Instacart vs. Walmart vs. Amazon: 7 Best Grocery Delivery Services in 2026

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Instacart vs. Walmart vs. Amazon: 7 Best Grocery Delivery Services in 2026 adampalasciano@gmail.com (Adam Palasciano) Mon, September 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM EDT 11 min read CART WMT AMZN KR Though many people buy groceries online and use contactless delivery, there's more to grocery delivery services than filling an online cart and scheduling delivery times. For instance, you'll likely want to know which grocery delivery services offer unlimited free deliveries. Which one allows you to order alcohol? Who offers fast delivery and great deals on in-store prices? It's important to note grocery delivery services sometimes make changes to things like their minimum order requirements or delivery fees. Entities like Peapod are no longer in operation nationwide, and Kroger has pulled back after expanding into new territories, but there are still plenty of options to get your groceries delivered to you while still saving money . There are many grocery delivery options out there, so you need to know which one is the best fit for your life and your budget. But it's time consuming to dig around for pricing, restrictions, delivery times and other information about multiple stores to find the best grocery delivery services in your area. You can also get sucked into the novelty of ordering leeks and Lay's through an app without thinking about the effect on your grocery budget . To cut through the marketing speak, we've broken down the details of the best grocery delivery services offered around the country. What: Instacart grocery delivery is available from a variety of grocery stores in your ZIP code, including drug stores, pet supply stores and, in some areas, liquor stores. Where: Instacart delivers in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Canada. Product pricing: Instacart's rundown of available stores includes notes on each retailer's pricing policy. While most locations offer "everyday store prices," others make it clear that the convenience of Instacart means you'll pay higher prices for groceries than you would in stores. Delivery fee: Service fees apply on grocery and retail orders less than $10, as well as Costco less than $35 and eligible restaurant orders less than $25. Coupon policy: Instacart doesn't honor sale prices in stores or manufacturer coupons. Instead, it offers special promotions you'll see when you log in to your account. Once you order the required amount or type of items, the discount automatically applies to your order. What: Shipt delivers products from a variety of grocery stores. Alcohol delivery is also available in some locations. Where: Shipt is available throughout the U.S. Product pricing: Shipt prices are slightly higher than if you had taken the trip yourself. "You can expect to pay about $5 more using Shipt than you would on a $35 order purchased in the store yourself," the company's website explains. Membership: Shipt charges you $99 per year or $10.99 per month for unlimited free delivery on orders of $35 or more. There's also a $4.99 per month option if you're a student with a valid .edu email address. All membership tiers include a 14-day free trial period. Delivery fee: Members must make a minimum order of $35 to get free delivery. If your order is less than that, you have to pay a $7 delivery fee. You could also be charged $7 for alcohol purchases. Tips are permitted. Coupon policy: Shipt offers in-app specials on items, but it doesn't allow you to use manufacturer or store coupons. What: Walmart has several grocery ordering options. In some locations, you can have your Walmart grocery order delivered to your doorstep. In many more locations, you can place your order for a pickup window to get your groceries delivered to your car at the store. Some stores even allow you to pay for your groceries with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. Where: Same-day delivery is available in most states. Walmart lets customers reserve a time and store location for pickup in all states. Product pricing: Pickup at the store is free and products are priced the same as if you had shopped in the Walmart grocery store yourself, but there is a $35 minimum order. If you order groceries to be delivered to your home, there is a delivery fee of $9.95 for non-members; Walmart+ members never pay this additional fee for orders of $35 or more. However, if you are a member and use delivery and have an order under $35, you'll pay a $6.99 fee. Delivery fee: Express Delivery is another option that costs $10 per delivery plus the $9.95 delivery fee (for non-members). The $10 Express Delivery fee is currently not waived for anyone, including Walmart+ members. Your order usually arrives within two hours. The store stopped requiring an order to be a minimum of $35 for Express Delivery in 2021. With Walmart+, the groceries will likely be same-day delivery if you get a good time slot when you place your order. The service costs $98 per year or $12.95 a month. There is no fee for delivery, but the order must total at least $35. All membership tiers include a 30-day free trial period. If you are a Walmart+ member, you only pay the $10 Express Delivery fee and not the additional $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee. If you can wait a couple of days for your items, Walmart+ members get free shipping with no order minimum on next-day, two-day and standard shipping on items shipped from Walmart. Coupon policy: Walmart does not accept coupons for pickup or delivery orders. What: Anyone is able to shop at Amazon's grocery options, including Amazon Fresh and Whole Food Market. Alcohol delivery is available in some states. In most states, you can use your SNAP EBT card to pay for SNAP EBT eligible food items without a Prime membership. Where: Amazon delivers in every state. Amazon Prime members members can get free same-day delivery on all Everyday Essentials orders within hours in more than 2,300 cities and towns. Eligible items are marked as arriving "Prime FREE Same-Day," and the minimum purchase is $25 in most areas. You can arrange for pickup if you're ordering online from Whole Foods Market. Product pricing: Prices for Whole Foods items are generally the same online through Amazon as they are in the store, but keep in mind that Whole Foods is one of the more expensive grocery