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Instacart+ Alternatives

Food Delivery & Meal Kits
Visit Instacart+
PlanMonthlyAnnual
Instacart+Most popular$9.99/mo$99.00/yr

Verdict

Instacart+ at 9.99 a month removes delivery fees on 35-dollar-plus orders from 1,500+ grocery retailers. The interesting question is whether weekly grocery delivery is worth the markup over in-store prices and whether your specific use case is better served by alternatives. Each pick below addresses one switching pattern.

By Subrupt EditorialPublished Reviewed

Instacart+ is the membership that removes delivery fees on Instacart's grocery delivery network. The retailer count (Costco, Aldi, Wegmans, Publix, Kroger, Sprouts, and 1,500 more) is the broadest in US grocery delivery. For users in major metros with weekly grocery orders, the membership math works at roughly 4+ orders per month; the markup over in-store prices is the trade-off.

The trouble with Instacart+ for many subscribers is the markup. Instacart's prices typically run 10-20 percent over in-store prices on most items, plus tip and the (now-waived) delivery fee. The membership saves the delivery fee but does not affect the markup. For cost-conscious shoppers, even with Instacart+ active, in-store shopping is materially cheaper.

Three groups arrive here. Subscribers whose grocery delivery dropped below break-even but who have not canceled. Users who realized they want restaurant delivery alongside grocery. And users who want meal kits as a structured weekly meal plan rather than ad-hoc grocery orders.

Affiliate disclosure: Subrupt earns a commission when you switch to a service through our recommendation links. This never changes the price you pay. We only recommend services where there's a real cost or feature advantage for you, and our picks are based on the data on this page, not on which programs pay the most.

Quick pick by use case

If you only have thirty seconds, find your situation below and skip to that pick.

If you want bundled food delivery and grocery in one membershipUber OneUber One at $9.99/mo bundles Uber Eats restaurants, Cornershop grocery, and Uber rides.If you want largest restaurant delivery networkDoorDash DashPassDashPass at $9.99/mo covers DoorDash's largest US restaurant network plus grocery from Albertsons and Safeway.If you want home-cooked structured meal plansHelloFreshHelloFresh at $60-90/wk delivers pre-portioned meal kits with recipes.If you want lower-cost meal kitsBlue ApronBlue Apron is similar to HelloFresh with simpler recipes and competitive pricing.If you want pre-prepared meals (no cooking required)FactorFactor delivers chef-prepared, fully cooked meals ready to heat.

At a glance: Instacart+ alternatives

Quick comparison across pricing floor, best fit, and switching effort. Tap a row to jump to the full pick.

Our picks for Instacart+ alternatives

#1

Uber One

Low switching effort

Best for bundled food, grocery, and rides

Try Uber One

Uber One at 9.99 a month is the same price as Instacart+ but bundles Uber Eats restaurants, Cornershop grocery, and Uber ride discounts. For Instacart+ subscribers whose actual usage extends beyond grocery to occasional restaurant delivery and rides, Uber One's bundle delivers more total value. The Cornershop grocery network is smaller than Instacart's, so the trade-off is grocery breadth for product breadth.

Strengths

  • +Bundle covers food, grocery, and rides at one price
  • +Same price as Instacart+
  • +Discounts on Uber rides (10% on eligible)
  • +Strong restaurant coverage

Trade-offs

  • −Cornershop grocery network smaller than Instacart's
  • −Major chains like Costco and Aldi not always on Cornershop
  • −Grocery markup similar to Instacart's
Monthly
$9.99/mo
Annual
$99.99/yr
Bundled
Eats, Cornershop, rides
Best for
Multi-product users
Migration steps
  1. Compare Cornershop and Instacart grocery selection in your zip code.
  2. Sign up for Uber One; the first month is often discounted.
  3. Run both for 30 days to validate Cornershop coverage.
  4. Cancel Instacart+ via Account > Membership in the Instacart app.

Not for: Skip Uber One if your grocery needs require Costco, Aldi, or other chains not on Cornershop.

