Aldi's $4.99 Bear Cup Is a Dupe of Starbucks' $29.95 Bearista — and It Drops Wednesday

The Short Answer

Aldi is releasing a $4.99 bear-shaped glass cup that shoppers are calling a dupe of Starbucks' viral $29.95 Bearista cup. The Aldi version — the Merry Moments Figurine Glass Sipper — arrives in stores on Wednesday, October 21, in bear and penguin versions, and Aldi announced it with a direct shot at Starbucks: "$30 for a bear cup? Couldn't be us."

Every holiday season has one product that breaks the internet, and this year the bear cup is doing it twice. First Starbucks' Bearista cup sent shoppers into a frenzy. Now Aldi has stepped in with a look-alike that costs about one-sixth of the price — and the internet is already bracing for a sellout.

What Happened

Aldi announced the cups in an Instagram post on October 17, teasing a cheaper option for everyone who missed out on the viral Starbucks Bearista cups. According to USA Today, the bear version is a clear bear wearing a pink beanie and a striped pink-and-white scarf, and it comes with a pink-and-white straw. A second version is shaped like a penguin with green-and-white accessories.

The product's official name is the Merry Moments Figurine Glass Sipper, and Parade reports it is a returning shopper favorite — the kind of Aldi Find that regulars know can disappear within minutes of a drop. Foodie and Southern Living both list the same item in their October Aldi Finds roundups, at the same $4.99 price and the same October 21 date, with color options that include blue or pink bears and green or purple penguins.

The Price Gap Everyone Is Talking About

• Aldi Merry Moments Figurine Glass Sipper: $4.99, in stores Wednesday, October 21.
• Starbucks Bearista cup: $29.95 when it was first released in November 2025, according to USA Today; Parade puts the Starbucks version at $29.95 to $32.95.
• The difference: roughly $25 — enough for the cup, the drink to fill it, and change left over.

That gap is the whole story. Aldi did not quietly stock a similar cup and hope people noticed. It quoted the Starbucks price back at shoppers — "$30 for a bear cup?" — and answered its own question: "Couldn't be us." It is the kind of playful, confident marketing that Aldi fans love, and it turned a five-dollar glass into a viral moment before it has even reached shelves.

Why It's Blowing Up

Three things are fueling this. First, unfinished business: the original Bearista release left plenty of shoppers empty-handed, and anyone who missed out has been waiting for a second chance that does not involve resale prices. Second, the dupe economy is real — a product that delivers the same shelfie-ready look for under $5 is exactly what social media rewards. Third, Aldi Finds are famously limited. Parade notes that the retailer sometimes advertises purchase limits on its hottest items precisely because coveted drops vanish so fast, which only adds urgency: if you want one, Wednesday morning is not the time to be casual about it.

There is also a nostalgia layer. Cute, collectible holiday drinkware has become a seasonal ritual, and a bear in a beanie and scarf — or a penguin in winter gear — is designed to be photographed. Expect these cups to fill feeds the moment they land, filled with everything from iced coffee to hot chocolate.

How to Get One

Head to Aldi on Wednesday, October 21, ideally early. The cups are an Aldi Find, which means limited stock and no guarantee of a restock. Choose between the bear and penguin shapes and the color options your store carries, and remember that popular Finds can sell out the same day. USA Today reached out to both Aldi and Starbucks on October 19 and had not received an immediate response, so details like per-shopper limits may only become clear in store.

What's Next

If past Bearista mania is any guide, the Aldi version will sell quickly, social media will fill with side-by-side comparisons, and resale listings will test whether anyone will pay a premium for a $4.99 cup. Our takeaway is simpler: this is the rare viral product where the dupe might be the smarter buy — same charm, a sixth of the price, and a penguin option Starbucks never offered.

Sources

• USA Today — 'Couldn't be us': Aldi teases new Starbucks Bearista cup dupe
• Parade — Aldi's Glass Bear Sippers Are Back
• Foodie — Aldi Finds October 2026
• Southern Living — 15 October Aldi Finds

FAQ

How much is Aldi's bear cup?

It costs $4.99. Starbucks' original Bearista cup was priced at $29.95 when it was released in November 2025.

When does the Aldi bear cup go on sale?

It arrives in Aldi stores on Wednesday, October 21, as part of that week's Aldi Finds, and stock is limited.

What versions are available?

The Merry Moments Figurine Glass Sipper comes in bear and penguin shapes, with color options reported to include blue or pink bears and green or purple penguins.

Is the Aldi cup the same as the Starbucks Bearista?

No — it is Aldi's own product inspired by the same idea: a clear, animal-shaped glass sipper with a straw and winter accessories, sold for a fraction of the price.