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Grocery Delivery · Buyer's guide

Instacart vs Shipt vs Amazon Fresh vs Walmart+: which should you pick?

A side-by-side look at price, features, quality and value across the leading grocery delivery options — so you can choose the right one in minutes.

Visit instacart.com
The verdict
Editor's pick
Instacart

Widest retailer selection

Best value
Amazon Fresh

Free w/ Prime $139/yr — lowest sticker price in this comparison.

Best for power users
Shipt

Markup vs in-store prices

Feature & price comparison
Feature
Instacartfeatured
Grocery Delivery
Shipt
Alternative
Amazon Fresh
Alternative
Walmart+
Alternative
Delivery speed
As fast as 30 min
Same-day, 1-hr windows
1–2 hr (Prime areas)
Same-day / next-day
Pricing
Item markup + $3.99+ delivery
$10.99/mo or $99/yr
Free w/ Prime $139/yr
$98/yr Walmart+
Memberships
Instacart+ $99/yr — free delivery $35+
Shipt Everyday $99/yr
Bundled in Amazon Prime
Walmart+ w/ free delivery $35+
Store selection
1,500+ retailers
~120 retailers (Target-led)
Whole Foods + Amazon Fresh
Walmart only
Availability
95%+ of US zip codes
~80% of US zip codes
Prime metros only
85% of US zip codes
Why shoppers pick Instacart
  • Widest retailer selection
  • Same-day in most US zips
  • Strong shopper network
When to consider an alternative
  • Markup vs in-store prices
  • Service fees stack up
The short answer

Instacart is a grocery delivery option built for us households starting at Item markup + $3.99+ delivery. Shoppers pick it for widest retailer selection, but it's worth comparing against Shipt, Amazon Fresh, Walmart+ if markup vs in-store prices.

Which one should you pick?
Pick if…
Instacart

Widest retailer selection. Pricing: Item markup + $3.99+ delivery.

Pick if…
Shipt

Pricing: $10.99/mo or $99/yr.

Pick if…
Amazon Fresh

Pricing: Free w/ Prime $139/yr.

Pick if…
Walmart+

Pricing: $98/yr Walmart+.

How to choose
Match the tool to your scale

Instacart is positioned for multi-store grocery. If your team or volume is materially larger or smaller, one of Shipt / Amazon Fresh / Walmart+ may be cheaper or more capable.

Use the free tier to validate

At least one option in this comparison has a free tier — run a 1–2 week pilot before paying. Confirm the must-have feature actually works on free, not just trial.

Price spread is wide — buy on outcome, not sticker

Look past the headline price: add seats, add-ons, integration fees and transaction fees. The cheapest option rarely stays cheapest at scale.

Stress-test the weakness

Known trade-off with Instacart: Markup vs in-store prices. Confirm it isn't a deal-breaker for your specific use case before signing.

What to watch out for
  • Markup vs in-store prices
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Instacart to Shipt.
  • Service fees stack up
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Instacart to Shipt.
Frequently asked
Is Instacart worth it in 2026?

For multi-store grocery, yes — Widest retailer selection. For very different use cases, compare against Shipt, Amazon Fresh, Walmart+.

How much does Instacart cost?

Instacart pricing is Item markup + $3.99+ delivery. Competitors in this comparison range from $10.99/mo or $99/yr / Free w/ Prime $139/yr / $98/yr Walmart+.

What's the biggest downside of Instacart?

Markup vs in-store prices. Most teams work around it, but verify it isn't a deal-breaker for you first.

Instacart vs Shipt — which should I pick?

Pick Instacart if you want widest retailer selection. Pick Shipt if you need a broader / cheaper / more established alternative — see the comparison table above for the side-by-side.

More buyer's guides in Grocery Delivery

Ready to try Instacart?

See current pricing and plans on their site.

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