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Jul 27, 2024 · To help you pick the right one, we've set out to test all the top players to find the best grocery delivery service for 2024.
- David Watsky
- Senior Editor / Home And Kitchen
People also ask
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- Overview
- The best grocery delivery services
- Membership-based grocery delivery services
- Grocery delivery subscription services
- Open-access grocery delivery services
- How to choose a grocery delivery service
- Benefits of grocery delivery services
- Meet our experts
When it comes to grocery delivery services, “what you’re ultimately paying for is convenience,” said Lisa Young, adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University. Instead of taking time out of your day to visit a store, wander through aisles and wait in line to check out, you can quickly order food and other household essentials online, as well as choose a day and time for them to arrive at your doorstep.
And beyond helping you save time, these delivery services may also help you save money on groceries. “By not being in the store, you won't be making impulse purchases,” said nutritionist Ariane Resnick, a special diet chef and author. “Those could be items that you try to not eat because they aren't healthy, or that you regret buying because of their high cost.”
SKIP AHEAD How to choose a grocery delivery service | Grocery delivery services to shop from
Many shoppers are currently trying to reduce the price of their grocery bill due to concerns about inflation — the items in the basket of goods under the Consumer Price Index — including food and energy — have increased by a collective 7.1% since Nov. 2021, according to the World Economic Forum. With this information in mind, we talked to experts about the benefits of grocery delivery services and how to choose one that works for your budget. We also highlighted grocery delivery services that experts recommended, as well as Select staff favorites and others we think you should know about.
We rounded up a variety of grocery delivery services and organized them by membership-based, subscription and open access options. We noted associated fees like how much you’ll need to pay for delivery so you know how much gets added to your bill after accounting for products. We included expert and staff recommendations, as well as other options we think you’ll want to know about, like those that specialize in bulk orders or offer discounted produce.
Keep in mind that our list is not exhaustive. Local grocery stores in your area may operate their own grocery delivery services. Some stores also deliver groceries through food delivery platforms like UberEats, Postmates, GrubHub, DoorDash and Seamless.
Whole Foods on Amazon
Membership fee: $139 a year, discounted memberships available Delivery cost: $10 per order, plus an additional rush fee for one-hour delivery orders. Pick-up is free for orders over $35. Amazon Prime members can order groceries through Whole Foods and either pick them up in store or get them delivered. You can choose a day and two-hour time slot for pickup or delivery in advance, or pay an added fee to have your groceries delivered within an hour. Resnick said she orders Whole Foods groceries through Amazon, and to save even more, she uses her Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, which offers 5% back at Whole Foods Market in stores and online. Between groceries she’s purchased for personal and professional use, Resnick said she’s received a couple hundred dollars back this year so far in rewards. Additionally, Prime members get an extra 10% off sale items while shopping at Whole Foods in stores or online. Whole Foods on $139.00 Amazon
Amazon Fresh
Membership fee: $139 a year, discounted memberships available Delivery cost: Amazon Fresh recently raised delivery fees. There's a $9.95 delivery fee for orders under $50; a $6.95 delivery fee for orders between $50 and $100; and a $3.95 delivery fee for orders between $100 and $150. Orders $150 and up qualify for free delivery. Amazon Fresh grocery delivery is available to those with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Fresh offers a larger variety of food compared to Whole Foods since you're not limited to what one specific supermarket carries. In addition to pantry items and fresh produce, Amazon Fresh also allows you to order baby, pet, healthcare, personal care and cleaning products. If you purchase specific items consistently, you can opt to make them Repeat Items — this means Amazon Fresh will automatically add them to your cart based on a schedule you set so they’re waiting for you before you begin shopping. Certain items also have a Subscribe & Save option, which will automatically ship the item after a designated number of weeks or months for up to 15% off. Jennifer Birkhofer, vice president of commerce at NBC News, said that when she uses Amazon Fresh, her order is always delivered on time. Birkhofer noted you can choose delivery times before 6 a.m. so your order is waiting for you when you wake up. Amazon Fresh $139.00
Walmart+
Membership fee: $98 a year Delivery cost: Free for orders $35 or more, $7 for orders under $35 Walmart+ members can get free same-day delivery on groceries with no additional delivery fees. Photo editor Becca Delman said her family orders groceries through Walmart+ weekly and enjoys the low-priced, high-quality fresh produce. You can choose a one-hour delivery window for your order to be delivered day-of or schedule deliveries ahead of time. Walmart+ $98.00
The below online grocery delivery services operate on a subscription-based model. You can cancel your subscription at any time and skip weeks when you don’t need a delivery, like if you’re going on vacation. For each option, we highlighted how much it costs to subscribe to the service and the delivery cost that would be added to your bill every tim...
