Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping? Many online grocers offer high-quality products at prices that may be more expensive than your typical grocery store. To figure out which is the best option, I tested several well-known options to find ones that offer the best brands, a variety of products and reasonable prices, along with convenient delivery or pick-up option. Shopping online is all about planning your list and claiming your delivery time slot before it fills up. You'll also need to be able to make swaps based on availability. 1. Instacart This 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 an individual shopper on a particular day. Instacart collaborates with more than 1,400 national, local, and regional retail banners in North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. There are even stores that are membership-only like Costco and Sam's Club, on the platform. Instacart charges an $2.99 fee for same-day delivery and a $3.99 cost for service (plus an additional tip to the shopper). These fees are similar to those you'll encounter with ordering at your regular grocery shop however, you don't have to be concerned about parking, driving and waiting in line to pay. In addition that if you shop on Instacart at least 14 times a year you can sign-up for an annual Instacart+ membership to reduce shipping and service charges. If you're worried about your grocery costs, you should price-shop prior to adding items to your cart. Instacart lets you include nutrition information and prices specific to your shopping list so that you can compare the prices and the ingredients of the items you have in your cart. It is also possible to make use of the Instacart application to create an "shoppable" shopping list that you can use for future grocery shopping trips. Hindert argues that Instacart may not be the most suitable option for grocery shopping, because it can result in impulse purchases. In addition the grocery delivery service does not always offer the same sales that your local grocery store. 2. Amazon Grocery Amazon Grocery lets customers have their groceries delivered directly to their doorstep. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers, or at a designated location. The service is available for next-day and same-day delivery options. Amazon provides a wide range of groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables dairy products, seafood and meats frozen food, packaged foods and household products. Amazon Grocery is one of the most popular grocery shopping services available and with good reason. Its competitive pricing, huge selection and convenience features make it a great option for those who want to save money and time on their shopping. In addition, the service also has a significant sustainability aspect and is ideal for those looking to minimize their carbon footprint. Bishop of Brick Meets Click said that Amazon Grocery's focus is on grocery shopping for the week, its affordable price point and its well-curated assortment puts it in direct competition against traditional supermarkets. "Grocers that don't stand out in one of these areas are more susceptible to Amazon Grocery," he added. To encourage more frequent and larger grocery orders in its Prime members, Amazon has introduced a variety of new perks, including unlimited delivery of groceries. This will allow the company to make itself a one stop shop for many of its customers' needs. Amazon's merchandising technology is a different method that it is using to draw customers to their stores. Local brands that have proven successful in smaller stores like Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the many local brands Amazon is trying to promote. This lets shoppers enjoy a an authentic experience in the grocery store and builds loyalty. 3. Walmart With a hectic schedule of work, family commitments and a general dislike for crowds, it's no wonder that shopping online is a popular choice. From office supplies to clothing everything is easier when you can just click and ship. Now grocery shopping is also part of the party. Online grocery stores are booming. Some provide convenience, while others offer quality products at competitive prices. But which one is right for you? We've reviewed the most popular grocery delivery services to help you choose the best option 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 a great alternative for those who prefer to shop at the chain supermarkets but also wish to benefit from discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart provides same-day delivery to numerous markets, and its inventory includes stores such as Food Lion, Kroger, Wegmans and Shop n Save. It also offers bulk items as well, which is ideal for those who regularly visit the store to stock up on basic items. Walmart is a well-known brand in e-commerce, especially for grocery items. You can place an order online and pick a time for pickup or delivery, then add your items to the virtual shopping cart. The site offers rollback deals and a broad selection of products ranging from produce pantry essentials to personal care items. Walmart+ is a service that provides groceries from local stores. Thrive Market is an online grocery store that is a specialist in organic and non-GMO products. Its membership costs $5 per month, billed annually, and it offers an array of foods to pick from, such as dairy, fish, and meat. Thrive provides free shipping on orders of more than $35, and the selection includes items that are healthy for you as well as the planet. 4. Smith's Online grocery shopping can be a lifesaver to many busy families. These services can not only let you cut one weekly errand off your to-do list however, they can also help you meal plan and budget. Not all online grocery stores provide the same features. It's crucial to select the right service, whether you're seeking convenience or a wide selection of products. In addition to Smith's numerous other online retailers provide convenient delivery and pick-up options. Some, such as Instacart make use of personal shoppers who visit local stores to purchase your order and then deliver it to your home or office. Walmart Grocery is one of the many services that permit customers to shop online and take your order to the store you have chosen. Thrive Market, another popular online grocery store, has an array of organic and natural products, including pantry staples and cleaning products. Contrary to other grocery stores on the internet Thrive doesn't charge any minimum orders or a flat delivery fee. It also offers a free membership that lets you try the service for up to two weeks before paying for it. Smith's provides a grocery delivery service for shoppers who use government benefits. The service accepts EBT or SNAP cards. To use this service, simply choose the store's location on your Smith's app then shop and place your order, and then select a pickup time and parking spot. When you arrive, park in your parking space and call the number to inform the associate that you're there. The associate will then deliver your order to you in the parking lot. 5. Peapod A pioneer in online grocery shopping, Peapod operates in 24 markets in the US. In some markets, customers can place orders and receive groceries, pantry products, fresh produce and deli items, meats and dairy, organic and natural foods as well as prepared meals, office and school items delivered. Customers can also purchase alcohol and personal care items. Customers also can pick up orders at more than 200 Peapod pickup locations, many of which are connected to Ahold USA's brick and mortar stores like Stop & Shop. Peapod uses data to identify the brands that are popular with shoppers and items, allowing the online grocer to recommend similar items. The system lets shoppers view every item in their shopping carts at once and also use search filters to narrow down results. Since grocery shopping is a routine activity the Skokie company in Illinois utilizes data to predict the items the customer will purchase and then push them to the top of the list. Its drivers, who are referred to as brand ambassadors, are a key component of the service. Bienkowski said to Food Dive that food is an emotional experience. Being able to interact directly with the person who delivers the order makes it more pleasant and convenient. When customers see their groceries delivered by the driver they know that their purchase is in good hands. Peapod is the first to pioneer online grocery shopping, has invested in technology to ensure that it can stay competitive against its rivals. However, it hasn't been able to make as significant a dent in the industry as other delivery services for groceries, like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. However, the 28-year veteran of the online grocery delivery wars is working to boost its competitiveness by expanding its e-commerce offerings. It recently launched a brand new mobile shopping experience built on its own PRISM platform on its own websites, as well as the sites of its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA.