What Instacart really costs
Instacart is a marketplace layered over dozens of stores, with moderate fees: 5% service, $5.99 delivery on $35+, and an optional 10% tip. The retailer you pick moves your total far more than the fees do.
Instacart fees, for real
actual fee sheet- Service fee
- 5% (capped at $20.00)
- Delivery fee
- $5.99
- Delivery under $35.00
- $9.99
- Free-delivery threshold
- None
- Suggested tip
- 10% suggested
What Instacart actually is
Instacart isn't a store, it's a marketplace that layers same-day delivery over dozens of retailers, from Aldi and Sprouts to Wegmans and warehouse clubs. You browse a chosen store's catalog, a personal shopper fills the order, and it usually lands within a few hours. The fee structure stays the same whichever retailer you pick: a 5% service fee (capped at $20), a $5.99 delivery fee on orders of $35 or more, and a suggested 10% tip. There's no free-delivery threshold unless you carry an Instacart+ membership, so every à la carte order pays that delivery fee.
Who Instacart wins for
Instacart+ costs $99 a year and waives the $5.99 delivery fee on every $35-plus order. Divide $99 by $5.99 and it breaks even at about 17 orders a year, roughly three every two months. Order weekly and it's an easy win; order once a month and you'll likely lose money on it. Occasional shoppers should pay per trip instead: a single $35 basket runs $5.99 delivery plus a $1.75 service fee. Watch the small-order penalty too, because under $35 delivery jumps to $9.99, so nudging a $30 cart over $35 actually saves you $4.
What you can shop (and what left)
Because Instacart is an aggregator, your basket price depends far more on which retailer you choose than on the fees. On a typical modeled basket, Aldi is the cheapest Instacart option, roughly 12% below Walmart's baseline, while premium banners like Sprouts model around 22% higher. Same fees, very different carts. One important gap: Whole Foods left Instacart after the 2022-2023 split and is now delivered only through Amazon Fresh, which requires an Amazon Prime membership. If Whole Foods is your store, Instacart can't help, but for Aldi, Sprouts, Wegmans and many more it's one of the widest marketplaces in the US.
How to keep the total down
The fees are fixed, so the savings come from your choices. Always clear the $35 subtotal to drop delivery from $9.99 to $5.99. Pick the cheapest retailer that stocks what you need, since modeled baskets favor Aldi by a wide margin over premium banners. Treat the 10% tip as suggested, not mandatory, and set it to match the actual service. And run the numbers before buying Instacart+: at $99 a year it only beats pay-as-you-go once you're past about 17 delivered orders, so frequent shoppers benefit while occasional ones shouldn't bother.
How to save on Instacart
- 1Clear the $35 subtotal to cut delivery from $9.99 to $5.99, adding a $5 pantry item to a $30 cart nets a $4 saving.
- 2Default to Aldi on Instacart: on a modeled basket it runs about 12% under Walmart, while Sprouts models roughly 22% over.
- 3Only buy Instacart+ ($99/yr) if you'll place more than about 17 delivered orders a year, below that pay the $5.99 per trip.
- 4Adjust the suggested 10% tip up or down before checkout, it's optional and not a locked-in fee.
- 5Batch into fewer, larger orders, the $5.99 delivery is charged per order, so one $80 trip beats two $40 ones.
Frequently asked
How much are Instacart's fees?
On a standard order you'll pay a 5% service fee (capped at $20), a $5.99 delivery fee when your subtotal is $35 or more, and a suggested 10% tip. Under $35, delivery rises to $9.99. There's no free delivery without an Instacart+ membership.
Is Instacart worth it?
It depends how you shop. The fees are moderate, about $7.74 on a $35 order before tip, and the marketplace's retailer selection is unmatched. If you value same-day access to many stores, yes; if you only want the lowest fees, Walmart+ charges no service fee at all.
When does Instacart+ pay for itself?
Instacart+ is $99 a year and waives the $5.99 delivery fee on $35-plus orders. That's break-even at about 17 orders a year (99 divided by 5.99 = 16.5). Order more than roughly three times every two months and it saves money; order less and pay-as-you-go is cheaper.
Why is delivery sometimes $9.99 instead of $5.99?
Instacart charges $9.99 delivery on orders under $35 and $5.99 once you reach $35. Crossing the $35 threshold drops the fee by $4, so it often pays to add one more item rather than check out with a small cart.
Can I get Whole Foods on Instacart?
No. After the 2022-2023 split, Whole Foods delivery moved exclusively to Amazon Fresh, which requires an Amazon Prime membership ($139/yr). Instacart still covers Aldi, Sprouts, Wegmans and many other retailers, but not Whole Foods.
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