Instacart is an online grocery delivery platform that helps people in North America restock their groceries from the comfort of their homes.
It’s one of the best grocery delivery platforms in Canada, as it offers quick delivery and pick-up services, along with affordable subscription plans.
Curious about other apps that deliver cheap groceries online in Canada? Continue reading to check out the best alternatives to Instacart.
Key Takeaways
- Some of the best app alternatives to Instacart are Voilà by Sobeys, Cornershop, and Walmart Grocery Delivery.
- The pros of grocery shopping apps include convenience and being more time-efficient.
- Ordering groceries online has some downsides, including spending more money and having less control over your goods’ quality.
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What is Instacart?
Instacart is a popular online delivery application that provides customers a convenient way to shop from over 500 retailers.
After placing an order, Instacart’s personal shoppers find, verify, and deliver the goods you need at your preferred time. If you wish, you may also pick up your goods directly from the retail store.
One of my favourite aspects about Instacart is that it doesn’t require you to have a membership to shop from members-exclusive retailers like Costco.
However, since stores are responsible for listing their product prices on the app, retailers’ online product prices may be higher compared to the in-store prices.
The platform charges per delivery if you’re not subscribed to Instacart+. With the membership, though, you can enjoy zero delivery fees on orders over $35. This plan costs $99 annually or $9.99 monthly.
Related: Instacart Shopper Review.
Best Apps Like Instacart in Canada
1. Voilà By Sobeys
Voilà by Sobeys is one of the best grocery delivery services for those living in the Greater Toronto Area. It provides thousands of products, ranging from produce to dry goods, from Sobeys, Well.ca, and Farm Boy branches.
Voilà’s personal shoppers deliver straight from the warehouse to your door. Hence, you can expect fast and fresh deliveries every time.
This app is just as easy-to-use as Instacart. Just check out your virtual grocery cart, choose a delivery window that works best for you, and expect your goods to arrive at your door with no hidden charges.
Voilà’s slight downside is its limited availability. It only caters to the retailers mentioned earlier.
Pricing: Fees typically range from $3.99 to $7.99, depending if you choose delivery or pick-up. If you want to order goods while skipping the constant delivery fees, you can subscribe to the Voilà Delivery Pass. Its price ranges from $9.99 to $11.67 per month.
Here’s a Voilà by Sobeys review for more information.
2. Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a food delivery app that delivers meals directly from restaurants.
Despite its different purpose than Instacart, which focuses on groceries, there’s no denying that both apps are some of the best ways to receive food at your doorstep with minimal effort.
With Uber Eats, finding the perfect meal becomes as easy as filtering your search results by restaurants, food type, or cuisine. Plus, the app’s order scheduling and delivery tracking features tell you exactly when to expect your delicious dish.
However, note that not all local restaurants collaborate with Uber Eats.
Pricing: Delivery fees start at $0.99. If you subscribe to the Uber Pass, which costs $9.99/month, you can enjoy free deliveries and discounts at participating restaurants.
3. DoorDash
Like Uber Eats, DoorDash is one of Canada’s best food delivery apps.
Its pick-up services help you skip your favourite restaurant’s waiting time. And, of course, you can also use this app to get food delivered at your preferred time and location.
The average delivery time is 40 minutes, which is faster than many grocery shopping apps. But unfortunately, some merchants mark up the prices of their meals inside DoorDash.
Pricing: Delivery fees start at $1.99. However, by subscribing to the DashPass, which costs $9.99 monthly, you may skip this fee on eligible restaurants.
Related: Uber Eats vs DoorDash.
4. Cornershop
Cornershop is another online shopping platform Uber provides, perfect for ordering non-restaurant goods.
Like Instacart, Cornershop is an amazing choice if you want access to diverse products. Because unlike other grocery delivery services like Voilà, Cornershop allows you to order from merchants specializing in non-grocery goods, including brands like Indigo, Rexall and Jack & Jones.
The downside, though, is that Cornershop doesn’t have as many partnered stores as Instacart does.
Pricing: Delivery prices depend on the order size but generally start at around $7. If you’re subscribed to the Cornershop Pop, you’ll enjoy zero delivery fees for orders over $40. For orders less than that, only a $4.90 fee applies.
5. Walmart Grocery Delivery Canada
For loyal Walmart customers, this application will likely be the best grocery delivery app in Canada.
The shoppers of this app are store associates who work directly and exclusively for Walmart stores. So, you can guarantee time-efficient shopping services.
However, note that Walmart Grocery Delivery isn’t available in every city in Canada. And every order should cost at least $35.
