How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App Like Instacart in 2025?

You’re in the middle of cooking your favorite dish, only to realize that one key ingredient is missing. Instead of rushing to the nearest store, you simply grab your phone, open a grocery delivery app, and have the item delivered right to your doorstep within minutes. 

That’s the kind of convenience apps like Instacart bring to millions of households today.

The demand for grocery delivery services has increased in recent years. In fact, according to Statista, the number of users in the grocery delivery market is projected to reach 2.3 billion by 2030. 

This growing trend presents a great opportunity for grocery businesses to step into the on-demand delivery market.

But here’s the big question: How much does it cost to develop an app like Instacart? The answer isn’t as simple as one figure; it depends on features, technology, design, and development approach. 

The cost ranges between $40,000 to $120,000+, but we’ll explore the factors that influence pricing so you can plan your investment wisely.

Let’s dive in and know the real cost of building an Instacart-like grocery delivery app.

What is Instacart?

Instacart is a popular on-demand grocery delivery and pickup service based in the United States and Canada. It allows customers to shop for groceries, household essentials, and other products online through its mobile app or website, and then have them delivered to their doorstep by a personal shopper.

Why is Instacart Successful? 

• Convenience of same-day grocery delivery
• Wide network of partner stores (Costco, Safeway, Kroger, etc.)
• Flexible income opportunities for personal shoppers 
• Contactless delivery options (especially popular post-COVID)
• Instacart offers a membership called Instacart Express, which provides benefits like free delivery on orders over a certain amount.
• Customers can create shopping lists and save favorite items for easy reordering.
• Users can access various deals and discounts provided by stores.

Founded	2012, San Francisco, California
Business Model	Marketplace model that connects customers with local grocery stores
Monetization	Delivery fees, service fees, subscriptions (Instacart+ for free deliveries), and partnerships with grocery chains.

How Does Instacart Work?

Here is the workflow of Instacart. 

Sign Up

• Users create an account on the Instacart website or app.
• They enter their location to see available stores.

Browse and Select Items

• Customers can browse various grocery stores and their available products.
• Items can be added to a virtual cart.

Personal Shopper

• Once the order is placed, an Instacart personal shopper is assigned.
• The shopper picks the items from the selected store, substituting items if necessary based on availability.

Delivery or Pickup

• Customers can choose to have their groceries delivered to their doorstep or schedule a pickup.
• Delivery times can usually be selected based on availability.

Payment

• Payment is processed through the app or website. Instacart accepts various payment methods, including credit/debit cards and payment apps.

Communication

• Customers can communicate with their shopper through the app for any questions or clarifications about items.

Delivery Confirmation

• Once the order is delivered, customers receive a notification, and they can provide feedback on their experience.

Development Cost to Develop an Instacart-like Grocery Delivery App

The cost to develop a grocery delivery solution like Instacart ranges between $40,000 – $120,000+. However, it depends on several factors such as: 

• App complexity 
• Development team size
• Location
• Technology stack
• Third-party integrations
• Ongoing maintenance and more 

Look at the table below and understand the cost involved in building an app like Instacart. 

Development Stage	Details	Estimated Cost (USD)
UI/UX Design	Wireframing, prototyping, and user-friendly interface design	$3,000 – $10,000
Front-end Development	Building the customer, shopper, and admin panels (mobile and web)	$8,000 – $30,000
Back-end Development	Server setup, databases, APIs, business logic	$10,000 – $35,000
API Integrations	Payment gateways, maps and GPS, real-time chat, push notifications	$4,000 – $15,000
Quality Assurance and Testing	Manual and automated testing for performance, usability, and bug fixes	$5,000 – $12,000
Deployment	Publishing on App Store and Google Play, initial setup	$1,000 – $5,000
Ongoing Maintenance	Updates, server hosting, feature enhancements	$1,500 – $5,000/month
Total Estimated Cost: $40,000 – $120,000+

Cost to Build a Grocery Delivery App Like Instacart by Regions   

Hiring developers from Asia or Eastern Europe can reduce costs, while North America and Western Europe tend to be the most expensive. However, it may offer closer proximity and cultural alignment for Western businesses.

Below is an estimated cost of a grocery delivery app development, broken down by different regions. 

Region	Average Hourly Rate (USD)	Estimated Cost Range (USD)
North America (USA, Canada)	$100 – $200/hour	$100,000 – $200,000+
Western Europe (UK, Germany, France)	$70 – $150/hour	$70,000 – $150,000+
Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Romania)	$40 – $80/hour	$40,000 – $80,000+
Asia (India, Pakistan, Philippines)	$20 – $50/hour	$20,000 – $60,000+
Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina)	$30 – $70/hour	$30,000 – $70,000+

Formula for Calculating the Grocery Delivery App Development Cost 

The basic formula for calculating grocery delivery app development cost is: 

Total Cost = (Total Development Time in Hours) * (Developer’s Hourly Rate)

However, the total development time varies and depends on various factors like app complexity, features, design, and platform choice. Additionally, the developer’s hourly rate is determined by their location and experience.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Grocery Delivery App? 

Below is the timeline for building a grocery delivery app like Instacart. 

