Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Who Wins Grocery Delivery in 2025?

Choosing between a hot meal delivered straight from your favorite restaurant and a fully stocked grocery order arriving at your doorstep has now been easier due to delivery apps. 

Today, two giants dominate this market: Uber Eats and Instacart. Uber Eats is best known for restaurant deliveries, but it has also expanded into grocery delivery. On the other hand, Instacart built its reputation around partnering with grocery stores to bring everyday essentials to your home. 

But here’s the real question: which one is the better choice for you? Whether you care more about cost, speed, convenience, or service variety, this comparison will break down everything you need to know. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of whether Uber Eats or Instacart fits your lifestyle best.

What is Uber Eats?

Uber Eats is a popular online food ordering and delivery platform launched by Uber in August 2014. It is designed to connect users with their favorite restaurants. It has grown into one of the largest global food delivery services, competing with big names like DoorDash, Grubhub, Deliveroo, and Just Eat Takeaway.com. 

Uber Eats works with restaurant partners in all 50 U.S. states. It also has a presence in over 6,000 cities in 45 other countries, including Australia, Canada, and Japan.  

Moreover, it’s not just about restaurant meals anymore. The platform also offers grocery and convenience store deliveries, giving users the flexibility to order anything from dinner to daily essentials. 

In the U.S., available grocery partners vary by location but often include well-known chains like Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, and Vons, along with convenience stores such as CVS, Walgreens, and 7-Eleven.

Main Features of Uber Eats for Customers 

• In-app order tracking 
• Extensive restaurant and grocery store collection 
• Promotion and deals 
• Use the same payment methods as your Uber rides
• Offer subscription service (Uber One) for both ride-sharing and delivery
• AI-powered shopping assistant
• Scheduled and advance orders 

Main Features of Uber Eats for Restaurants and Grocery Stores 

• Easy integration and onboarding 
• Order management 
• In-app marketing tools 
• Flexible menu and inventory control 

Main Features of Uber Eats for Riders 

• Fare estimates 
• Flexible work hours 
• Multiple delivery options 
• Instant earnings and payouts 
• Incentives and promotions 
• Ratings and feedback 
• 24/7 in-app and phone support available

Pros and Cons of Using Uber Eats for Restaurants and Grocery Stores

Look at the table below and understand the pros and cons of restaurants and grocery stores using Uber Eats. 

Pros	Cons
Increased Visibility: Access to millions of Uber Eats users, increasing customer reach.	High Commission Fees: Uber Eats charges service fees that can reduce profit margins.
No Need for In-House Delivery Staff: Uber’s driver network handles deliveries.	Reduced Control Over Delivery Experience: Quality of delivery depends on third-party drivers.
Marketing Support: In-app promotions, discounts, and featured listings attract new customers.	Price Markups for Customers: Higher prices may discourage some buyers.
Real-Time Order Management: Easy order tracking and updates through the Merchant App.	Limited Direct Customer Relationship: Uber Eats owns customer data, not the restaurant/store.
Flexible Integration: Works with POS systems and allows menu/inventory updates.	Intense Competition: Competing restaurants/stores appear alongside each other in the app.

What is Instacart?

Instacart is the leading grocery delivery platform in the U.S. and one of the top grocery technology companies in North America. It specializes in same-day delivery and pickup, making it easier than ever for customers to shop for groceries and essentials from the comfort of their homes. 

Launched over a decade ago, Instacart has changed online grocery shopping with its unique model of connecting customers to personal shoppers who handpick and deliver items from local stores. 

Today, the company partners with over 1,800 retail banners across more than 100,000 locations.

• 2014: Instacart scaled rapidly, expanding into 10 major U.S. cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Portland.
• 2020: The company broadened its scope beyond groceries, adding categories like beauty, electronics, and pet supplies. They are also growing their community to more than 500,000 Instacart Shoppers across the U.S. and Canada.

