How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Instacart has the widest store choice, while Walmart and Amazon Fresh are usually cheapest for frequent shoppers who already use those stores.
- Shipt is strongest for Target and Kroger shoppers who want in-store prices with no markup on many items.
- Memberships only save money if you order often enough to offset the annual fee, so count your orders before subscribing.
- Item markups, service fees and tips matter more than the delivery fee alone, and they vary by retailer and service.
- Check coverage by postcode first, because the best service on paper is useless if it does not deliver to your address.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Instacart | Widest store selection | $99 per year (Instacart+) | Free trial |
 Amazon Fresh | Prime members and low minimums | $139 per year (Amazon Prime) | Free trial |
 Walmart Grocery Delivery | Everyday low prices | $98 per year (Walmart+) | Free trial |
 Shipt | Target and Kroger shoppers | $99 per year | Free trial |
 DoorDash | Grocery plus restaurant delivery | $9.99 per month (DashPass) | Free trial |
 Uber Eats | Grocery plus food delivery in one app | See website | Free trial |
 Kroger Delivery | Kroger loyalty shoppers | $59 per year (Boost membership) | Free trial |
 Thrive Market | Organic and natural groceries | $59.95 per year | Free trial |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best grocery delivery service
Starting price$99 per year (Instacart+)
Free planFree trial
Instacart suits households that shop at several stores, because one app covers Costco, Kroger, Aldi, Publix, Safeway and many local retailers. Shoppers pick items in real time, message about substitutions, and deliver same day, often within a few hours. That flexibility is useful for weekly shops, last minute ingredients and bulk orders from different stores.
Cost is the drawback. Item prices are set by each retailer and some are marked up over in-store prices, service fees apply, and tips are extra. Instacart+ at $99 per year removes delivery fees on orders over $35 in most cases, but service fees remain. Compare a full receipt, not just the delivery fee, before judging Instacart against a single store service.
What we like- Hundreds of retailers in one app
- Same-day delivery in most metros
- Live shopper chat and substitutions
Watch out for- Retailer markups and service fees add up
- Delivery fees still apply without a membership
Starting price$139 per year (Amazon Prime)
Free planFree trial
Amazon Fresh fits Prime members who want groceries alongside other Amazon orders. Delivery windows can be as short as one to two hours in covered areas, and Prime members get free delivery over certain basket thresholds, with fees for smaller baskets. Whole Foods delivery through Amazon also suits shoppers who want organic and prepared foods in the same order.
Coverage is the limit. Amazon Fresh is strongest in major metro areas, and free delivery rules vary by city and basket size, so check your postcode before assuming free delivery. Non-Prime shoppers face higher fees, which makes Amazon Fresh a weaker pick if you do not already pay for Prime.
What we like- Low prices for Prime members
- Fast delivery windows
- SNAP and EBT support in many areas
Watch out for- Coverage is strongest in major metros
- Free delivery thresholds vary by basket and city
Starting price$98 per year (Walmart+)
Free planFree trial
Walmart Grocery Delivery suits budget focused shoppers who want predictable prices. Walmart+ at $98 per year gives free delivery on orders over $35, plus fuel discounts and a streaming benefit, which helps offset the fee for frequent shoppers. Express delivery under two hours is available for an extra fee, and pickup remains free for many orders.
The main frustration is slot availability. Popular delivery windows can fill up, especially on weekends, so planning ahead helps. Walmart also covers only its own stores, so shoppers who want Costco, Aldi or local grocers in the same app will need Instacart or Shipt as well.
What we like- Everyday low prices with no grocery markup for many items
- Nationwide coverage
- Fuel and streaming perks with Walmart+
Watch out for- Delivery windows can fill up at peak times
- Express delivery costs extra
Starting price$99 per year
Free planFree trial
Shipt is the best pick for Target shoppers, because many Target items carry no markup for members, and the same-day service covers Target plus Kroger, Meijer and other retailers in covered areas. Shoppers can build a relationship with preferred shoppers, which helps with substitutions and quality for fresh produce. Membership at $99 per year, or $10.99 per month, removes delivery fees on orders over $35.
Coverage is narrower than Instacart, especially outside major cities, and non-members pay a higher per order fee plus a service fee. If Target or Kroger is your main store and Shipt covers your area, it often beats Instacart on total receipt cost. If those stores are not nearby, Instacart wider coverage wins.
What we like- Same-day delivery from Target and major grocers
- No markup on many Target items
- Dedicated shoppers
Watch out for- Coverage is weaker outside major cities
- Non-member delivery fee is higher
Starting price$9.99 per month (DashPass)
Free planFree trial
DoorDash suits households that want groceries, restaurant meals and convenience items in one app. Grocery partners include many national and local chains, and DashPass at $9.99 per month reduces delivery and service fees on eligible orders, including groceries over a minimum. Promotions are frequent, which can make a single order cheaper than a dedicated grocery service.
The total cost needs checking. Delivery fees, service fees and item markups vary by partner, and a grocery order through DoorDash can cost more than the same order through the retailer own service. Use DoorDash for convenience and combined orders, and use a dedicated grocery service for a large weekly shop.
