How to Cancel Instacart+ (2026 Guide) — The Math on Whether Free Delivery Is Worth $99/Year
Updated 2026-02-24 · 5 min read
Instacart+ costs $99/year or $9.99/month and gives you free delivery on orders over $35, reduced service fees, and 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders. But is it actually saving you money, or is it encouraging you to order delivery more often? Let's do the math.
Instacart will show how much you "saved" — take this with a grain of salt
Confirm cancellation
Free delivery continues until end of billing period
The Real Math on Instacart+
Break-even analysis:
Delivery fee without Instacart+: typically $3.99-7.99
Annual plan: $99/year ÷ $5.99 avg delivery fee = ~17 orders/year to break even
That's about 1.4 orders/month — seems reasonable
BUT: Instacart marks up grocery prices 15-20% over in-store prices
On a $100 grocery order, you're paying $15-20 extra in markups — even with "free" delivery
Real break-even: You need to save enough on delivery fees to offset the hidden markup. For most people, driving to the store is cheaper
The Hidden Costs Instacart Doesn't Show You
Item markups: 15-20% higher than in-store prices (Instacart sets the prices, not the store)
Service fee: 5% of order total even WITH Instacart+ (reduced from 8-10% without it)
Heavy fees: Extra charges for heavy items (water, pet food, etc.)
Tips: $5-10+ per order for your shopper (they deserve it, but it adds up)
Impulse ordering: Instacart+ members order 2-3x more frequently — the "free delivery" encourages more spending
Cheaper Grocery Delivery Alternatives
Walmart+ ($12.95/mo) — Free delivery from Walmart, no item markups (prices match in-store). Better value if Walmart is your primary store
Amazon Fresh (free with Prime) — Free 2-hour delivery on orders $100+. Already included in your Prime membership
Target Drive Up (free) — Order online, drive to Target, they bring it to your car. No fees, no markups, no tip
Store pickup (free at most stores) — Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, etc. all offer free curbside pickup
💡 The Pickup Hack: Most grocery stores offer free curbside pickup. You get online ordering convenience without delivery fees, markups, tips, or service fees. Same time savings, $0 extra cost. This is the real alternative to Instacart+.
Instacart+ Refund
Monthly: no refund, access until end of billing period
Annual: prorated refund possible within first 5 days (contact support)
Free trial: cancel before trial ends to avoid charge. Set a reminder
🔍 Delivery Subscription Audit: Instacart+ + DoorDash DashPass + Uber One + Amazon Prime — delivery memberships can total $40-80/month. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every delivery sub.