How Do I Save on Grocery Delivery in the US? (2026)

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Austin Pua, ShopBack US

ShopBack US is a free cashback app and website. You go through ShopBack, shop at stores like Instacart, Walmart or Target as usual, and part of what you spent comes back as cash. Sign up for ShopBack before your next grocery order.

Other grocery and household stores on ShopBack US include Costco, Sam's Club and Thrive Market.

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How do I save on grocery delivery?

You save on grocery delivery by cutting the fees, not just the food prices: the delivery fee, the minimum-order fee, the service fee and the priority fee. Each one has a simple fix.

Fee	What the company says	How to avoid or reduce it
Walmart delivery fee	$7.95 to $9.95 for delivery from the store; waived for Walmart+ members on orders of $35 or more	Join Walmart+ if you order often, and keep orders at $35 or more
Walmart minimum order fee	$6.99 if a Walmart+ member's order is under $35	Combine small orders into one
Instacart delivery fee	Varies by retailer, delivery window and order total; $0 for Instacart+ members on most grocery orders of $10 or more	Join Instacart+ if you order often; all orders must be at least $10
Instacart service fee	Varies by location and cart; applies even for Instacart+ members on delivery	Choose pickup, which Instacart says has no service fee
Instacart priority fee	Charged when you pick the fastest window	Choose a standard window when you can wait
Instacart long-distance fee	May apply if the route is 15 minutes or more or includes a toll	Pick a store closer to you

Fees and thresholds are from Walmart's and Instacart's help centers at the time of writing.

Follow these steps on every order:

1. Clear the free-delivery minimum. Build one weekly order instead of several small ones.
2. Do the membership maths. Compare the yearly membership cost with what you pay in delivery fees now.
3. Choose pickup or a standard window when the timing works.
4. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. Check the live rate and terms on the store's ShopBack US page on the day you order.

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Grocery delivery: how the big US services work

Most grocery delivery in the US runs through a retailer's own service, like Walmart or Target, or through a marketplace app like Instacart that shops local stores for you.

• Instacart lets you order from many local grocers and retailers in one app. A shopper picks your items and delivers them, or you collect them with pickup. Instacart labels some stores "No markups" and marks stores that accept EBT.
• Walmart picks your order from your local store. You can collect it with curbside pickup, or have a local third-party driver bring it to your door, according to Walmart's help center.
• Target offers Same Day Delivery, Order Pickup and Drive Up, alongside Free 2-Day Shipping on eligible items.

Instacart says 100% of your tip goes to your shopper, and that the tip is separate from the service fee. Budget for the tip when you compare totals.

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Grocery delivery 2026: what the memberships cost

In 2026 the two main grocery delivery memberships cost about the same per year: Walmart+ is $98 and Instacart+ is $99, according to each company.

Instacart+. Instacart's own program costs $99 a year or $9.99 a month. Members get a $0 delivery fee on grocery and retail orders of $10 or more, Costco orders of $35 or more and eligible restaurant orders of $25 or more, though service fees still apply. Instacart includes Peacock and New York Times Cooking (which it values at $50 a year), lets you add family members to share benefits, and offers a 14-day free trial that renews into the paid plan. Instacart says that if you order just twice a month, the membership can pay for itself.

Walmart+. Walmart's paid membership costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month. Members don't pay the $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee on delivery from the store when the order is $35 or more, and get free shipping with no order minimum on items sold or shipped by Walmart. Other benefits Walmart lists include member savings on fuel, early access deals, a video streaming choice and free pharmacy delivery. Walmart+ InHome, which brings orders into your kitchen or garage in limited ZIP codes, is a paid upgrade at $40 a year or $7 a month for Walmart+ members.

Target. Target runs a free Target Circle program, a Target Circle Card and a paid Target Circle 360 membership. Check Target's site for current membership pricing and delivery terms before you sign up.

The break-even maths for Walmart+. At Walmart's published $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee, about 10 to 13 delivery orders a year would cost roughly what the $98 yearly membership does. If you order delivery every week, the membership is likely to come out ahead; if you order once a month, paying per delivery may cost less.

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Grocery delivery best deals in the US for 2026

The best grocery delivery deals in the US are usually membership free trials, the retailer's own weekly deals, and new-customer offers inside each app.

• Free trials. Instacart offers a 14-day free trial of Instacart+. Set a reminder before it renews if you only want to test it.
• Retailer deals. Walmart lists early access deals for Walmart+ members, and Target runs deals through Target Circle.
• Promo codes. Use codes from the store's own app or emails, or the store's ShopBack page. Codes from coupon sites can be expired or restricted.
• Sales tax holidays. Instacart notes that some states offer limited-time reduced or waived sales tax on select items, so check your state's website.

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Instacart vs Walmart grocery delivery price comparison 2026

Neither Instacart nor Walmart is always cheaper; the cheaper one depends on how often you order, which store you want and the size of your basket.

What matters	Instacart	Walmart
Stores	Many local grocers and retailers	Your local Walmart
Membership	Instacart+ $99 a year or $9.99 a month	Walmart+ $98 a year or $12.95 a month
Free-delivery threshold for members	$10 or more on most grocery orders; $35 or more at Costco	$35 or more on delivery from the store
Service fee	Applies to delivery orders; none on pickup	Not covered here; check the total at checkout
Non-member delivery fee	Varies by retailer, window and order total	$7.95 to $9.95

How to compare them fairly:

1. Build the same basket in both apps.
2. Check the item prices, since stores on Instacart can price differently from each other; look for the "No markups" label.
3. Add every fee shown at checkout, plus the tip.
4. Compare the final total, then go through ShopBack before you pay.

