I tried cheesecakes from Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Walmart. There's just one I'd buy again.

I tried cheesecakes from Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Walmart. There's just one I'd buy again. After trying four different options, I found the best store-bought cheesecake. Ivy Carbone I'm a big fan of New York-style cheesecake — a classic dessert known for its dense, tangy cream-cheese filling, typically set atop a graham-cracker crust.However, baking one at home can easily take hours, and a trip to a small bakery isn't always an option.So, I picked up four grocery-store versions from Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe's to find out which ones actually deliver that classic cheesecake taste. Here's how it went. The Trader Joe's cheesecake came frozen. I waited two hours for the Trader Joe's cheesecake to defrost. Ivy Carbone Trader Joe's 30-ounce New York-style cheesecake cost just under $8 and was the only one in the bunch that came frozen.This was a bit of a bummer because I waited two hours for it to defrost before trying it. However, I was eager to see if this would affect the taste at all. Unfortunately, I didn't think this cheesecake had much flavor. I wasn't a fan of the cheesecake from Trader Joe's. Ivy Carbone When I took a bite, I thought the flavor was faint at best, with none of the tang or richness that makes New York-style cheesecake so iconic. I even had other family members try it with me, and they weren't impressed.Plus, I thought the crust-to-filling ratio was off, and there wasn't enough of the actual filling for my liking.Even though it was the cheapest option by ounce, I wouldn't buy it again. At first glance, the Whole Foods cheesecake looked the best. The Whole Foods cheesecake was topped with berries and cream. Ivy Carbone The 40-ounce Whole Foods cheesecake cost $27, and had flecks of vanilla bean throughout. It was also beautifully topped with berries and cream.The crust seemed thin, but the cake itself looked delicious, and I was excited to dig in. However, I was disappointed by the taste. There were small flecks of vanilla bean in the filling. Ivy Carbone Once I took a bite, I thought the filling tasted more sweet than tangy, and it lacked the dense creaminess I expect from a New York-style cheesecake. Instead, it was light, mousse-like, and not at all that cheesy.The crust wasn't bad, but it didn't have a strong graham-cracker taste, either.Because this cake was the most expensive on a per-ounce basis, I expected more flavor. So, ultimately, this cheesecake was a miss for me. The Walmart cheesecake looked promising. I paid $13 for a 40-ounce cheesecake from Walmart. Ivy Carbone I enjoy most of Walmart's food products, so I was excited to try this presliced 40-ounce New York-style cheesecake, which cost $13. The filling was pretty good, but I didn't love the crust. The crust seemed to be a bit oily. Ivy Carbone The texture of the cheesecake filling seemed heavier than the others I tried, and I thought it was a decent option for the price. The flavor was a bit mild, but overall, it was pretty good.My biggest issue here was the crust. It was thin, floury, and left some visible grease at the bottom of the pan. Costco's cheesecake came with frosting on top. The Costco cheesecake had a ruffled, piped border. Ivy Carbone The Costco cheesecake was the only option that came with frosting, complete with a ruffled, piped border. It also came pre-marked for perfect slicing, though it was tricky to get a clean cut.At only $20 for a whopping 72 ounces of cheesecake, I thought the price for such a massive cake was hard to beat. I loved how dense, creamy, and tangy this cheesecake was. The cheesecake from Costco was my favorite. Ivy Carbone The Costco cheesecake was also the only option not specifically marketed as New York-style, but I thought it tasted authentic. It was dense, creamy, and tangy.The crust also nailed the classic, buttery, graham-cracker flavor. Although it was a little thin for my liking, it held the filling well, which impressed me.The only drawback was the sugary frosting on top, which felt unnecessary and distracted from the actual cheesecake filling.However, it was definitely my favorite option overall, and for the price, I thought it was a great value.This story was originally published on February 26, 2026, and most recently updated on November 10, 2026. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Ivy Carbone is an associate video coordinator at the NBA and a content creator who highlights eats and entertainment in New Jersey and beyond. She has experience in media production, serving as an associate producer on Netflix’s Starting 5 and Court of Gold docuseries. A passionate home cook and dedicated foodie, she blends her love for storytelling and food into her work.She holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Production from Temple University and currently resides in North Jersey, where she continues to create and collaborate at the intersection of media, storytelling, and flavor.When she’s not cooking up content, she’s hanging with her cat Cinnamon and on the hunt for the best vodka sauce in New Jersey.Follow her at @NJ.Bits.and.Bites Food Whole Foods Walmart More Costco