Both Andie Swim and Aerie sell affordable, size-conscious swimwear online, but they solve different problems. Aerie is the budget pick with the widest everyday size range and soft ribbed fabrics. Andie is the step-up option for shoppers who want to choose their exact coverage, need a true long-torso fit, or prefer a more compressive, minimalist suit. If you want the lowest price and the broadest inclusive sizing, choose Aerie. If you want tailored coverage and elevated basics, choose Andie.
This Andie Swim vs Aerie comparison breaks down both brands category by category, with an honest winner in each round.
Andie Swim vs Aerie at a glance
| Andie Swim | Aerie | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | ~$56–$148 per piece | ~$15–$55 (frequent sales) |
| Everyday size range | XS–3XL (XXXL) | XXS–XXL; bikini tops 30A–38DD |
| Signature fabric | Recycled/eco nylon with medium compression | Ribbed and waffle-textured knits |
| Coverage options | Cheeky, medium, full (choose-your-coverage) | Cheeky and full, by style |
| Fit specialties | Dedicated long-torso lengths across most styles | Two lengths on select one-pieces; Mama by Aerie maternity |
| Returns | Roughly 15–21 days; about a $5 mail fee | Free returns on swim |
| Best for | Tailored coverage, long torsos, elevated minimalist suits | Budget shoppers, broad everyday sizing, soft ribbed fits |
Fit and sizing: how each suit actually wears
Andie wins for shoppers who need a precise fit. The brand builds most of its styles in both regular and long-torso lengths, and it guides you there with a measurement rule: measure from your shoulder to your inseam, and if it exceeds about 30 inches, choose the long-torso version. In Business Insider’s tested review, a five-foot-two reviewer found the regular Amalfi ran slightly long, exactly the kind of length mismatch the long-torso system is designed to solve for taller bodies.
Aerie fits closer to a standard mall-brand cut. Reviewers consistently note the swim tops run small for larger busts. A 32DD tester at The Mom Edit sized up to a Medium and recommended sizing up in tops generally, while the bottoms ran true to size. Aerie does offer two lengths on select one-pieces, which helps taller shoppers, but the long-length coverage is narrower than Andie’s.
Winner: Andie, for consistent long-torso options and coverage-specific fit guidance.
Size inclusivity: who fits more bodies
Aerie wins on everyday size breadth. Its swim runs XXS to XXL, with bikini tops sized by bra measurement from 30A to 38DD, so the fit is dialed in for a wide chest range without buying a separate specialty line. Aerie also runs the Mama by Aerie maternity collection, launched in 2022, giving pregnant and postpartum shoppers a bump-friendly option most direct-to-consumer swim brands skip.
Andie stretches from XS to 3XL (XXXL) and effectively doubles that range with long-torso versions, which is genuinely inclusive on the length axis. But Andie starts at XS rather than XXS, and some reviewers still want broader extended sizing. Treeline Review praised Andie’s plus-size two-pieces for durability and shape retention while noting the brand “could be more size inclusive” at the top of the range.
Neither brand offers true extended plus sizing beyond about a US 3XL. Between them, Aerie covers more everyday bodies and life stages; Andie covers more torso lengths.
Winner: Aerie, for the wider everyday range and a dedicated maternity line.
Fabric and quality: compression versus softness
This round splits by what you value. Andie’s suits use a recycled nylon blend built for medium compression, and testers reward it. In PureWow’s pool test, the long-torso suit scored 96 out of 100 overall with a perfect 20 out of 20 for quality, praised for holding its shape when wet and drying quickly. Business Insider’s reviewer called the molded cups “superior” to flimsier pads in the same price bracket, though she wished the fabric were even more compressive.
Aerie’s signature is texture, not compression. Its ribbed and waffle-knit fabrics get repeat praise for feeling substantial yet soft. One Mom Edit reviewer described the waffle fabric as thicker and “substantial but still soft.” That softness comes at a lighter support level, so shoppers wanting firm hold or strong bust structure may find Aerie’s tops less supportive than Andie’s molded-cup styles.
