How to Cancel Instacart+ in 2026 (The Markup You're Ignoring)

Updated February 2026 • 7 min read

Instacart+ costs $9.99/month ($99/year) for "free delivery" on orders over $35. But Instacart marks up grocery prices 15-25% over in-store prices and still charges service fees. Your "free delivery" is baked into every item you buy.

⚠️ The Hidden Instacart Costs

Item markup: 15-25% higher than in-store prices (varies by retailer)
Service fee: Still charged even with Instacart+ (reduced, not eliminated)
Tip: $5-10+ expected per order (shoppers depend on tips)
Heavy fees: Extra charge for heavy items (water, laundry detergent)

The Real Cost Comparison

A $100 grocery trip in-store vs. Instacart+ delivery:

In-store: $100
Instacart+ items: $115-125 (markup)
Service fee (reduced): $2-4
Tip: $7-10
Total: $124-139 — that's 24-39% more for the same groceries

If you order weekly: the markup costs you $1,250-2,000+/year more than shopping in person. The $99 Instacart+ subscription is the least of your costs.

How to Cancel Instacart+

Open the Instacart app or go to instacart.com
Tap your profile → Instacart+ membership
Tap Cancel membership
Navigate retention offers → confirm
Benefits continue until billing period ends

Cheaper Grocery Alternatives

Store pickup (free): Walmart, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods all offer free curbside pickup. You order online, they bring it to your car. Same prices as in-store.
Walmart+ ($12.95/month): Free delivery, no markup on groceries (Walmart charges in-store prices). Better deal than Instacart if you like Walmart.
Amazon Fresh (Prime): Free delivery on $35+ orders with Prime. Prices are closer to in-store than Instacart.
Costco delivery: Instacart partnership but markups are lower on Costco items. Or use Costco.com direct delivery for some items.
Go to the store: 30-45 minutes of shopping saves $25-40/week in markups and fees. That's a $30-50/hour effective savings rate.

💡 When Instacart Makes Sense

Instacart is worth the premium if you: are physically unable to shop in person, have a mobility disability, are caring for young children/elderly, or are sick. The convenience tax is real but sometimes justified. For everyone else, curbside pickup gives you the same convenience without the markup.

🔍 See Your Total Delivery Spending

Instacart + DoorDash + Amazon + Uber Eats — delivery subscriptions and charges pile up invisibly. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and see every delivery charge. The total is usually shocking.

⚡

Quick Cancel Guide: Instacart Plus Detailed

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions