Instacart+ vs Walmart+ in 2026: Which One Fits Better?

Last updated: March 8, 2026

Instacart+ and Walmart+ can both look like grocery memberships.

But they are not really solving the same problem.

Choose Instacart+ if you want one membership that gives you access to many local retailers through Instacart’s marketplace and you care more about flexible store choice than one specific retail ecosystem.

Choose Walmart+ if Walmart is already part of your normal weekly routine and you want the strongest value from Walmart grocery delivery, Walmart shipping, fuel savings, and Walmart-specific perks.

For most people, this is not a “which one delivers groceries?” question. It is a which one fits how I actually shop? question.

The difference in one sentence

Instacart+ is usually better for people who want more retailer choice.

Walmart+ is usually better for people who want one membership built around a real Walmart habit.

What each membership costs in 2026

Instacart lists Instacart+ at $99 per year or $9.99 per month. Walmart lists Walmart+ at $98 per year or $12.95 per month. Instacart+ pricing Walmart+ pricing

On annual price, they are basically tied. On monthly price, Instacart+ is lower.

That means the decision is not really about sticker price. It is about which membership removes more friction from your real shopping pattern.

Where Instacart+ wins

More retailer choice: Instacart+ works across many grocery and retail partners, so you are not tied to one store.
Lower order threshold in many cases: Instacart says members get $0 delivery fees on eligible grocery and retail orders of $10+ per retailer. Costco orders use $35+, and eligible restaurant orders use $25+.
Peacock is included: Instacart says Instacart+ includes Peacock.
Annual member extras: Instacart says annual members get New York Times Cooking at no extra cost.
Shared membership perks: Instacart+ lets you add family members to share carts and benefits.

Official sources: Instacart+ Instacart fees and taxes

Where Walmart+ wins

Walmart-first grocery value: Walmart+ includes free delivery from your store on eligible orders over $35.
No-order-minimum shipping on eligible items: Walmart says free shipping with no order minimum applies to items sold by Walmart or shipped by Walmart, with exclusions.
Fuel savings: Walmart says members save 10¢ per gallon at more than 13,000 stations nationwide, with Alabama noted separately at 5¢.
Streaming choice: Walmart+ members can choose either Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium, both ad-supported, and switch every 90 days.
In-store convenience: Mobile Scan & Go matters if you still shop inside Walmart regularly.

Official sources: Walmart+ delivery and shipping Fuel savings Streaming benefits Scan & Go

The real difference most people miss

Instacart+ is not really a single-store membership. It is a marketplace convenience membership.

That is why it can feel more flexible. You can move between different stores, compare options, and keep your grocery routine less tied to one retailer.

Walmart+ is different. It works best when Walmart is already one of your real default stores. If you already buy groceries, basics, and household items there, Walmart+ can feel cleaner and cheaper in practice.

The hidden friction on both sides

Neither membership is as simple as the headline sounds.

Instacart+: Instacart+ waives delivery fees on eligible orders, but service fees still apply.
Instacart item pricing can quietly raise the bill: Instacart says retailers set their own prices on the Instacart marketplace. Some offer everyday store prices, but some set prices that are different from in-store prices. That means the real extra cost may not show up as a delivery fee at all. It can already be built into the cart before service fees and tips even begin.
Instacart can layer on other fees too: Instacart says long-distance service fees, priority fees, pickup fees, convenience-order pricing differences, and local regulatory or bag fees may apply depending on the order and location.
Walmart+: Walmart says free delivery from store uses a $35 minimum. If you do not meet it, a $6.99 minimum order fee can apply. Express delivery also carries additional fees.
Tips can raise the real cost on both sides: Instacart says shopper tips are separate from service fees, and Walmart also lets you add a tip for local store delivery.

Official sources: Instacart fees and taxes Instacart item pricing Walmart delivery rules Walmart fee schedule Walmart tips

Choose Instacart+ if this sounds like you

You want grocery delivery from different stores, not one retailer.
You like the flexibility of comparing stores, pricing policies, and product selection in one marketplace.
You place enough orders that the lower monthly price and $0 delivery-fee threshold feel meaningful.
You would actually use Peacock, and if you pay annually, the New York Times Cooking perk too.
You are comfortable checking retailer pricing policies instead of assuming every store matches in-store pricing.

Choose Walmart+ if this sounds like you

Walmart is already your real grocery and household routine.
You want the simplest Walmart-specific value, not a broader marketplace.
You care about fuel savings enough to actually use them.
You buy a lot of Walmart-sold or Walmart-shipped items and benefit from no-minimum shipping.
You would actually use Scan & Go or the streaming choice, not just admire them on paper.

Do you need both?

Usually, no.

Most households do better by choosing the one that removed more friction in the last 30 days.

If your main pain is choosing between stores and getting local delivery from different retailers, Instacart+ is usually the cleaner choice.

If your main pain is Walmart grocery runs, Walmart shipping, and Walmart-specific convenience, Walmart+ is usually the cleaner choice.

The fastest way to decide in 10 minutes

Open your last 30 days of Instacart orders.
Open your last 30 days of Walmart orders.
Ask which one actually saved you more time and money in real life, not which one sounds better on a landing page.
If one of them disappeared tomorrow and you would barely notice, that is probably the one to cut.

This is not about loyalty. It is about paying for the routine you really have.

FAQ

How much is Instacart+ in 2026?

Instacart lists Instacart+ at $99 per year or $9.99 per month. Source

How much is Walmart+ in 2026?

Walmart lists Walmart+ at $98 per year or $12.95 per month. Source

Does Instacart+ remove all delivery costs?

No. Instacart+ waives delivery fees on eligible orders, but service fees still apply. Depending on the order, other fees can also appear. Source

Can Instacart item prices be higher than in-store prices?

Yes. Instacart says retailers set their own prices on the Instacart marketplace, and some retailers may set prices that are different from in-store prices. Source

Which one is better for groceries?

For a Walmart-first household, Walmart+ is usually easier to justify. For someone who wants broader store choice and marketplace flexibility, Instacart+ is usually broader. Instacart source Walmart source

What does Walmart+ include that Instacart+ does not?

Walmart+ includes more Walmart-specific perks, including fuel savings, no-minimum shipping on eligible Walmart items, a streaming choice, and Scan & Go. Source

Next step

If Walmart+ is still the one you are leaning toward, read this next: Is Walmart+ Worth It in 2026?

If the bigger question is whether you should keep paying for Walmart+ at all, go here: Should I Cancel Walmart+?