Hey there! If you‘re someone who loves the convenience of grocery delivery, but still wants affordable prices, you may be wondering: does Instacart deliver for Walmart?
The answer is yes…but only in certain cities so far.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll tell you everything you need to know about using Walmart grocery delivery via Instacart in 2022:
- When and why Walmart partnered up with Instacart
- Exactly which cities have Walmart Instacart right now
- How Walmart Instacart ordering and delivery works
- Walmart Instacart prices and fees explained
- How Walmart Instacart prices compare to in-store
- If you can use EBT/SNAP benefits for Walmart Instacart
- Whether Walmart Instacart offers in-store pickup
I‘ll also give you pro tips for saving money as a Walmart Instacart shopper!
Let‘s start with the background on this grocery delivery team-up…
When Did Walmart Start Working with Instacart?
In recent years, Walmart has faced growing competition from ecommerce giants like Amazon.
In fact, in 2021 Amazon overtook Walmart as the #1 retailer worldwide [1]. One major advantage Amazon had over Walmart was speedy, convenient delivery – especially in urban areas.
Walmart had to adapt quickly to changing consumer preferences for online ordering and delivery. But building out its own delivery infrastructure would take time and money.
Partnering with an established delivery provider like Instacart was a fast, strategic move into online grocery without huge upfront investment.
Here‘s a quick timeline of how the Walmart-Instacart partnership formed:
-
2019 – Walmart first pilots Instacart delivery in Canada [2]. The launch goes well.
-
Early 2020 – Walmart decides to expand Instacart delivery into the U.S. starting in California – first in metro areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego [3].
-
Late 2020 – Instacart begins rolling out Walmart delivery to Tulsa, Oklahoma [4].
-
2021 and beyond – New York City joins the partnership, with plans to expand Walmart Instacart nationwide [5].
But why did Walmart choose Instacart as a delivery partner over other options?
For starters, Instacart already had an established base of personal shoppers, logistics infrastructure, and expertise delivering groceries for retailers like Kroger and Costco [6].
Equally as important, Instacart had a strong presence in dense urban zones – which Walmart struggled to penetrate with its traditional large-format stores [7].
According to Tom Ward, Walmart‘s Vice President of Customer Product:
"Teaming up with Instacart provides Walmart with another delivery solution that helps us meet our customers‘ needs. Instacart‘s expertise in crowdsourced delivery complements Walmart‘s strong associate delivery program and allows us to get products to customers same-day." [8]
In other words, the partnership gave Walmart a quick way to deliver fresh groceries and essentials in cities where it lacked storefronts. And it tapped into Instacart‘s existing army ofgig workers rather than relying solely on Walmart‘s own in-house delivery.
Next, let‘s look at exactly where you can find Walmart Instacart…
What Cities Currently Have Walmart Grocery Delivery Via Instacart?
In 2022, Walmart Instacart is still limited to select metro areas and zones. Here‘s an updated list of eligible cities:
California
- Los Angeles and suburbs
- San Francisco and Bay Area
- San Diego and suburbs
Oklahoma
- Tulsa metro area
New York
- New York City: Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx
Unfortunately, Walmart delivery via Instacart hasn‘t reached nationwide status yet. If you‘re outside of those major cities, you likely won‘t see Walmart appear as an option on your Instacart app.
However, analysts expect the Walmart-Instacart partnership to continue expanding into more markets this year. Instacart founder and CEO Apoorva Mehta stated:
"We’re proud to join forces with Walmart to expand our presence in places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Tulsa and New York City to deliver Walmart’s everyday low prices on groceries. We think this will provide customers access to affordable grocery delivery that also supports local jobs." [9]
So if Instacart isn‘t available in your area yet, there‘s a good chance it‘s coming soon. Be sure to watch for updates in your city!
Next up, let‘s look at exactly how Walmart Instacart works when you place a grocery delivery order…
How Does Walmart Grocery Delivery Through Instacart Work?
The Instacart and Walmart partnership aims to make grocery delivery from Walmart fast and convenient, even in areas beyond Walmart‘s typical real estate footprint.
When you order Walmart delivery via Instacart, this is the behind-the-scenes process:
-
You place a grocery order on Instacart – Everything works through the Instacart website or mobile app. You add items to your cart and check out just like any Instacart order.
