10 Chocolates That Rival Lindt (And They're Cheaper)

Hot and cold, milk and dark, plain and filled, crunchy and smooth — the ways, flavors, and brands of chocolate vary so much that the choices can feel endless. And that's a good thing because personal tastes can be just as diverse. Chocolate fans take their cacao creations very seriously and are effusively outspoken about what they consider the best. For many, Lindt is top tier. And we can't completely disagree. When we ranked 25 different chocolate brands, Lindt landed in the top 10, with more expensive, artisanal brands ranking higher. So, when it comes to affordability and taste, Lindt is a fierce competitor among chocolate lovers.

However, many customers still find Lindt to be a bit pricey for an everyday indulgence. And just as many fans feel there are better, cheaper options out there. So, we did some investigating. We looked at fan favorites and reviews, compared the cocoa and cacao percentages in customer preferences with comparable Lindt offerings, and kept price at the forefront of our minds. In the end, we found 10 different chocolate treats for fans who want great chocolate at a lower cost. Check out this list, and you just might discover a new personal favorite, plus a few extra dollars in your wallet.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

Aldi's Moser Roth brand is loved by fans and stands toe-to-toe against Lindt in cocoa percentages, creaminess, and flavor. Better yet, most of these German-made treats can be found for under $3. Both companies have similar cocoa content in their dark chocolate bars, and both offer dark chocolate truffles, with Moser beating Lindt in cocoa content with 70% compared to 50%. One Reddit fan mentioned they had to stop buying Moser Roth for fear of eating the whole bag: "Their chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is my absolute favorite."

When Utah Truffles made the scene at Costco, the Belgian chocolates were so delicious that fans started comparing them to Lindt, as both are available at the store. For many, there was no question that Utah Truffles came out on top. "The Utah ones are so good!" wrote one Facebook fan. "Texture is much better & flavor options are good." In addition to fans enjoying the rich flavor of these truffles, they are also enjoying the prices. A pound of Utah Truffles is around $17, while Lindt Truffles sell for around $11 per half-pound.

Tony's Chocolonely is another brand that sits at the top of fan-favorite lists over Lindt. One Redditor wrote, "It's one of the highest quality chocolates I've ever had. Best chocolate taste." And that could be because Tony's and Lindt both have many comparable bars in terms of cocoa content. Tony's cocoa content ranges from 32% milk chocolate to 70% dark chocolate, and every bar has its fans. Even better, when you compare the 6.35-ounce Tony's Chocolonely dark chocolate bar to Lindt's 3.5-ounce 70% dark chocolate bar, Tony's comes out around 71 cents cheaper per ounce. 

If you prefer dark chocolate, Lindt has plenty of sweet offerings. But you may want to check out Chocolove. Fans and pros alike sing the brand's praises, especially the 70% Strong Dark Chocolate. Professionals tout it as creamy, luxurious, complex, and smooth, and customers agree. "If you love dark chocolate, this dark chocolate bar is rich, bold, and deeply satisfying," wrote one iHerb reviewer. And the price might make it taste even sweeter: Chocolove's 70% dark chocolate bar could cost you a little over $4, while the 70% Lindt bar is closer to $6.50.

Fans have quite the debate when comparing Lindt, Dove, and Ghirardelli, with many chocolate lovers choosing Dove over both. Dove's milk chocolate contains around 28% cacao, with the Deeper Darker Chocolate clocking in at 70%. "This is so enchanting and smooth. It's definitely worth it," wrote one Dove Chocolate reviewer about the dark chocolate. "Whether you're chewing it or letting it melt in your mouth, it's so awesome." The price is pretty nice, too. Dove's Milk Chocolate Bar costs around 75 cents per ounce, while Lindt's costs about $1.15.

As mentioned, personal preferences for chocolate treats vary widely. So it's no surprise that chocolate fans turn to Kinder Bueno to scratch that cocoa itch with its flavor-loaded bites. With 32% cocoa in its milk chocolate bars, Kinder beats out Lindor Chocolate Truffles by a small 2% margin. And when it comes to price, a bag of Kinder Bueno Mini Mix costs about $1.00 per ounce, while Lindor's assorted truffles run about $1.35 per ounce.

There are plenty of heated online debates comparing Cadbury and Lindt, with many fans sitting faithfully on both sides. One reason fans rank Cadbury higher is its wider selection. Some people find Cadbury nostalgic and choose it for that reason, while others just prefer the taste. One Reddit poster wrote, "I personally love Cadbury and could eat two bars a day if health wasn't in the question." And while both milk chocolate options have similar cocoa content at around 30%, you may find Cadbury priced as much as $2 cheaper.

It's no surprise to see Trader Joe's making the list — even we prefer a particular Trader Joe's dark chocolate over Ghirardelli and Lindt. And it seems we aren't alone in that preference. When it comes to fans, however, Trader Joe's Cocoa Truffles seem to get the most attention. Once only available during the holidays, they are now a year-round fan favorite. And although we couldn't find the exact cocoa content, it was easy to compare prices. Trader Joe's gives you a slightly larger serving at less than half the cost of Lindt truffles ($4.49 for an 8.8-ounce box vs. nearly $11 for an 8.5-ounce bag, respectively).

Across Lindt's options, cocoa content starts at around 30%. Ghirardelli, on the other hand, typically has about 50% cocoa content. For dark chocolate bars, we prefer Ghirardelli's 72% over Lindt's 85%. And many sweets fans also find Ghirardelli tastier than Lindt. One Redditor summed up a rather long thread by simply stating, "I prefer the flavor of Ghirardelli. It's got a more well-rounded and deeper chocolate flavor with fewer sour notes." If you are just looking for the cheapest, it is Ghirardelli, but only by a few cents per ounce.

This is the oddball of the group because white chocolate contains no cocoa solids, whether Lindt or Hershey's. However, Hershey's Cookies 'n' Cream earned its spot on this list thanks to its fans.  Not only do they say it is their favorite chocolate bar, but they also assert that it's the best chocolate bar Hershey's makes. And as far as price goes, it's much less expensive. A 4-ounce bar of Hershey's is almost $5 cheaper than 5 ounces of the comparable Cookies & Creme Truffles by Lindt.