Main Features of Instacart for Customers

• Contactless delivery 
• Flexible delivery scheduling 
• Order tracking 
• Curbside pickup 
• Offer subscription service 

Main Features of Instacart for Grocery Stores

• Order management 
• Inventory management 
• Same-day delivery and pickup 
• Powerful marketing tools 

Main Features of Instacart for Riders 

• Flexible work schedule 
• Tips and incentives 
• Ratings and feedback system 
• Contactless delivery options 

Pros and Cons of Using Instacart for Grocery Stores

Here are the pros and cons of using Instacart for grocery stores. 

Pros	Cons
Massive Customer Reach: Access to millions of active Instacart users across the U.S. and Canada.	High Service Fees: Instacart charges commissions that can cut into store profits.
Same-Day Delivery and Pickup: Meets modern customer expectations for speed and convenience.	Reduced Control Over Customer Experience: Shoppers, not store employees, handle fulfillment.
Trained Shopper Network: Professional shoppers handle picking and delivery, reducing in-store staff burden.	Competition Within Platform: Local stores may appear alongside larger national chains, making it harder to stand out
Multi-Vertical Expansion: Stores can sell more than groceries (e.g., beauty, pet supplies, household items).	Dependency on Instacart: Heavy reliance can be risky if fees or policies change.

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Uber Eats if you want fast food or small grocery orders delivered quickly, or if you live outside North America. Choose Instacart if you want a complete grocery shopping experience with wide retailer options in the U.S. and Canada.

Check it below to help you make a better decision. 

Best For	Uber Eats	Instacart
Quick Meals and Small Grocery Runs	Fast delivery (30–60 minutes) from restaurants, convenience stores, and select grocery chains	Takes longer because it involves full shopping trips
Full Grocery Shopping	Limited selection of grocery partners compared to Instacart	Comprehensive grocery coverage with 600+ retailers and 55,000 stores
Global Availability	Operates in 11,000+ cities worldwide	Limited to the U.S. and Canada
Affordability	More affordable for small orders, though fees can add up	Larger orders are more expensive with service and delivery fees
Customization and Substitutions	Limited options; mostly direct store inventory	Shoppers handle substitutions and custom requests
Best for Riders/Workers	Great for quick, frequent deliveries	Higher earnings for bigger orders, but requires more effort

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Which is Better for Grocery Delivery? 

Choose Uber Eats if you want a mix of restaurant food and light grocery shopping. Choose Instacart if you’re focused on full grocery orders, bulk shopping, and variety.

Look at the table below for a better understanding. 

Factor	Uber Eats	Instacart
Primary Focus	Restaurant meals + growing grocery delivery service	Dedicated grocery delivery and pickup platform
Retail Partnerships	Partners with major grocery chains like Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Vons, CVS, Walgreens, and 7-Eleven	Works with 1,800+ retail banners across 100,000+ locations in the U.S. and Canada
Delivery Speed	Strong focus on on-demand, fast delivery (often under 1 hour)	Offers same-day delivery and scheduled orders; delivery times vary by store/shoppers
Order Variety	Best for small grocery orders, snacks, and quick essentials	Best for full grocery orders, household items, pet supplies, and more
Membership Program	Uber One: Discounts on delivery fees for both food and groceries	Instacart+: Free delivery on orders over a set amount, lower service fees, family sharing
Geographic Reach	Global presence in 6,000+ cities worldwide	U.S. and Canada only, but very strong coverage in grocery delivery

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Which is Better for Riders?

Check out the table below and understand their differences. 

Factor	Uber Eats (Drivers/Riders)	Instacart (Shoppers)
Vehicle Options	Car, scooter, bike, or even walking (in some cities)	Full-service shoppers need a car; in-store shoppers don’t
Earnings Structure	Paid per delivery (distance, time, base pay) + 100% of tips	Paid per batch (shopping + delivery effort, distance, size of order) + 100% of tips
Flexibility	Completely on-demand; log in and work anytime	Flexible, but orders depend on batch availability in your area
Payouts	Weekly payouts; instant cash-out available	Weekly payouts; instant cash-out available
Incentives	Surge pricing, promotions, and quest bonuses during high demand	Peak pay, promotions, and higher pay for larger/more complex orders

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Which is Faster? 