What we like- Grocery and restaurant delivery in one app
- Frequent promotions
- Wide metro coverage
Watch out for- Delivery and service fees vary by store
- Grocery prices can be marked up
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Uber Eats has grown from restaurant delivery into grocery delivery, with partners covering supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies in many cities. That makes it useful when you want a grocery top-up alongside a meal order, without opening a second app. Uber One membership reduces delivery and service fees on eligible orders, which helps frequent users.
Grocery depth is the limit. Selection and pricing vary by city and partner, and large weekly shops are usually cheaper through Instacart, Walmart or Shipt. Treat Uber Eats as a top-up and convenience option, not as a full weekly grocery replacement.
What we like- Grocery, restaurant and convenience delivery together
- Wide urban coverage
- Uber One reduces fees
Watch out for- Grocery selection varies by city
- Fees and markups vary by partner
Starting price$59 per year (Boost membership)
Free planFree trial
Kroger Delivery suits shoppers who already use Kroger stores and loyalty coupons. Boost membership at $59 per year gives free delivery on eligible orders, and digital coupons, fuel points and personalised offers carry over from in-store shopping. Same-day delivery covers many Kroger areas, with scheduled windows for weekly shops.
Coverage is the constraint. Kroger does not serve every state, and delivery fees and minimums vary by location. If Kroger is your main store, its own delivery service is usually cheaper and simpler than a marketplace app. If you shop at several chains, Instacart remains the wider choice.
What we like- Digital coupons and loyalty rewards
- Same-day delivery in covered areas
- In-store pricing for many items
Watch out for- Coverage limited to Kroger areas
- Delivery fees vary by location
Starting price$59.95 per year
Free planFree trial
Thrive Market fits households that buy organic, natural and specialty groceries and want to filter by diet, such as gluten free, vegan or keto. Membership at $59.95 per year gives free delivery on orders over $49, and the catalogue focuses on pantry staples, snacks, supplements and household goods at member prices. That focus makes weekly pantry restocking easier than browsing a general supermarket.
Speed is the trade-off. Thrive Market ships in two to three days, so it does not replace same-day fresh delivery for milk, produce or meat. Use it for pantry and specialty items, and pair it with a same-day service for fresh groceries.
What we like- Free delivery on orders over $49 for members
- Organic and natural focus
- Filter by diet and values
Watch out for- Delivery takes two to three days, not same day
- Membership required for full access
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, membership terms and public reviews, with attention to delivery fees, service fees, item markups, minimum order values and coverage. A service stayed on the list only if it delivers groceries nationally or widely in the US, is still operating, and offers a clear reason to choose it over the others. Prices are membership starting prices, and per order fees vary by location, basket size and time slot, so buyers should check the checkout total for their postcode. Verification note: Instacart was not re-opened in this check because its homepage was policy-blocked in an earlier batch, so it is kept on its established official URL. Amazon and Walmart are listed through their vendor homepages, and Kroger is counted on domain and title because its page returned a refresh error in this check.
How to keep the total cost down
Start with your order pattern. Count how many grocery orders you place each month, and divide the annual membership fee by that number to see the real per order cost. A $99 membership costs about $8 per order if you order once a month, but under $2 per order if you order weekly. That maths decides whether a membership saves money or simply adds a fee.
Next, compare a full receipt across two services for the same basket. Include item prices, delivery fee, service fee, tip and any markup, because the cheapest delivery fee often hides the highest item prices. Use pickup where free, choose off-peak windows, and set substitution preferences to avoid unwanted replacements. Finally, check SNAP and EBT acceptance if relevant, since several services accept benefits online and offer discounted memberships for eligible shoppers.
Frequently asked questions
Which grocery delivery service is cheapest overall?
For frequent shoppers, Walmart+ and Amazon Fresh with Prime usually have the lowest total cost, because item prices are close to in-store prices and memberships remove many delivery fees. For occasional shoppers, a pay per order service may be cheaper than any annual membership, so count orders before subscribing.
Is Instacart more expensive than shopping in store?
Often yes, because some retailers mark up items on Instacart and service fees and tips add to the total. The gap varies by retailer, with some stores matching in-store prices and others charging 5 to 15 percent more. Compare a full receipt for your usual basket to see the real difference.
Do grocery delivery services accept SNAP and EBT?
Yes, many do, including Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart and Kroger, subject to state and store eligibility. Eligible shoppers may also qualify for discounted memberships, such as discounted Prime for EBT and Medicaid recipients, so check the service help pages for your state.
How fast is grocery delivery?
Same-day delivery in two to four hours is standard for Instacart, Walmart, Shipt and Amazon Fresh in covered areas, with Express options under two hours for an extra fee. Thrive Market and other shipped services take two to three days, so they suit pantry orders rather than fresh top-ups.
Can I get free grocery delivery without a membership?
Sometimes, through first order promotions, minimum basket offers or free trials, but free delivery without a membership is rarely permanent. Most services charge per order fees for non-members, so a trial is the best way to test a service before paying for a year.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.instacart.com
- https://www.amazon.com
- https://www.walmart.com
- https://www.shipt.com
- https://www.doordash.com
- https://www.ubereats.com
- https://www.kroger.com
- https://thrivemarket.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.