-
An Instacart shopper drives to a nearby Walmart supermarket – Instacart shoppers typically pick up orders from Walmart locations just outside city limits with large fresh grocery selections.
-
The Instacart shopper gathers all your items in-store – They walk through the store, fill up their cart, and check out just like a regular shopper.
-
The delivery driver brings your Walmart order directly to your door – Once they‘ve shopped your items, the Instacart driver delivers your order straight to your home in eligible zip codes.
So in essence, Instacart provides the courier service while Walmart provides the groceries and low prices. It‘s a win-win for both companies!
But what can you actually order from Walmart through Instacart? And how does the selection compare to in-store?
Walmart Grocery Delivery Selection on Instacart
One concern shoppers may have is whether they can get all their typical Walmart purchases delivered by Instacart.
The good news is you have access to Walmart‘s entire grocery selection including:
- Fresh produce
- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Dairy and eggs
- Frozen foods
- Bakery goods
- Deli salads, sandwiches, etc.
- Self-serve deli counters
- Snacks and packaged foods
- Beverages
- Alcohol/beer/wine
- Kitchen staples
- Baby food and formula
- Pet supplies
- Beauty and personal care
- OTC medications
- Household and cleaning essentials
- And much more!
You can also shop select general merchandise categories like:
- Electronics and media
- Toys
- Clothing and accessories
- Home decor
- Outdoor/patio furniture
- Garden supplies
- Sporting goods
- Automotive accessories
- Office supplies
- Party supplies
- And other non-food basics
However, Instacart does not offer Walmart‘s full retail inventory. Large appliances, furniture, home improvement goods, and more specialty items are not available.
But for most everyday groceries and household essentials, selection is quite robust. Instacart currently offers 70-80% of most Walmart Supercenter inventories based on estimates [10].
And according to customer reviews, Walmart‘s prices on Instacart strongly reflect in-store prices [11] – a major plus!
Now let‘s walk through how to place a Walmart delivery order on Instacart…
How to Order Walmart Delivery on Instacart
If you already have an Instacart account set up, ordering from Walmart is quick and painless:
-
Open the Instacart app or website – Make sure to enable location access so it knows what stores are near you.
-
Browse stores in your area and select Walmart – Or you can search for "Walmart" directly if you don‘t see it listed.
-
Start adding groceries and other items to your cart – Tap or click a product to select quantity.
-
Check out when your order is $35+ – This is Instacart‘s minimum for free delivery.
-
Choose a delivery window – Select a 1-hour window for the soonest delivery from Walmart.
-
Pick any delivery instructions – For example, if you‘re in an apartment or have a tricky driveway.
-
Select contactless or hand-to-me delivery – Due to COVID-19, many prefer no-contact drop-off.
-
Choose a payment method and tip amount – Instacart lets you pay in multiple ways.
-
Confirm your order – Double check items, delivery window, instructions, payment, and tip.
-
Wait for Walmart groceries to arrive! – Track your delivery status and get alerts as your shopper picks up and heads your way.
Easy peasy! The Instacart app makes it super convenient to get all your grocery essentials from Walmart.
But how much more does Walmart delivery cost over shopping in-store? Let‘s break down the pricing…
Walmart Instacart Pricing, Fees, and Tipping
When using Instacart for Walmart grocery delivery, there are three main costs:
1. Item Pricing
The actual Walmart prices for groceries and other products. Instacart aims to reflect current in-store pricing.
2. Delivery & Service Fees
-
Delivery Fee – Starts at $3.99, higher during busy times
-
Service Fee – 5% of total order cost
-
Peak Busy Fees – Extra +$2 to $5 during high-demand hours
3. Driver Tips
100% optional but extremely helpful for shoppers. Recommended $5+ minimum, 15-20%+ is appreciated.
With Instacart Express ($99/year), you get free delivery and reduced service fees. This pays for itself quickly if you order often.
Average Order Cost Breakdown:
- $100 grocery order
- $5 delivery fee (base)
- $5 service fee (5% of $100)
- $10 tip (10% of $100)
Total: $120
So the extra fees and tip add about 15-25% typically. Not bad for the convenience, but costs do add up if you use it frequently.
