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Instacart

Same-day grocery delivery from the stores you already shop.

4.3
(26 reviews)
Visit Website
  • PriceFree app – fees per order
  • Founded2012
  • HQSan Francisco, US
  • Employees1,000 – 5,000

About Instacart

Instacart delivers from your actual local stores – Costco, Kroger, Aldi and hundreds more – often within two hours. Personal shoppers handle substitutions via chat, and Instacart+ removes delivery fees on orders over $35.

Key Features

  • Multi-store same-day delivery
  • Instacart+ membership
  • Real-time substitution chat
  • Costco without membership
  • EBT SNAP acceptance

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Real local store inventory
  • Substitution chat with shoppers
  • Fast same-day windows

Cons

  • Item markups vs in-store prices
  • Service fees on every order

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Instacart more expensive?
Yes – expect item markups plus fees; the time saved is the product.
What is Instacart+?
$9.99/mo for free delivery over $35 and reduced fees.
Can shoppers substitute items?
You approve substitutions live in chat.

Reviews

4.3

26 reviews

Write a review


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Best For

Busy households buying back grocery-store hours.

Use Cases

Same-day grocery delivery from local supermarkets and warehouse clubs
Weekly shops from Costco or Aldi without membership trips
Pharmacy, pet, and convenience-store items alongside groceries
Busy-family meal planning with reorder lists and EBT SNAP support
Pickup orders shopped and staged for drive-up collection

Pricing Details

Instacart is free to browse; orders carry delivery fees (from about $3.99), service fees, and frequently marked-up item prices versus in-store. Instacart+ (about $9.99/month) removes delivery fees on orders over $35 and reduces service fees — worthwhile for weekly users. Tipping shoppers is customary and adjustable.

Security & Trust

Instacart supports two-factor authentication and tokenized payments, with real-time shopper chat and photo confirmation of deliveries. Item substitutions are approved by you in-app. Watch for account-takeover attempts using leaked passwords — use a unique password, and review orders promptly for unauthorized activity.

Alternatives To Consider

Walmart+ delivers groceries at in-store prices for about the same membership cost, which usually beats Instacart on total price. Amazon Fresh serves Prime households in coverage areas. DoorDash and Uber Eats now deliver from many grocers too, while Shipt (Target) competes with a similar shopper model.

Editorial Verdict

Instacart is the most flexible grocery delivery service — the widest store selection and the most mature shopper experience. Its weakness is total cost: markups plus fees add real money to every cart. If you shop one chain weekly, that chain’s own membership is probably cheaper; for multi-store convenience, Instacart wins.

Sources & Review Notes

Last reviewed: July 26, 2026