Paid plans from $9.99/mo

#2

DoorDash DashPass

Low switching effort

Best for restaurant delivery plus partial grocery

Try DoorDash DashPass

DashPass at 9.99 a month is the same price as Instacart+ but focused on the largest US restaurant delivery network. The grocery integration with Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts covers some grocery use cases though not at Instacart's breadth. For Instacart+ subscribers whose actual usage is mostly restaurant delivery with occasional grocery, switching to DashPass and using occasional Instacart pay-per-order delivers more total value.

Strengths

  • +Largest US restaurant network
  • +Grocery integration with Albertsons, Safeway, Sprouts
  • +Same price as Instacart+
  • +Strong same-day delivery

Trade-offs

  • −Grocery network smaller than Instacart's
  • −Major chains like Costco and Aldi not on DashPass grocery
  • −Service fees still apply on some orders
Monthly
$9.99/mo
Annual
$96/yr
Best for
Restaurant + partial grocery
Coverage
Largest US restaurant network
Migration steps
  1. Compare DoorDash restaurant and grocery selection in your zip code.
  2. Sign up for DashPass; the first month is often discounted.
  3. Run both for 30 days to validate coverage.
  4. Cancel Instacart+ via Account > Membership.

Not for: Skip DashPass if your grocery needs depend on chains DoorDash does not cover; Instacart's breadth is the lever there.

Paid plans from $9.99/mo

#3

HelloFresh

Medium switching effort

Best for structured weekly meal plans

Try HelloFresh

HelloFresh at 60-90 dollars per week for 3-4 meals delivers pre-portioned meal kits with recipes. For Instacart+ subscribers whose grocery orders are mostly to support cooking at home, switching the cooking-related grocery spend to HelloFresh structures the weekly meal plan and reduces decision fatigue. The trade-off is locked-in recipes (less flexibility) and slightly higher per-meal cost than buying groceries directly.

Strengths

  • +Pre-portioned ingredients reduce waste
  • +Recipes and instructions included
  • +Reduces grocery-shopping decision fatigue
  • +Pause and customize weekly

Trade-offs

  • −Locked-in recipes reduce flexibility
  • −Per-meal cost higher than DIY groceries
  • −Requires 30-45 minutes per dinner
Weekly
~$60-90 for 3-4 dinners
Best for
Structured meal plans
Founded
2011
Coverage
US, Canada, Europe
Migration steps
  1. Sign up for HelloFresh; the first week is often deeply discounted.
  2. Pick 3-4 meals for the first week and validate cooking time.
  3. Reduce Instacart grocery orders proportionally.
  4. Cancel Instacart+ once your grocery frequency drops below break-even.

Not for: Skip HelloFresh if you want grocery flexibility (snacks, household items, baby supplies); HelloFresh covers dinners only.

Paid plans from $53.94/mo

#4

Blue Apron

Medium switching effort

Best for value-priced meal kits

Try Blue Apron

Blue Apron is the original meal-kit subscription, often priced slightly below HelloFresh and with simpler recipes. For Instacart+ subscribers experimenting with meal kits as a grocery alternative, Blue Apron's promotional pricing for new customers is among the steepest in meal kits. The recipes lean simpler with fewer ingredients, which works for cooks who want less prep complexity.

Strengths

  • +Often cheaper than HelloFresh per meal
  • +Simpler recipes with fewer ingredients
  • +Strong promotional pricing for new subscribers
  • +Wine-pairing add-on for users who want it

Trade-offs

  • −Smaller weekly menu than HelloFresh
  • −Recipe complexity sometimes too simple
  • −Subscription churn is higher than HelloFresh
Weekly
~$60-80 for 3-4 dinners
Best for
Value cooks
Founded
2012
Coverage
US
Migration steps
  1. Sign up for Blue Apron with the introductory promotion.
  2. Pick 3-4 meals for the first week and validate quality.
  3. Reduce Instacart grocery orders proportionally.
  4. Cancel Instacart+ once your grocery frequency drops below break-even.

Not for: Skip Blue Apron if you want recipe variety; HelloFresh has a wider weekly menu.

Paid plans from $47.95/mo

#5

Factor

Low switching effort

Best for pre-prepared meals (no cooking)

Try Factor

Factor (also from HelloFresh Group) delivers chef-prepared, fully cooked meals ready to heat. For Instacart+ subscribers whose grocery orders are driven by lack of time to cook, Factor removes the cooking step entirely. Per-meal cost is higher than meal kits or DIY groceries, but lower than restaurant delivery. The math works for users whose alternative is takeout or restaurant delivery, not home cooking.

