By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
The cheapest way to buy groceries online in Singapore is one large, planned order that clears the free-delivery threshold, placed with the retailer whose prices suit your basket. The most expensive is a small top-up with delivery and service fees added on. The thresholds last published are $59 at FairPrice Online, which also charges a fixed service fee on every order, $60 at RedMart and $100 at Sheng Siong’s online store.
And here is the detail almost nobody uses. FairPrice delivers for free when you shop in person and spend more than $200 in a single receipt at selected stores, which lets you keep the in-store benefits online shoppers lose, from CDC vouchers to discount days, and still have the rice carried to your door.
Online grocery delivery: quick facts
| FairPrice Online | Free delivery from $59; a fixed service fee applies to every online order |
| RedMart | Free delivery from $60 (last published) |
| Sheng Siong online | Free delivery from $100 (last published) |
| Free delivery in store | FairPrice delivers purchases above $200 in a single receipt at selected stores |
| CDC vouchers | Cannot be used for online orders |
| The rule of thumb | One planned order a week, above the threshold, with heavy items first |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | Nothing extra, if the order clears the free-delivery line; a service fee at some retailers regardless. |
| What you get | Your time back, and ten kilograms of rice carried up by someone else. |
| The alternative | Shopping in person and, where available, having a large receipt delivered free. |
| Worth it for | Busy households, anyone without a car, and anyone buying heavy or bulky staples. |
| Skip it if | You shop in small baskets several times a week. The fees will cost more than the convenience saves. |
| Last verified | 28 September 2026. Fees change often; confirm them on the checkout screen, which is the only price that counts. |
What does an online grocery order really cost?
The price on the product page is only the first line. The real cost of an order is:
items + delivery fee + service fee + any surcharge for a preferred slot − promo codes + the value of anything substituted or missing
Take an illustration with invented numbers. A $45 order with a $5 delivery fee and a $4 service fee costs $54, which is 20 per cent more than the groceries. A $90 order that clears the threshold and pays only the service fee costs $94, which is about 4 per cent more. The groceries were no cheaper. The order was simply planned.
How the main online grocers charge
| Grocer | Free delivery from | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| FairPrice Online and the FairPrice Group app | $59 | A fixed service fee applies to every online order, even above the threshold; tiered delivery fees below it; Linkpoints can be earned online |
| RedMart (Lazada) | $60 (last published) | Online-only grocer, founded in 2011 and part of Lazada since 2016 |
| Sheng Siong online | $100 (last published) | A high threshold that suits large family orders |
| Cold Storage and Giant online | Check at checkout | Owned by Macrovalue since the 2025 deal; watch for changes to fees and range |
| Quick-commerce apps | Varies | Fast delivery of small baskets, usually at a premium in fees or prices |
What you give up by ordering online
- CDC vouchers. They are an in-store payment only and cannot be used for online orders.
- Discount days. FairPrice’s senior, Pioneer, Merdeka and CHAS discount schemes run in its physical stores and Unity pharmacies.
- Choosing your own produce. Online, someone else picks your apples and your fish, and you inherit their judgement.
- Near-date markdowns. The reduced-sticker shelf is an in-store phenomenon.
What you gain
- Time and weight. The heavy pillars, rice, oil, detergent and drinks, are the best case for delivery.
- Planning. A standing weekly order built from your usual list makes waste and duplication easier to avoid.
- Fewer impulse aisles, although the app will try to replace them with suggestions of its own.
The in-store trick: free delivery from the shop
FairPrice offers free home delivery for in-store purchases above $200 in a single receipt at selected stores, including its Finest and Xtra formats; the store list is on the FairPrice Help Center. You shop in person, choose your own produce, use your CDC vouchers and your discount day, and the bags are delivered to your door, or at least to the foyer or entrance, which is how the service describes it.
For a large monthly stock-up, this beats most online orders on cost and choice at the same time.
Substitutions, missing items and fees you did not see
Set your substitution preference before you order: allow similar items, allow only the same brand, or refuse substitutions. Check the order against the receipt on delivery, and report missing or damaged items through the retailer’s help channel promptly; there is usually a time window.
Under the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore’s price-transparency guidelines, unavoidable charges such as service fees should be included in the headline price or disclosed clearly and prominently beside it. In practice, the checkout screen is where every fee finally appears together. Read the total, not the trolley.
A simple system for online groceries
- Build one standing weekly list of pillars: rice, oil, milk, eggs, paper, detergent.
- Order online only when that list clears the free-delivery threshold.
- Buy fresh fish, meat and vegetables in person, where you can choose and use your vouchers.
- For the big monthly shop, consider the in-store route with free delivery.
- Keep one month of receipts and compare the online and in-person totals for the same items.
The fuller weekly method is in how to save money on groceries in Singapore.
Frequently asked questions
Which online grocery in Singapore has the cheapest delivery?
It depends on your order size. On last-published terms, FairPrice’s free-delivery threshold is $59 but a service fee applies to every order; RedMart’s is $60 and Sheng Siong’s is $100. The cheapest delivery is the one your planned order clears without paying extra.
Can I use CDC vouchers for online grocery orders?
No. CDC vouchers can be used only for in-store purchases at participating supermarkets.
Does FairPrice Online charge a service fee?
Yes. FairPrice describes the service fee as a fixed fee included in every online order, separate from the delivery fee, which is waived above the free-delivery threshold.
Is buying groceries online cheaper than in a supermarket?
Not usually on price alone, once fees are counted, and you lose in-store vouchers and discount days. It can be worth it for heavy items and for the time saved, if you plan orders above the threshold.
Can I get free delivery from FairPrice without ordering online?
Yes. Selected FairPrice stores deliver in-store purchases above $200 in a single receipt free of charge.
Read next
This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf, where we explain why the last mile to your door is the hardest part of grocery logistics. Continue with CDC vouchers at supermarkets and 24-hour supermarkets in Singapore.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: FairPrice Help Center on service fees, delivery fees and in-store delivery; FairPrice Group on its discount schemes; published terms for RedMart and Sheng Siong online (2025); the CDC Vouchers Scheme; CCCS Guidelines on Price Transparency. The worked example uses invented numbers. Last updated 28 September 2026.
