Instacart
Grocery delivery and pickup marketplace that sends shoppers to local stores in the US and Canada.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android
Is Instacart free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
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- Alternatives ranked
- 4
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About Instacart
Instacart connects people with grocery stores and other retailers across the US and Canada. You choose a store in the app or on the website, fill a cart from that store's own range, and a shopper picks the order and brings it to your door, often the same day, or you collect it yourself. One account covers large supermarket chains, warehouse clubs, pharmacies, pet shops and specialty grocers, which is the main reason people use it over a single retailer's app. Using the service is free, but orders carry delivery and service fees plus an optional tip, and item prices at some stores are higher than on the shelf. A paid Instacart+ membership drops delivery fees on larger orders. Behind the consumer app, Instacart also sells technology to grocers: white-label online storefronts, the Caper smart cart for in-store checkout, and an advertising business. It runs on iOS, Android and the web, and is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker CART.
Best for: US and Canadian households who want groceries from familiar stores without the trip.
Pros and cons
What works
- Shops from many different chains and local stores in one app
- Same-day delivery or pickup in most US and Canadian cities
- Chat with your shopper to approve substitutions while they pick
Why people leave
- Item prices at some stores are marked up compared with in-store
- Delivery fees, service fees and tips add up on small orders
- Only available in the US and Canada
Instacart vs DoorDash, Walmart and Target
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Instacart | DoorDash | Walmart | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | — | $98 a year (Walmart+ annual) | $10.99/month or $99/year |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Android, iOS | Web, Android, iOS |
Top Instacart alternatives
See all 4- 1
DoorDash66.5Also delivers groceries and convenience items from many stores, with DashPass covering food and grocery fees.
- 2
Walmart52.6Walmart+ delivers groceries from Walmart stores at Walmart's own prices, without a per-store markup.
- 3
Target51.2Same-day delivery and Drive Up pickup for Target groceries and household goods.
- 4
Amazon50.0Prime members get grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods in many US cities without per-store markups.
Why people left Instacart
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Instacart: common questions
What is Instacart?
Instacart: Grocery delivery and pickup marketplace that sends shoppers to local stores in the US and Canada. Best for US and Canadian households who want groceries from familiar stores without the trip. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Instacart free?
Instacart has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Instacart open source?
No, Instacart is not open source.
What platforms does Instacart run on?
Instacart is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Instacart?
The highest-ranked Instacart alternatives right now are DoorDash, Walmart and Target. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Instacart vs DoorDash: what's the difference?
Both Instacart and DoorDash are free with paid plans. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.