Strengths

  • +No cooking required (just heat)
  • +Per-meal cost lower than restaurant delivery
  • +Wide weekly menu with dietary options
  • +Same parent company as HelloFresh

Trade-offs

  • −Per-meal cost higher than meal kits
  • −Microwave-heating quality varies by dish
  • −Less variety than full restaurant delivery
Weekly
~$80-160 for 6-12 meals
Best for
No-cook meals
Owner
HelloFresh Group
Coverage
US
Migration steps
  1. Sign up for Factor with the introductory promotion.
  2. Pick 6-8 meals for the first week and validate quality.
  3. Reduce Instacart grocery orders that were driven by lack of cooking time.
  4. Cancel Instacart+ if your grocery frequency drops below break-even.

Not for: Skip Factor if you want to cook or want grocery flexibility; Factor is heat-and-eat only.

Paid plans from $65.94/mo

When to stay with Instacart+

Stay with Instacart+ if you order grocery delivery weekly from major chains, your local Costco/Aldi/Wegmans is well-stocked on Instacart, and the time savings justify the markup over in-store prices. The picks below are honest exits for users who want different shape (restaurants, meal kits) or whose grocery ordering frequency does not justify the membership.

5 Alternatives to Instacart+

DoorDash DashPass

DoorDash DashPass from $9.99/mo

From $9.99/mo

Switch to DoorDash DashPass
Uber One

Uber One from $9.99/mo

From $9.99/mo

Switch to Uber One
HelloFresh

HelloFresh from $53.94/mo

From $53.94/mo

Switch to HelloFresh
Blue Apron

Blue Apron from $47.95/mo

From $47.95/mo

Switch to Blue Apron
Factor

Factor from $65.94/mo

From $65.94/mo

Switch to Factor

Price Comparison

Compared against Instacart+ Instacart+ ($9.99/mo)

Continue your research

Uber One alternativesDoorDash DashPass alternativesHelloFresh alternativesBlue Apron alternatives

How we picked

Instacart+ alternatives are scored on the patterns that drive switching: bundled multi-product memberships, restaurant focus, structured meal kits, value meal kits, and pre-prepared meals. Each pick is the lead for one of those patterns.

Pricing is taken from each platform's site on the review date. Grocery and restaurant coverage is checked by zip code in 5 representative US markets. The page is reviewed quarterly.

Update history1 update
  • Initial published version with 5 picks.

Frequently asked questions about Instacart+ alternatives

Is Instacart+ worth $9.99 a month?

Only if you order grocery delivery 4+ times per month. The membership saves the delivery fee (typically 4-8 dollars per order) but does not reduce the in-store price markup that Instacart applies. At 4+ orders, the math works on delivery savings alone; below that, paying per-order is cheaper.

What is the markup on Instacart prices?

Instacart prices typically run 10-20 percent over in-store prices for most items, varying by retailer and category. Costco prices on Instacart are higher than in-store. Aldi prices on Instacart are higher than in-store. The markup is the trade-off for delivery convenience; even with Instacart+ active, in-store shopping is cheaper on items alone.

Can I use Instacart+ for restaurant delivery?

No. Instacart is grocery delivery only. For restaurant delivery, DashPass, Uber One, or Grubhub+ are the equivalents. For users who want both, the bundle math usually favors picking the membership that matches your dominant use case.

Does Instacart deliver alcohol?

Yes, in supported markets and from supported retailers. Alcohol delivery requires age verification at delivery. Some retailers and states have restrictions; the platform shows availability based on your delivery address.

Are there Instacart+ discounts?

Annual at 99 dollars saves about 17% vs monthly. Chase, Capital One, and other credit cards occasionally include Instacart+ benefits. Some Costco shoppers get Instacart+ free for a year. The cancellation funnel sometimes offers retention pricing.

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About the author: Subrupt Editorial

The team behind subrupt.com. We track subscriptions, surface cheaper alternatives, and publish comparisons where the score formula is on the page so you can recompute it yourself. We do not claim 30,000 hours of testing. What we claim is live pricing from our database, a transparent composite score, and honest savings math against a category baseline.

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