Imagine juggling four different grocery delivery apps just to save a few bucks. Sounds exhausting, right? But that’s the reality for Woolworths shoppers in Australia now, thanks to the supermarket giant’s latest addition to its online delivery arsenal. With DoorDash joining the ranks alongside Woolworths’ own website, UberEats, and Milkrun (acquired in 2023), customers have more choices than ever—but also a maze of fees, delivery times, and price variations to navigate. So, which option is the cheapest? And how do they stack up against good old-fashioned in-store shopping? Guardian Australia put them to the test, and the results might surprise you.
Here’s where it gets controversial: While convenience is king, the cost of that convenience can vary wildly. Let’s break it down.
DoorDash: The New Kid on the Block
After Coles ditched DoorDash for an exclusive partnership with UberEats, Woolworths swooped in to fill the void. In December, the supermarket announced that DoorDash would handle a whopping 40% of its on-demand grocery orders. But is it worth the hype? I tested it by adding six everyday items to my cart: a 750g loaf of Helga’s wholemeal bread, five Cavendish bananas, 2 litres of Pura milk, 2 litres of Omo Sensitive laundry liquid, a 1kg bag of Woolworths basmati rice, and a dozen Manning Valley free-range eggs. The subtotal? $61.05. However, after adding a 25-cent bag fee and a $7.33 service fee, the total jumped to $68.88. DoorDash waived the usual $2.99 delivery fee for my order, but I could’ve paid an extra $2.99 for express delivery in under an hour. And this is the part most people miss: Those fees can add up fast, especially if you’re not paying attention.
Woolworths Website: The Pricey Convenience
Ordering directly from Woolworths’ website seemed like a no-brainer—until I saw the fees. The same six items cost $56.50, cheaper than DoorDash. But with a $2 paper bag fee and a staggering $15 delivery fee for a one-hour window, my total soared to $73. Sure, Woolworths offers a cheaper $2 delivery fee if you plan five days ahead and allow a six-hour delivery window, but that requires both organization and a minimum $50 spend. Is it worth the hassle? For small, last-minute orders, probably not.
UberEats: Speed Comes at a Cost
UberEats matched DoorDash’s prices at $61.05 for my basket, but the $5.99 service fee pushed the total to $66.40. Without the Uber One subscription, my order would’ve been $74.30—more than DoorDash. However, UberEats promised faster delivery, which might justify the extra cost for some. But here’s the question: Are you willing to pay more for speed, or is patience your virtue?
Milkrun: The Dark Horse
Woolworths’ in-house rapid delivery service, Milkrun, surprised me. My basket totaled $61.70—slightly pricier than DoorDash and UberEats for some items but cheaper for others. With no service fee and a waived $5 delivery fee, my groceries were promised in just 52 minutes. And this is where it gets interesting: Milkrun isn’t available everywhere in Australia, but where it is, it’s often the cheapest and fastest option. Why isn’t it more widely available?
In-Store Shopping: The Timeless Classic
For comparison, I visited a Woolworths store in Melbourne’s CBD. The prices matched the website exactly, except for bananas, which were sold by weight ($4 per kilo) instead of individually (86 cents each). My five bananas cost $4.33, bringing my total to $56.53. The verdict? In-store shopping is still the cheapest—but it’s also the most time-consuming.
The Final Verdict
As expected, buying in-store saves you money, but it’s also the most time-intensive option. What’s surprising is how expensive Woolworths’ own website can be for quick deliveries. My basket cost $20 more than in-store when factoring in the $15 delivery fee. However, if you’re organized and plan ahead, Woolworths’ website can be economical for larger shops.
Among the delivery apps, Milkrun stands out as the best value for money, offering speed and affordability—where it’s available. DoorDash and UberEats are pricier but faster, while Woolworths’ website is a mixed bag depending on your planning skills.
Now, here’s the controversial question: With so many delivery options, are we sacrificing affordability for convenience? And is Woolworths’ expanding delivery network making grocery shopping more confusing than it needs to be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think the extra fees are worth it, or is in-store shopping still the way to go?
