The Best Grocery Delivery Services to Try in 2024

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Grocery shopping is a necessary adulthood task that some people love and some would rather avoid. If you fall into the latter camp, the best grocery delivery services can take this mundane task off your plate and give you that time back to do other chores or just relax.

Some grocery delivery services give you access to everything you would find in-store, from high-quality meat and fresh produce to non-perishable household items, like toilet paper. Others have only specialty items, like buffalo jerky or keto treats that are hard to find in big box chains. Often, you can schedule same-day delivery (sometimes even within two hours), but other times you may have to place an online order and wait for it to ship.

In this guide, we rounded up all types of online grocery stores to accommodate every need. We also provided some guidance on how to choose the best one(s) for you, as well as answered some commonly asked questions and even included a meal delivery service that offers a la carte options for those days you don't feel like cooking and dealing with cleanup. Whether you’re looking for same-day service or want to schedule out orders in advance to make meal planning easier, these services deliver.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Our Picks for the Best Grocery Delivery Services:

• Nutrisystem
• Thrive Market
• Patagonia Provisions
• Amazon Fresh
• Whole Foods via Amazon
• FreshDirect
• Hungryroot
• Walmart+
• Instacart
• Shipt

Interested in managing your health with an app instead of a food delivery service? We recommend you check out Noom.

Nutrisystem

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: Varies depending on meal plans/a la carte options chosen
Membership: Varies depending on chosen plan (some plans start as low as $9.99/day)

Hear us out—although Nutrisystem isn't a designated grocery delivery service per se, it's a solid alternative for those who want the convenience of having food delivered to their house with the added bonus of not having to spend time prepping ingredients, cooking and dealing with kitchen cleanup afterwards. That's why we've designated Nutrisystem as the best grocery delivery alternative. Nutrisystem also offers a la carte options that include desserts, meals and snacks—both frozen and non-frozen (think ice cream sandwiches, nut bars and chocolate covered pretzels).

If you like the idea of having groceries delivered and want the added bonus of not having to worry as much about cooking, Nutrisystem's heat-and-eat meals are a solid alternative to having individual groceries delivered. And if you find a menu item you really like, you can have it delivered to your door every month thanks to the a la carte option.

Pros:

• Ability to order items a la carte
• Heat-and-eat meals are no hassle and require no cleanup
• Offers a great alternative to having individual groceries delivered

Cons:

• Can be pricey depending on meal plan/a la carte options chosen

Thrive Market

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: Free over $49; $5.95 for orders under $49
• Membership: $59.95/yearly; $12.99/monthly

Thrive Market is a membership-based grocery delivery service. Rather than paying a delivery fee for each order, you pay a monthly or yearly membership fee to gain access to the online market and get unlimited free deliveries. Everything on the site is organic, non-GMO, sustainable and/or non-toxic, so it’s more like visiting your local health food store or natural grocer than a big box chain.

You can order non-perishable goods, like pantry items, bath and body products and other household essentials like toilet paper or paper towels, as well as sustainably sourced meat and seafood, clean wine and some frozen foods. You’ll have to shop elsewhere for dairy, eggs and produce, though. While you can’t get same-day delivery, orders typically ship within one business day, and you’ll get tracking information via the app or email. If your order contains any frozen items, it may be held back so it doesn’t get stuck in a truck somewhere on a non-delivery day.

Pros:

• Unlimited deliveries with membership
• Free shipping over $49
• Accommodates many dietary preferences/restrictions

Cons:

• No same day delivery
• Can’t get eggs, produce or dairy

Patagonia Provisions

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: $7.00 standard shipping; orders over $49 ship free
• Membership: Not required

Patagonia Provisions, which was launched in 2012, is a specialty service that offers out-of-the-box options like tinned white anchovies and buffalo jerky. Everything on the site is shelf-stable. There are canned and dried meats and seafood, freeze-dried soups and chilis, nuts and seeds and various pantry items like grains and beans. You can also purchase wine, hard cider and sake.

