Instacart vs Uber Eats
Instacart specializes in grocery delivery with partnerships at 85,000+ stores and lower per-item costs, while Uber Eats focuses on restaurant meals with faster average delivery times (28 minutes vs 35 minutes) and broader availability in 70 countries. Choose Instacart for pantry staples and bulk groceries; choose Uber Eats for prepared meals and restaurant variety.
Instacart
Grocery and household goods delivery service operating across 85,000+ supermarkets and retail stores.
Budget-conscious shoppers buying groceries and household items, families with large weekly shopping lists, and customers seeking the lowest delivery fees.
Uber Eats
Restaurant meal delivery platform with 750,000+ restaurant partners across 70+ countries.
Users seeking restaurant variety and prepared meals, international travelers, Uber ride-sharing customers wanting integrated membership benefits, and those prioritizing delivery speed.
Short Answer
Instacart specializes in grocery delivery with partnerships at 85,000+ stores and lower per-item costs, while Uber Eats focuses on restaurant meals with faster average delivery times (28 minutes vs 35 minutes) and broader availability in 70 countries. Choose Instacart for pantry staples and bulk groceries; choose Uber Eats for prepared meals and restaurant variety.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Instacart if you regularly buy groceries, household items, or pantry staples—it offers the lowest base delivery fees, highest volume of store partnerships, and best selection of bulk items. Choose Uber Eats if you prefer restaurant variety, need faster delivery, travel internationally, or want seamless integration with ride-sharing through Uber One membership.
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Choose Instacart if
Budget-conscious shoppers buying groceries and household items, families with large weekly shopping lists, and customers seeking the lowest delivery fees.
Choose Uber Eats if
👑 Best pickUsers seeking restaurant variety and prepared meals, international travelers, Uber ride-sharing customers wanting integrated membership benefits, and those prioritizing delivery speed.
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
44 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Instacart | Uber Eats | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (2024)(Billion USD) | $3.3 billion | — | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 75 minutes | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 15+ million | — | — |
| Number of Partner Retailers(retailers) | 500+ | — | — |
| Base Delivery Fee(USD) | $0-2.99 (or $9.99/month) | — | — |
| Typical Delivery Speed(hours) | 1-2 hours | — | — |
| 2024 Company Revenue(billion USD) | $3.3B (Instacart 2024) | — | — |
| Partner Locations Available(locations) | 85,000+ | — | — |
| Average Delivery Fee(USD) | $3.99-$9.99 | — | — |
| Standard Delivery Time(minutes) | 60-120 minutes | — | — |
| Subscription Monthly Cost(USD) | $9.99/month | — | — |
| Service Fee Range(percent) | 5-35% of items | — | — |
| US Food Delivery Market Share(percent) | 66% of grocery delivery | — | — |
| Base Delivery Fee(USD) | $2.00-$3.50 | $2.99-$4.99 | -31% |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 35-45 minutes | 28-35 minutes | +29% |
| Store/Restaurant Partners(count) | 85,000+ stores | 750,000+ restaurants | -89% |
| Subscription Cost (Monthly)(USD) | $9.99/month (Instacart+) | $9.99/month (Uber One) | |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD) | $99/year (Instacart+) | $119.88/year (Uber One) | -17% |
| Restaurant Markup on Menu Items(percent) | Not applicable | 15-30% markup average | — |
| Minimum Order for Free Delivery (with subscription)(USD) | $35 (Instacart+) | Varies by restaurant | — |
| US Market Share | 23% | 23% | |
| Countries Operating | ~45 | ~45 | |
| Annual Revenue(billion USD) | $12.1 Billion (Eats segment) | $12.1 Billion (Eats segment) | |
| App Size(MB) | 68 MB | 68 MB | |
| Average Delivery Time (Food)(minutes) | 25-32 minutes | 25-32 minutes | |
| Number of Integrated Services(services) | 1 (Food Delivery only) | 1 (Food Delivery only) | |
| Available Restaurants(restaurants) | 600,000+ | 600,000+ | |
| Global User Base(millions) | 50+ million monthly users (Eats subset) | 50+ million monthly users (Eats subset) | |
| App Load Time(seconds) | 1.9 seconds | 1.9 seconds | |
| Operating Countries(countries) | 70+ | 70+ | |
| U.S. Market Share(percent) | 48% | 48% | |
| Restaurant Commission Rate (Mid-Range)(percent) | 25% (15-35%) | 25% (15-35%) | |
| Available Restaurants (U.S.)(count) | 320,000 | 320,000 | |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD) | $119.00 | $119.00 | |
| Average Customer Rating(stars out of 5) | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 | |
