Best Grocery Delivery Service in 2026: 7 Services Compared
- 1
InstacartWidest store choiceVisit - 2
Walmart+Walmart shoppersVisit - 3
Amazon FreshPrime membersVisit - 4
ShiptTarget shoppersVisit - 5
Kroger DeliveryKroger shoppersVisit
- Instacart is our pick for store choice, with delivery from many local grocers plus Costco and specialty stores.
- Walmart+ suits Walmart shoppers, with free delivery on orders over $35 and fuel and streaming perks included.
- Amazon Fresh suits Prime members who want grocery delivery alongside Prime benefits, with free delivery thresholds that vary by basket.
- Shipt suits Target shoppers, with same-day delivery from Target and other retailers.
- Membership pays off only if you order often enough, so compare the annual fee against delivery fees and markups for your order size and frequency.
Quick comparison
| Product | Ideal for | Price from | Free version | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instacart | Widest store choice | $99 per year | No | Visit |
| Walmart+ | Walmart shoppers | $98 per year | Free trial | Visit |
| Amazon Fresh | Prime members | $139 per year | Free trial | Visit |
| Shipt | Target shoppers | $99 per year | Free trial | Visit |
| Kroger Delivery | Kroger shoppers | $59 per year | Free trial | Visit |
 DoorDash | Restaurant plus grocery | $9.99 per month | Free trial | Visit |
 Thrive Market | Organic and specialty | $59.95 per year | Free trial | Visit |
The best grocery delivery services
Grocery delivery has split into two models: marketplace services that deliver from many stores, and retailer memberships tied to one chain. Marketplaces offer choice, retailer memberships offer lower fees for loyal shoppers. The list below covers both, with membership fees and delivery terms as published, since both change often.
Instacart
Ideal for: Widest store choice
Instacart is our pick for store choice. It delivers from a wide range of local grocers, Costco, Target, Aldi, Sprouts and specialty stores, so one app covers most shopping needs without switching services. Same-day delivery is available in most areas, and shoppers can message about substitutions. Instacart+ costs $99 per year or $9.99 per month, with free delivery on eligible orders and reduced service fees.
Without membership, delivery fees start around $3.99 and service fees vary by order, and some stores add markups. For families who shop at several stores or who lack a dominant local chain, Instacart offers the widest choice and the most flexible membership.
- Delivery from many local grocers, Costco and specialty stores
- Same-day delivery in most areas
- Pickup option as well
- Membership needed for free delivery
- Delivery fees and markups apply without membership
- Service fees vary by order
Walmart+
Ideal for: Walmart shoppers
Walmart+ suits shoppers who already buy most groceries at Walmart. Membership costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month, with free delivery on orders over $35, plus fuel discounts and a Paramount+ subscription included. Scan and go in store and pickup options add convenience beyond delivery.
Shoppers who rarely visit Walmart get less value, since the perks center on Walmart. For regular Walmart families, the delivery savings plus fuel and streaming perks usually cover the membership quickly, making Walmart+ the best retailer membership here.
- Free delivery on orders over $35
- Fuel discounts and Paramount+ included
- Scan and go and pickup options
- Best value only for regular Walmart shoppers
- Delivery slots vary by area
Amazon Fresh
Ideal for: Prime members
Amazon Fresh suits Prime members who want grocery delivery as part of a membership they already pay for. Prime costs $139 per year, with grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, plus Prime Video, music and shipping benefits. The product range is wide, including Amazon private labels and national brands.
Free delivery thresholds vary by basket size and store, so small orders may incur a delivery fee, and Prime is a larger membership than a grocery-only plan. For existing Prime households, Amazon Fresh is the most convenient grocery addition, since it needs no new membership.
- Grocery delivery alongside full Prime benefits
- Wide product range including Amazon private labels
- Pickup in some areas
- Free delivery thresholds vary by basket size
- Prime membership needed for the best terms
Shipt
Ideal for: Target shoppers
Shipt suits Target shoppers, with same-day delivery from Target plus other retailers depending on area. Membership costs $99 per year or $10.99 per month, with free delivery on eligible orders over $35 in many areas. Shoppers message about substitutions, which helps with produce and out-of-stock items.
Store choice varies more by area than Instacart, and some regions have fewer partner stores. For households centered on Target, Shipt offers a focused, reliable same-day option with a straightforward membership.
- Same-day delivery from Target and other retailers
- Delivery from $3.99 without membership in some areas
- Shopper messaging
- Store choice varies by area
- Membership needed for the best delivery terms
Kroger Delivery
Ideal for: Kroger shoppers
Kroger Delivery, through Kroger Boost, suits shoppers loyal to Kroger banners. Boost costs $59 per year, lower than Instacart, Walmart+ or Shipt, with free delivery on eligible orders and fuel points benefits. The Kroger product range is wide, including private labels and national brands.
