Instacart+ Subscription 2025: Benefits, Costs, and How to Save

In 2025, Instacart+ (formerly known as Instacart Express) continues to evolve as a premium membership service designed to enhance the grocery delivery experience for users across the United States and select parts of Canada. With partnerships expanding to include more retailers and integrations like Uber Eats for restaurant deliveries, Instacart+ aims to provide value through cost savings, convenience features, and bundled perks. As of September 29, 2025, the service boasts millions of members, driven by features such as $0 delivery fees on lower minimum orders and complimentary streaming subscriptions. This deep dive explores every facet of the subscription—pricing, benefits, signup process, 2025 updates, promotions, eligibility, comparisons to alternatives, cancellation policies, refunds, and value calculations—drawing from official sources, recent analyses, and industry insights. Whether you’re a busy parent coordinating family hauls or a budget-conscious shopper evaluating perks, this guide arms you with all the facts to decide if Instacart+ fits your lifestyle.

Instacart processes billions in transactions quarterly, and Instacart+ membership revenue has grown steadily, reflecting its appeal in a competitive market. Key to its success is the rebranding from Instacart Express, which now emphasizes family-oriented features and entertainment bundles. Let’s unpack it all.

Introducing Instacart+, a New and Improved Subscription Service with Free Delivery Options, Savings on Every Order, and Family Shopping Features

Overview of Instacart+

Instacart+ is a paid subscription that unlocks exclusive benefits on the Instacart platform, which connects users to over 1,500 retailers for same-day delivery or pickup. It’s targeted at frequent users who value time savings and reduced fees, offering a way to offset the platform’s standard markups (15-50% on items) and add-ons like delivery fees ($3.99+ for non-members). The membership rebranded from Instacart Express in recent years, incorporating family sharing and entertainment perks to differentiate it from basic accounts.

At its core, Instacart+ provides unlimited $0 delivery fees on qualifying orders, making it ideal for households ordering 2-4 times per month. It integrates with Instacart’s AI tools, like Smart Shop for personalized recommendations, and supports SNAP/EBT for broader accessibility. In 2025, the focus has shifted toward value-added bundles, such as streaming services, amid economic pressures where users seek more than just fee waivers. According to analyses, members order more frequently, netting Instacart higher retention. Non-members can still use Instacart but pay per-use fees, highlighting the subscription’s role in cost predictability.

Pricing Options

Instacart+ offers flexible pricing to suit different commitment levels, with no price increases noted for 2025 despite inflation trends in the delivery sector. The structure encourages annual signups for maximum value, including bonus perks.

• Annual Plan: $99 per year. This is the most cost-effective option, billed upfront and auto-renewing annually. It includes all core benefits plus exclusive add-ons like a 1-year New York Times Cooking subscription (valued at $50).
• Monthly Plan: $9.99 per month. Billed monthly with the flexibility to cancel anytime without long-term commitment. It includes most benefits but excludes the NYT Cooking subscription.

Pricing is consistent across the U.S. and Canada, though currency conversions apply in Canada (approximately CAD 129/year or CAD 12.99/month, subject to exchange rates). Taxes may add to the total, depending on your location. For comparison, the annual plan equates to about $8.25 per month, saving $20.88 versus monthly billing over a year.

Plan Type	Cost	Billing Frequency	Key Exclusives	Best For
Annual	$99/year	Upfront annual	All benefits + NYT Cooking ($50 value)	Committed users seeking max savings
Monthly	$9.99/month	Monthly	Core benefits (excludes NYT Cooking)	Flexible testers or short-term needs

No student or senior discounts are mentioned, but partnerships (e.g., with credit cards) often provide free or discounted access (see Promotions section).

Instacart+ | Instacart Docs

All Benefits of Instacart+

Instacart+ delivers a suite of perks focused on savings, convenience, and extras, with 2025 emphasizing bundled entertainment to compete in a saturated market. Benefits apply to groceries, retail, and select restaurants, but service fees (5-10% of order subtotal) remain unchanged since the March 1, 2025, update that retired reduced service fees for members.

• $0 Delivery Fees: Unlimited free delivery on grocery/retail orders over $10, Costco orders over $35, and eligible restaurant orders over $25 (via Uber Eats integration). This saves $3.99-$7.99 per order versus non-members, potentially $168/year for bi-monthly users. Service fees still apply, and express delivery may incur extras.
• Bundled Subscriptions: All members get Peacock Premium (ad-supported, $79.99-$109.99 value annually) for movies, TV, sports, and more. Annual members also receive a 1-year New York Times Cooking subscription ($50 value) for recipes and shoppable ingredient lists.
• Family Sharing: Add up to three family members (four total users) to share carts, benefits, and loyalty perks. This facilitates collaborative shopping, with shared access to $0 delivery and promotions—perfect for households.
• Members-Only Savings and Features: Exclusive deals, priority customer support, and integrations like linking retailer loyalty cards (e.g., Kroger Boost) for automatic discounts. SNAP/EBT users in programs like Fresh Funds may get extended free memberships with credits.
• Other Perks: Lowered delivery minimums (from $35 to $10 in recent updates), and access to Instacart Health features for nutritional carts. No more 5% credit back on pickups or reduced service fees post-March 2025.