Winner: Andie for compression and structure; Aerie for soft, textured comfort. If quality means shape retention and support, Andie edges it.
Styles and coverage: choose-your-coverage versus curated basics
Andie wins for coverage control. The brand sells one-pieces and bottoms in cheeky, medium, and full coverage, often within the same silhouette, so you can match the same flattering top to the exact backside coverage you want. Forbes Vetted named Andie its best overall bikini brand in its 2026 roundup, citing the wide mix-and-match selection across low, medium, and full coverage. Andie’s separates are priced individually, with the Maui bikini top around $62 and the high-waisted cheeky bottom around $56, according to Treeline Review.
Aerie leans on curated, trend-aware separates rather than a formal coverage system. You will find cheeky and full-coverage bottoms plus a rotating mix of ribbed twist tops, halters, and one-pieces, and the tops-and-bottoms-sold-separately model lets you size each piece independently. The look skews youthful and colorful; Andie’s skews minimalist and neutral, with clean scoop necks.
Winner: Andie, for structured choose-your-coverage across styles.
Price and value: where your money goes
Aerie wins on price, decisively. Bikini tops and bottoms routinely sell for $15 to $40, with full-price pieces under about $55, and the brand runs near-constant promotions. Reviewers note swim tops and bottoms dropping to around $20 on sale. For a shopper assembling several suits a season, that is the lowest cost of entry in this comparison.
Andie sits in the mid-tier. Its verified separates run about $56 for cheeky bottoms and $62 for the Maui top, according to Treeline Review, and its one-pieces reach up toward $148. You pay more, but for recycled-nylon construction, compression, long-torso patterning, and suits that testers report surviving multiple seasons of hard use. Value depends on your horizon: Aerie wins on upfront cost, Andie on cost-per-wear if the suit lasts years.
Winner: Aerie on price; Andie on longevity.
Shipping and returns: the fine print
Aerie wins on returns. It offers free returns on swim, which removes the usual online-swimwear risk of eating shipping costs on a suit that does not fit. Given that both brands’ tops run small for some busts, free returns matter when you are likely to swap sizes.
Andie’s return window is tighter and carries a fee. Retailer roundups and reviews report a roughly 15-to-21-day return window with about a $5 mail-return fee. Andie softens this with a rewards program that earns points toward free shipping and discounts, but the baseline policy is less forgiving than Aerie’s.
Winner: Aerie, for free swim returns and a longer effective window.
Who should choose Andie Swim
Choose Andie if fit precision matters more than price. It is the stronger pick if you have a long torso, want to select cheeky, medium, or full coverage on the same silhouette, or want a compressive, minimalist suit that holds its shape for years. It is also the better choice if you want molded-cup support and a curated, neutral look over trend-driven prints. The trade-offs are a higher price and a stricter return policy.
Who should choose Aerie
Choose Aerie if budget and everyday size range lead your list. It is the better pick if you want the lowest price, frequent sales, the widest standard sizing (XXS to XXL plus bra-sized bikini tops), soft ribbed fabrics, or maternity swim through Mama by Aerie. It is also the safer online buy thanks to free swim returns. The trade-offs are lighter support and no formal choose-your-coverage system.
The verdict on Andie Swim vs Aerie
For most budget-minded shoppers who want soft fabrics, broad everyday sizing, and risk-free returns, Aerie is the smarter buy. For shoppers who prioritize tailored coverage, long-torso fit, compression, and elevated minimalist styling, and who will wear a suit for years, Andie earns its higher price. Neither brand offers true extended plus sizing beyond about a 3XL, so shoppers who need larger ranges should look elsewhere. Between these two, the decision comes down to one question: do you want the cheapest, softest, most size-flexible option, or the best-fitting, longest-lasting one?
Editorial buying guide. Prices, sizing, and availability change over time; confirm current details on each brand's site before purchasing.