The limit is obvious: it serves Kroger banners only, so shoppers who split orders across chains need another service. For Kroger-loyal households, Boost is the cheapest retailer membership here and a clear value.
- Lower membership cost than rivals
- Boost benefits including fuel points
- Wide Kroger product range
- Limited to Kroger banners
- Delivery availability varies by area
DoorDash
Ideal for: Restaurant plus grocery
DoorDash suits households that already order restaurant delivery and want groceries in the same app. DashPass costs $9.99 per month, with reduced delivery fees on eligible restaurant and grocery orders, and grocery delivery from many retailers depending on area. One membership covering both use cases is convenient.
Grocery fees and markups can exceed dedicated grocery services, and DashPass entry pricing is monthly rather than annual. For households that split spending between restaurants and groceries, DoorDash offers the most flexible single membership.
- Grocery delivery alongside restaurant delivery in one app
- DashPass covers both
- Wide retailer choice in many areas
- Grocery fees can exceed dedicated grocery services
- DashPass is monthly, not annual, at entry level
Thrive Market
Ideal for: Organic and specialty
Thrive Market suits households focused on organic, non-GMO and specialty groceries. Membership costs $59.95 per year, with member pricing on curated products and free delivery on orders over $49. The catalog emphasizes healthy, sustainable and allergen-friendly options that mainstream grocers stock less consistently.
It is not a full supermarket replacement, since fresh produce and everyday staples are limited, and most orders ship rather than arriving same-day. For specialty and pantry shopping alongside a main grocer, Thrive Market is a useful complement.
- Organic, non-GMO and specialty products with member pricing
- Free delivery on orders over $49
- Sustainability focus
- Not a full supermarket replacement
- Delivery is shipped, not same-day, for most orders
How we picked these
We compared official membership pages, delivery terms and public reviews for grocery delivery services available to US shoppers in October 2026. We kept services with national or wide regional coverage, stated membership fees, and same-day or shipped delivery, and we noted where free delivery depends on order minimums. Fees and thresholds change often, so confirm current terms for your area before joining. We did not claim hands-on testing.
How to choose the right grocery delivery service
Start with your main store. If most orders go to one chain, that chain membership, Walmart+, Kroger Boost or Shipt for Target, usually beats a marketplace on cost. If orders split across stores, Instacart or DoorDash offer the flexibility a single-chain plan cannot.
Then calculate the break-even point. Divide the annual fee by the delivery fees you would otherwise pay per order, and check whether you order often enough to cover it. Also compare markups, since some marketplace prices run above in-store prices. Finally, test delivery slots and substitution handling in your area before committing to a year, since local availability varies more than national pricing suggests.
A money-saving habit with grocery delivery is to compare the same basket across two services once a month, including delivery fees, service fees, tips and any item markups, rather than comparing membership prices alone. Markups on individual items can quietly erase a membership saving, especially on produce and branded goods. Also check substitution settings before each order, since a poor substitution can waste more money than the delivery fee you were trying to save.
Delivery windows and substitution policies deserve a test before committing to a membership, since a cheap membership with inconvenient slots or poor substitutions costs time every week. Try one order as a guest or on a free trial, note how accurate the substitutions were, and check whether the shopper communicated about out-of-stock items. A service that communicates well and substitutes sensibly is worth a slightly higher fee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best grocery delivery service?
Instacart suits widest store choice, Walmart+ suits Walmart shoppers, Amazon Fresh suits Prime members, and Shipt suits Target shoppers. The best service depends on your main store, order frequency and whether you value same-day delivery or shipped specialty orders.
How much does grocery delivery cost?
Without membership, delivery fees often start around $3.99 per order plus service fees and possible markups. Memberships cost $59 to $139 per year, with free delivery on eligible orders over a minimum, typically $35, though thresholds vary by service and basket.
Is grocery delivery worth the membership fee?
It depends on order frequency. If you order weekly and would otherwise pay $4 to $8 per delivery, a $99 annual membership pays for itself in roughly three to six months. If you order monthly, pay-per-order delivery may be cheaper.
Can I get groceries delivered same day?
Yes, Instacart, Walmart+, Shipt and DoorDash offer same-day delivery in most covered areas, subject to slot availability. Thrive Market ships orders, so it suits pantry and specialty shopping rather than same-day needs.
Do grocery delivery prices match in-store prices?
Not always. Some marketplace services add markups on certain stores, while retailer memberships usually charge in-store prices. Check item prices in the app before ordering, and compare a basket across services for your regular items.