Development Stage	Tasks Included	Estimated Timeframe
Research and Planning	Market research, competitor analysis, defining features, and roadmap	2 – 3 weeks
UI/UX Design	Wireframes, prototypes, user flow, and final design mockups	3 – 5 weeks
Front-end Development	Building customer app, shopper app, and admin panel UI	6 – 10 weeks
Back-end Development	Server setup, databases, APIs, and core functionality	8 – 12 weeks
API Integrations	Payment gateways, GPS/maps, push notifications, chat	2 – 4 weeks
Testing and QA	Performance, usability, bug fixes, security testing	3 – 5 weeks
Deployment	App Store and Play Store submission, final configurations	1 – 2 weeks

Total Development Time
Complexity	App Development Timeline
Simple app development (MVP)	3 – 6 months
Average app development	6 – 8 months
Full-featured app	8 – 12 months

Factors That Influence the Cost of Developing an App Like Instacart

Several factors determine the final cost, and understanding them helps businesses plan their budget wisely. Below are the key elements that influence development costs. 

Platform Choice

The cost depends on whether you build the app for iOS, Android, or both. Native apps are more expensive as they require separate development, while cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native are more budget-friendly.

App Complexity

A simple app with core features like login, product browsing, and checkout costs less. However, adding advanced functionalities such as AI recommendations, real-time tracking, or multi-store support increases the budget.

Design and UX

A basic template design is affordable, but it offers limited customization options. On the other hand, a custom UI/UX design with interactive elements improves user experience but comes at a higher development cost.

Development Team Expertise

Hiring freelancers or small teams may reduce initial expenses but could impact quality. Experienced development companies charge more but ensure reliability, scalability, and long-term success.

Timeline

If you want your grocery delivery software developed quickly, you’ll need more developers, which increases costs. A phased approach, starting with an MVP and adding features later, can help spread out the investment.

Location of Development Team

Developer hourly rates vary by region. North America and Western Europe are the most expensive, while Eastern Europe and Asia offer more affordable, high-quality development services.

Cost of Building the Custom App vs. White-Label Solution 

Here are the main differences between the cost of building a custom app vs using the white-label solution. 

Cost of Building a Custom App vs. White-Label Solution
Aspect	Custom App Development	White-Label Solution
Initial Cost	$40,000 – $150,000+ (depends on features and complexity)	$10,000 – $30,000 (one-time or subscription-based)
Development Time	6 – 12 months (from scratch)	2 – 6 weeks (ready-made with minor customization)
Customization	Fully customizable	Customization is limited
Scalability	Highly scalable, tailored for future growth	Restricted by the platform provider’s limitations
Ownership	Full ownership of code and IP	No full ownership
Maintenance and  Updates	Managed by your dev team (additional cost)	Handled by solution provider (may require fees)
Best For	Businesses aiming for a unique, long-term competitive edge	Startups or small businesses wanting a quick launch

How to Reduce the Cost of App Development Like Instacart? 

With the right approach, you can launch your app faster and more cost-effectively. Here are some proven strategies to help you. 

Start with an MVP

Instead of developing a fully loaded app right away, begin with an MVP that includes only the core features like product browsing, cart, checkout, and delivery tracking. This helps you validate your idea, attract early users, and save on initial costs.

Use Cross-Platform Frameworks

Use open-source frameworks like React Native or Flutter to build a single codebase that works on both iOS and Android. This approach cuts development time, reduces costs, and ensures a faster launch.

Outsource to Cost-Effective Regions

Hiring developers from regions such as Asia or Eastern Europe can lower your overall expenses without compromising quality. Many businesses successfully scale apps while keeping costs down through outsourcing.

Prioritize Rigorous Testing

Thorough testing across multiple devices and operating systems prevents costly errors after launch. Fixing issues early ensures a smoother user experience and protects your revenue from churn.

Partner for Promotions

Collaborate with banks, e-wallets, or payment gateways to offer discounts and cashback deals. Such partnerships can reduce your promotional spend. 

Use Project Management Tools 

Use tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana to track tasks, milestones, and team collaboration, which helps to simplify the development process and minimize delays.

FAQs

1. How to create an app like Instacart?

Below are some steps to help you create an app like Instacart. 

• Do market research
• Select the business model
• Decide on the app features 
• Choose the technology stack 
• Design the UI/UX design 
• Start the app development 
• App testing and deployment 
• Launching and marketing 

2. How much would it cost to build a food delivery app?

The cost to build a food delivery app can range from $10,000 to $500,000. It depends on the complexity, features, and development team location. A basic app with core functionality could cost $20,000 to $40,000, and a more advanced app could cost $50,000 to $100,000 or more. 

3. Is there a better alternative to Instacart?

Shipt, Amazon Fresh, and Kroger are the best alternatives to Instacart for grocery delivery. They offer similar services, with options for scheduled or on-demand delivery, and a variety of products from different retailers. 

4. What is the cheapest way to develop an app?

The cheapest way to develop an app is to use a no-code or low-code development platform. These platforms allow you to build apps visually, often using a drag-and-drop interface, without needing to write any code. 

---