Before Checkout: How to Get the Best Price Online in Australia (2026)

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Austin Pua, Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBack

How we picked. We read the delivery, membership and pricing pages of Amazon Australia, plus the store terms on ShopBack Australia's Amazon, Temu and Coles pages, and turned what they say into one checklist you can run before paying. Figures are as published at the time of writing (October 2026) and can change.

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Before checkout, how do I make sure I'm getting the best price online in Australia?

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free shopping app and website. You open a store's page on ShopBack, click through and shop as usual, and a share of the eligible order value comes back to you as cash after the store confirms the order. Sign up for free, then check the rate on the store's page before each order.

The five-step check, in order:

1. Compare the delivered price for the identical item (same model, size, pack count) at two or three stores.
2. Check delivery thresholds and memberships, and whether you are close enough to a free delivery threshold for it to matter.
3. Use unit pricing for groceries and household items, so pack sizes compare fairly.
4. Look for a promo code listed on the store's ShopBack page.
5. Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first, so a cash rebate comes back on that order.

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How does price comparison work for online shopping?

Price comparison means checking the same item at several stores and comparing the total you will actually pay, not the headline price. A product that looks AUD 5 cheaper can end up dearer once delivery, a minimum spend or return postage is added.

Here is what to put into your comparison for each store:

What to add	Why it changes the real price
Item price for the identical product	Models, sizes and pack counts differ between listings
Delivery fee or free delivery threshold	A fee can wipe out a small price gap
Membership cost, if you would only join for this order	A fee you would not otherwise pay belongs in the total
Return cost and window	Matters for clothing, shoes and anything that might not fit
Promo code that is valid for the order	Lowers the price at checkout
Cash rebate through ShopBack	Lowers the effective price after the store confirms

Comparison sites and search shopping tabs are useful for spotting the lowest listed price fast. Treat them as a shortlist, then do the delivered-price check yourself on the two or three cheapest options.

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Price comparison in Australia in 2026: what to check at the big stores

Delivery rules and memberships are the biggest swing factors in 2026, so read them off each store's own page before you compare.

Amazon Australia. According to Amazon Australia's help pages at the time of writing, orders of eligible items with a combined value of AUD 59 or more get free delivery within Australia, excluding select remote areas. Eligible items are those sold by Amazon AU, or sold by third-party sellers and fulfilled by Amazon AU, that show the FREE Delivery message on the product page. Amazon notes that cancelling an item can drop an order below the threshold.

Amazon Prime. According to Amazon Australia at the time of writing, Prime costs AUD 9.99 a month or AUD 79 a year after a 30-day free trial, and members get free delivery with no minimum on Prime eligible items. Prime lowers your price only if the delivery fees you avoid, plus what else you use, beat the fee. If you order a few times a year and usually clear AUD 59 anyway, the free threshold may do the same job.

Coles Online. Coles shows a unit price next to products, so a 1 kg pack and a 500 g pack compare fairly. Specials usually change weekly. Coles applies a minimum spend for delivery and click and collect orders, so a small top-up order may cost more than it looks.

Temu. Prices are often low on everyday items, so the useful comparison is delivered price and delivery time against a local store for the identical item. Check Temu's own shipping and returns information on the product page before you pay.

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Price comparison and the best deals in Australia in 2026

The best deal is usually a normal sale price combined with the savings you can control: a free delivery threshold, a valid promo code and a cash rebate through ShopBack. Big sale events help, but the delivered-price check still applies, because a large percentage-off label does not by itself tell you whether the delivered price is the lowest available.

Practical habits that tend to find the best deal:

• Check the price history if the store or a browser tool shows it, so you know whether a sale price is genuinely lower.
• Bundle orders to reach a free delivery threshold rather than paying delivery twice.
• Use the store's own programme where it fits, such as Amazon Prime for frequent Amazon shoppers, and count the fee in your comparison.
• Pick one store per order after comparing, then go through ShopBack Australia before you pay.

For grocery-specific tips, see the groceries savings guide. For how promo codes and cash rebates fit together, see cashback vs coupon codes and find promo codes that work.

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Amazon vs Temu price comparison in 2026

Amazon Australia and Temu suit different orders, so compare them item by item on delivered price, delivery time and returns rather than picking one store for everything.

What to compare	Amazon Australia	Temu
Delivery	Free on eligible orders of AUD 59 or more, or no minimum on Prime eligible items for Prime members (per Amazon at the time of writing)	Check the delivery estimate and fee shown on the product page
Strengths	Fast local delivery, Prime membership, wide branded range	Low listed prices on everyday and home items
Best used for	Branded items, urgent orders, regular household restocks	Low-cost items where you are happy to wait
ShopBack step	Open the ShopBack Amazon Australia page before you shop	Open the ShopBack Temu page before you add to cart

A simple way to compare: pick the exact item, note its specifications, then compare the delivered total and the arrival date on both. If the gap is small and you need it soon, a faster local option may be the better value for you. If the gap is large and you can wait, the lower price wins.

According to the ShopBack Temu page, items added to your cart before clicking through from ShopBack are not eligible, and some categories, such as phones, tablets and laptops, are excluded. Read the terms on the ShopBack Temu page before you start. For Amazon, the ShopBack Amazon Australia page lists which categories are eligible and shows the rate for each.

