What Instacart+ gives you
Instacart+ is a paid membership that reduces delivery fees on grocery orders placed through the Instacart app or website. The main benefit is a lower delivery fee — typically $0 instead of the standard $2 to $3.99 per order — when you spend $35 or more. You also get reduced service fees (the percentage Instacart charges on top of the grocery price) and free delivery on orders under $35 from select retailers, though those orders may have a small order fee instead.
The membership does not change the price of the groceries themselves. Instacart still marks up items slightly compared to in-store prices, and that markup stays the same whether you pay for Instacart+ or not. What changes is only the fees Instacart charges on top of the order total.
Instacart+ also includes perks at some partner retailers — occasional discounts or bonus loyalty points — though these vary by location and change over time. The core value is the delivery fee waiver on orders of $35 or more.
Key Takeaways
- Instacart+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year and waives delivery fees on orders of $35 or more from most retailers.
- The membership saves money only if you order frequently enough that the monthly fee pays for itself in fee reductions.
- You can pause or cancel your membership at any time through the app or website without penalty.
- Instacart+ does not lower the price of groceries, only the fees charged on top of them.
- Some retailers on Instacart do not participate in Instacart+, so check your local stores before subscribing.
Cost and payment options
Instacart+ costs $9.99 per month when paid monthly, or $99 per year when paid annually. The annual option works out to about $8.25 per month and saves you roughly $20 over the course of a year. You can switch between monthly and annual billing at any time, and the change takes effect on your next billing date.
Payment is automatic. Instacart charges your payment method on file on the same day each month (or year). If your payment fails, Instacart will retry it a few times before suspending your membership. You can update your payment method in the app settings at any time.
Instacart offers a free trial period for new members — typically 14 days, though this varies by region and promotion. During the trial, you get the full membership benefits with no charge. Your membership converts to paid at the end of the trial unless you cancel beforehand.
When Instacart+ saves you money
Whether Instacart+ is worth the cost depends on how often you order and how much you spend per order. If you place one order per month, the $9.99 fee is unlikely to pay for itself in delivery fee savings. If you order once a week or more, the savings add up faster.
The math is straightforward: a standard delivery fee is $2 to $3.99 per order. With Instacart+, that fee becomes $0 on orders over $35. If you place four orders per month and each would normally cost $3 in delivery fees, you save $12 per month — more than the $9.99 membership cost. If you place two orders per month, you save $6, which does not cover the fee.
Service fees (the percentage Instacart charges on each item) are also lower with Instacart+, but the reduction is smaller — usually 1 to 2 percentage points. On a $50 order, this might save you 50 cents to $1. This adds to the delivery fee savings but is not the main driver of value.
How to sign up and manage your membership
To start Instacart+, open the Instacart app or go to instacart.com, tap or click the account icon, and look for "Instacart+" or "Membership" in the menu. Select the membership option, choose monthly or annual billing, and confirm. If a free trial is available in your area, you will see that option first. You will need a valid payment method on file to complete signup.
Once you are a member, the delivery fee waiver applies automatically to all may be able to access orders. You do not need to enter a code or take any action at checkout. The app will show you the reduced fees before you place the order.
To pause or cancel your membership, go to the same account menu, find the Instacart+ section, and select "Pause membership" or "Cancel membership." Pausing temporarily stops billing without losing your membership status; you can resume it later. Canceling ends the membership immediately. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your billing period.
Which stores participate in Instacart+
Most major retailers on Instacart participate in Instacart+, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Sprouts, and many regional chains. However, not all stores offer the same benefits. Some smaller retailers or specialty stores may not participate at all, or may offer reduced benefits like free delivery only on orders over $50 instead of $35.
Before you subscribe, check the Instacart app to see which stores near you accept Instacart+ and what their specific thresholds are. The app shows you the delivery fee for each store based on your membership status. If most of your regular shopping is at stores that do not participate, the membership may not be worth the cost.
Instacart+ versus shopping in person
Instacart+ makes delivery cheaper, but it does not make it cheaper than shopping in person. Instacart's markups on individual items are typically 5 to 15 percent higher than in-store prices, and this markup exists whether you have Instacart+ or not. A $50 in-store shopping trip might cost $55 to $58 on Instacart, even with the membership.
The membership makes sense if you value the time saved by not shopping in person, or if you cannot easily get to a store. It does not make sense as a way to save money on groceries overall. If your goal is lower grocery costs, shopping in person at sales and using store loyalty programs will almost always beat Instacart, membership or not.
Pausing versus canceling
Instacart+ lets you pause your membership for up to three months without canceling it entirely. This is useful if you know you will not need delivery for a while — say, during a month when you are traveling or have limited funds. While paused, you are not charged, and your membership status is preserved. When you resume, you pick up where you left off with no need to re-enter payment information or go through signup again.
Canceling ends the membership permanently. You can always sign up again later, including taking advantage of a new free trial if one is available. There is no penalty for canceling, and you keep access through the end of your current billing period even after you cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to spend $35 to get free delivery with Instacart+?
Yes, the $0 delivery fee applies only to orders of $35 or more. Orders under $35 may have a small order fee (usually $1.99 to $2.99) instead of a delivery fee, but this is not waived by the membership. Some retailers offer free delivery on smaller orders with Instacart+, but this varies by location and store.
Can I use Instacart+ at multiple stores?
Yes. Instacart+ works at all participating retailers in your area. You can order from Whole Foods one day and Kroger the next, and both orders get the membership benefits. The membership is tied to your account, not to a specific store.
What happens to my membership if I move?
Your membership continues automatically. However, the stores available on Instacart and their participation in Instacart+ may change depending on where you move. Check the app after moving to see which stores near your new location participate and whether the membership still makes sense for you.
Can I get a refund if I am not satisfied with Instacart+?
Instacart does not offer refunds for membership fees, but you can cancel at any time and keep access through the end of your billing period. If you cancel within a few days of signing up, contact Instacart support to ask about a one-time courtesy refund, though this is not may provide.
Does Instacart+ include other benefits like discounts on groceries?
The main benefit is the delivery fee waiver. Some retailers offer occasional bonus loyalty points or limited-time discounts to Instacart+ members, but these are not may provide and vary by location and retailer. The core value is the delivery fee savings, not grocery discounts.