Uber Eats is faster when you want food or small grocery items delivered quickly. Instacart is better when you’re planning a full grocery order and don’t mind waiting a bit longer.

Factor	Uber Eats	Instacart
Primary Focus	On-demand meal and grocery delivery	Scheduled or same-day grocery delivery
Average Delivery Time	30–60 minutes for restaurants and small grocery orders	Usually 2 hours or more, depending on order size and shopper availability
Best For	Quick meals, snacks, or small grocery essentials	Full grocery runs and household shopping
Speed Advantage	Faster for small, urgent orders	Better for planned, larger grocery trips

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Prices and Fees Comparison 

Fee Component	Uber Eats (Grocery Delivery)	Instacart
Delivery Fee	Varies around $0.50–$8, depending on merchant location and distance.	Varies by retailer, delivery window, and order total; visible at checkout.
Service Fee	Applied separately from delivery; new structure with upfront “Service Fee” plus delivery fee.	Covers shopper insurance, etc.; amount varies by order; seen at checkout.
Small Order Fee	For grocery orders under a certain threshold (e.g., NT$200 in Taiwan), a small order fee applies (e.g., NT$39).	Instacart generally requires a minimum $10 order for delivery.
Priority / Rush Fee	Options like “Priority” may incur extra fees for faster delivery or shorter wait times.	“Priority delivery” is available with shorter windows; incurs clearly marked priority fees.
Membership Benefits	Uber One grants free delivery on grocery orders over $35 and 5% off meal orders.	Instacart+ (~$10/month or $99/year) offers free delivery on orders $10+ and reduced service fees.
Long-Distance / Other Fees	An additional “Order Handling Fee” may apply for certain merchants, like Costco.	Long-distance service fees may apply for delivery beyond 30+ minutes or with tolls; pickup has no service fee.

Uber Eats vs. Instacart – Availability and Market Reach

Aspect	Uber Eats	Instacart
Geographic Coverage	Available in over 6,000 cities globally via the Uber Eats app; rides available in 10,000+ cities.	Serves thousands of cities across the U.S. and Canada.
Global vs. Regional	Global reach, including regions beyond North America, expanding into new retail verticals like electronics.	Focused on North American markets (U.S. and Canada); expanding but regionally bounded.
U.S. and Canada Households Covered	Not specified for grocery; strong reach via ride and food delivery apps globally	Covers 85% of U.S. households and 90% of Canadian households.
Store and Retail Partnerships	Strong network with over 1.5 million merchant partners in 11,000+ cities globally.	Partners with nearly 55,000 stores and more than 600 retailers across 5,500+ cities.
Recent Expansion Highlights	Partnered with Best Buy in North America for retail deliveries; partnered with FreshDirect in NYC for same-day grocery expansion.	Expanded deeper into Quebec, reaching 90% of Canadian households; added major grocer partnerships in Canada.

FAQs

1. Does Uber Eats or Instacart pay more?

Pay can vary based on location, demand, and the specific job type. Uber Eats drivers might earn more per delivery, while Instacart shoppers can earn more per order but may have less consistent work.

2. What are Instacart’s hidden fees?

Instacart may have several hidden fees, including:

• Service Fee: A percentage of your order total that covers operational costs.
• Delivery Fee: Charged for delivering groceries, which can vary based on distance and demand.
• Busy Pricing: Higher fees during peak hours or high-demand situations.
• Tip: Optional, it’s recommended to tip your shopper, which can add to the total cost.
• Item Markup: Prices may be higher than in-store prices for some items.

---