Logo of Instacart

Instacart

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Company health

Employee growth
7% increase in the last year
Web traffic
2% decrease in the last quarter
Financing
July 2021 - $3B

Ratings

G2
4.1/5
(67)
Capterra
4.3/5
(42)
TrustPilot
1.1/5
(56)
Glassdoor
3.5/5
(7104)

Instacart description

Instacart is a grocery delivery platform that partners with local stores to offer same-day delivery and pickup of groceries and other household goods. Customers browse items and place orders through the Instacart app or website, selecting from a wide range of stores, products, and delivery time slots. Personal shoppers then collect and deliver the order. Users can communicate with their shopper in real-time to track progress and approve replacements for out-of-stock items. Instacart operates in thousands of cities across North America.


Who is Instacart best for

Instacart is a convenient grocery delivery and pickup service partnering with local stores. Users love the wide selection and real-time communication with shoppers. However, some dislike shopper errors and customer service responsiveness. Ideal for busy individuals and families seeking streamlined grocery shopping.

  • Best Fit: Small, medium, and large businesses.

  • Best Fit: Wide range of industries including Healthcare, Finance, Retail, Manufacturing, Education, and more.


Instacart features

Supported

Instacart offers contactless delivery through its "Leave at My Door Delivery" feature.

Supported

Instacart enables communication between customers and shoppers via in-app chat and SMS.

Supported

Instacart allows users to order groceries online for delivery or pickup.

Supported

Instacart provides real-time order tracking and delivery notifications via app and SMS.

Supported

Instacart allows customers to select desired delivery time windows.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Strongly negative
-1

Customer Service

Rather negative
-0.5

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+1

Reliability and Performance

Rather negative
-0.6

Instacart reviews

We've summarised 165 Instacart reviews (Instacart Software Advice reviews, Instacart GetApp reviews, Instacart TrustPilot reviews, Instacart Capterra reviews and Instacart G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Instacart
  • Convenient same-day grocery delivery and pickup.
  • Wide selection of stores and products available.
  • Real-time communication with shoppers to track progress and approve substitutions.
  • Easy-to-use app and website.
  • Helpful for those with limited mobility or time for grocery shopping.
  • Saves time and reduces the hassle of in-person grocery shopping.
  • Provides access to stores and products that may not be available locally.
  • Flexible delivery windows and scheduling options.
  • Ability to add to or modify orders after they've been placed.
  • Convenient for group settings or special occasions.
Cons of Instacart
  • Shoppers frequently select incorrect or low-quality items, especially produce.
  • Poor communication from shoppers, especially regarding substitutions and delays.
  • Difficult to obtain refunds for missing, damaged, or incorrect items.
  • Membership fees and additional charges are considered too high by many users.
  • Inaccurate inventory information leads to last-minute substitutions and cancellations.
  • Customer service is often unhelpful and unresponsive, especially regarding refunds and account issues.
  • App and website glitches, including order cancellations, inaccurate delivery estimates, and payment errors.
  • Shoppers frequently deliver to incorrect addresses or fail to deliver altogether.
  • Hidden fees, unexpected charges and difficulty getting refunds for undelivered orders.
  • Lack of adequate vetting and monitoring of shoppers, leading to safety and security concerns for some users.

Instacart pricing

The commentary is based on 27 reviews from Instacart Capterra reviews, Instacart G2 reviews and Instacart GetApp reviews.

Instacart offers convenient grocery delivery, but reviews indicate its pricing can be a concern. Delivery and service fees, along with inflated item prices compared to in-store shopping, contribute to a higher overall cost. While membership options and occasional promotions can help offset these expenses, the added costs are a recurring theme for many users.

Users sentiment

Strongly negative
-1

Instacart alternatives

  • Logo of Shipt
    instacart vs Shipt
    Same-day delivery of groceries and essentials from local stores.
    Read more
  • Logo of FreshDirect
    instacart vs FreshDirect
    Fresh groceries delivered to your door, emphasizing quality and convenience.
    Read more
  • Logo of Rappi
    Rappi
    Latin American super-app: deliveries, errands, and more.
    Read more
  • Logo of The Shadowfax
    The Shadowfax
    Fast, reliable India-wide delivery for e-commerce businesses.
    Read more
  • Logo of Good Eggs
    Good Eggs
    Ethical groceries delivered, supporting local producers.
    Read more
  • Logo of Deliveroo
    Deliveroo
    Restaurant and store delivery, connecting you with local favorites.
    Read more

Instacart FAQ

  • What is Instacart and what does Instacart do?

    Instacart is a grocery delivery and pickup service partnering with local stores to offer same-day delivery. Customers order groceries through the app or website, and personal shoppers fulfill and deliver the orders. Instacart offers real-time order tracking and communication with shoppers.

  • How does Instacart integrate with other tools?

    Instacart integrates with various platforms for enhanced functionality. It connects with popular shopping carts, loyalty programs, and payment gateways for streamlined checkout. Real-time tracking and delivery updates are also facilitated through integrations.

  • What the main competitors of Instacart?

    Instacart's main competitors include Shipt, a membership-based grocery delivery service, and other delivery platforms like FarEye. While not direct competitors, services like ShipStation and Freightview offer delivery management solutions for businesses handling their own logistics.

  • Is Instacart legit?

    Yes, Instacart is a legitimate grocery delivery service. It partners with local stores to provide same-day delivery and pickup. While convenient, some users report issues with shopper accuracy and customer service. So, while Instacart is safe to use, be aware of potential delivery inconsistencies.

  • How much does Instacart cost?

    Instacart pricing information is not publicly available. Contact Instacart sales for pricing details on their product and add-on options.

  • Is Instacart customer service good?

    Instacart's customer service receives mixed reviews. While some customers praise the helpful communication with shoppers, others report difficulties obtaining refunds and unhelpful customer service regarding missing or incorrect items. Some users also mention unresponsive customer service for account issues.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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