Instacart Shopper Review 2025: How It Works, Pay & Earning Tips
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Key Takeaways
- Instacart Shopper Review 2025: How It Works, Pay & Earning Tips Instacart Shoppers collect and deliver on-demand grocery orders for at-h...
- Here's everything to know about the popular gig job.
- Written by Megan Robinson, CMC® Last Updated: April 2, 2025 Reviewed by Jana Lynch Home Side Hustles One of the first side hustles I ever tr...
Instacart Shoppers collect and deliver on-demand grocery orders for at-home shoppers. Here's everything to know about the popular gig job.
Written by Megan Robinson, CMC® Last Updated: April 2, 2025 Reviewed by Jana LynchOne of the first side hustles I ever tried was driving for Uber.
As much as I enjoyed meeting new people and learning new areas in my city, there were numerous times I wished I could earn the same amount of money without having to drive strangers around in my car. After a long day of work, navigating small talk with strangers wasn’t always how I wanted to spend my evening.
If you can relate, then becoming an Instacart shopper might be a good side hustle for you.
What Is Instacart Shopping?
Get started $11-$13/hour Pay According to Glassdoor. Pay varies. DollarSprout Rating Simple, flexible way to earnInstacart is a grocery delivery service. Shoppers can work as independent contractors fulfilling orders and delivering them to shoppers or part-time employees preparing orders for customer pick-up. You can choose your own hours and work times that fit your schedule.
Show Hide morePros
- Flexibility; work times that fit your schedule
- Can work as an independent contractor or part-time employee
- Full-service shoppers keep 100% of tips
- Earn extra for referring friends
- Weekly pay
Cons
- Need access to your own car to be an independent contractor
- Must be able to lift and carry heavy groceries
- Must pass a background check
Founded in 2012, Instacart makes it simple for people to get groceries, personal care items, and even pet products delivered to their door. And Instacart shoppers make it possible.
In-store shoppers work as part-time employees of Instacart. They work in one store at a time to prepare and stage orders for pick-up. Shifts are scheduled in advance, and you can work up to 29 hours per week. Full-service shoppers work as independent contractors. In this flexible role, you choose the orders you take. You’ll shop for the orders and deliver them directly to the customer’s house.
How Does Instacart Work?
Whether you decide to work as an in-store or full-service shopper, you’ll start by downloading the Instacart shopper app. You’ll need to create a profile, confirm your cell phone number, pass a background check, and verify that you meet the app’s minimum requirements (18 or older, able to lift 40 pounds, and eligible to work in the U.S.).
After that, you’ll choose whether you want to work as a full-service or in-store shopper.
Full-service shopping
Requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- Eligibility to work in the U.S. or Canada
- A smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, iOS 9 or later
- A functioning, registered vehicle
- Vehicle insurance, in accordance with local laws
- Can lift 30+ pounds
- Following Instacart’s food safety policies
Instacart will give you an estimate of how much you can expect to earn from each order. They’ll also provide a projected estimate of what they think you’ll earn for the week. Earnings for each order depend on the number and types of items, distance you have to drive, and effort involved.
To be eligible, you must have your own car or reliable access to a vehicle. You’ll be paid for each order you deliver and, unlike in-store shoppers, you can receive tips from shoppers. You get to keep 100% of the tips you earn.
With the opportunity to earn tips, working as a full-service shopper can be more lucrative than in-store shopping, but the income potential depends on the number of orders available in your area. Since this is an independent contractor role, you’ll also need to set aside some of your earnings for taxes.
Paying for your ordersWhen you sign up to be a full-service shopper, Instacart will send you a company debit card. You’ll use this to pay for your orders. The company pre-approves an amount based on each batch you accept, so you don’t have to worry about running out of funds or having to pay for anything out of pocket.
In-store shopping
Requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- Eligibility to work in the U.S. or Canada
- A smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, iOS 9 or later
- Can lift 30+ pounds
- Following Instacart’s food safety policies
In-store shoppers receive customer orders, locate all the products in the store, and bag them for the customer to pick up. You don’t have to deliver the groceries to the customer’s home, so you don’t need access to a vehicle.
As an in-store shopper, you’ll be a part-time employee of Instacart. This position requires an interview, and you’ll need to attend training sessions before you can start scheduling shifts. You’ll also need to be available to work at least 15 to 20 hours per week. Schedules are set weekly based on your availability, and you’ll be paid at the end of each week.
One benefit of in-store shopping is that you can take advantage of Instacart’s retirement and commuting benefits. You’re also paid a set hourly rate, which makes it easier to predict your income.
Getting Paid with Instacart
Instacart shoppers receive payment weekly via direct deposit. Full-service shoppers have the option to use Instant Cashout after completing their first five batches. Instant Cashout will transfer your earnings to a debit card so you don’t have to wait a week to receive payment. You need at least $5 in earnings to request Instant Cashout, and you can use it up to five times per day.
The amount you earn with Instacart depends on the role type you choose (in-store or full-service shopper), your location, and how numerous orders you complete.
In-store shoppers have a set hourly rate, which you’ll find in your offer letter when you first sign up. You’ll also have a set schedule each week based on your personal availability and can work up to 29 hours per week. According to Glassdoor, in-store shoppers make an average of $13 per hour.[Final Thoughts
Before you check out, double-check instacart shopper review works against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year. Originally published at dollarsprout.com.
Megan Robinson, CMC®
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