While you may not be able to stock your whole kitchen—you won’t find fresh produce or perishable items—you can feel good about your purchase. The brand’s ethos is sustainability and helping to solve the environmental crisis. As such, all food is prepared with regenerative practices that prioritize healthy soil, humane treatment of animals and fair working (and growing) conditions. This isn’t same-day online grocery delivery; your order ships via a third party within one to two business days.

Pros:

• All food is ethically and sustainably sourced
• Out-of-the-box options
• No membership or delivery fees

Cons:

• Limited options

Amazon Fresh

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: Free over $35; $4.99 for $35 or less
• Membership: Requires Amazon Prime membership—$14.99 per month or $139 per year, $7.49 per month or $69 per year for students

Amazon Fresh is the mega e-tailer’s own grocery delivery service. It’s fully stocked with fresh produce, herbs, meat, bakery items, household essentials and more. You can find most brands that you’ll see at your local grocery store (often at a lower price), as well as Amazon Fresh-branded products, like bags of produce and pantry staples. There are also prepared foods, like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, that you can just heat and eat when they arrive. The service integrates with Alexa, so you can save grocery lists during the week and get your grocery order populated when you’re ready.

Once your order is placed, your shopper will deliver it in as little as two hours. You can also choose a specific two-hour delivery window or schedule deliveries up to two days in advance. If you spend $35 or more, delivery is free. If not, you’ll pay a $4.99 service fee. An Amazon Prime membership, which comes with a monthly or annual fee, is also required to shop.

Pros:

• Low prices
• Delivery in as little as two hours
• Can schedule deliveries two days in advance

Cons:

• Not available in all areas
• Requires an Amazon Prime membership

Whole Foods via Amazon

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: $9.95
• Membership: Requires Amazon Prime membership. ($14.99 per month or $139 per year; $7.49 per month or $69 per year for students)

Whole Foods is another food delivery service that’s available only to Amazon Prime members. However, it has a broader delivery area than Amazon Fresh, since all orders are routed through Whole Foods. If you live near one of the natural grocery stores, chances are you can utilize this grocery service. Most items that you can find in-store, like meat, produce, deli items and dry goods, are also available online. There are often exclusive sales and Prime member benefits, too, so you may actually save money versus shopping in-store.

In addition to the Prime membership costs, there’s also a flat delivery fee: $9.95 for any size order. Deliveries typically arrive in less than two hours, but you can also schedule a specific delivery time at checkout. While your shopper looks for your grocery items, they’ll also be able to communicate with you via the app if they have any questions or need to ask about substitutions.

Pros:

• Delivery in as little as two hours
• Can schedule delivery in advance
• Prices are the same or lower as in store

Cons:

• Delivery fee in addition to annual membership

FreshDirect

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: $30
• Delivery Fee: $5.99 to $15.99, depending on location
• Membership: $39 to $79 for six months; $129 for a year (optional)

FreshDirect is a full-service online grocery store that’s available in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey (although some areas may only have seasonal delivery). It launched in 2002, well before grocery delivery became mainstream, and has focused on offering high-quality, peak-season products ever since. All groceries are sourced directly from farmers, fisherman and producers, and then transported to the brand’s own facility in the Bronx to wait for delivery.

You can shop for perishable and non-perishable groceries, as well as fully prepared platters, like cheese boards and sandwich plates. You can also choose from a wide variety of beer, cider, wine and spirits. For non-members, each order is subject to a delivery fee that ranges from $5.99 to $15.99 per order. If you sign up for a DeliveryPass subscription, you’ll get unlimited free grocery delivery and the option to reserve a specific delivery time slot. Either way, there’s a $30 minimum order and you can get your food in about two hours.

Pros:

• Delivery in as little as two hours
• Full catering platters available
• Membership available, but not required

Cons:

• Limited delivery options
• High delivery fees in some areas

Hungryroot

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: $70
• Delivery Fee: N/A
• Membership: Ongoing subscription service, but no extra membership fee required

Hungryroot is an online grocery store and meal kit delivery service in one. When you sign up for the service, you’ll be prompted to take a quiz about what you like to eat, how many people you’re feeding and your wellness and/or weight loss goals. From there, you’ll get a suggested menu plan (with recipes), and your cart will be automatically populated with everything you need to make them.

