Frequently Asked Questions

The cheapest supermarket varies every week based on flyer deals. Generally, Maxi and Super C offer the lowest prices, but deals change constantly. JustShoppingSmart looks up the flyers of 7 grocery stores in your area, compares the ones it finds and estimates the cheapest store for your specific grocery list (estimate for items not in the flyers).

It depends on your province! In Quebec, Maxi and Super C are often cheapest. In Ontario, No Frills and FreshCo. Out West, Superstore and Walmart. JustShoppingSmart compares flyers in your area to spot this week's deals.

Three effective strategies: 1) Plan your meals with this week's flyer prices. 2) Compare what the same list costs at each store. 3) Stock up when discounts are significant. JustShoppingSmart handles steps 1 and 2 for you.

It mostly depends on household size, region and habits: we don't publish an average without a source. For official figures, Statistics Canada publishes the Survey of Household Spending and the Consumer Price Index. JustShoppingSmart calculates, for your specific plan, the gap between regular prices and current flyer prices — the amount shown is specific to your week and your store. See the Methodology page for the full calculation.

The key: start with deals, not recipes! Check what's on sale this week, then build your meals around those ingredients. JustShoppingSmart shows this week's deals in your plan's recipes.

Flyers come out every Thursday in Quebec. Look at front-page deals (the most aggressive discounts), compare price/kg or price/litre rather than total price, and check validity dates. Or let JustShoppingSmart do it for you: it looks up the flyers of 7 chains in your area (Super C, Maxi, IGA, Metro, Walmart, Costco, Giant Tiger) and compares the ones it finds.

Price matching lets you get a competitor's advertised price without switching stores. In Quebec, two chains offer it: Maxi (« Imbattable. Point final! ») matches the prices of major competitors designated by each store, and Giant Tiger sells 1¢ below a local competitor's advertised price. Both require an identical item and the competitor's flyer, printed or digital, and exclude member prices among others. Walmart no longer matches competitor flyers, only Walmart.ca prices; Super C, IGA, Metro and Costco have no published price-matching policy at checkout. Policies checked on the official websites in October 2026. In your list, JustShoppingSmart shows when a price match is possible.

JustShoppingSmart is a free app: it looks up the flyers of 7 grocery stores in your area (Super C, Maxi, IGA, Metro, Walmart, Costco, Giant Tiger), compares the ones it finds and builds your meal plan and list with this week's flyer prices.

Maxi and Super C take turns from one week to the next depending on the flyers — there's no permanent winner. Maxi has the advantage of PC Optimum points, while Super C sometimes has lower base prices. JustShoppingSmart compares what the same list costs at each store, with the deals spotted in your list.

IGA and Metro are in the same price range — more expensive than Maxi/Super C, but with better selection of local and organic products. Their weekly deals are often competitive. JustShoppingSmart compares both so you get this week's deals from each.

PC Optimum offers redeemable points at Maxi, Provigo, Shoppers Drug Mart and more. Tips: load your personalized offers every Thursday, stack offers with flyer deals, and redeem whenever you like: in store, their value doesn't depend on how many points you redeem (10,000 points = $10). Combine PC Optimum with this week's deals spotted by JustShoppingSmart.

It's possible with planning! The keys: batch cook, buy proteins on sale and freeze them, rely on legumes and eggs, and plan meals with this week's flyer prices. JustShoppingSmart creates your meal plan with this week's flyer prices and compares it to your budget.

In Quebec, new flyers come out on Thursday. The best time: Thursday or Friday morning, when shelves are full and deals are fresh. Avoid Sunday afternoon (peak traffic). Tip: check JustShoppingSmart Thursday morning to plan your week with the new flyer prices.

Instacart connects consumers with personal shoppers who do your grocery shopping. Some stores charge higher prices on Instacart, plus variable fees (see Instacart's pricing page). Tip: use JustShoppingSmart to spot this week's deals, then order on Instacart to combine savings and convenience.

It depends on the service and the store. Pickup is often free above a minimum order; delivery usually costs extra, except with a subscription such as Instacart+. Amounts change: check the fees when you order.

Start by tracking your current spending for 2-3 weeks: it's your starting point, more accurate than an average. Tips: separate your 'grocery' budget from 'restaurants/delivery', plan meals on Thursday with the new flyers, and use JustShoppingSmart to compare your plan with your budget.

It varies a lot with household size and region: we don't publish an average without a source. For official figures, Statistics Canada publishes the Survey of Household Spending and the Consumer Price Index. JustShoppingSmart computes, on your own list, the gap between each item's regular and flyer price, and what the same list costs at each store.