These benefits can pay for the membership with just two orders per month, per Instacart’s calculations, factoring in average delivery fee savings of $7 per order.

How to Sign Up or Manage the Subscription

Signing up is seamless via the app or website, with management tools for upgrades, downgrades, or cancellations.

Signup Steps

1. Open the Instacart app or visit instacart.com.
2. If new, create an account with email/phone.
3. Navigate to the menu (three lines upper left on web; Account icon on app).
4. Select “Your Instacart+ Membership” or “Instacart+”.
5. Choose annual ($99) or monthly ($9.99) plan.
6. Enter payment details and confirm.
7. For trials: Select “Start free trial” (14 days, auto-renews to annual unless changed).

Management

• Upgrade/Downgrade: In “Your Instacart+ Membership,” select “Change plan” to switch between monthly/annual.
• Add Family: From the same page, “Start a family account” and invite via link.
• Link Partner Accounts: For memberships from partners (e.g., Costco), log in on the partner site, go to Account Profile, and select “Link Instacart Account” to import info.

Instacart Expands EBT SNAP Payments Program and Celebrates One Year of Increasing Access to Food

2025-Specific Updates or Changes

2025 has seen refinements to Instacart+ amid regulatory and competitive pressures:

• Retired Perks: As of March 1, 2025, reduced service fees for members were eliminated, meaning full 5-10% service fees apply to all. The 5% credit back on pickups was also retired earlier in the year.
• New Features: Lowered free delivery minimum to $10 for groceries/retail (from $35), expanded family sharing to three additional members, and strengthened integrations like Uber Eats for $0 delivery on $25+ restaurant orders.
• No Major Overhauls: The core structure remains stable, with focus on bundled value (Peacock, NYT Cooking) to offset fee changes. Order growth was 17% in Q1 2025, indicating resilience.

Promotions or Trials

Instacart+ frequently runs promotions to attract users:

• Free Trial: 14-day trial with full benefits, including Peacock and NYT Cooking. Auto-renews to $99/year; cancel anytime before end to avoid charges. Minimum basket for first free delivery varies by promotion.
• Discounted Deals: Select accounts (e.g., expired members) can get 1-year Instacart+ for $19, including Peacock—check your account or emails for eligibility.
• Partner Promotions: PayPal promo (Feb 28-May 23, 2025) offered perks; Chase cards provide 3-12 months free + monthly credits ($10-20) through 2027; Mastercard offers 3 months free + credits.
• SNAP/Fresh Funds: Eligible users get free months with credits.

First orders often include $0 delivery promotions.

Eligibility Requirements

Instacart+ is available to anyone with an Instacart account in supported areas (99% U.S. households, select Canada). No age or income restrictions, but:

• Must be U.S.-based for Peacock bundle.
• SNAP/EBT users eligible via specific programs.
• Partner memberships (e.g., Costco) require linking accounts.
• Trials require payment method on file for auto-renewal.

Comparisons to Non-Members or Competitors

Vs. Non-Members: Non-members pay delivery fees ($3.99+), higher service fees in some cases (pre-2025), and lack bundles/family sharing. Members save $7/order on average, paying for itself in 2 orders/month.

Vs. Competitors:

• DoorDash DashPass: $9.99/month or $96/year; $0 delivery on $12+ food/groceries, no streaming bundles, but broader restaurant focus.
• Walmart+: $98/year or $12.95/month; unlimited free delivery on $35+ orders, fuel savings, no entertainment perks.
• Instacart+ edges on grocery variety and bundles, but competitors may have lower fees for specific uses.

Terms, Conditions, and FAQs Related to Cancellation, Refunds, or Value Calculations

• Cancellation: Cancel anytime via “Your Instacart+ Membership” page; no prorated refunds for partial periods. For trials, cancel before end to avoid billing.
• Refunds: Generally non-refundable post-trial, but contact support for exceptions (e.g., unused memberships). Partner purchases follow partner policies.
• Value Calculations: Instacart claims $7/order savings on delivery; with bundles, total value can exceed $200/year ($168 delivery + $109.99 Peacock + $50 NYT). Actual value depends on usage—e.g., 2 orders/month = break-even.
• FAQs: Auto-renewal terms require 24-hour notice for cancellation; benefits end immediately upon cancel. For partner links, no extra cost. Full terms in Instacart+ agreement.

Final Verdict: Is Instacart+ Worth It in 2025?

For frequent users (2+ orders/month), yes—the $168+ in delivery savings plus $160 in bundles outweigh the $99 cost, especially with free trials/partners making it risk-free. Budget shoppers or infrequent users may skip, as markups remain. Explore with a trial to test.

What’s your take? Comment below!