Pricing: Delivery rates start at $7.97. However, you can enjoy unlimited same-day deliveries for free by subscribing to Walmart+ for $12.95 a month.
6. Grocery Gateway
If you need products from Longo’s, consider shopping through the store’s official online shopping app, Grocery Gateway.
Over 20,000 products in-store is available for same-day delivery through this application. Plus, pick-up services are also available for as little as $3.
Note that carts should cost at least $50 before you can hit check out. Moreover, Grocery Gateway only serves Toronto and nearby cities.
Pricing: Fees start at $14.95 for the regular same-delivery and around $19.99 for business purposes. Subscribing to the Delivery Pass+, which costs about $3.85 a week, will allow you to enjoy unlimited free deliveries.
7. PC Express Delivery
PC Express is another excellent online grocery shopping application with over 800 partnered locations.
This app maintains the in-store prices. So, you’ll easily avoid the traditional price markups some merchants do on other grocery platforms like Instacart.
Moreover, in-store promos will still apply to your pick-up or delivered PC Express goods, allowing you to maximize your time and money.
Heads up, though, sometimes shoppers choose a substitute if a specific product isn’t available.
Pricing: Next-day deliveries cost $5.99, the same-day option costs $9.99, and priority orders are charged $13.99. You may subscribe to the PC Express Pass to enjoy unlimited free pick-up and delivery options for only $99.99 annually.
8. Metro
As one of the largest grocers in Canada, it’s not surprising that Metro also offers one of the most convenient online grocery services.
This retailer’s app allows you to shop by brand and category. In addition, it lets you sort by popularity, price and relevance. So, you can skip the virtual copycat of stressing out when not knowing which aisle to search for a specific product.
The downside, however, is Metro only operates in Ontario and Quebec.
Pricing: The delivery fee is usually $8, and the assembly fee costs $4. If you subscribe to the Unlimited Delivery service that costs $129.99 annually, you can enjoy free deliveries all year round.
9. Save-On-Foods
Get your food delivered by temperature-controlled vans through Save-On-Foods.
This supermarket chain’s online grocery service is one of the best alternatives to Instacart. Just sign up, build a shopping list, and pick up or get your goods delivered to your doorstep.
No price markups. No hidden fees.
As this app is exclusively for Save-On-Foods, though, you may still need Instacart’s help when ordering from other retailers. Also, note that this store’s minimum order value is $40.
Pricing: The delivery fee varies by your chosen time slot, but prices generally start at $4.95. On the other hand, pick-up fees cost as little as $1.95.
10.Costco Canada
Members of Costco can enjoy CostcoGrocery, Costco’s answer to the growing high demand for delivered groceries.
Although this service is technically not an app, but a webpage, it deserves a worthy mention. After all, it’s a slightly cheaper delivery option compared to Instacart’s Costco products with steeper prices.
CostcoGrocery lets you order non-perishable food and household supplies at wholesale prices. However, it’s highly recommended to buy products that cost at least $75 before checking out. Because otherwise, you’ll need to pay an extra $3 per item.
Pricing: Delivery fees vary as Costco uses couriers to deliver products.
11. Buggy
Buggy is an underrated online grocery platform helping you optimize your time and shopping budget.
This application delivers as fast as an hour. And with the Buggy Bucks program, you can earn 1-2 cents on every dollar you spend.
The best part?
No minimum purchase is required!
Unfortunately, though, this application’s shopping services are only available from 1 PM to 12 AM.
Pricing: Delivery fees start at $5.99 plus the shopper’s picking fee, depending on the order size.
12. Spud
Spud is undoubtedly one of the best sources of high-quality groceries in Canada.
It prides itself in supporting local growers, producers, farmers and artisans and using sustainable transport and packaging. Hence, it’s my go-to recommendation for buyers who want a sustainable and environmental approach to online shopping.
This store lets you buy various products, from produce to meat and snacks.
However, it only delivers groceries to 4 locations in Canada—namely, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island in BC, and Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta.
Pricing: Delivery fees range from $4.95 to $6.25.
Pros and Cons of Grocery Delivery Apps
Pros
- Convenience: There’s no need to put in the effort to buy products inside the store yourself.
- Less stress when finding products: You can skip visiting aisle after aisle thanks to specific search filters that help you find the products you need in seconds.
- Time-saver: Have more time doing what you need or love instead of spending half or an entire hour on your groceries.
Cons
- More expensive: In exchange for the convenience you enjoy, you’ll need to pay for the delivery and service fee. Some shops also make their product prices online more expensive, so grocery delivery apps are not always budget-friendly.
