Yahoo Finance 11 of the most popular online grocery delivery services of 2022
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Whether you're trying to social distance to avoid getting sick during the COVID-19 pandemic or simply want a more convenient way to get your groceries, online grocery delivery services are skyrocketing in popularity. But which ones are worth ordering from?
To help you out, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best online grocery delivery service apps and sites that will deliver food and other household essentials straight to your door, from Instacart to Imperfect Foods. Not only do grocery delivery services help limit your contact with others (all these services have a contactless delivery option), but they can be useful for those of us who are too busy to grocery shop or just hate the errand. Plus, it’s always nice getting a delivery—especially when it’s something to eat.
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1. Instacart
Minimum order: $10
Delivery fee: Starts at $3.99 for non-members
Membership: Instacart Express: $99/year or $9.99/month for free delivery on all orders over $35
Instacart is probably the most well-known of the grocery delivery services, as it sends personal shoppers to a grocery store in your area of your choosing. Depending on where you're located, options include Wegman’s, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Costco, Aldi and even non-grocery stores like CVS and Petco. You don’t need a membership to use the service, but you will be charged a delivery fee unless you purchase the Instacart Express membership.
We’ve tried Instacart before and found the site is easy to peruse, though it can be hard to request specific sizes on produce. Shopping for the most part is easy. Once you’ve chosen your grocery store, you can search through a variety of produce, non-perishables and specialty items. After selecting an item, you have the option to choose substitutions, in case it’s sold out. After you’ve virtually shopped, you can select a time window for the delivery within an hour.
The initial subtotal will estimate the cost of your groceries (this will change to the precise total when the shopper is done), delivery fee, service fee, sales tax and driver tip, making it pricier than your typical grocery run.
2. Walmart+
Minimum order: $35
Delivery fee: Free with membership
Membership: Walmart+: $98/year or $12.95/month for free deliveries and a $35 minimum
Did you know Walmart delivers groceries? As long as you’re located near a participating store, you can get Walmart groceries shipped to you with no delivery cost with Walmart+ (though you do need to front the membership cost). You can also order groceries without the membership, but there’s a $35 minimum. Plus, if you sign up for Walmart+, you can also get free shipping on other essentials, like paper towels, toys, dumbbells and the like, so you can conquer all your shopping in one place.
Navigating the grocery page of Walmart is very similar to other food delivery services. The homepage features a variety of popular items, but it’s typically easier to search for the food you’re looking for or choose a department. Walmart will also feature “rollbacks” on certain food that’s on sale, so you’ll be in the know regarding deals. Once you’ve added everything to your virtual cart, you can select either a pickup time or a delivery time.
Shop for groceries at Walmart+
3. Stop & Shop
Minimum order: $60
Delivery fee: From $2.95 to $9.95
Membership: None
If you were a fan of Peapod, the delivery app has been acquired by Stop & Shop, which exclusively delivers from the grocery chain. Therefore, this service is only available in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island where Stop & Shops are located. The site features virtual aisles, but it's much easier to just search for specific products.
When you click on the product, you get an in-depth look at the nutritional values and the ingredients, which is a nice feature considering you can’t see these specs on an apple when shopping IRL. You can also make suggestions for substitutions if your desired item is out of stock. After you’re done shopping, you can select a delivery time and select whether you’ll be home or not, or you can choose in-store pickup and waive the delivery fee.
If you're a new customer, you can currently get $50 off and free delivery if you enter the code SSONLINE50 at checkout.
Shop for groceries at Stop & Shop (formerly Peapod)
4. Shipt
Minimum order: None
Delivery fee: $10
Membership: Shipt Everyday: $99/year for free deliveries on orders over $35
Like Instacart, Shipt ships groceries from local grocery stores as well as items from retailers like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Petco. You can get your haul delivered as soon as one hour after ordering, and you can place an order whenever the store is open, including 24/7 stores. The Shipt shopping page heavily focuses on deals, with icons showing various sale pages on specific groceries, toys, and more.
Adding items to cart is easy, and when you go to check out, the site tells you how much time you’ve “saved” from not going to the store, which is a feel-good stat. Once you go to checkout, just select your delivery time and add any special instructions. The delivery will cost $10, or you can reduce that price by signing up for Shipt Everyday for $99.
Shop for groceries at Target via Shipt
5. FreshDirect
Minimum order: $30
Delivery fee: Starting at $6
Membership: DeliveryPass: $79/six months or $129/year for unlimited free deliveries
If you live in New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia or the greater Washington, D.C. area, consider using FreshDirect, which ships high-quality produce and meat selections to these areas. While FreshDirect isn’t associated with a particular grocery store, you can still browse a great selection of groceries. Shopping the site is easy and you can find everything from prepared foods to party platters to wine and spirits. You usually need to order a day in advance, especially for catered items, as they take time to prepare.