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Instacart, Walmart and Target grocery delivery in the US: which to use

Use Instacart when you want a specific local store, Walmart when you want Walmart prices and shop at least weekly, and Target when your basket mixes groceries with household items.

• Instacart suits shoppers who want a particular grocer, a Costco run without a trip, or pickup with no service fee.
• Walmart suits weekly shoppers who can keep orders at $35 or more and would use the other Walmart+ benefits.
• Target suits shoppers who already buy household items at Target and want Same Day Delivery, Order Pickup or Drive Up.

Whichever you pick, the last step is the same: open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out.

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How ShopBack lowers what you pay for grocery delivery

ShopBack lowers the effective price of an online grocery order after you pay. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

For example, on a $120 weekly grocery order at an illustrative 2%, $2.40 comes back, so the effective price is $117.60. Over 50 orders a year that is $120 back. That rate is only an example; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page. Walmart works differently: ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders, so your effective price is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page.

Make it part of the routine for every order: build the basket, clear the free-delivery minimum, pick pickup or a standard window, open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. Rates differ by store and can change, and some order types or fees may not qualify, so check the rate or amount and terms on the Instacart, Walmart or Target page on ShopBack US before you order.

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Paying with a rewards card

Paying with your rewards card usually earns that card's normal rewards on the purchase, separately from the cash you get through ShopBack. Some cards pay more on groceries, but card rewards, store promotions and ShopBack each have their own rules, so check the merchant's terms and your card's terms before you rely on all of them for the same order.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I save on grocery delivery in the US?

Clear the free-delivery minimum with one bigger order, buy a membership only if you order often enough to cover it, choose pickup or a standard delivery window when you can, and go through ShopBack US before you check out at Instacart, Walmart or Target. Walmart+ costs $98 a year and Instacart+ costs $99 a year, according to each company.

How much does Instacart+ cost and what does it include?

According to Instacart, Instacart+ costs $99 a year or $9.99 a month and gives a $0 delivery fee on grocery and retail orders of $10 or more, Costco orders of $35 or more and eligible restaurant orders of $25 or more. Service fees still apply. Instacart offers a 14-day free trial that renews into the paid plan.

How much does Walmart+ cost and does it include free grocery delivery?

According to Walmart, Walmart+ costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month. Members don't pay Walmart's $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee on delivery from the store when the order is $35 or more; below $35, Walmart charges a $6.99 minimum order fee. Members also get free shipping with no order minimum on items sold or shipped by Walmart.

Is Instacart or Walmart cheaper for grocery delivery?

It depends on how you shop. Walmart delivery only covers Walmart, while Instacart lets you order from many local stores. On fees, Walmart+ members pay no delivery fee on store orders of $35 or more, and Instacart+ members pay a $0 delivery fee on most grocery orders of $10 or more but still pay service fees. Compare the same basket's total, including fees and tip, in both apps.

Is a grocery delivery membership worth it?

It can be if you order delivery regularly. Instacart says that if you order just twice a month, Instacart+ can pay for itself. For Walmart+, at Walmart's published $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee, about 10 to 13 delivery orders a year cover the $98 yearly price.

Does Instacart charge a service fee on pickup orders?

No. Instacart's help center says pickup orders don't have service fees, with or without Instacart+. Some retailers charge a pickup fee, which Instacart shows before you place the order.

Why is my Instacart delivery fee higher than usual?

Instacart says the delivery fee varies by retailer, delivery window and order total. Priority windows carry a priority fee, and a long-distance fee may apply if the route is 15 minutes or more or includes a toll. Picking a nearer store and a standard window usually lowers the total.

How does Target grocery delivery work?

Target offers Same Day Delivery, Order Pickup and Drive Up for groceries and household items, alongside Free 2-Day Shipping on eligible items. Its free Target Circle program and the paid Target Circle 360 membership carry their own deals and delivery benefits, so check Target's site for the current terms before you order.

How does ShopBack lower the cost of grocery delivery?

Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. ShopBack lowers the effective price of your grocery order at Instacart, Walmart or Target after you pay. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order; it comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack US page.

Can I pay for grocery delivery with a rewards credit card and still use ShopBack?

Usually yes. Paying with your rewards card normally earns that card's usual rewards, separately from the cash you get through ShopBack. Card rewards, store promotions and ShopBack each have their own rules, so check the merchant's terms and your card's terms before you count on all of them for the same order.

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Key takeaways

• Most of the saving on grocery delivery comes from cutting fees: delivery, minimum-order, service and priority fees.
• Walmart+ costs $98 a year and waives the $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee on store orders of $35 or more; Instacart+ costs $99 a year with a $0 delivery fee on most grocery orders of $10 or more.
• Instacart pickup orders have no service fee, and standard windows avoid the priority fee.
• Instacart says Instacart+ can pay for itself at two orders a month; by our maths, Walmart+ breaks even at about 10 to 13 delivery orders a year.
• Open ShopBack US, tap Instacart, Walmart or Target, then check out.

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Related reads

• Walmart Discounts in the US
• How to Find Promo Codes That Work
• How to Activate Cashback Before Buying
• Using ShopBack With Credit Cards in the US
• How to Use ShopBack With Promotions

Shop groceries and household items through ShopBack US: Instacart · Walmart · Target · Costco · Sam's Club · Thrive Market

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author and are for general information only. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instacart, Walmart or Target. Membership prices, fees and thresholds are taken from Instacart's Instacart+ page and help center and Walmart's help center at the time of writing. Prices, fees, membership benefits and delivery terms vary by location and can change; check each company's app or site before you order. Cashback rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate and terms on each store's ShopBack page before you shop.