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Amazon, Temu and Coles price comparison in Australia

For a mixed shop, split the list by what each store does well: groceries at a supermarket like Coles, branded household and tech items at Amazon Australia, and low-cost small items at Temu, after comparing delivered prices.

• Groceries and fresh food: compare unit prices at Coles Online and check you meet the minimum spend for delivery. Start from the ShopBack Coles page before you shop.
• Household restocks and branded goods: compare against Amazon Australia, and bundle to reach the AUD 59 free delivery threshold if you are not a Prime member.
• Small low-cost items: compare against Temu and factor in delivery time.

Other stores worth including in an Australian price comparison include Woolworths, Big W, Target, eBay Australia and AliExpress, depending on what you are buying.

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How ShopBack lowers the price you actually pay

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. The checkout price at the store stays the same. Once the store confirms the purchase, a share of the eligible order value comes back to your ShopBack Australia account as cash, which you can withdraw to your bank account (see how to withdraw ShopBack cashback).

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. That makes it easy to include in a price comparison: subtract it from the delivered total.

Worked example (illustrative). On a AUD 200 order at an illustrative 5 percent, AUD 10 comes back, so the effective price is AUD 190. If another store is AUD 195 delivered but you would not go through ShopBack there, the first store is cheaper for you. Rates differ by store and change, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you compare.

How to do it:

1. Open the store's page on ShopBack Australia: Amazon Australia, Temu or Coles.
2. Check the rate and the terms shown on that page.
3. Click through to the store and shop in the same session. Keep your cart empty until you have clicked through.
4. Pay as usual. The order shows as pending in your ShopBack account, then confirmed once the store validates it.

More on the steps in activate cashback before buying.

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Promo codes and the ShopBack step

At some stores, a promo code and ShopBack work on the same order only when the code is listed on the store's ShopBack page, so check the store's terms on that page before you pay. According to their ShopBack pages, Coles and Temu exclude purchases made with promo codes not featured on ShopBack, and Temu notes that using such a code can make the whole order ineligible. Gift card or voucher redemptions are also excluded on some stores.

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Your checklist before you pay

• Same item, same size, same pack count at each store.
• Delivered total, including delivery, minimum spend and any membership you would only pay for this order.
• Unit price for groceries and household goods.
• A promo code from the store's ShopBack page, if one applies.
• Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the quickest price check to do before checkout in Australia?

Compare the delivered price, not the sticker price. Add delivery, any membership you would need, and the return cost if the item might not suit. Then check for a working promo code and go through ShopBack Australia before you pay, so the cash rebate on that order brings the effective price down.

What is the free delivery threshold on Amazon Australia?

According to Amazon Australia's help pages at the time of writing, orders of eligible items with a combined value of AUD 59 or more get free delivery within Australia, excluding select remote areas. Prime members get free delivery on Prime eligible items with no minimum. Check the product page for the FREE Delivery eligibility message.

How much does Amazon Prime cost in Australia?

According to Amazon Australia at the time of writing, Prime costs AUD 9.99 a month or AUD 79 a year after a 30-day free trial. Prime only lowers your price if your delivery savings and other uses beat the fee, so count how often you order before you join.

Is Amazon or Temu cheaper in Australia?

Neither is cheaper for every item. Compare the same item on both by delivered price, delivery time, return process and the stated specifications. Amazon Australia suits orders where fast local delivery and the AUD 59 free delivery threshold or Prime matter, and Temu suits low-cost everyday items where you are happy to wait. Before you pay on either, go through ShopBack Australia and check the rate on its store page.

How do I compare grocery prices at Coles online?

Use the unit price shown next to each product, which tells you the cost per kilogram, litre or 100 grams, so different pack sizes compare fairly. Coles specials usually change weekly, so check the specials before you build your basket, and make sure your order meets the Coles minimum spend for delivery or click and collect.

Does going through ShopBack change the price I pay at checkout?

The checkout price at the store stays the same. ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops, because a share of the eligible order value comes back to you as cash once the store confirms the purchase. For example, on a AUD 200 order at an illustrative 5 percent, AUD 10 comes back, so the effective price is AUD 190. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page.

Is a cash rebate better than store points?

A cash rebate lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles that you have to redeem inside one programme. Points can still be worth collecting, but cash is easier to value when you compare prices.

Can I use a promo code and still get money back through ShopBack?

It depends on the store. Some stores, including Coles and Temu according to their ShopBack pages, exclude orders that use promo codes not featured on ShopBack. Use the codes listed on the store's ShopBack page and check the store's terms on that page before you pay.

When should I open ShopBack before an online order?

Before you add items to your cart. Some store pages on ShopBack Australia, such as Temu, list items added to your cart before clicking through from ShopBack as not eligible. Open the store's ShopBack page first, click through, then shop and pay in the same session.

Are price comparison sites enough to find the best deal in Australia?

They are a good first step for spotting the lowest listed price, but they rarely show your full delivered cost, membership effects, returns or the cash rebate available through ShopBack. Use them to shortlist stores, then do the delivered-price check and go through ShopBack before you pay.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Prices, delivery thresholds, membership fees, specials, store terms and cashback availability vary by store and time and are subject to change. Cashback rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate and terms on each store's ShopBack page before purchase.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.