Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping? Many online grocery stores now offer high-quality products at prices that are more affordable than your typical grocery store. I tested a variety of popular services to find out which one is the most efficient. I searched for ones which offer a wide selection, high-quality brands, and fair prices, and an easy way to order delivery or pick-up. The key to shopping online is planning your list and claiming a delivery timeslot before spots fill up. Also, you'll need to be prepared to make swaps depending on the availability. 1. Instacart The online grocery delivery service allows you to order through an app on your mobile or a website creating a virtual shopping cart that is delivered by an individual shopper on a particular day. Instacart partners with more than 1400 national regional, local, and retail banners to deliver food from more than 80,000 stores across North America. There are even stores that are membership-only, such as Costco and Sam's Club, on the platform. Instacart's fees include a $2.99 same-day delivery fee and an additional $3.99 service charge (plus an extra tip for the shopper). These charges are similar to the ones you pay when you shop at your usual grocery store however, you don't have to be concerned about driving, parking, and standing in line to pay. Instacart offers an annual membership for customers who shop at least 14 times per year. This will save you money on service and delivery fees. If you're concerned about grocery costs, consider price-shopping prior to adding items to your cart. Instacart allows you to include nutrition information and specific prices to your list so that you can compare the prices and ingredients of the items you have in your cart. You can also make use of the Instacart app to create a "shoppable" shopping list that you can use for future grocery shopping trips. However, Hindert points out that using Instacart to purchase groceries may not be as beneficial as doing your own shopping because it can lead to impulse purchases. Additionally the grocery delivery service does not always offer the same sales that your local grocery store. 2. Amazon Grocery With Amazon Grocery customers can get their groceries delivered directly to their doorstep. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers or at a location that is manned. The service provides next-day and same-day delivery options. Amazon offers a variety of grocery items, including fresh produce, dairy seafood, meat, frozen foods, packaged goods and household items. Amazon Grocery is one of the most well-known grocery shopping services available and with good reason. It has an attractive pricing structure, an extensive variety of products, and a host of practical features that make it a good option for those looking to save time and money on their groceries. It is an excellent option for those who want to lower their carbon footprint. Its focus on the weekly food shopping trip, its affordable price point and curated selection puts it directly in competition with traditional supermarkets Brick Meets Click's Bishop stated. "Grocers who aren't a standout in these categories are more vulnerable to Amazon Grocery," Bishop added. Amazon has added new perks to encourage its Prime customers to place more and bigger grocery orders. One of them is a free grocery delivery. This will help the company make itself an all-in-one shop for a large portion of its customers' daily needs. Amazon's merchandising technology is a different method that it is using to draw customers to their stores. Local brands that have been successful in smaller 365 stores such as Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the numerous local brands Amazon is trying to promote. This gives shoppers a a more authentic experience at the supermarket and helps build loyalty. 3. Walmart Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular due to hectic work schedules, family obligations and general disdain for crowds. Click and ship makes everything easier for everything from clothes to office items. Now groceries are being included in the fun. Online grocery stores are growing in popularity. Some offer convenience, while others offer quality products at reasonable prices. Which one is best for you? We've rounded-up the best grocery delivery services to help you pick the best option for you. Instacart is a leading online grocery service that connects you to personal shoppers who can shop for you at local stores. It is available in thousands of cities, and is a great alternative for those who prefer to shop at supermarket chains but want to take advantage of discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart delivers same-day in many markets and includes stores like Food Lion, Kroger and Wegmans. It offers bulk items as well, which is ideal for those who frequent the store to stock on staples. Walmart is a household name in e-commerce for food items. You can shop online and choose a time for delivery or pickup, and then add your purchases to the virtual shopping cart. The site offers rollback discounts and has a good range of products, from produce to pantry staples and personal items for personal care. Walmart+ is a service that delivers groceries from local stores. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that is a specialist in organic and non-GMO food items. Membership costs $5 per month, and is charged annually, and it has an array of foods to pick from, such as fish, meat and dairy. Thrive provides free shipping on orders over $35, and the selection includes items that are healthy for you as well as the environment. 4. Smith's Online grocery shopping can be a godsend for many families with busy schedules. These services can assist you to not only cut one chore from your weekly list, but also make plans for meals and budget for. Not all online grocery stores offer the same services. It's crucial to select the right option, whether you're seeking convenience or a wide range of products. Other online grocery stores offer convenient delivery and pickup options. Instacart is one of the grocery stores online that allows personal shoppers to shop at local stores and deliver your order to your home or workplace. Walmart Grocery is one of the many options that allow customers to shop online and then take your order to the store you have chosen. Thrive Market is another popular online grocery store offering a variety of organic and natural items. These include items for the kitchen, cleaning supplies and much more. Unlike other online grocery stores, Thrive doesn't have an order minimum or a flat delivery fees. It also provides an unpaid membership that lets you test the service for up to two weeks before you pay for it. Smith's provides a grocery delivery service for customers who are eligible for government benefits. The service is available for EBT or SNAP cards. Select the store location in your Smith's App Shop for your groceries, place your order and then choose a pickup time. Once you arrive at your chosen location, park in your designated space and dial a number to notify the associate that you are there. The associate will bring your order out to you in the parking area. 5. Peapod A pioneer in online grocery shopping, Peapod operates in 24 markets across the US. Customers can order and receive deliveries of pantry items, groceries, fresh produce, deli items such as meats, dairy, natural and organic foods as well as prepared meals, office and school supplies, personal care items and alcohol in certain markets. Customers can also take orders to more than 200 Peapod pickup locations, many of which are located within Ahold USA's brick and mortar stores such as Stop & Shop. Peapod uses data to track shoppers' favorite brands and products that allow the online grocer to suggest similar products. The system allows shoppers to look through every item in their shopping cart at once and also make use of filters to narrow the results. Because shopping for groceries is a habit-driven activity, the Skokie-based company makes use of data to predict what products the customer will purchase which pushes those items to the top of the list. The company's service is based on its drivers, also known as brand ambassadors. "Food is a very emotional experience," Bienkowski told Food Dive, and being able to communicate with the person who delivers customers their orders makes the experience more pleasant and practical. And unlike many e-commerce deliveries when customers meet the driver with their groceries they know the order is in good hands. As the first innovator in online grocery shopping, Peapod has invested in technology to stay competitive against its rivals. It hasn't made as much of an impact on the industry as other grocery delivery services such as Instacart or Amazon Fresh. The veteran of 28 years of the online grocery wars is trying to boost its competitiveness by expanding its e-commerce offerings. It launched a new mobile experience based on the PRISM platform, which is proprietary to Ahold Delhaize USA, and its own sites.