Most people have heard of Instacart by now. It’s one of those services that seemed crazy a few years ago but now feels totally normal. You open an app, pick out groceries from your local store, and someone else does the shopping and brings everything to your door. They operate in hundreds of cities across the U.S. and Canada, connecting customers with shoppers who handle the legwork.
If you’ve never used it before or you’re curious about working as a shopper, here’s the deal with how it all works.
This covers what Instacart actually is, what happens when you place an order, and how people make money shopping for others. If you want the nitty-gritty on pay rates, Instacart has their own breakdown you can look at.
What Instacart Actually Is
Instacart lets you order groceries online and get them delivered the same day. You browse through your local stores on their app or website, throw items in your cart, and check out. Then someone else goes to the actual store, buys your stuff, and brings it over.
The company launched in 2012 and grew fast. They work with the big chains like Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and Publix, plus smaller local stores. Millions of people use it now because who has time to spend two hours at the grocery store anymore?
What Happens When You Order
You download the app, type in your zip code, and see which stores deliver to you. Pick a store, add whatever you need to your cart, choose when you want it delivered (sometimes within a couple hours), and place the order.
A shopper gets your order on their phone, drives to the store, and starts grabbing your items. They’ll text you if something’s out of stock or if they think a different brand might work better. After they pay with Instacart’s card, they drive to your place and drop everything off.
You can tip before or after delivery, and that money goes straight to whoever shopped for you.
How Shopping for Instacart Works
People who shop for Instacart use their own car and phone to make money on their own schedule. The app shows them available orders (they call them “batches”) with details about pay, distance, and how many items they need to grab.
When they accept an order, they drive to the store, find everything on the list, scan it with their phone, and pay with Instacart’s payment card. Then they deliver it following GPS directions. They get paid once a week and keep whatever tips customers give them.
Shoppers are contractors, not employees, so they work whenever they want. Some people do it full-time, others just pick up a few orders here and there.
What Shoppers Actually Make
There’s no hourly wage – shoppers get paid per order based on how much work it involves, how far they drive, and tips. Most people report making $15-25 an hour in 2025, though some do better during busy times in good areas.
The catch is you’re using your own car and gas, so your actual take-home depends on being smart about which orders you take and how you plan your routes. A lot of shoppers track their mileage for tax write-offs and try to figure out which orders are actually profitable.
How to Start Shopping
The application is pretty basic. You need to be 18, have a car that runs, a driver’s license, and a smartphone. They’ll run a background check, and once that clears, you download their shopper app and can start taking orders.
It’s available in most cities and keeps expanding. You work as much or as little as you want – some people do a few orders when they need extra cash; others treat it like a regular job.
Why It Works
Customers like not having to go to the store. It saves time, you can get delivery when it works for your schedule, and you can shop from multiple stores without driving around. Plus, you can message your shopper if you need something specific.
For shoppers, it’s flexible work that pays better than some other gig apps. Grocery orders usually come with decent tips, and there’s less sitting around waiting for rides like with rideshare apps.
Sure, gas is expensive and some days are slow, but plenty of people make it work, especially once they figure out the best times and areas to work.
Bottom Line
Instacart connects people who don’t want to shop with people who don’t mind doing the shopping for money. It’s pretty straightforward—customers get convenience, and shoppers get flexible income.
Whether you want to try ordering groceries online or you’re thinking about making some money as a shopper, understanding how the whole thing works helps you get the most out of it. It’s become a big part of how people shop now, and it’s not going anywhere.