Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping? Online grocers provide a wide variety of quality goods at prices that are cheaper than your local grocery store. I compared several popular services to find out which one is the best. I looked for those that offer variety, quality brands, and reasonable prices, and an easy way to order delivery or pick-up. Online shopping is all about planning your list and claiming your delivery time slot before it is filled up. You'll also have to be flexible with your choices based on availability of the items. 1. Instacart This grocery delivery service online allows you to place an order via an app on your mobile or a website and create a virtual cart that is fulfilled by a personal shopper on a particular day. Instacart works with over 1,400 local, national, and regional retail banners across North America to deliver products from 80,000+ locations. You can find membership-only stores like Costco or Sam's Club. Instacart's fees include the $2.99 same-day delivery charge and an additional $3.99 service fee (plus tips for the customer). The fees are similar to the ones you'd pay at your local grocery store. However, you don't have to drive, stand in line. Instacart offers a year-long membership for those who shop at least 14 times per year. This will save you money on service and delivery fees. Hindert recommends that you conduct a price-shopping before adding items to your shopping cart if are concerned about the price of groceries. Instacart lets you add nutrition facts and specific prices to your shopping list so that you can evaluate the costs and ingredients of the items in your cart. It's also possible to make use of the Instacart application to create a "shoppable" shopping list that you can reuse for future grocery trips. However, Hindert points out that using Instacart to shop for groceries may not be as effective as shopping yourself because it can lead to buying impulse items. Additionally grocery delivery services may not always provide the same sales as the local supermarket. 2. Amazon Grocery With Amazon Grocery users can get their groceries delivered right to their doorstep. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers, or at an attended location. The service provides same-day or next-day delivery. Amazon has a wide range of grocery items including fresh products, dairy seafood, meat and other frozen foods, packaged goods, and household products. Amazon Grocery has become one of the most well-known services for grocery shopping and with good reason. It offers an affordable pricing structure, an extensive selection, and convenient features that make it an excellent option for those looking to save time and money on their grocery shopping. It is an excellent option for those who want to lower their carbon footprint. Bishop of Brick Meets Click said that Amazon Grocery's focus on weekly food shopping, its affordable price point, and its curated range puts it directly in competition against traditional supermarkets. "Grocers who aren't a standout in these categories are more vulnerable to Amazon Grocery," Bishop added. To encourage more frequent and larger grocery orders in its Prime membership, Amazon has introduced a range of new perks including unlimited delivery of groceries. This will position the company as the one-stop shop for all people's daily needs. Amazon's merchandising technology is a different way it tries to attract customers to their stores. Local brands that have been successful in smaller stores like Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the many local brands that Amazon is promoting. This lets shoppers enjoy a a more authentic experience at the grocery store and also builds loyalty. 3. Walmart Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular due to busy work schedules, family obligations, and general disdain for crowds. Click and ship makes it easy to get everything you need, from clothing to office supplies. Now groceries are becoming a part of the fun. Online grocery stores are on the rise with many offering convenience, while others offer high-quality products at affordable prices. But which one is right for you? To help you find the most effective grocery delivery service, we've compiled the top options. Instacart is a renowned online grocery service that connects you to personal shoppers who buy your groceries at local stores. It is available in thousands of cities and is an excellent option for those who prefer supermarkets with chains, but also want to take advantage of discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart offers same-day delivery in numerous markets, and its inventory includes stores like Food Lion, Kroger, Wegmans and Shop n Save. Instacart also provides an option for bulk items that are ideal for those who make frequent trips to the grocery store to purchase essentials. Walmart is another big name in the grocery e-commerce world. You can order online and select a time for delivery or pickup, and then add your purchases to the virtual shopping cart. The site offers rollback discounts and offers a wide range of products, from produce to pantry products and personal care items. Walmart+ is a service that provides groceries from local stores. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that specializes in organic and non-GMO foods. Its membership costs $5 a month, and is billed annually. It offers a variety of foods to choose from such as fish, meat, and dairy. Thrive provides free shipping on orders that exceed $35 and has a selection of items that are healthy for you and the planet. 4. Smith's Online grocery shopping can be a godsend for many busy families. Not only do these services allow you to eliminate one errand per week off your to-do list however, they can also aid in plan your meals and budget. Not all online stores offer the same services. If you're looking to find convenience, a wide range of products, or the most affordable price, it's essential to select the best service for your family. In addition to Smith's numerous other online grocers provide convenient delivery and pickup options. Some, such as Instacart make use of personal shoppers who visit local stores to shop for your order, and then deliver the item to your office or home. Walmart Grocery is one of the many services that allow you to shop online and pick up your order at the store you have chosen. Thrive Market, another popular online grocery store, features an array of natural and organic products such as pantry staples and cleaning supplies. Contrary to other online grocers Thrive does not have an minimum order requirement or a flat rate for deliveries. It also offers an unpaid membership that allows you to test the service for up to two weeks before you pay for it. For those who depend on government benefits, Smith's offers an online grocery service that accepts EBT and SNAP cards to pick up your groceries at more than 70 stores. To make use of this service, simply choose the store location from your Smith's app shop, make your purchase, then select a pickup time and parking space. When you arrive you must park in the assigned space and dial a number to alert an associate that you're there. The associate will take 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 delivery of pantry items, groceries, fresh produce, deli items such as meats, dairy, natural and organic foods as well as prepared meals, office and school items, personal care products and alcohol in certain markets. Customers can also pick up orders at more than 200 Peapod pickup locations, the majority of which are attached to Ahold USA-owned brick and mortar stores such as Stop & Shop. Peapod utilizes the information it gathers to identify brands and products that shoppers prefer, allowing them to recommend similar items. It also lets shoppers look through all the items in their cart at a glance and use filters to narrow results. Since grocery shopping is a routine practice, the Skokie company, based in Illinois, utilizes data to predict the products the shopper would buy, pushing these items towards the top of the list. The company's service is based on its drivers, which are also referred to as brand ambassadors. "Food is emotionally charged," Bienkowski told Food Dive, and being able to interact with the person who delivers customers their orders makes the experience more enjoyable and convenient. And, unlike many e-commerce delivery services, when customers are able to see the driver carrying their groceries, they can be confident that the order is in good hands. As an early pioneer of online grocery shopping, Peapod has invested in technology to remain competitive against its competitors. But it hasn't been able to make as much of a dent in the industry as other delivery services for groceries, like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. The veteran of 28 years in the battle for online grocery is working to increase its competitiveness by expanding its online options. It recently launched a new mobile shopping experience built on its exclusive PRISM platform at its own websites as well as those of its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA.