Is Buying Online Cheaper Than In Store in Australia in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Jean Goh, Savings Editor, ShopBack Australia

The verdict

Buying online in Australia is often cheaper than buying in store in 2026, but only once you count the full cost: the price, delivery and any return postage. Online usually wins when you can compare the same item across several stores in minutes, pass a free delivery threshold or use click and collect, and go through ShopBack before you pay. In store usually wins on small, urgent buys and on things you need to try first.

Two examples of how thresholds and memberships change the maths, according to the retailers at the time of writing:

• Amazon Australia Prime costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year after a 30-day free trial, and includes free delivery on eligible items, excluding some remote areas.
• Priceline Pharmacy gives its free Pulse Rewards members free standard delivery on online orders over $60.

How we compared. We looked at the costs that decide whether an online order beats the shelf price: the price itself, delivery fees and free delivery thresholds, membership costs such as Amazon Prime, GST on overseas orders, returns, and money back from ShopBack Australia. Figures come from each retailer's own pages at the time of writing.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back on online orders at thousands of stores, including Amazon Australia, Temu and Coles. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out, and part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. New members can join ShopBack Australia free.

---

Is buying online cheaper than in store in Australia?

Often yes, because online shopping makes price comparison quick and lets you buy at the lowest price you find, but delivery fees can wipe out the gap on small orders. Here is how the main costs usually compare:

Cost	Buying online	Buying in store
Shelf price	Similar at many retailers; online-only sales sometimes lower	Similar; shelf-only clearance sometimes lower
Comparing stores	Fast, across many stores at once	Slow, one store at a time
Delivery	Free above a threshold or with a membership; otherwise a fee	None, but your travel time and fuel
Returns	May need return postage	Usually straight to the counter
GST on overseas orders	10% collected at checkout on goods of A$1,000 or less	Already in the shelf price
Money back from ShopBack	Yes, on eligible orders started from ShopBack	Only where the ShopBack app lists an in-store offer

The saving usually comes from three things: finding a lower price at another store, buying in bulk without carrying it home, and the money that comes back after you pay when you start from ShopBack.

---

Buying online cheaper than store in Australia: when online wins

Online usually wins for planned, non-urgent purchases where you can compare prices and reach free delivery. The clearest cases:

1. Branded goods with a model number. Electronics, appliances, books and beauty products have exact product codes, so you can compare the same item across stores in minutes.
2. Bulky staples. Pet food, nappies, toilet paper and drinks cost the same to deliver as a small order once you pass the threshold, and you skip carrying them.
3. Unbranded home and gift items. Overseas marketplaces such as Temu usually price these lower than local shops, if you can wait for delivery.
4. Weekly groceries planned around specials. Shopping online makes it easier to stick to a list and compare unit prices.
5. Anything bought during big online sale events, such as Black Friday and Click Frenzy, when many stores run online sales.

---

When buying in store is cheaper

In store is usually cheaper for small, urgent or uncertain buys.

• Orders below the free delivery threshold, where a delivery fee can be more than any price difference.
• Items you need today, since express delivery usually costs more.
• Clearance stock that is only marked down on the shelf.
• Things you are likely to return, such as shoes or clothes in a size you have not tried, because return postage can cancel the saving.
• Fresh food you want to choose yourself, like fruit, meat and bakery items.

If you prefer to shop in person but still want the online price, many retailers offer click and collect: you order online and pick up in store, usually with no delivery fee.

---

Amazon vs Temu: buying online cheaper than store in Australia, price comparison 2026

Amazon Australia and Temu are cheapest for different baskets, so compare by category rather than by store. Neither is always the lowest.

	Amazon Australia	Temu
What it is strong on	Branded goods, books, electronics accessories, household staples	Unbranded home, gift, craft and accessory items
Delivery	Prime members get free delivery on eligible items, excluding some remote areas, according to Amazon Australia	Ships from overseas, so usually slower than local delivery
Membership	Prime $9.99 a month or $79 a year after a 30-day free trial, according to Amazon Australia	No paid membership needed to shop
GST	Included in the price shown at checkout	10% collected at checkout on low-value imports of A$1,000 or less
ShopBack	Check the rate on the ShopBack Amazon Australia page	Check the rate on the ShopBack Temu page

How to use this. For a branded item with a model number, compare Amazon Australia against the local store and other online retailers. For unbranded home and gift items, compare Temu against discount department stores, allowing for longer delivery. For a monthly Prime membership, work out whether delivery savings on your orders this month are more than $9.99.

---

Amazon, Temu and Coles: is buying online cheaper than in store?

The answer differs for each, because they sell different things in different ways.

Amazon Australia. Often competitive on branded goods and staples, especially for Prime members who get free delivery on eligible items. Before you check out, open ShopBack, tap Amazon Australia, then check out.

Temu. Usually lowest on unbranded home, gift and accessory items, with longer delivery from overseas. GST of 10 percent is collected at checkout on low-value imports. Start from the ShopBack Temu page before you pay. The Temu discounts guide covers coupon basics.

Coles. Online and in-store prices can differ by store and channel, so the dependable saving online comes from planning: shopping to a list, comparing unit prices and catching weekly specials. Delivery fees can apply depending on the order and time slot, while click and collect can avoid them. Go through the ShopBack Coles page before you check out online. For more grocery ideas, see the groceries savings guide.