- Less control: Although most shoppers promise they’ll pick the goods exactly based on your preference, no one can better pick the products you like than you.
- Less availability: Some products that are available in-store don’t show up as available in online grocery apps.
Are Grocery Delivery Apps Worth It?
Grocery delivery apps are worth it if you prioritize convenience, time efficiency, and an easier time finding products.
Sure, these applications may cost you money and give you less control over your products’ quality. However, for many, the pros of grocery delivery apps heavily outweigh their cons, making them a must-have on mobile phones.
FAQs
What is the cheapest grocery delivery app in Toronto?
Instacart is the cheapest grocery delivery app in Toronto. It delivers goods for as little as $3.99.
Does Shipt work in Canada?
No. Shipt is a delivery service that only works in the US.
Is there Instacart in Canada?
Yes. Instacart is available in Canada. In fact, it’s one of the best grocery delivery apps available in the country.
Is Instacart Canada expensive?
Instacart’s delivery fees are generally cheaper than others. However, some stores mark up their prices in this application, so buying from Instacart can be expensive.
Related: Best Food Delivery Apps and Services
FAQs
12 Best Instacart Alternatives in Canada for 2023? ›
Grocery delivery you can count on
Select items from your favorite grocery stores at Instacart.ca or in the app.
Grocery delivery you can count on
Select items from your favorite grocery stores at Instacart.ca or in the app.
- goPuff.
- Shipt.
- Rappi.
- FreshDirect.
- Burpy.
- Onfleet.
- OurHarvest.
- Growcer.
Shipt. Shipt is perhaps Instacart's most well-known rival, with good coverage across the United States. It is primarily a subscription-based service, however. Shipt is perhaps Instacart's most well-known rival, with good coverage across the United States.
Can I use my US Instacart account in Canada? ›Your Instacart account will work in countries where we deliver no matter which country you created your account. For example, if you live in the United States, you can use your account in Canada!
Who are Instacart partners in Canada? ›To access Metro, Loblaws, Walmart, Costco, Giant Tiger, Dollarama, Michaels and more for same-day delivery, customers can visit www.instacart.ca or the Instacart App and navigate to the storefront of their choosing.
How much do Instacart shoppers make in Canada? ›The average Instacart salary ranges from approximately $94,130 per year for Technical Account Manager to $209,762 per year for Systems Integration Engineer. Average Instacart hourly pay ranges from approximately $16.61 per hour for Store Shopper to $19.67 per hour for Personal Shopper.
Which is better Instacart or Shipt? ›Frequently asked questions about Shipt and Instacart
It depends. Shipt is more expensive for one-time orders because they charge a $10 delivery fee plus delivery and service fees, while Instacart's fees begin at $3.99 plus a small service fee. However, Shipt is less expensive for membership orders.
- DoorDash. While DoorDash differs from Instacart delivery jobs because it doesn't deliver groceries, it is an excellent food delivery app. ...
- Uber Eats. ...
- Rover. ...
- Shipt Shopper. ...
- Postmates. ...
- Grubhub. ...
- Favor. ...
- TaskRabbit.
If you need fresh produce and meat, you should go with Amazon Fresh, Walmart Grocery, Instacart, FreshDirect, Peapod, Shipt or Amazon Prime Now. If you only need non-perishables, consider Google Shopping or Prime Pantry. You may also want to consider the quality of the groceries.
Where is the highest demand for Instacart? ›
Cities With the Most Instacart Business
New York City, NY. Washington D.C. Los Angeles, CA. Denver, CO.
- Denver.
- Houston.
- Los Angeles.
- Miami.
- New York.
- Philadelphia.
- Seattle.
- Washington, D.C.
Our stats show that the national average of hourly earnings for Instacart drivers was between $15 and $16 in the first three months of 2022. Notice that being a full-service shopper puts you ahead of in-store shoppers, as their actual average hourly pay is more like $14, and can be much lower than that.
Do you need a Costco membership for Instacart Canada? ›CAN I SHOP COSTCO SAME-DAY DELIVERY IF I'M NOT A MEMBER? Costco Same-Day Delivery is only offered to members. If you're not a member, you can shop directly from Instacart.com, but you'll pay a higher price than members shopping on Costco Same-Day Delivery. Find out how to sign up for a Costco membership here.
How does Instacart work in Ontario? ›How does grocery delivery via Instacart in Ontario, work? It's simple. Using the Instacart app or website, you can shop for groceries (and more!) from a store near you in Ontario. After you have placed your order, Instacart will connect you with a personal shopper in your area to shop and deliver your order.
