After a long day at work, spending an hour fighting through crowds of shoppers at the grocery store is probably the last thing you want to do. Whether you need just one thing or a cart’s worth, it’s an errand that can feel both time-consuming and frustrating. Perhaps that explains the rising popularity of going online for the best grocery delivery services, allowing users to have someone else pick up the essentials and bring them straight to the front door.
Like so many things, grocery shopping has been changed significantly by the pandemic. What was once a routine errand in most households is now easily (and relatively affordably!) outsourced to delivery services. A recent survey even reports that almost 70 percent of Americans believe the traditional run to the grocery store is a thing of the past, thanks to COVID-19.
The poll of 2,000 Americans also finds 68 percent reevaluated their shopping habits during quarantine. 64 percent of respondents report having groceries delivered, while another 58 percent say they pre-order groceries online and opt for curbside pickups.
While these numbers have certainly been influenced by the public health crisis, this marks another major shift in pre- and post-pandemic life. Just as many workers do not plan to return to the office, many shoppers have come to prefer delivery to shopping for themselves. As a result of this rise in demand, more and more services have popped up in the market. To help you find the right fit for your unique needs, StudyFinds searched the internet for expert opinions on the best grocery delivery services. This list includes the most frequently recommended companies, but as always, be sure to drop your favorite in the comments below!
The Best Grocery Delivery Services Make Life Easier
Instacart
Practically synonymous with grocery delivery, Instacart is a pioneer in the industry. With a wide array of options for stores, delivery, and products, it’s hard to beat for versatility. As reported by NBC, Instacart lets you skip the grocery store run by ordering online from nearby participating stores. You can choose delivery times that suit your needs, from scheduled days in advance to same-day or even one-hour options for urgent items.
Good Housekeeping describes Instacart as a personalized grocery delivery service. Friendly shoppers handpick your items from the store and bring them right to your door. They even cater to small orders, with a minimum of just $10, perfect for grabbing those last few ingredients for tonight’s meal.
Instacart opens doors to a wider range of shopping options than just your local supermarket, as noted by Tom’s Guide. You can even order from wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without needing a membership (although expect slightly higher prices compared to members). In some areas, you can even extend your shopping horizons to liquor stores, pet stores, and pharmacies.
Shipt
Target lovers rejoice! Shipt is a membership-based grocery delivery service owned by the shopper’s favorite, Target. According to Good Housekeeping, Shipt is available in over 5,000 cities, and offers groceries from various stores depending on your location, including an exclusive partnership with Target. Other options include Costco, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Petco.
Similar to Instacart, Shipt requires a membership but rewards you with free shipping on orders over $35 (smaller orders incur a $7 fee). Tom’s Guide notes that even though Shipt’s coverage area is slightly smaller, it offers convenience and competitive prices. They regularly promote weekly sales, coupons, and deals like buy-one-get-one-free to help you save.
Beyond its affordable prices, CNET says a major perk of Shipt is same-day grocery delivery, sometimes within an hour. This contrasts with other services that require scheduling delivery days in advance, making Shipt ideal for those who need groceries in a pinch.
Amazon Fresh
Believe it or not, you’re probably already a member of this grocery delivery service. If you have an active Amazon Prime membership, you’re free to take full advantage of Amazon Fresh’s vast product offerings. Now bundled with your Amazon Prime membership, Tom’s Guide loves how Amazon Fresh is a digital grocery store offering fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood, packaged goods, Whole Foods 365 items, and even household supplies and electronics.
Unlike limited in-store selections, NBC says Amazon Fresh boasts a broader spectrum of food, including pantry staples, fresh produce, baby supplies, pet items, healthcare products, personal care essentials, and cleaning supplies.
Enjoy the familiar Amazon interface when shopping at Amazon Fresh, where you’ll find tons of fresh produce, packaged foods, and more. Good Housekeeping points out that Prime members can even score 5% cash back with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, making frequent virtual grocery trips even more rewarding.
FreshDirect
For residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington D.C, FreshDirect is an excellent option for delivering the items you want the freshest. You can trust FreshDirect with grocery items like fruit, vegetables, and meat that you may typically prefer to select yourself. According to CNET, FreshDirect boasts good prices for organic and specialty items, comparable to Stop & Shop or Wegmans. Their customer service shines, replacing missing or damaged items in your next delivery or crediting your account, hassle-free.
While you need to plan ahead for on-time deliveries, Good Housekeeping claims that FreshDirect saves you time by delivering high-quality produce and meat, ready for inspection and consumption, with no bruised produce or expired dates. They offer a “100% Happiness Guarantee” with credits for any unsatisfactory items.
Tom’s Guide also recommends FreshDirect. This service caters to specific Northeast states with top-notch produce, meat, seafood, cheese, baked goods, and pantry essentials. They even prepare their own meal kits and ready-made meals, like Thanksgiving feasts. Additionally, you can find farmshare boxes, fresh flowers, household goods, personal care items, and even alcohol in select areas.
Hungryroot
Hungryroot is more than your typical grocery delivery service. Rather than filling your virtual cart with your own selections, Hungryroot helps guide your grocery shopping with personalized suggestions. NBC likes that Hungryroot combines meal and grocery delivery in a unique way. After taking a quiz about your preferences, skills, and diet, they curate a list of recommended meals and groceries just for you.
For those with diet and health goals, Hungryroot can be a helpful partner in your meal planning. Catering to health-conscious and plant-based eaters, Good Housekeeping says Hungryroot creates a custom grocery plan and suggests recipes to fill your cart. You can easily mix and match options to get exactly what you need each week.
Don’t like the pre-selected options? No problem! Tom’s Guide points out that you can choose other recipes and add all their ingredients in one click. Alternatively, skip the recipes and browse their entire selection, including packaged goods, prepared meals like tuna salad, and even chicken burritos.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Food Delivery Apps
- Best Delivery Apps to Work For
- Best Meal Kit Delivery Services
- Best Easy Dinner Ideas
Sources:
- NBC
- Good Housekeeping
- Tom’s Guide
- CNET
- GQ
- Healthline
- The Penny Hoarder
- US News
- USA Today
- Verywell Fit
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links.