chains. Membership: Amazon Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 a month. Student can pay $7.49/month for a Prime for Young Adults membership (ages 18-24). Income-verified customers and qualifying government assistance recipients can get Prime Access for $6.99/month. Delivery fee: Though orders more than $100 don't incur fees for Prime members, orders with a two-hour delivery window have a service fee of $6.95 for orders $50-$100, and $9.95 for deliveries under $50. Non-Prime member shoppers will be charged $4.95-$13.95 depending on how much they order and the delivery time window. All delivery orders from Whole Food Market come with a $9.95 service fee. For an additional $9.99 per month, Prime members can get unlimited grocery delivery on orders over $35 ($25 in select regions) across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and some local grocery retailers on Amazon.com. If you have a registered EBT card, the subscriptions costs $4.99 per month. What: Hungryroot is a subscription-based grocery delivery service that curates and delivers a box of healthy food to your door each week. It covers most of your groceries for the week, minus basics like milk and bread. Where: Delivery is available in most ZIP codes around the U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Product pricing: You'll build a plan based on how much food you want to receive, and prices are personalized to your plan. Membership: Meal prices vary based on the type of meal. Dinners start at $8.99 per serving, lunches at $5.99 and breakfasts at $3.99. Delivery fee: Hungryroot ships for free for plans $70 and up. Coupon policy: The company delivers Hungryroot brand foods, so you'll have to find brand-specific coupons. What: Thrive Market is a subscription-based grocery delivery service that delivers organic and non-GMO foods. It can cater to special diets and food allergies, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, Kosher, keto and more. It offers prepared meals and foods, nuts, pantry staples as well as frozen meat and seafood. It doesn't offer fresh fruits and vegetables. Thrive Market accepts SNAP EBT benefits. Where: Thrive ships to the 48 contiguous U.S. states via ground shipping. Product pricing: Thrive has a "low price promise," which means if you find a lower price, it will credit you the difference. Membership: Membership is $60 a year when billed annually. It is $12/month when billed monthly. Annual members can cancel anytime within 30 days for a full refund. Students, teachers, military members or veterans, first responders and low-income families can apply for a free one-year membership through Thrive Gives. Delivery fee: Shipping is free on orders of groceries over $49. There is a $5.95 delivery charge if your order is below $49. Frozen orders under $99 ship for $19.95. Coupon policy: Thrive users report periodically receiving coupons for discounts on their full order. You can also receive store credit for referring friends, leaving product reviews and purchasing promotional items. What: Kroger has Delivery, Instacart and Pickup programs that give customers the choice of how they'd like to receive their groceries. With Delivery, you can have groceries, including milk and fresh produce, delivered to your door the same day you order, or schedule delivery for a later date. If you choose Pickup, you can select a time slot and an associate will bring your items to your car. SNAP EBT payments are accepted. Where: Kroger Delivery and Pickup is available in 18 states, mostly in the south and midwest. Product pricing: Prices on Kroger's website will reflect the prices of your currently selected store and prices could change depending on your delivery/pickup day, current in-store promotions and other factors. Membership: There is no membership, but you'll want to create an account so you get fuel points, discounts and digital coupons. A Boost membership does include free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more. Delivery fee: The Delivery service is free with orders over $35 if you're a Boost member. Under $35, there is a standard rate delivery fee of $9.95. Express delivery costs an additional $4.95. The Pickup service is free with orders over $35. Under $35, there is a $4.95 service fee. Coupon policy: Kroger Delivery accepts digital coupons. Clip them online and they will be automatically applied to your order. Kroger does not accept coupons on Ship orders. Some of the best grocery delivery services are only available in select cities or regions, so be sure to check the websites of your local stores. FreshDirect: Get delivery of grocery staples, including fresh produce and meat, and wines and spirits, in parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and seasonally in the Hamptons and the Jersey Shore. Safeway: This favorite West Coast grocery store lets you order online for store pick up or delivery. Publix: Select locations of the Southeastern grocery store offer grocery delivery and curbside pickup through Instacart. Publix also offers in-store pickup. Each of the best grocery delivery services offers unique benefits depending on your grocery needs. To select a grocery delivery service for your household, consider: Do you want fresh produce and meat delivered, or only nonperishables? Do you prefer to buy from local stores or national chains? Do you like to shop around at different stores, or do you have a go-to grocery store? Does a service cover all your grocery needs, or only select items? Do you prefer meal kits , curated orders or hand-picked groceries? If one of the best grocery delivery services doesn't cover all your needs, you can always use more than one. Just keep an eye on costs — multiple memberships could add up quickly and negate any savings you find. Adam Palasciano is a personal finance-obsessed and money-savvy individual who loves to create content on all things saving and making money. His work also appears on The Smart Wallet, FinanceBuzz, Yahoo! Finance and JoyWallet. The Penny Hoarder senior managing editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this story for September 2026. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder , a personal finance website that empowers millions of readers nationwide to make smart decisions with their money through actionable and inspirational advice, and resources about how to make, save and manage money.

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