SNAP / Food Stamps

Does Instacart Take EBT? How to Use SNAP on Instacart

Quick Answer

Yes. Instacart accepts SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in all 50 states and D.C., at participating stores. Your SNAP balance pays for eligible food only. Delivery fees, service fees, taxes and tips must go on a debit or credit card. Pickup orders and the half-price memberships for SNAP households at Instacart and Walmart can lower those costs.

By GovBenefits.Guide Checked against official sources November 4, 2026

Since 2023 Instacart has accepted SNAP EBT online in every state. In January 2024 Instacart said more than 170 grocery chains and over 14,000 stores take SNAP through its app, reaching an estimated 96% of SNAP households. Whether a store near you takes EBT on Instacart depends on your ZIP code — look for the EBT label on the store and on each item.

What Is Instacart and How Does It Work?

Instacart is a grocery delivery and pickup app that works with stores across the United States and Canada — more than 2,200 retail chains and 100,000 stores, according to the company. You order from a store you already know, at that store's selection:

Choose a store near you in the Instacart app or website and add items to your cart.
Pick a delivery window — as soon as possible or scheduled for later — or choose pickup where the store offers it.
A personal shopper picks your items in the store. You can track the order and message the shopper in the app.
Get your groceries at your door or collect them at the store.

SNAP EBT only works on Instacart in the United States, because SNAP is a U.S. program.

How to Pay with EBT on Instacart

Add your EBT card: in the Instacart app or website, go to Account Settings → Payment methods and add your EBT SNAP card.
Pick a store that takes EBT and add items marked with the EBT label.
At checkout, choose EBT SNAP and enter how much of your balance to use. Add a debit or credit card for fees, tips and any non-eligible items.
Enter your EBT PIN to confirm. Your PIN is required for online SNAP purchases, the same as in a store.

You can split one order between EBT and another card, but only one EBT card can be used per order.

What SNAP Cannot Pay For on Instacart

USDA rules say delivery fees and other associated charges cannot be paid with SNAP. On Instacart that means these go on your debit or credit card:

Delivery fees and service fees
Tips for the shopper
Taxes and bottle deposits
Items that are not SNAP-eligible (for example hot prepared food, alcohol, vitamins, household goods)

State food restrictions apply online too. In Texas (since April 1, 2026) and Florida (since April 20, 2026), SNAP cannot pay for candy and sweetened drinks — see our Texas SNAP benefits guide.

No debit or credit card? Delivery always has fees SNAP cannot cover. Store pickup is usually cheaper, and some retailers offer free pickup — see the alternatives below.

Instacart+ Discount for SNAP Users

Instacart+ launched in 2022 at $9.99 a month or $99 a year. Instacart has offered it at 50% off — $4.99 a month for 12 months — to customers who paid with an EBT SNAP card on Instacart in the previous six months. Instacart+ includes free delivery and pickup on orders over $35, 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders and reduced service fees. Instacart announced the SNAP offer in 2023 and repeated it in January 2024; check the current terms in the app before you sign up.

Instacart vs Walmart: Which Is Cheaper?

Both companies cut their membership price in half for SNAP households. The figures below are the companies' own published prices; fees on individual orders vary by store, order size and time, so always compare the total at checkout.

	Instacart+	Walmart+
Regular price	$9.99/month or $99/year (2022 launch price)	$98/year
Price for SNAP households	$4.99/month for 12 months	$6.47/month or $49/year (Walmart+ Assist)
How you qualify	An EBT order on Instacart in the last 6 months	Verify SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF or another listed program through SheerID; checked again every year
Free delivery	Orders over $35	Orders over $35
Stores	Many grocery chains in one app	Walmart only

Rule of thumb: if you already shop at Walmart, Walmart+ Assist at $49 a year is the lower yearly cost. If your usual store is a grocery chain Walmart doesn't cover, or you want to compare several stores, Instacart is the more flexible option. Without any membership, store pickup is usually the cheapest way to shop online with SNAP.

How to Keep Costs Down

Choose pickup instead of delivery when you can — it avoids most delivery fees.
Combine your shopping into fewer, larger orders; with either membership, free delivery starts at $35.
Check the fee and item prices before you pay and compare them with the store's own website or app.
Know your deposit day so you order after your benefits arrive — see the SNAP payment schedules by state.

