Instacart is one of the top grocery delivery services in the country, delivering from more than 40,000 stores across 5,500 cities across the US and Canada.
Instacart shoppers are independent contractors who visit stores to shop for items and deliver the order to customers. It’s flexible work that has become one of the most popular delivery gigs.
Shopping for Instacart: The Basics
To become an Instacart shopper, you need to be 18 or older with access to a vehicle. Any vehicle qualifies!
Here’s what a day in the life of a shopper is like: You start by going online in the Instacart shopper app.
Browse through delivery opportunities from nearby stores. You’ll see the store name & location, an estimated payout that includes customer tips, the number of items, and the delivery distance.
After you accept a delivery, head to the store and use the shopper app to find items and communicate with the customer.
Once you complete the order, check out using a special Instacart payment card, then deliver the order to the customer.
After that, head back into the app to find your next order. You can do as many or as few orders as you want.
Getting started as a shopper
How to apply, how to keep your ratings high, and what to expect from this gig.
- Want to become a shopper? See the requirements & application process
- How the shopper rating system works
- What it’s like to be a full-service shopper on Instacart
About Instacart shopper earnings
Want to know how much shoppers make? See examples and learn more about promotions that can help you earn more.
- See real-life examples of shopper pay
- All about earnings promotions for shoppers
- Instacart base pay dropped to $4!
Tips & strategies for shoppers
Learn more about order types, shopper rewards, and how to get more batches.
- Are double and triple batches worth it?
- How to get more batches!
- How to get the highest-paying batches
- Cart Star rewards: Is Diamond Cart worth it?
Want to become a shopper?
Click here to apply! Instacart is a flexible gig with easy requirements. If you’re already delivering for another app, it’s a great alternative to add to your rotation.