You can’t shop for groceries without the subscription, but you can swap suggested recipes with new ones and/or add to your delivery to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want. After trying the recipes, you can go back into your account and rate them so future deliveries are more closely tailored to your specific preferences. The smallest available plan consists of three two-serving meals and requires a minimum spend of $70, but you can get larger plans too.

For more information, check out our Hungryroot review.

Pros:

• Meal planning and grocery service in one
• Caters to many food preferences and restrictions
• Can schedule deliveries

Cons:

• Can’t shop for groceries without subscription
• Requires $70 minimum spend

Walmart+

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A
• Delivery Fee: $7.95; $17.95 for express delivery
• Membership: $12.95 per month; $98 per year (optional)

Walmart’s grocery delivery service gives you access to all food and household items available at your local store. Keep in mind that you’ll need a Super Walmart nearby for a full-service online grocery store. Prices are similar to what you’ll find in store—some are lower and some are higher—and you’ll also be able to take advantage of Rollback savings online. You can filter by food items—like fresh produce, canned goods or meat and deli—or you can browse all the on-sale items in one place.

You can choose same-day delivery (if available) or schedule your delivery for up to a week in advance. If you want to expedite your delivery, you can pay an additional $10 on top of the regular $7.95 fee to have your order arrive within two hours of placing it. If you plan to regularly use the service, there’s an option to subscribe to Walmart+. In addition to free grocery delivery, the membership also comes with additional perks, like a subscription to Paramount+, free shipping on any Walmart order, fuel discounts and points and rewards on eligible purchases.

Pros:

• Online prices are similar to in-store
• Same-day delivery available
• Can schedule deliveries in advance

Cons:

• High delivery fee, especially for expedited delivery

Instacart

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: $10
• Delivery Fee: $3.99 for same-day orders over $35
• Membership: $9.99 per month; $99.99 per year (optional)

Instacart is a grocery delivery hub. When you sign onto the website or open the app, it loads a list of available grocery stores and retailers based on your specific location. Depending on where you live, you’ll have access to many well-known names like Kroger, Aldi, Costco, Target, Sam’s Club, CVS, Stop and Shop, Shaw’s and more. After choosing a specific store, you’ll be able to shop its entire inventory. Once you place your order, Instacart sends a personal shopper to gather your items for you. Your shopper can communicate with you through the app to keep you updated on your order’s progress or ask about any potential substitutions.

Because Instacart is a third party service, it attaches two fees—a delivery fee and a service fee—to each order. While it isn’t required to shop, you can sign up for an Instacart Express membership. This waives the delivery fee for all orders of $35 or more and includes extra savings on eligible items. You do still have to pay a separate service fee, although they are reduced by about $2 to $4 for each order. The membership also gives you up to five percent back as credit if you pick up your order instead of having it delivered.

Check out our in-depth Instacart review for more information.

Pros:

• Broad delivery areas
• Access to multiple grocery stores
• Can shop other types of stores

Cons:

• Two separate fees
• Delivery fee regardless of how much you spend

Shipt

Key features:

• Minimum Order Amount: N/A, but orders under $35 incur an additional $7 fee
• Delivery Fee: $10
• Membership: $10.99 per month; $99 per year (optional, but waives delivery fees)

Like Instacart, Shipt is an online hub for access to multiple grocery delivery services. While the delivery areas are more limited, you can shop at major local chains like Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Meijer and Winn Dixie. Prices are slightly higher online compared to what you’d see in store to cover picking and processing, and the company says on average you can expect to pay about $5 more for a $35 online order than you would in store.

There’s no minimum order amount for delivery, however orders under $35 do incur an additional $7 on top of the $10 one-time delivery fee. If you want to waive the fees, you can sign up for a monthly or yearly membership for unlimited free deliveries. To personalize your experience a little more, you can set dietary preferences in the app, like gluten-free or vegan, so your shopper knows what substitutions might work for you and which ones won’t. You’ll also have direct access to your shopper, so you can make last-minute changes if needed.

