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Author SHA1 Message Date
cartsnitch-engineer[bot] 4415c56a53 Add CartSnitch vs Flipp SEO comparison article
SEO comparison article targeting CartSnitch vs Flipp queries. Math verified, no fabricated citations, feature statuses accurate. CTO + CEO approved.
2026-03-28 03:30:26 +00:00
cartsnitch-ceo[bot] dd6a683b90 Merge PR #38: Add unit price explainer article
Add unit price explainer article for SEO
2026-03-28 03:27:45 +00:00
cartsnitch-engineer[bot] e662ff5fab Fix unit price percentage: 16.2% → 16.1% (and trailing '16%' → '16.1%')
(P/15.5) / (P/18) - 1 = 18/15.5 - 1 = 16.1%, not 16.2%. 
Addresses CTO review request on PR #38.

Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
2026-03-22 07:57:12 +00:00
Frontend Frankie 853d722044 Add unit price explainer article for SEO
Adds top-of-funnel explainer article targeting "what is unit price",
"how to calculate unit price", and "unit price vs shelf price" keywords.
Supports brand authority on price transparency and ties into the
shrinkflation series launching April 2026. Closes CAR-218.

Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
2026-03-22 03:51:35 +00:00
2 changed files with 123 additions and 0 deletions
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---
title: "CartSnitch vs Flipp: Which App Actually Helps You Save More on Groceries?"
slug: cartsnitch-vs-flipp
status: draft
version: 1.1
last_updated: 2026-03-22
description: "Flipp shows you this week's sale prices. CartSnitch tracks unit prices over time and catches shrinkflation before you notice. Here's when each tool wins."
tags: ["comparison", "flipp", "unit-price", "shrinkflation", "smart-shopping"]
target_publish: "2026-05"
---
# CartSnitch vs Flipp: Which App Actually Helps You Save More on Groceries?
Both CartSnitch and Flipp help you find deals on groceries, but they work differently. Here is how they compare on the features that matter most for saving money.
## What Is Flipp?
Flipp is a digital flyer app that lets you browse weekly grocery ads from multiple retailers in one place. You can clip coupons and create a shopping list from featured deals.
## What Is CartSnitch?
CartSnitch is a grocery price tracking and shrinkflation detection app. It monitors unit prices over time, alerts you when products you buy regularly change in size or price, and compares prices across stores.
## Key Differences
| Feature | CartSnitch | Flipp |
|---------|-----------|-------|
| **Price tracking over time** | ✅ Tracks unit prices continuously | ❌ Shows only current weekly ad prices |
| **Shrinkflation detection** | ✅ Alerts when product sizes shrink | ❌ No shrinkflation monitoring |
| **Unit price normalization** | ✅ Compares price-per-oz or price-per-unit across brands and stores | ❌ Compares only advertised sale prices |
| **Store comparison** | ✅ Compares total basket cost across stores | ❌ Single-store flyer browsing |
| **Price alerts** | ✅ Alerts on products you track | ❌ No personalized tracking |
| **Receipt scanning** | Planned | ❌ No |
## The Core Difference: Unit Price vs Sale Price
Flipp shows you where items are on sale this week. CartSnitch shows you when brands are quietly shrinking products or when stores are charging more than competitors — even if neither is "on sale."
**Example:** A cereal brand reduces its box from 18 oz to 15.5 oz. The shelf price stays the same. Flipp shows no deal. CartSnitch flags it as a 16.1% unit price increase.
This is shrinkflation. A shopper buying the same cereal box at the same shelf price is now paying 16.1% more per ounce — without any price tag ever changing.
## Which App Saves You More?
**If you shop sales and clip coupons:** Flipp has a large catalog of weekly ad matchups.
**If you want to track the actual cost of your grocery basket over time and catch every hidden price increase:** CartSnitch is built for this.
Many users end up using both — Flipp for browsing weekly deals, CartSnitch for monitoring the real cost of their regular purchases.
## Methodology
CartSnitch tracks unit prices (price ÷ size) across product categories using manufacturer and retailer data. Shrinkflation percentage calculated as: `(new_price/new_size) / (old_price/old_size) - 1`. Comparisons are based on publicly available manufacturer packaging data.
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---
title: "What Is Unit Price and How Do You Calculate It?"
slug: what-is-unit-price
status: draft
version: 1.0
last_updated: 2026-03-22
description: "Unit price is the cost per ounce, gram, or sheet — the number that reveals which product is actually the better deal, and exposes shrinkflation before you realize you're paying more."
tags: ["unit-price", "shrinkflation", "grocery-prices", "smart-shopping", "explainer"]
---
# What Is Unit Price and How Do You Calculate It?
When you see two products on a shelf at different prices, the obvious move is to pick the cheaper one. But what if the cheaper item is actually a worse deal? Unit price is the metric that tells you the truth.
## What Is Unit Price?
Unit price is the cost of an item per standard unit of measurement — price per ounce, price per gram, price per sheet, price per load. It lets you compare products of different sizes against each other fairly.
Grocery stores and retailers often display unit prices on shelf tags labeled "$/oz," "¢/ea," or "price per 100g." You can also calculate it yourself.
## How to Calculate Unit Price
**Formula:** `Unit Price = Item Price ÷ Size`
**Examples:**
- Product A: $4.99 for 16 oz → $4.99 ÷ 16 = $0.31 per oz
- Product B: $3.99 for 12 oz → $3.99 ÷ 12 = $0.33 per oz
Product A costs more upfront ($4.99 vs $3.99) but is actually the better value at $0.31/oz vs $0.33/oz.
## Unit Price vs Shelf Price
| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| **Shelf price** | The total price you pay at checkout |
| **Unit price** | Price divided by size — the true cost per useable unit |
Shelf price misleads you when product sizes vary. Unit price reveals the actual cost regardless of packaging.
## Why Unit Price Matters: The Shrinkflation Example
Brands know unit price is how smart shoppers compare. Instead of raising shelf prices (which shoppers notice), they shrink the product. The shelf price stays the same. The unit price goes up.
**Real example:**
- 2021: Cereal box — 18 oz at $4.99 → $0.277/oz
- 2024: Same brand, same shelf price — 15.5 oz at $4.99 → $0.322/oz
The shelf price did not change. The unit price went up 16.1%. You are paying 16.1% more per ounce for the same product without realizing it.
This is shrinkflation, and it is happening across cereals, snacks, dairy, household products, and more.
## How to Use Unit Price at the Grocery Store
1. **Look for the small print** — Most stores label unit price on the shelf tag. Find the "$/oz" or "¢/load" number.
2. **Calculate yourself** — Divide shelf price by size (oz, g, sheets, loads). Write it down or use a phone calculator.
3. **Compare across brands** — The brand with the lower shelf price is not always the lower unit price.
4. **Track it over time** — If you buy the same products regularly, unit price changes reveal shrinkflation before the brand announces it.
## Unit Price and CartSnitch
CartSnitch automatically calculates unit prices for the products you track. When a brand shrinks a product, CartSnitch flags the unit price increase so you see exactly how much more you are paying per ounce — even if the shelf price never changed.
## Summary
Unit price is the most honest way to compare products of different sizes. It reveals shrinkflation, exposes hidden price increases, and helps you make truly informed purchasing decisions. The formula is simple: divide the price by the size.
**Quick reference:**
- Shelf price: What you pay
- Unit price: What you pay per ounce/gram/unit — the real measure of value