We prefer Whole Foods, because they consistently offer fresher food.
If you're wondering why these two stores are often compared to one another, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh (Fresh for short) are the two main groceries options on Amazon dot com. A huge difference between the two are the types of foods they sell. Whole Foods bans over 300 ingredients in their stores. For example, since Heinz ketchup has high-fructose corn syrup, you won't find it at Whole Foods. Since Fresh is less selective, you'll be able to find recognizable brands like Heinz, plus organic options (like Whole Food's 365 brand).
Another major difference between the two is Whole Foods has over 500 physical locations across the U.S. This allows shoppers to order online and pickup in-person. As of June 2024, there are only 8 states with physical Fresh stores (according to Amazon's website). This means that Fresh is only available for delivery in most states.
Physical locations also allow Whole Foods to sell prepared foods. They have a grab-and-go section for customers to order quick meals like fresh sandwiches, savory soups, sushi rolls, rotisserie chicken, and more! Fresh has a similar service called "Amazon Kitchen" but the selection is smaller and seems limited to single-serve meals.
A lesser known difference that surprises many shoppers is that Whole Foods regularly offers lower prices, especially when it comes to produce. For example, if a customer is searching for organic raspberries, Whole Foods may offer the better price. We also noticed 365 oats were less expensive than Quaker Oats (a brand found on Fresh).
You may be wondering if orders can be combined. Not yet! Despite Whole Foods and Fresh both being available on Amazon, they operate differently. Whole Foods orders come from the physical store, while Fresh may come from a distribution center in states that do not have the physical store option. For example, if a customer wants to buy bread from Fresh and chicken from Whole Foods, they have to place two separate transactions. This means paying two separate tips, two separate service or prepared food fees, and reaching two different minimum cart sizes.
There are pros and cons to Fresh not operating out a grocery store. We noticed more delivery times that reach well into the evening. This means that an order can be placed at 2:00pm and arrive same-day between 10:00pm and 12midnight. In comparison, if a shopper orders food from Whole Foods around the same time, they may have to wait for next-day delivery. This experience may be location-specific and not true for other areas of the country. On the downside, we noticed the food isn't handled with as much care when delivered from Fresh. This means that while the food may arrive fast, it may also be dented, spoiled, and not sealed. Amazon has amazing customer service, so if you let them know they may refund the item(s).
Amazon Fresh | Whole Foods |
More Popular Brands (not as selective) | More Organic Brands (bans 300+ ingredients) |
Faster and more delivery times (for example, same-day delivery as late as 10pm or 12midnight) | Less available delivery times |
$35 order minimum ($100 for non-prime members) | $35 order minimum (service only available to Prime members) |
Most items are less expensive | Produce (such as strawberries and bananas) can be less expensive; Whole Foods 365 brand can also be less expensive than other organic options |
Sells 365 items (Whole Foods wallet-happy option) | Sells 365 items (Whole Foods wallet-happy option) |
Sells Amazon Fresh items | Does not sell Amazon Fresh items |
Sells Happy Belly items (Amazon brand) | Does not sell Happy Belly items (Amazon brand) |
Pick-up (for Prime members) | Pick-up (for Prime members) |
Delivery (for Prime members) | Delivery (for Prime members) |
10% off (for Prime members) | 10% off (for Prime members) |
Optional tips | Optional tips |
Physical stores available in: California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington State | Physical stores available in all states except: Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia |
Amazon Kitchen (ready to eat meals) | Grab-and-go section at Whole Foods |
Get emails for weekly deals at Amazon Fresh | Current deals at Whole Foods |
Last updated July 1, 2024
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