After shopping, you can set a delivery time or opt for a pickup location in your respective city. The delivery fee is typically $6, but you can also get a membership for unlimited free deliveries. Currently, you can get 60 days of free delivery with a DeliveryPass trial.
Shop for groceries at FreshDirect
6. Thrive Market
Minimum order: $49
Delivery fee: Included with membership
Membership: $9.95/month or $59/year
While Thrive Market doesn’t deliver fresh produce, it’s a great place to supplement your grocery runs with grains, snacks, specialty items, beauty products and other non-perishable goods. To use Thrive Market, you need a membership, which costs $10 a month. But for each membership sold, the company donates one for a teacher or person in need.
Before shopping the site, you’ll take a quiz to determine your food interests, which will impact the items you’ll most frequently see. There’s a focus on organic products as well as keto and vegan items at affordable prices. Thrive Market also has its own line of products and uses carbon-neutral delivery, for feel good purchases. You can fill your orders via the Thrive Market app or online on your internet browser, and then wait for your shipment to arrive.
There are perks for first-time customers, too. You'll get 40% off your first order, along with free shipping if you spend $25 or more.
Shop for groceries at Thrive Market
7. Boxed
Minimum order: $49 for free shipping
Delivery fee: $7 delivery fee on orders under $49
Membership: BoxedUp: $49/year for free shipping on all orders, 2% cash rewards, and additional discounts
Boxed specializes in bulk groceries and household supplies (think an online Costco). Reviewed's office used to get snacks shipped via Boxed during pre-COVID and we loved the variety of choices. Navigating the site is simple, and you can also browse via the Boxed app. After placing an order, you simply wait for your shipment to arrive.
You can also get perishable goods shipped in bulk, like milk, eggs, fruit and veggies with Boxed Express. Note that the selection is more limited and these shipments have different minimum orders and delivery fees, like any other grocery delivery service.
8. Misfits Market
Minimum order: $30
Delivery fee: $5.50
Membership: Free
A grocery delivery service that saves you up to 40% off what you'd pay at the store? Yes, please. That's what you'll get with Misfits Market. It's similar to a CSA in that you'll receive a box packed with seasonal produce—a lot of which is organic—sourced from local farms and food hubs in the U.S. However, it's different in that it provides more than just produce and conveniently ships right to you.
When our experts tested Misfits, we liked that the boxes are weather-proof (so your groceries won't spoil in heat or rain) and that there's such a variety of groceries and produce to shop—you can choose what goes in your box based on what's available that week. Misfits delivers in most states across the country, and membership is free.
Shop for groceries at Misfits Market
9. Imperfect Foods
Minimum order: $30 to $45
Delivery fee: $4.99 to $8.99
Membership: None
If you're okay with fruits and veggies that aren't perfect specimens, you can save money by shopping at Imperfect Foods. Every week, you'll get a box of fresh produce delivered right to your door. Boxes vary in size—depending on the number of people in your household—but are fully customizable. You can pick from more than 500 items each week, including produce with "cosmetic quirks" along with other groceries like oils, dairy, meat and pantry staples.
Imperfect Produce currently delivers to the West Coast, Southwest, Midwest and Northeast (you can check for availability in your area here). You won't pay any membership or service fees, just a delivery fee. You can skip weeks for free and cancel whenever you'd like.
Shop for groceries at Imperfect Produce
10. Umamicart
Minimum order: $30
Delivery fee: Free if over $49; otherwise $6.99
Membership: None
For anyone who loves cooking Asian cuisine at home, Umamicart may be the grocery delivery service you've been searching for. Think of it like your favorite Asian grocery store but in virtual form. On its website, you can browse everything from noodles and grains to snacks and sweets to meat and tofu. If there's something you need for homemade sushi or pad Thai, you'll find it here.
One of our cooking experts tried Umamicart and fell in love with it. She likes the massive selection, which includes a lot of specialty products that can be tough to find in regular grocery stores. Plus, Umamicart even has plenty of ready-to-eat foods, if you want to save even more time. As of now, the service only delivers to select areas in the Northeast but says it has plans to expand.
Shop for groceries at Umamicart
11. Public Goods
Minimum order: $45
Delivery fee: Free for orders $45 and up
Membership: $79/year
Minimalism is the name of the game at Public Goods. While you won't find a lot of products, those that are available are high-quality—and there's something to be said for not having thousands of choices to sift through. Our experts were pleased with the items they tested, and appreciated that Public Goods has a focus on sustainability. The brand promises to plant one tree for every purchase made via its partnership with Eden Reforestation. You can find pantry must-haves, from coffee to cereal, condiments, grains, canned goods and even wine.
Shipping is free if you spend $45 or more; otherwise, the delivery fee depends on the weight and size of your order. Speaking of delivery, Public Goods works to keep its packaging and products as ethically sourced and waste-minimizing as possible.
Shop for groceries at Public Goods
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 11 of the best online grocery delivery services: Instacart, Shipt, Imperfect Foods and more
