Shipt vs Instacart vs Walmart Grocery — Our Pick: Shipt
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Updated for 2025 Grocery delivery • Same-day Busy-family & budget friendly

Shipt vs Instacart vs Walmart Grocery

We compared delivery speed, pricing, memberships, store coverage, and ease of use. Our pick: Shipt for the best overall mix of reliability, personal shoppers, and simple pricing.

Best overall grocery delivery

Why we prefer Shipt

  • Same-day delivery from popular local stores, with shoppers who message you about substitutions and special requests.
  • Simple membership model that can unlock free delivery on eligible orders, plus pay-per-order options in many areas.
  • Clean app design that makes it easy to reorder favorites, schedule delivery windows, and track shoppers in real time.
  • Strong experience for busy families: groceries, household essentials, and more from multiple retailers in one app.
Heads-up: Want the biggest store selection across many chains? Instacart covers a huge number of grocers and retailers. Prefer to stick with one store and lean into low everyday prices? Walmart Grocery is built around the Walmart ecosystem.

At a glance

Shipt

Best overall

Top pick if you want friendly personal shoppers, simple scheduling, and a membership that can pay off fast for frequent orders.

  • Same-day delivery from major retailers in many U.S. metros.
  • Membership model with straightforward pricing on eligible orders.
  • Strong communication tools for substitutions and special requests.
Go to Shipt

Instacart

Most store variety

Huge marketplace of grocery chains, club stores, and specialty shops, with same-day delivery or pickup in many areas.

  • Shop from multiple grocers, warehouse clubs, and pharmacies.
  • Pay-per-order or upgrade to Instacart+ for delivery perks.
  • Fees and pricing can vary by retailer and busy times.
Explore Instacart

Walmart Grocery

Best for low prices

Order directly from Walmart with pickup or delivery, leaning on Walmart’s everyday low prices and large assortment.

  • Grocery, household, and general merchandise from local Walmart stores.
  • Pickup and delivery options; Walmart+ membership can add perks.
  • Limited to Walmart inventory, not multiple chains like Instacart or Shipt partners.
See Walmart
What to compare Shipt Instacart Walmart Grocery
Primary strength Best overall: personal shoppers + simple membership Largest mix of grocers and specialty stores Low prices from Walmart’s own inventory
Where you can shop Partner retailers (e.g., big-box, regional grocers, specialty) Hundreds of chains, warehouse clubs, and local stores Local Walmart stores only
Membership & fees Membership for free delivery on eligible orders; fees on one-off orders Order without membership or join Instacart+ for lower fees Per-order fees; Walmart+ can reduce some delivery costs
Delivery & pickup options Same-day delivery; scheduling windows in many areas Same-day delivery or pickup, often within hours Pickup, standard delivery, and express delivery in select areas
Substitutions & communication Strong shopper messaging and approvals for swaps In-app chat with shoppers; approvals for replacements Substitutions managed via Walmart app or website settings
Non-grocery items Household, pet, and other essentials from partner stores Broad mix: groceries, alcohol (where legal), and more Huge Walmart catalog including electronics, home, and more
Availability Many U.S. metros, focused on areas with partner retailers Extensive coverage across U.S. & parts of Canada Available where Walmart pickup/delivery is supported
App & ease of use Very straightforward app and ordering flow Powerful search & filters; lots of retailers in one interface Full Walmart shopping app; more categories to browse
Best perks Personalized shoppers & membership savings for frequent users Shop many chains without separate store accounts Leverages Walmart+ perks and everyday low prices
Best for Families who want a reliable “go-to” app and friendly shoppers People who want maximum store choice in one place Shoppers loyal to Walmart and focused on price
Editorial stance: Want the easiest all-round experience with great shoppers? Choose Shipt. Need the broadest mix of stores and warehouse clubs? Start with Instacart. Focused on low prices from one retailer? Pick Walmart Grocery.

Pick by use-case

Best overall experience

Shipt balances friendly shoppers, simple scheduling, and solid value — great if you just want groceries handled for you.

Get Shipt

Most store options

Instacart is ideal if you want to shop from multiple grocery chains, club stores, and pharmacies in one app.

See Instacart

Best for Walmart loyalists

Walmart Grocery is perfect if you already rely on Walmart’s prices and want pickup or delivery from your local store.

See Walmart

FAQ

What is a grocery delivery service?
A grocery delivery service lets you order food, drinks, and household essentials online and have a shopper pick, pack, and deliver them to your door — often on the same day. Some services also support curbside pickup.
Do I need a membership for Shipt, Instacart, or Walmart?
You can usually place one-off orders on all three platforms, paying delivery and service fees per order. Memberships like Shipt membership, Instacart+, or Walmart+ can reduce or remove some delivery fees on eligible orders and add extra perks if you order regularly.
Are prices the same as in the store?
It depends on the retailer and platform. Some stores keep in-app prices close to in-store prices, while others add small markups to cover online costs. You’ll still see separate delivery, service, and tip amounts at checkout.
Which should I choose: Shipt, Instacart, or Walmart Grocery?
Pick Shipt if you want a go-to app with friendly shoppers and simple membership-driven value, Instacart if you care most about shopping from many different stores, and Walmart Grocery if you mainly want Walmart’s low prices with pickup or delivery.

© Latest Update — Clear, honest grocery delivery comparisons.

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