Instacart
Delivery fee: Starts at $4 for same-day orders over $35, fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries and deliveries under $35 Membership option: Instacart+ for $99 a year Instacart allows you to order groceries and other items from participating stores near you. You can schedule deliveries or curbside pickup days in advance, as well as choose from same-day and one-hour options if you need products quickly. Instacart also allows you to order from warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s without a membership, but prices are marked up. I use Instacart multiple times a month and often place an order when I’m on my way home from work through the service’s app. The Instacart+ membership includes benefits like free delivery on orders over $35, lower service fees, 5% credit back on pickup orders and more. Instacart+ $99.00
Shipt
Delivery fee: $10 Membership option: Shipt membership for $99 a year Shipt is similar to Instacart, and some stores — like Costco and Target — offer delivery through both platforms. You can schedule deliveries and pickups in advance or choose from same-day and one-hour options. With a Shipt membership, you can get free delivery on orders over $35. There’s a $7 fee for deliveries under $35 with a membership. $99.00 Shipt
Gopuff
Delivery fee: $3.95 Membership option: Gopuff Fam for $7.99 a month Instead of shopping from local stores in your area that partner with services like Instacart or Shipt, you can shop directly through Gopuff, which has warehouses stocked with products in each of the areas it serves across the country. Once you place your order, personal shoppers pack and deliver it to your door. Gopuff describes its product offerings as what you’d typically find at a convenience store — you can’t get fresh fish and meat, but you can order snacks, basic dairy products like milk and eggs, alcohol and more. Gopuff also offers bath, beauty and health products as well as pet and baby supplies. I specifically recommend Gopuff for college students — it was one of the most popular grocery delivery services used on my campus. Students would purchase shelf-stable snacks they could keep in their dorms and frozen meals they could microwave. The Gopuff Fam membership offers perks including free delivery and free delivery on regulated products like alcohol. You can also earn two-times the amount of Puff points, the service’s rewards program. Gopuff Fam $7.99
According to Resnick, grocery delivery services are a “godsend” — they take the in-person work out of food shopping, and you can order everyday essentials like cleaning products and pet supplies. But since there are dozens of grocery delivery services out there, finding your favorite may take some trial and error. To help guide your shopping, we hi...
Beyond the convenience of shopping for food and household essentials online, Young noted that grocery delivery services can help you save money on travel since you don’t have to pay for gas or other types of transportation. Over time, the cost of getting yourself to and from the supermarket may end up being more than a grocery service’s delivery fee, experts noted. Resnick encouraged people to think through the logistics of how long it takes to go grocery shopping and how much it costs to get there and back before balking at a grocery service’s delivery fee or monthly membership fee. “You might realize that a $5 or $10 fee is minimal compared to what you pay in gas and time,” she noted.
Young also said that when you’re grocery shopping through a delivery service, you’re often on “automatic pilot.” You can see orders you’ve placed in the past and deliberately add items you need back into your cart, which she said makes you less likely to spend money on products that aren't on your shopping list. And as we highlighted above, many grocery delivery services offer subscription or autoship enrollment for specific products at a discounted price. If you know you need to buy paper towels every month or rice every two weeks, enrolling in these types of programs may save you money long-term.
At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Lisa Young is an adjunct professor of nutrition in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University.
Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef and certified nutritionist. She’s also a recipe developer and has written about nutrition, health, wellness and identity for a variety of platforms, including The Kitchn, Livestrong and Simply Recipes.
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
- Instacart. Minimum order: $10. Delivery fee: Starts at $3.99 for non-members. Membership: Instacart Express: $99/year or $9.99/month for free delivery on all orders over $35.
- Walmart+ Minimum order: $35. Delivery fee: Free with membership. Membership: Walmart+: $98/year or $12.95/month for free deliveries and a $35 minimum. Did you know Walmart delivers groceries?
- Stop & Shop. Minimum order: $60. Delivery fee: From $2.95 to $9.95. Membership: None. If you were a fan of Peapod, the delivery app has been acquired by Stop & Shop, which exclusively delivers from the grocery chain.
- Shipt. Minimum order: None. Delivery fee: $10. Membership: Shipt Everyday: $99/year for free deliveries on orders over $35. Like Instacart, Shipt ships groceries from local grocery stores as well as items from retailers like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Petco.
Save yourself a trip to the store with our list of the best online grocery delivery services and apps that are tailored for every budget.
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