I compared TJ Maxx and Marshalls this holiday season. I would only recommend one.

• I visited TJ Maxx and Marshalls this holiday season.
• I found good deals at both stores, but the Marshalls seemed disorganized and had smaller selections.
• The TJ Maxx I visited had higher-quality products and was more organized.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are two of the best-known discount department stores in the US, but they are not the same, as I discovered this holiday season.

While the two stores are owned by the same parent company, The TJX Companies, each has a different mission. TJ Maxx calls itself "a one-stop for quality, value, and the coveted brands you know and love," and focuses on higher-end brands, jewelry, and accessories, while Marshalls has an "expanded men's department, as well as a larger shoe department where you'll find styles for women, men, and kids, too."

During visits to the stores in New York City in December, I noticed the difference in quality between the two, but that wasn't the only contrast. The Marshalls I visited was more crowded, perhaps contributing to my feeling it was in disarray, while TJ Maxx was emptier, but also felt more organized.

Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores vary between locations, so while my experience was consistent with my previous visits to the stores, it may not be true of all locations. The TJX Companies did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

I get easily overwhelmed by the options available at stores like these, so I greatly preferred TJ Maxx, even though some items were more expensive.

Here's what it was like at both Marshalls and TJ Maxx during peak shopping season.