Can you do Instacart without a car in Canada? ›To be eligible to become an Instacart shopper in Canada, you must be at least 18 years of age, have legal authorization to work in Canada, be able to lift up to 40lbs (18kg) without accommodation, and have regular access to a reliable car and a smartphone capable of running the Instacart Shopper app.
Can you make good money on Instacart in Canada? ›Average Instacart Store Shopper hourly pay in Canada is approximately $16.61, which is 27% below the national average.
Where is Instacart Canada located? ›We're located in Toronto's historic Liberty Village-a neighborhood that's at the heart of Toronto's thriving technology scene. Our office is a refurbished carpet factory, and it's surrounded by lofts, coffee shops, restaurants, and pubs that locals love.
Can my husband use my Instacart? ›If your additional member shares the same address as you, then you both can shop together using family carts. However, you can each shop individually if you prefer, as items in a personal cart don't add to a family cart.
Can you make $1000 a week with Instacart? ›As an Instacart shopper, you can expect to earn anywhere from $200 to $1,000 per week. The amount you make will depend on several factors. These factors include how many orders you complete and the size of the orders. In general, shoppers who complete more orders will earn more money.
How to start working for Instacart Canada? ›
How do I sign up to become an Instacart shopper in Canada? Just create an account at shoppers.instacart.ca. After that, download the Shopper app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to complete the signup process. Once you're approved to shop, you can start making money on your own schedule.
How to make $500 a week with Instacart? ›To earn $500 a week with Instacart, you likely need to work around 25 hours if you average $20 per hour in pay. This is a realistic hourly rate in busy markets, but it also assumes you get enough batches and that you shop efficiently. You can also get lucky with large tips and potentially make $500 much faster.
Which delivery company pays the most? ›Instacart
Hands down, Instacart is the best food delivery app for its drivers, which easily puts it at number one on our list. According to Glassdoor, Instacart drivers average around $30 hourly pay.
Be sure to check to see if your credit card participates. Higher Prices: Shipt prices are slightly higher than in-store prices to help cover the costs of picking, packing and processing your groceries. On average, you can expect to pay about $5 more per $35 order than you would in-store.
Does Instacart pay more than Shipt? ›When comparing Shipt vs. Instacart, the pay is about the same. While the pay may vary based on the customer and the type of service you provide, most shoppers make around $17 an hour with Shipt and Instacart.
What is the downside of Instacart? ›One downside of Instacart is that the store can be out of items even though you purchased them online. There are settings to help everyone, and you can pick between “substitute" and "refund. “ Watch your phone for alerts from shoppers when they start shopping.
Why are groceries so expensive with Instacart? ›Markups for Operational Costs
Instacart charges extra fees, and some stores charge extra for their products. Stores like Costco upcharge their products while stores like Aldi charge at random. The markup size varies from store to store, but these charges are meant to cover operational costs.
- Best Overall: Walmart+ InHome.
- Best for Singles: Instacart.
- Best for Families: Shipt.
- Best for Prime Members: Amazon Fresh.
- Best for Northeast Area: Fresh Direct.
- Best Plant-Based: Hungryroot.
- Best for Special Diets: Thrive Market.
- Best for Bulk Groceries: Boxed.
Average Instacart Shoppers hourly pay ranges from approximately $8.00 per hour for Independent Contractor to $16.49 per hour for Store Shopper. The average Instacart Shoppers salary ranges from approximately $34,648 per year for Personal Shopper to $78,238 per year for Delivery Driver.
What is the busiest day for Instacart? ›Best Time To Take On Instacart Batches
The best times to take on Instacart batches include evenings during the week (4 PM to 8 PM), and all day on weekends. Sunday is consistently the busiest day of the week so if you like to work weekends, you can maximize your earnings on this day.
What is the busiest day of the year for Instacart? ›
Because Instacart is a grocery delivery app, it gets busier during the days when people typically order their groceries. In June 2021, Instacart posted a helpful blog with their customer demand data by day. Demand is highest on Sundays and lowest on Wednesdays.
Can you make a living doing Instacart? ›The Instacart app shows you how much you are making per week in the Earnings tab. They advertise that shoppers can make up to $25 per hour, but most shoppers report earnings of about $14 to $18 per hour. Like other forms of gig-based work, how much you make depends on how much time you invest in it.
How do you get high paying batches on Instacart? ›Go to a location with high demand.
To get higher earnings you'll need more batches. The best way to make the most money with Instacart is to be in an area with high demand. These zones have less competition and more opportunities to find higher payments per batch.