Other Stores That Take SNAP Online

SNAP online purchasing is available in all 50 states and D.C. USDA keeps the official list of stores accepting SNAP online by state. In Texas, for example, it includes Walmart, Amazon, H-E-B, ALDI, Target, Costco, Whole Foods and more (USDA Texas list).

Amazon: you can pay with SNAP EBT on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods without a Prime membership. Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods offer free pickup. SNAP and Medicaid recipients can get Prime Access at 50% of the regular Prime price (Amazon).
Walmart: on USDA's list of stores accepting SNAP online. Walmart+ Assist gives people who receive government assistance 50% off a Walmart+ membership (Walmart).

Problems With an Order or Your EBT Card

Missing items, wrong items, refunds or a late order: use Help in the Instacart app.
Card declined, balance or PIN problems, lost card: call your state's EBT customer service — Texas 800-777-7328, Florida 1-888-356-3281, California 1-877-328-9677.
Benefits not on your card yet: check your state's deposit day in our SNAP payment schedules.

DoorDash Is Buying Instacart: What It Means

On October 29, 2026, DoorDash announced an agreement to buy Instacart for about $17 billion. The deal still needs regulatory and shareholder approval and is expected to close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. Until then the two companies operate separately, and DoorDash says it expects to keep the Instacart app and brand afterwards (DoorDash announcement). Nothing changes for SNAP shoppers today; we will update this guide if the EBT options change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Instacart take EBT?

Yes. Instacart accepts SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in all 50 states and D.C., at participating stores. Eligible items carry an EBT label. SNAP pays for the eligible food; delivery and service fees, taxes, tips and bottle deposits must go on a credit or debit card.

What is Instacart and how does it work?

Instacart is a grocery delivery and pickup app. You choose a store near you, add items, and a personal shopper in your area picks them and delivers them in a time window you choose, or you collect them at the store where pickup is offered. You can pay for eligible food with SNAP EBT.

Is Instacart USA only?

No. Instacart operates in the United States and Canada. SNAP EBT can only be used on Instacart in the United States, because SNAP is a U.S. program.

Is it cheaper to use Instacart or Walmart delivery?

It depends on the store and your order. Both offer free delivery on orders over $35 with a paid membership, and both cut the membership price in half for SNAP households: Walmart+ Assist costs $49 a year or $6.47 a month, and Instacart has offered Instacart+ for $4.99 a month for 12 months. Walmart+ only covers Walmart; Instacart works with many grocery chains. Compare the total, including fees and tip, at checkout before you pay.

Can I pay the Instacart delivery fee or tip with EBT?

No. Under USDA rules, delivery fees and other associated charges cannot be paid with SNAP benefits. On Instacart, fees, taxes, tips and bottle deposits are charged to a credit or debit card linked to your account.

Is there an Instacart discount for SNAP users?

Instacart has offered Instacart+ at 50% off ($4.99 a month for 12 months) to customers who used an EBT SNAP card on Instacart in the previous six months. Instacart+ includes free delivery and pickup on orders over $35 and reduced service fees. Check the current terms in the Instacart app before you sign up.

Do candy and soda restrictions apply on Instacart?

Yes. State rules apply to online orders too. In states with a USDA food restriction waiver, such as Texas (since April 1, 2026) and Florida (since April 20, 2026), items like candy and sweetened drinks cannot be paid with SNAP online either.

How do I contact Instacart customer service about an EBT order?

Use Help in the Instacart app for order problems, missing items or refunds. If the problem is with your EBT card itself (balance, PIN, lost card), call your state EBT customer service: Texas 800-777-7328, Florida 1-888-356-3281, California 1-877-328-9677.

Is DoorDash buying Instacart?

DoorDash announced on October 29, 2026 that it plans to buy Instacart. The companies keep operating separately until the deal closes, expected at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, and DoorDash says it expects to keep the Instacart app and brand. Nothing changes for SNAP shoppers today.

Sources

Checked on November 4, 2026. Rules and amounts change; the agency's own page always wins.