Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping? Online grocers offer a wide range of quality products at prices that may be cheaper than your local grocery store. To determine which is the best, I compared some of the most well-known services to find ones that offer the best brands, a variety of products and reasonable prices, along with easy delivery or pick-up options. The key to shopping online is planning your list and claiming a delivery timelot before spots fill up. You will also need to be flexible with your choices in relation to the availability of items. 1. Instacart The online grocery delivery service lets you order via an app on your mobile or a website creating a virtual shopping cart that is delivered by a personal shopper on a particular day. Instacart works with over 1,400 national, local, and regional retail banners across North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. You can find stores that are members-only, such as Costco or Sam's Club. Instacart charges an $2.99 fee for same-day delivery and a $3.99 fee for service (plus an additional tip to the shopper). These prices are similar to the ones you'd pay at the local grocery store. However, you don't need to drive to park, sit in a parking lot, or wait in a lines. Instacart offers an annual membership for those who purchase at least 14 times in a year. This will reduce your costs for delivery and service charges. If you're concerned about grocery costs, Hindert suggests price-shopping before adding items to your cart. Instacart allows you to include specific prices and nutrition information to your list, so you can compare prices and ingredients with those of the items you already have in your cart. You can also create an "shoppable list" using the Instacart application. This is beneficial for future grocery shopping trips. However, Hindert explains that using Instacart to shop for groceries may not be as effective than shopping on your own as it could lead to purchase impulses. Moreover, grocery delivery services don't always offer the same in-store sales that you'd find at your local supermarket. 2. Amazon Grocery Amazon Grocery allows customers to have their groceries delivered right to their door. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers, or at an attended location. The service is available for same-day and next-day delivery options. Amazon provides a wide range of grocery products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, seafood and meats frozen food, packaged food, and household items. Amazon Grocery has become one of the most popular services for grocery shopping and for good reason. Its low prices, wide selection and convenience features make it an excellent option for those who want to save money and time on their groceries. It is also a great choice for those who want to lower their carbon footprint. Its focus on the weekly food shopping trip, the affordable price and carefully curated selection put it directly in competition with traditional supermarkets, Brick Meets Click's Bishop said. "Grocers that aren't recognizable in any of these areas are the most vulnerable to Amazon Grocery," he added. In order to encourage more frequent and larger grocery orders among its Prime members, Amazon has introduced a variety of new perks, including unlimited grocery delivery. This will help the company position itself as a one stop shop for many of its customers' daily requirements. Another way Amazon is trying to attract customers to its stores for groceries is through merchandising innovation. Local brands that have been successful in smaller stores like Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the many local brands Amazon is trying to promote. This gives shoppers a an authentic experience when they visit the grocery store and also builds loyalty. 3. Walmart Shopping online is becoming more popular due to hectic work schedules, family obligations, and a general dislike of crowds. From office supplies to clothing, everything seems easier when you click and send. Now grocery shopping has joined the party. Online grocery stores are growing in popularity. Some offer convenience, while others provide high-quality products at affordable prices. Which one is the best for you? We've reviewed the best grocery delivery services to help you choose the best one for you. Instacart is a renowned online grocery service that connects you to personal shoppers who shop for you at local stores. It is available in thousands of cities and is an ideal option for shoppers who prefer the convenience stores of chain stores and want to take advantage of discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart offers same-day delivery in numerous markets, and its selection includes stores like Food Lion, Kroger, Wegmans and Shop n Save. It also offers the option of bulk purchases that are ideal for those who regularly go to the grocery store to buy staples. Walmart is another well-known brand in the world of grocery e-commerce. You can place an order online and choose a time for pickup or delivery, then add your purchases to the virtual shopping cart. The site has rollback deals and a broad selection of items from produce to pantry essentials to personal care products. It also has the Walmart+ service that delivers groceries and other items from local stores. Thrive Market, an online grocery store that specializes in organic food and non-GMO items. The membership fee is $5 per month, billed annually, and it has an array of foods to pick from, such as meat, fish and dairy. Thrive provides free shipping on orders that exceed $35 and its selection includes items that are healthy for you and the environment. 4. Smith's Online grocery shopping can be a godsend for many families who are busy. These services can assist you not only take one chore per week off your list, but also to plan meals and to budget for. However not all grocery stores online are equal. If you're looking to find convenience, a wide range of products, or the most affordable price, you must choose the right service for your family. Other online grocery stores offer convenient pickup and delivery options. Some, such as Instacart use personal shoppers who visit local stores to shop for your order, and then deliver the item to your workplace or home. Others, like Walmart Grocery, allow you to shop online, and then pick up your order at the designated location. Thrive Market, another popular online grocery store, features a wide variety of natural and organic products, including pantry staples and cleaning products. In contrast to other grocery stores on the internet, Thrive doesn't have an order minimum or a flat delivery charges. It also provides an unpaid membership that allows you to test the service for up to two weeks prior to paying for it. Smith's offers a curbside grocery service for shoppers who use government benefits. The service is available for EBT or SNAP cards. Choose the store's location in your Smith's App, shop for your groceries, place your order and then select an appropriate time for pickup. When you arrive you must park in the designated space and dial a number to alert the associate that you are there. The associate will deliver your order to you in the parking lot. 5. Peapod Peapod is a pioneer in online grocery shopping. It is available in 24 US markets. In some markets, customers can purchase and pick up groceries, pantry products fresh produce and meats, dairy organic and natural foods cooked meals, school and office supplies delivered. Customers can also purchase alcohol and personal care items. Customers can also pick up their orders at over 200 Peapod pickup points most of which are located inside brick-and-mortar stores owned by Ahold USA like Stop & Shop. Peapod uses the data it collects to determine the brands and products that customers prefer, allowing them to recommend similar products. The system allows shoppers to view every item in their shopping cart at once and make use of filters to narrow the results. Since shopping for groceries is a habit-driven practice, the Skokie company in Illinois utilizes data to predict the products the shopper would buy and push these items to the top of the list. Its drivers who are known as brand ambassadors, play a crucial aspect of the service. "Food is emotionally charged," Bienkowski told Food Dive, and being able to interact with the person who delivers customers their food makes the experience more pleasant and convenient. When customers see their groceries delivered by the driver they know that their purchase is in safe hands. Peapod is an early pioneer in online grocery shopping has invested in technology to ensure that it can stay competitive with its competitors. However, it hasn't been able to make as significant an impact as other delivery services for groceries, such as Instacart and Amazon Fresh. The veteran of 28 years of the online grocery wars is working to increase its competitiveness through expanding its ecommerce offerings. It recently launched a new mobile shopping experience based on its exclusive PRISM platform on its own sites, as well as those of its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA.