price for large family baskets; Tesco Extra becomes competitive when Clubcard prices are applied or when Tesco runs direct price-match campaigns. Location and travel cost matter: factor petrol/time.

Seasonal offers, promotions and how to time shopping this fall

Early autumn: back-to-school promotions (lunchbox foods, multipacks, cereal) — compare both apps for overlapping discounts.
Mid-late autumn: Halloween & Bonfire Night promotional sweets and snack buys — all retailers run targeted promotions; Asda often drops big, visible discounts; Tesco may have Clubcard-only cuts on bundles.
Pre-Christmas (late autumn into early winter): supermarkets drop early Christmas offers and “toy” or non-food promotions; winners vary by product. Watch price cycles; the retailer that drops an early seasonal price may raise it later.

Timing tip: Save promo alerts on both retailers’ apps and compare price history where possible (Which? or Grocer trackers) before bulk seasonal buys.

Online shopping & delivery fees — the total cost picture

Price on the shelf is only part of the story. Consider:

Delivery fees: Asda and Tesco both have various delivery speeds and charges. Tesco offers Clubcard Boost/Delivery Pass options in some areas. Asda offers delivery passes and click & collect which can be cheaper.
Minimum orders: Check minimum spend for free delivery or free Click & Collect.
Substitutions and stockouts: If items are substituted at higher price, totals can jump. Use the app preferences to manage substitutions.

Bottom line: if you order frequently and pay delivery each time, the cheapest product price advantage can be eclipsed by delivery fees.

Practical 10-step plan to get the cheapest weekly shop between Tesco and Asda this fall

List your core items (8–12 regulars) and track their prices on both apps for 2–3 weeks.
Sign up for Tesco Clubcard (it costs nothing) to unlock Clubcard prices where relevant.
Look for Rollback / permanent cuts at Asda for family-size staples — buy those at Asda if they match your list.
Switch some brands to own-label for immediate savings.
Use price-comparison sites (Which? monthly reports or The Grocer snapshots) to monitor broad shifts.
Combine in-person and online shopping: pick the store with the best overall total (including travel/delivery) for that week’s basket.
Scan for multi-buy vs unit price — try unit price math (pence per 100g or per item) rather than just pack price.
Use coupons / app-only deals and check manufacturer coupons in apps.
Buy seasonal items when promotions start and freeze/store where appropriate.
Re-evaluate monthly — supermarket pricing moves fast, especially in autumn.

FAQs — short, actionable answers

Q: Is Tesco always more expensive than Asda?
No. Without Clubcard Tesco may be more expensive on some items, but Clubcard prices and Aldi-price-match lines can make Tesco cheaper for a given basket. Asda tends to be cheaper on many family-sized staples because of rollback programs.

Q: Which retailer is cheapest overall in the UK?
Independent monthly checks (Which?) regularly show that discounters (Aldi/Lidl) are cheapest overall, but among the big four (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons), positions vary month to month. For fall 2025 Asda has been prominent in low-price wins while Tesco remains competitive via Clubcard and targeted price matches.

Q: Should I sign up for Tesco Clubcard?
Yes. It’s free and often delivers immediate savings via Clubcard prices and partner deals. For frequent Tesco shoppers it can be money-saving.

Q: How do I track which is cheaper for my basket?
Make a small spreadsheet with your 8–12 repeat items, check each app weekly, and total up. Update monthly to spot trends.

Final verdict and shopping checklist for this fall

Overall verdict for fall 2025:

If you want the simplest, lowest headline price across many family essentials: Asda is often the best bet due to extensive rollback & low-price campaigns.
If you use loyalty cards and shop a mix of staples and branded items, and prefer a broad store network and digital coupons: Tesco (Clubcard) can be cheaper overall for you, especially when Clubcard prices and price-match lines are applied.

Shopping checklist for fall savings:

Sign up for Clubcard (Tesco) and enable app alerts.
Monitor Asda Rollback lists and in-app deals.
Prioritise own-label swaps for everyday items.
Compare unit prices, not just pack prices.
Factor in delivery/transport costs.
Re-check Which? monthly summary for big-picture shifts.

Appendix: key sources & how to keep checking prices

Key recent sources used in this article (useful for monthly checks):

Which? supermarket price comparison — monthly basket comparisons across Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Ocado and Waitrose. This is the best regularly updated third-party check for “cheapest supermarket”.
Asda corporate newsroom / press releases — details on recent rollback and price campaigns.
Tesco PLC announcements / Clubcard news — info about Clubcard and Aldi price match lines.
The Grocer — Grocer 33 and pricing snapshots — industry-focused price surveys and commentary.
Reuters & trade press — industry reaction and company-level strategy coverage.

Final note (quick practical actions)

Pick 10 items you buy every week.
Check Tesco & Asda apps this week and total both baskets (include any Clubcard prices at Tesco).
Compare totals, factor in travel/delivery, and pick the store for the week. Repeat monthly.