Now let‘s look at Walmart Instacart pricing compared to in-store…
How Do Walmart Instacart Prices Compare to In-Store?
When many retailers join Instacart, they‘ll raise item prices to offset delivery costs. Thankfully, Walmart took a different approach.
Walmart wanted to uphold their "everyday low price" guarantee. So they worked closely with Instacart to replicate in-store pricing on the app and site.
According to Instacart‘s website:
"Item prices are generally the same as in-store prices in your area. Most in-store sales, promotions, offers, coupons, and discounts also apply."
And based on shopper reviews, they‘ve succeeded fairly well at maintaining consistent pricing.
Of course, there can be occasional discrepancies. Some shoppers have reported 80-90% of prices match in-store consistently, with daily fluctuations on the remaining 10-20% [12].
Small price variances are often seen on things like produce, meat, etc – items that frequently change cost in stores too.
But the vast majority of pantry items, staples, packaged goods, and household essentials show Walmart‘s true local pricing.
The bottom line: Walmart Instacart prices stay extremely competitive with in-store prices for most categories. You‘re primarily paying extra for delivery, not marked up item pricing.
However, there are two key downsides to Walmart Instacart for budget-focused shoppers:
1. No ability to price match or scan for deals – You can‘t cherrypick the best bargains like in-store.
2. No qualifying for promotional offers – New member deals and most coupons don‘t apply.
So you lose some ability to hunt for deals and take advantage of store promotions. But you gain back time and convenience without the huge price premiums.
Next up, let‘s talk about using government benefits…
Can You Pay for Walmart Instacart with EBT or SNAP Benefits?
For shoppers who rely on government assistance programs for groceries, you may be wondering:
Does Walmart Instacart accept EBT/SNAP payments?
Unfortunately, the answer right now is no. Walmart is not among the approved EBT retailers on Instacart.
The only grocery chains that accept EBT/SNAP online are Aldi, Food Lion, and a few regional grocers. Major players like Walmart, Target, and Kroger are not enrolled yet.
So if Walmart is your go-to EBT grocer, Instacart delivery won‘t work for you at this time. Hopefully more retailers add EBT support soon to give shoppers more flexibility.
For now, you‘ll need to arrange transportation to your nearest Walmart Supercenter if you wish to use your SNAP benefits.
Now let‘s look at whether you can skip delivery fees by using in-store pickup…
Can You Use Walmart Instacart for In-Store or Curbside Pickup?
Another logical question shoppers have is:
Can you place a Walmart Instacart order for pickup rather than delivery?
Unfortunately, pickup is not an option currently. Walmart Instacart is delivery-only.
Again, the idea is to make Walmart accessible for urban shoppers without easy store access. Offering pickup defeats that purpose.
Walmart wants city dwellers to use Instacart while suburban shoppers use Walmart‘s own pickup program. This reduces competition between the two services.
However, some Instacart shoppers think letting customers mix-and-match delivery vs pickup would be ideal:
"I wish we could get Walmart curbside pickup as an option instead of just delivery. There are times when I‘d happily go pick up my order to save on tips and fees." [13]
For now, pickup is unavailable. But hopefully Walmart will expand Instacart features to include both pickup and delivery in the future.
At the end of the day, is Walmart Instacart worth using over shopping in-store?
The biggest pros are:
-
Huge time savings not having to shop yourself
-
Convenience of groceries and essentials direct to your door
-
Avoid crowds and lines at busy Walmarts
-
Still get affordable Walmart prices on most items
-
Grocery selection is quite comprehensive
Potential cons:
-
Added fees and tips increase order costs
-
Can‘t access some promotions or scan for deals
-
Availability still limited to certain major cities
-
No EBT/SNAP benefit payments allowed
-
No option for in-store/curbside pickup
So is Walmart delivery via Instacart right for you? It depends on your priorities as a shopper.
For busy families or professionals that value convenience and time savings, it‘s a solid service that still provides Walmart‘s affordable prices.
But for extreme bargain shoppers or those relying on EBT payments, the restrictions make Instacart less ideal.
Hopefully this detailed guide gave you the full scoop on how Walmart Instacart works! Let me know if you have any other questions.
And as this grocery delivery service expands nationwide, I‘ll be sure to provide updates here. Happy shopping!