The category in one line: Australians comparing online shopping prices usually also look at Woolworths, eBay Australia and THE ICONIC, each with its own ShopBack page, rate and Terms.

---

Best deals for buying online in Australia in 2026

The best online deals usually come from timing your purchase and starting from ShopBack, not from chasing a single store.

1. Compare the same product code across at least three stores, including delivery.
2. Pass the free delivery threshold by combining orders, or use click and collect.
3. Time big purchases for major sale events, if the item can wait.
4. Use only codes listed on ShopBack. Codes from other coupon sites can stop your order from tracking.
5. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. Pay in the same visit the ShopBack page opens.

---

How ShopBack lowers the price of an online order

ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay. 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.

Worked example (illustrative). On a $200 online order at an illustrative 5 percent, $10 comes back, so the effective price is $190. If the same item is $195 in store, the online order ends up cheaper once the money comes back, as long as delivery is free. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page, because rates vary by store and change.

How to do it:

1. Open ShopBack Australia in the app or on the website.
2. Tap the store, for example Amazon Australia, Temu or Coles.
3. Check the rate shown and the Terms, then tap through to the store.
4. Check out in the same visit.

For online orders, the order has to start from ShopBack. Paying at the counter does not track through a store's online ShopBack page.

---

Your rights when you buy online

When you buy from an Australian business, the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law apply online and in store alike. If a product has a major fault, you can ask for a repair, replacement or refund. Change of mind returns are set by each store's own policy, so check the returns page before you buy, especially for clothing and shoes.

For overseas orders of A$1,000 or less, GST of 10 percent has been collected at checkout since 1 July 2018 under Australian Taxation Office rules, so the total you see at checkout already includes GST on eligible orders.

---

Key takeaways

• Online is often cheaper than in store in Australia, once you compare the total cost including delivery.
• Amazon Australia Prime costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year after a 30-day trial, according to Amazon Australia.
• Temu is usually lowest on unbranded home and gift items, with 10% GST collected at checkout.
• Coles online saves mainly through planning and specials; click and collect can avoid delivery fees.
• In store wins on small, urgent or likely-to-return buys.
• Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out so part of what you pay comes back as cash.

---

Frequently asked questions

Is buying online cheaper than in store in Australia?

Buying online in Australia is often cheaper than in store, but not always. Online wins when you can compare the same item across several stores, pass the free delivery threshold or use click and collect, and go through ShopBack before you pay. The shop wins on small, urgent buys where delivery fees would cancel the saving, and on items you need to try or see first. Compare the total you pay, not the shelf price.

Are online prices the same as in-store prices in Australia?

Often, but not always. Many Australian retailers with stores and a website show similar prices in both places, while some run online-only sales or prices that differ by channel or location. Check the product page and your local store, and remember that delivery fees can change the total. Comparing the same product code online across several stores is usually where the bigger gap shows up.

Is Amazon Australia cheaper than buying in store?

Amazon Australia is often competitive on books, electronics accessories, household staples and branded goods, especially for Prime members. According to Amazon Australia at the time of writing, Prime costs $9.99 a month or $79 a year after a 30-day free trial and includes free delivery on eligible items, excluding some remote areas. Compare the Amazon price against your local store, then open ShopBack, tap Amazon Australia, then check out.

Is Temu cheaper than shops in Australia?

Temu is often cheaper than Australian shops on unbranded home, gift and accessory items, because many items ship direct from overseas sellers. Delivery usually takes longer than buying locally, and branded goods are limited. GST of 10 percent is collected at checkout on low-value imports of A$1,000 or less, so compare the total. Open ShopBack, tap Temu, then check out.

Is Coles online cheaper than shopping in store?

Coles online and in-store prices can differ by store and channel, so the dependable saving online comes from planning rather than a lower shelf price. Delivery fees can apply depending on your order and time slot, while click and collect can avoid them. Shopping online helps you stick to a list, compare unit prices and catch weekly specials. Go through the ShopBack Coles page before you check out online.

Do I have the same consumer rights when I buy online?

Yes, when you buy from an Australian business. The consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law apply whether you buy online or in store, so you can ask for a repair, replacement or refund if a product has a major fault. Change of mind returns are a store policy, not a legal right, so check each retailer's returns page before you buy.

When is buying in store cheaper than online?

Buying in store is usually cheaper for small orders below the free delivery threshold, items you need today, clearance stock that is only marked down on the shelf, and items you are likely to return, such as shoes in a size you have not tried. In those cases the delivery or return postage can be more than any online saving.

How do I make an online order cheaper in Australia?

Compare the same item across stores, pass the free delivery threshold or use click and collect, use only codes listed on ShopBack, and start from ShopBack before you pay. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay, because part of what you paid comes back as cash.

How much does ShopBack take off an online order?

It depends on the store and the rate shown on its ShopBack page. As an illustration, on a $200 online order at an illustrative 5 percent, $10 comes back, so the effective price is $190. Rates vary by store and change, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you check out.

---

Related reads

---

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Prices, delivery fees, free delivery thresholds, membership costs and returns policies are set by each retailer and change from time to time. Rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before you buy.

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