Pros:

• Access to many major grocery chains
• Deliveries in as little as one hour
• Can make last minute adjustments to your order

Cons:

• Orders under $35 incur an extra fee

How to Choose the Best Grocery Delivery Service for You

Grocery delivery services aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are three factors to consider when choosing the best one for you.

Delivery area

When narrowing down your options, the first thing you want to consider is the delivery area. Not all grocery delivery services are available in all locations. Before choosing one, enter your zip code to make sure you can get the service in your area.

Types of groceries

Some grocery delivery services have everything you can get in your local grocery store. Others are limited to specialty items or have non-perishables, but no fresh produce or meat items. Before choosing one, browse through their inventory to make sure they have everything you’re looking for.

Cost

Cost can vary widely. Some grocery delivery services increase their per-item prices to supplement extra costs. Others charge a membership fee, but offer cheaper prices online than you would find in-store. There are also delivery fees and/or mandatory order minimums to consider. When choosing a grocery delivery service, consider the all-in cost, including the tip, to figure out which one is most cost effective.

How We Chose the Best Grocery Delivery Services

Grocery delivery is pretty broad. To help you narrow it down, we considered the following factors: variety of items offered, delivery fee, ability to schedule deliveries, customer service, customer reviews and ease of use. We also considered whether or not they required a membership, and if it was worth the recurring cost if they did.

In addition to getting high marks in all of these areas, most of the delivery services that made our list have desktop websites and apps so you can shop however works best for you.

Benefits of Grocery Delivery Services

Convenience

Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of grocery delivery services. Instead of going to the store and spending an hour or two shopping for yourself, you can have someone else do it while you do other errands or just relax. You can also schedule deliveries; that way, your groceries show up on a recurring schedule, so you never run out of your essentials.

Less impulse buying

Impulse buying is often triggered by a store’s environment or your mood at the time. Have you ever promised yourself you’d stick to your list, only to see a display of your favorite snacks at the store and throw a couple in the cart? Grocery delivery services can help reduce or even eliminate impulse buying, since it’s easier to stick to a list when you’re shopping online and not tempted by your triggers. This can help you stick to your diet plan and/or save money over time.

Accessibility

Grocery delivery services make food shopping more accessible to those who don’t drive or can’t get to the store for other reasons. Rather than having to make a plan for someone else to take you shopping, you can schedule a delivery at your own convenience.

Grocery Delivery Services FAQs

Why do people get groceries delivered?

People get groceries delivered for different reasons. They may be busy with kids, too busy to shop themselves or unable to drive or walk through the grocery store aisles. It also may just be a personal choice—they would rather spend their time doing something other than grocery shopping.

How much should I tip my grocery delivery person?

Tipping is an extra way to say thank you, so there’s no hard rule on how much you should tip your grocery delivery person. A good rule of thumb is 10 to 20 percent, or at least five dollars (whichever is higher).

Do any services deliver groceries for free?

Most grocery delivery services charge a small fee for each delivery, but may offer free delivery promos once in a while. Alternatively, you can purchase a monthly or annual subscription to the service that either waives or lowers the per-delivery fee. Instead of paying for each delivery, you pay a flat fee and can order as many times as you want.

Is Instacart cheaper than grocery shopping?

Instacart generally isn’t cheaper than grocery shopping. Because you have to pay a delivery fee and may add a tip for your driver, it can cost a little more. Some grocery stores also raise their online prices a little compared to what you would find in-store. That being said, ordering groceries may save you money in the long run, since you’re less likely to make impulsive purchases. You’ll also save gas money since you don’t have to drive to the store yourself.

Final Thoughts

Grocery delivery services can save you time and money. While the delivery fees may make them seem like a bigger initial investment than shopping yourself, you’ll likely do less impulse buying, which can reduce your food costs over time. When choosing the best grocery delivery service for you, consider the delivery area, type of groceries you can get and overall cost.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.