Instacart is an American delivery company that operates a grocery delivery and pick-up service in the United States and Canada. The company offers its services via a website and mobile app. The service allows customers to order groceries from participating retailers with the shopping being done by a personal shopper.
How much do you get paid on Instacart 2023? ›Instacart only pays by the hour if you're an in-store shopper, while full-service shoppers are paid per order. Glassdoor estimates the range for in-store shoppers at $12-$16/hour with $13/hour as the average.
What is base pay for Instacart? ›Average Instacart Shoppers hourly pay ranges from approximately $8.00 per hour for Independent Contractor to $24.37 per hour for Delivery Driver. The average Instacart Shoppers salary ranges from approximately $15,000 per year for Driver (Independent Contractor) to $37,184 per year for Store Shopper.
How much does Instacart pay Ontario? ›The average Instacart salary ranges from approximately $94,130 per year for Technical Account Manager to $209,762 per year for Systems Integration Engineer. Average Instacart weekly pay ranges from approximately $780 per week for Delivery Driver to $780 per week for Grocery Associate.
How do I get a free Costco membership? ›Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, but rest assured that the cost of membership can be recovered quickly thanks to massive price savings once you start shopping.
How much do Costco Instacart shoppers make? ›Instacart pays shoppers $20+ per hour, including tips which are usually 5-20%+ of the order. Instacart shoppers keep 100% of tips. The most efficient Instacart shoppers are earning up to $45/hour.
Is Costco more expensive on Instacart? ›Item pricing is higher than your local warehouse in order to cover the service and delivery fees charged by Instacart. Costco makes no additional profit from these fees.
Do you tip the Instacart shopper? ›
Tips are optional but a great way to show your shoppers appreciation and recognition for their excellent service. 100% of your tip goes directly to the shopper(s) shopping and delivering your order. For orders where 2 shoppers fulfill your order, the tip is split evenly between them.
How does Instacart work in Toronto? ›Using the Instacart app or website, you can shop for groceries (and more!) from a store near you in Toronto, On. After you have placed your order, Instacart will connect you with a personal shopper in your area to shop and deliver your order. Contactless delivery is available with our "Leave at my door" option.
Why is Instacart paying less? ›Under the new model, Instacart pays less to workers for gigs where customers have left higher tips, so customers' tips are essentially being paid to Instacart rather than to the workers ourselves.
Is Postmates in Canada? ›With Postmates, you can order from the top Canadian Food delivery spots in Ontario.
Which license is required for Instacart in Canada? ›Have a valid driver's license. Have access to a car, with insurance coverage. Clear a background check. (Instacart helps you do this) (Done annually)
How much does Instacart pay in Alberta? ›Instacart considers them independent contractors, however, so shoppers are not covered by minimum wage legislation. They are paid $7 to $10 for a "batch," which can include as many as three orders.
What is Instacart in Ontario? ›Instacart same-day grocery delivery in Ontario
Instacart lets you choose same-day delivery from a variety of local stores in the Ontario area like Metro, Super C, and Costco.
Monthly visits to the website instacart.ca trended upwards during the period January 2020 to May 2022, peaking in March 2022 with 1.95 million website visits.
When did Instacart come to Canada? ›Instacart first launched in the U.S. in 2012 and then expanded to Canada in 2017. Instacart now partners with more than 750 retail brands to deliver from more than 70,000 stores across North America.
How often do you get paid with Instacart Canada? ›Instacart pays shoppers weekly on Wednesday via direct deposit for the previous Monday through Sunday week. If you don't have direct deposit set up, they will mail you a check. But there's more to know about shopping and driving for Instacart.
Is Instacart in British Columbia? ›
Yes! Instacart offers grocery delivery to apartments in British Columbia. To make sure you get your grocery delivery as scheduled, we recommend: Turning on notifications for the Instacart app.
What is Instacart Toronto? ›Using the Instacart app or website, you can shop for groceries (and more!) from a store near you in Toronto, On. After you have placed your order, Instacart will connect you with a personal shopper in your area to shop and deliver your order. Contactless delivery is available with our "Leave at my door" option.
How much money do Instacart shoppers make? ›Average Instacart Shoppers hourly pay ranges from approximately $8.00 per hour for Independent Contractor to $16.49 per hour for Store Shopper. The average Instacart Shoppers salary ranges from approximately $34,648 per year for Personal Shopper to $78,238 per year for Delivery Driver.
Who owns Instacart Canada? ›Instacart now delivers from more than 4,000 stores across all 10 Canadian provinces.