I compared the same 6 cheeses at Trader Joe's and Aldi, and the cheaper store really impressed me

• I tried mozzarella, Brie, white cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and ricotta from Trader Joe's and Aldi.

• Aldi had better deals on mozzarella, goat cheese, ricotta, and Gouda, and they all tasted nice.

• I think I'd only go back to Trader Joe's for its Brie and white cheddar.

Cheese is a staple in my kitchen, whether I'm throwing together a fancy board, baking savory scones, tossing a salad, or cooking pasta.

Grocery retailers Aldi and Trader Joe's both sell an impressive variety of cheeses, but I was curious which store's options I preferred in terms of taste.

Here's how the stores' mozzarella, Brie, white cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and ricotta stacked up.

I could barely tell the difference between Trader Joe's and Aldi's mozzarella.

I expect mozzarella to have a more milky and subdued flavor compared to other cheeses, and I typically use it for pizza, pasta, and salads.

I got an 8-ounce ball of fresh mozzarella for $4, or $0.50 an ounce, at Trader Joe's. The same-sized ball of cheese at Aldi was just $3.40, or $0.43 an ounce.

The two balls tasted nearly identical to me.

The only difference I noticed was that Trader Joe's mozzarella felt firmer. However, they seemed to have the same stringy texture and light flavor.

Trader Joe's Brie caught my attention.

Aldi's double-creme Brie has always been my go-to for cheese boards and melty dishes. An 8-ounce wheel only costs $4, or about $0.50 an ounce, which I think is a great deal.

Trader Joe's sells its double-crème Brie for $8 a pound. The price depends on the size of your wedge, but it's still also about $0.50 an ounce. I got a 9.6-ounce wedge for $4.80.

Although these cheeses looked almost identical after I cut into them, Trader Joe's wedge tasted a little more flavorful to me. My wheel from Aldi also felt slightly harder.

The blocks of white cheddar cost the same but tasted different.

Cheddar is the ultimate snacking cheese, and I ones with a good strong flavor.

One of Trader Joe's most popular cheeses is its Unexpected cheddar, with its creamy texture and a flavor almost reminiscent of Parmesan.

The closest thing I found at Aldi seemed to be its Emporium Selection vintage English cheddar, which is imported from England.

The cheeses come in similar-looking 7-ounce packages for $4 each, or $0.57 an ounce.

Aldi's cheddar seemed to have milder, more subdued flavors, and its texture was more crumbly. Trader Joe's cheddar, on the other hand, brought a punch of that tangy flavor often found in aged cheeses.

Aldi took the cake when it came to smoked Gouda.

A thick smoked Gouda is one of my favorite varieties for a cheese board. It also adds rich smokiness to things like grilled-cheese sandwiches and burgers.

Aldi's Emporium Selection smoked Gouda and Trader Joe's Dutch smoked Cheese looked super similar.

However, Aldi's costs $3.40 for about 8 ounces, or $0.43 an ounce, and Trader Joe's is $8 for 16 ounces, or $0.50 an ounce. The price difference may not be that stark, but I always like to know where the better deal is.

Both options had a creamy texture, but Aldi's Gouda tasted sweeter. I thought it was a little better for snacking than Trader Joe's offering.

The goat cheeses had one of the starkest price differences.

Goat cheese is another great addition to a cheese board, and it also pairs nicely with salads.

The 5-ounce log at Trader Joe's costs $3, or about $0.60 an ounce, but the 4-ounce log at Aldi only costs $1.60, or about $0.40 an ounce.

Trader Joe's cheese tasted wonderfully tart. It also had a softer, more crumbly texture, making it easier to sprinkle over salads.

I thought Aldi's goat cheese had a smoother taste and held together a little easier, making it ideal for a cheese board.

I didn't notice much of a difference between Trader Joe's and Aldi's ricotta.

Ricotta is a wonderful addition to pasta dishes and baked goods, but it's also a nice, fluffy dip on its own. It may not be the center of attention flavor-wise, but I like the texture it brings.

I found a 16-ounce tub of whole-milk ricotta at Trader Joe's for $4, or about $0.25 an ounce, and a 15-ounce tub of whole-milk ricotta at Aldi for $2.30, or about $0.15 an ounce.

Both cheeses tasted similar — I could hardly tell them apart. However, Trader Joe's ricotta felt a little softer and, therefore, was a little more spreadable.

Aldi is the place to go for budget cheeses.

The overall winner when it comes to cost-efficiency is Aldi — and flavorwise, its cheeses held up pretty well.

There were times when I thought Trader Joe's cheeses felt a little higher quality, but nothing was impressive enough to stop me from going for the cheaper choice.

However, I was surprised to find that the Brie and white cheddar at both stores cost the same. I may be heading to TJ's for those in the future.

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