Quick Answer: Buy Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs (about $5.70). Closest dupe, more for the money: Alouette. Aldi: Emporium Selection (about $3.29). Dairy-free: Boursin Dairy-Free.
Our top picks
No taste test exists, so we picked on texture, ingredients, price per ounce and where to buy.
All 8 picks
Prices are single store listings checked October 2026 and vary by region.
Best overall
Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs
- Size
- 5.3 oz
- Texture
- Slightly crumbly, mostly creamy
- Since
- 1963 (garlic and herb)
Why it's here: It's the original, and everything else on this list is sold as an alternative to it.
Watch out: Tasting Table found it the most basic of Boursin's own flavors, ranking it 5th of 6.
Best dupe
Alouette Garlic & Herbs
- Size
- 6.5 oz
- Texture
- Smooth
- Made in
- Pennsylvania
Why it's here: Close in flavor to Boursin with about a quarter more cheese per tub.
Watch out: Smoother than Boursin, with added gums. Eat it within 7 days of opening.
Why we picked it (sources)
A Redditor quoted by Food Republic called it "pretty much the same" as Boursin (Food Republic). Walmart lists $5.46 for 6.5 oz (Walmart). Stop & Shop gives the ingredients (Stop & Shop).
Best value
Emporium Selection Garlic & Herb Spread (Aldi)
- Size
- 6.5 oz
- Price per oz
- About 51 cents
- Where
- Aldi only
Why it's here: The lowest price per ounce, and a Food Republic writer found very little difference from Boursin in a baked pasta.
Watch out: Aldi doesn't always stock it, and online prices can differ from the store.
Why we picked it (sources)
Aldi lists $3.29 for 6.5 oz (Aldi). The baked-pasta comparison is in Food Republic (Food Republic).
Best for dipping
Rondelé by Président Garlic & Herbs
- Size
- 6.5 oz (Kroger)
- Ingredients
- Milk and cream, garlic, parsley, onion
- Pairs with
- Provençal rosé (brand)
Why it's here: A widely stocked alternative with a simple ingredient list.
Watch out: Pack size varies by store, so check the label.
Easiest to find
Philadelphia Garlic & Herb Whipped Cream Cheese
- Size
- 7.5 oz
- Texture
- Whipped
- Price per oz
- About 60 cents
Why it's here: In nearly every supermarket, and the cheapest national brand per ounce.
Watch out: It's whipped cream cheese with starch and gums, so it's airy, not crumbly.
Why we picked it (sources)
Kroger lists $4.49 for 7.5 oz with the ingredient list (Kroger).
Best dairy-free
Boursin Dairy-Free Garlic & Herbs
- Size
- 6 oz
- Base
- Coconut oil
- Free of
- Dairy, gluten, nuts, soy
Why it's here: Readers rated it highly, and one said it tastes like the original.
Watch out: Some found it stiff to spread and the garlic harsh, and it costs more.
Why we picked it (sources)
goDairyFree lists the ingredients, $6.99 for 6 oz, and a 4.8 average from 10 reader reviews (goDairyFree).
Best almond-based
Kite Hill Garlic & Herb Spreadable
- Size
- 8 oz
- Base
- Almond milk
- Where
- Whole Foods, Target
Why it's here: A nut-based vegan option that Whole Foods suggests for boards.
Watch out: Contains tree nuts, and some reviewers found the garlic very strong.
Why we picked it (sources)
goDairyFree gives the ingredients, price and reviews (goDairyFree). Whole Foods lists 8 oz (Whole Foods).
Best bulk buy
Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs, club pack
- Size
- 2 × 5.3 oz (BJ's)
- Price per oz
- About 93 cents
- Also at
- Costco (3-count, mixed)
Why it's here: Cheaper per ounce than a single tub when you're making several boards.
Watch out: Costco's 3-count includes one Shallot & Chive, which Chowhound ranked worst for parties.
Why we picked it (sources)
BJ's lists $9.69 for two tubs (BJ's).
How to choose
- Want the crumbly Boursin texture? Look for cultured milk and cream at the top of the list and few or no gums.
- Want it smooth for spreading or piping? Alouette and whipped cream cheese spread more easily.
- Feeding a crowd? Price per ounce varies a lot: from about 50 cents at Aldi to $1.10 for a single Boursin tub.
- On the board: it's a soft fresh cheese, so put out one tub at a time and refill from the fridge. Plan on about 1 oz per guest when it's one of several cheeses.
Serve it in its own small bowl with a spreader, next to crackers, cucumber and radish slices. More on Boursin
Herb cheese spread questions
What is Boursin?
A soft, gournay-style French cheese made from fresh cheese and cream blended with garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. François Boursin started it in Normandy in 1957, and the garlic and herb version came out in 1963. It's creamy but slightly crumbly.
Boursin vs Alouette: what's the difference?
Boursin is cultured milk and cream with dried garlic and herbs, and it's slightly crumbly. Alouette is smoother, adds gums and usually costs less per ounce. On a cracker most guests won't notice much difference.
What do you serve with Boursin on a charcuterie board?
Crackers, sliced baguette, cucumber, radishes and carrot sticks. It goes well with salami, prosciutto and cherry tomatoes, and with a dry rosé or sauvignon blanc.
How long can Boursin sit out on a board?
Treat it like any soft, fresh cheese: no more than 2 hours at room temperature. Put out one tub at a time and refill it from the fridge.
Is there a dairy-free Boursin?
Yes. Boursin Dairy-Free Garlic & Herbs is made with coconut oil and is free of dairy, gluten, nuts and soy. Kite Hill's almond-based spread is another vegan option, but it contains tree nuts.
How we picked these, and sources
No published taste test compares Boursin with other garlic and herb spreads, so we don't give star ratings here. We picked these from texture, ingredient lists, price per ounce and where each is sold, using the store listings and reviews linked on each card, plus Tasting Table's and Chowhound's rankings of Boursin's own flavors (Tasting Table, Chowhound). Boursin's history is from the brand (Boursin); the two-hour guidance is covered by Tasting Table (Tasting Table). Prices checked October 25, 2026.
- Boursin: Garlic & Fine Herbs
- Boursin: The Boursin story
- Walmart: Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs
- Walmart: Alouette Garlic & Herbs
- Stop & Shop: Alouette Garlic & Herbs
- Food Republic: Best substitute for Boursin
- Tasting Table: Boursin flavors ranked
- Chowhound: Every Boursin flavor ranked
- Aldi: Emporium Selection Garlic & Herb Spread
- Kroger: Rondelé Garlic & Herbs
- Président: Rondelé Garlic & Herbs
- Kroger: Philadelphia Garlic & Herb Whipped
- goDairyFree: Boursin Dairy-Free review
- goDairyFree: Kite Hill spreadable reviews
- Whole Foods: Kite Hill Garlic & Herb
- BJ's: Boursin 2-pack
- Tasting Table: How long cheese can sit out
For what Boursin pairs with, see the Boursin ingredient guide. For plain cream cheese, see the best cream cheese brands, and for dairy-free boards, the best vegan cheese. Every ranked guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
