Supermarket Loyalty Apps: Which ones are worth the hype?

When you’re looking for a discount or saving on your food shopping, one of the easiest ways to get one is to sign up to free supermarket loyalty apps. Most stores have them now to provide you with tailored discounts and rewards for shopping with them.  

But are supermarket loyalty apps worth the hype? We breakdown some of the most popular ones, so you can decide which ones to download and which ones to avoid.  

From Clubcard to Nectar, and Morrisons More – the top supermarket loyalty cards explained

Members Only Pricing 

You might have seen “Clubcard Prices” in Tesco, “Nectar Prices” in Sainsburys, and even “Plus Offers” in Lidl, which all offer loyalty card members cheaper prices than regular shoppers. But knowing when to take the deal, and when to walk away, is important. 

When it comes to members only deals, always ask yourself: ‘Would I buy it at full price?’. If the answer is no, then you’re not really bagging a deal. You should save your money for something you really need or want. 

The following shops offer members only pricing: 

Lidl – Prices on offer via the Lidl Plus app. Items include own brand cleaning supplies, fruit, and even some ‘middle aisle’ items. 

Tesco – You can access discounts instore and online, saving around 7% on selected items. Products cover a range of branded options where own brands might be cheaper – but you can save 50p on their meal deal! 

Sainsbury’s – Nectar prices are available both online and instore (excluding Sainsbury’s local). They have deals on more than 5,000 products but also provide personalised offers based on the products you regularly buy. 

Morrisons – Get More Card prices instore and online across a range of brands and even some home brand products. Some deals will earn you more points which can go towards money off future shops – although the conversion is 10 points = 1p. 

Co-op – It costs £1 to become a Co-op member, but they do offer membership prices on everyday essentials, such as milk, chicken, vegetables, and pasta. You can bag deals in person and for delivery or collection online.  

Reward Points 

Most supermarkets will offer points that you can collect with your purchases. These points can be converted to money off your future shops, or even be exchanged for vouchers or day trips! 

But knowing your point conversions and what rewards are on offer will help you make an informed decision about which deals are worth it. 

Tesco Clubcard Points  

• 100 points = £1  
• You get 1 point for every £1 you spend – equivalent to 1% cashback on your shopping. 
• You can spend your points on shopping, restaurants, and even days out. 

Sainsbury’s Nectar Points  

• 200 points = £1 
• You get a minimum of 1 point for every £1 you spend.  
• You can spend your points on shopping, or with over 300, with other companies including Vue cinemas. 

Morrisons More Points  

• 1000 points = £1 
• You can only earn points on selected products, but you can activate point boosters and special deals in the app. 
• You can turn your points into ‘fivers’ - £5 Morrisons vouchers, for money off your next shop. 

Asda Pounds not Points  

• 1 Asda Pound = £1 
• You can earn pounds by completing missions and buying ‘star products’. 
• You can spend your pounds instore or online. 

Extra Benefits 

There are some potential issues to be aware of when looking at membership only pricing and points deals. Remember that costs can be inflated to make it look like you’re getting a saving when it might be cheaper to shop elsewhere.  

You may also be encouraged to spend considerably more money than you will be saving in ‘points’, so don’t spend more than your budget just to snag a deal. 

However, there are some extra benefits to signing up for a shopping loyalty card/app, including further discounts, free gifts and cash incentives: 

Morrisons – You can join the Morrisons More Students Club for exclusive discounts and deals, tips throughout the academic year, and offers for you and your friends to enjoy. 

Lidl – You can earn free gifts through the app, such as a sweet treat from the bakery or a 10% off voucher, by spending instore. 

Iceland – For every £20 preloaded onto an Iceland Bonus card, Iceland will add £1 – essentially offering you 5% cashback on every purchase. 

Sainsbury’s – You can earn 2 points per £1 (double the current rate) when you click through to Ebay from the Nectar app or website and make a purchase. 

Tesco – You can join Clubcard Plus for £7.99 a month and save 10% on two ‘big shops’ per month (instore only).