| States with Alcohol Delivery(count) | 40 states | 40 states | |
| Minimum Order Amount(USD) | $15.00 | $15.00 | |
| Restaurant Selection(restaurants) | 240,000+ | 240,000+ | |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 32 minutes | 32 minutes | |
| Geographic Coverage(cities) | 6,000+ cities | 6,000+ cities | |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $9.99 (Uber One) | $9.99 (Uber One) | |
| Market Share (US)(percent) | 31% | 31% | |
| Minimum Order (base)(USD) | $6.00 | $6.00 |
Sourced from publicly available data · Jun 2026
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
Instacart
Grocery delivery (supermarkets, specialty stores)
Uber Eats
Restaurant meal delivery
Instacart
35-45 minutes
Uber Eats
28-35 minutes🏆
Instacart
85,000+ grocery/retail stores
Uber Eats
750,000+ restaurants globally🏆
Instacart
$2.00-$3.50 per order🏆
Uber Eats
$2.99-$4.99 per order
Instacart
Instacart+ ($99/year or $9.99/month)
Uber Eats
Uber One ($9.99/month, includes Uber Pass)
Instacart
United States and Canada only
Uber Eats
70+ countries worldwide🏆
Instacart
$35-$75 (groceries)
Uber Eats
$15-$40 (prepared meals)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Instacart | Uber Eats |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (2024)(Billion USD) | $3.3 billion | — |
| YoY Revenue Growth (2024)(percent) | 11% | — |
| Annual Revenue(billion USD) | $12.1 Billion (Eats segment) | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 75 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time (Food)(minutes) | 25-32 minutes | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 15+ million | — |
| Merchant/Store Partners(count) | 50,000+ stores | — |
| Driver Hourly Earnings(USD per hour) | $14-22 | — |
| Subscription Fee (Monthly)(USD) | $9.99 (Instacart+) | — |
| Base Delivery Fee(USD) | $0-2.99 (or $9.99/month) | — |
| Average Delivery Fee(USD) | $3.99-$9.99 | — |
| Subscription Monthly Cost(USD) | $9.99/month | — |
| Service Fee Range(percent) | 5-35% of items | — |
Show 10 more attributesBase Delivery Fee(USD) $2.00-$3.50 $2.99-$4.99 Subscription Cost (Monthly)(USD) $9.99/month (Instacart+) $9.99/month (Uber One) Annual Subscription Cost(USD) $99/year (Instacart+) $119.88/year (Uber One) Restaurant Markup on Menu Items(percent) Not applicable 15-30% markup average Minimum Order for Free Delivery (with subscription)(USD) $35 (Instacart+) Varies by restaurant Delivery Fee Range(USD) $2.99-$4.99 typical — Annual Subscription Cost(USD) $119.00 — Base Delivery Fee Range(USD) $1.99-$3.49 — Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) $9.99 (Uber One) — Minimum Order (base)(USD) $6.00 — | ||
| Number of Partner Retailers(retailers) | 500+ | — |
| Geographic Coverage(states) | Nationwide (all US states) | — |
| Typical Delivery Speed(hours) | 1-2 hours | — |
| Standard Delivery Time(minutes) | 60-120 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 35-45 minutes | 28-35 minutes |
| Prime Membership Benefit | Instacart+ separate subscription | — |
| Alexa Voice Integration | Not available | — |
| 2024 Company Revenue(billion USD) | $3.3B (Instacart 2024) | — |
| US Market Share | 23% | — |
| Strategic Focus (2026) | Expanding partnerships nationwide | — |
| Partner Locations Available(locations) | 85,000+ | — |
| US Food Delivery Market Share(percent) | 66% of grocery delivery | — |
| US Food Delivery Market Share (2024)(percent) | Included in 32% | — |
| U.S. Market Share(percent) | 48% | — |
| Market Share (US)(percent) | 31% | — |
| Partner Retail Categories(categories) | Groceries, pharmacies, convenience, household | — |
| Store/Restaurant Partners(count) | 85,000+ stores | 750,000+ restaurants |
| Available Restaurants (U.S.)(count) | 320,000 | — |
| Geographic Coverage(edge locations) | 2 countries (USA, Canada) | 70+ countries |
| Countries Operating | ~45 | — |
| App Size(MB) | 68 MB | — |
| App Load Time(seconds) | 1.9 seconds | — |
| Number of Integrated Services(services) | 1 (Food Delivery only) | — |
| States with Alcohol Delivery(count) | 40 states | — |
| Available Restaurants(restaurants) | 600,000+ | — |
| Global User Base(millions) | 50+ million monthly users (Eats subset) | — |
| Operating Countries(countries) | 70+ | — |
| Restaurant Commission Rate (Mid-Range)(percent) | 25% (15-35%) | — |
| Average Customer Rating(stars out of 5) | 3.8/5 | — |
| Minimum Order Amount(USD) | $15.00 | — |
| Restaurant Selection(restaurants) | 240,000+ | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 32 minutes | — |
| Geographic Coverage(cities) | 6,000+ cities | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5 stars | — |
InstacartShow 10 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Instacart
Pros
- Lowest base delivery fees ($2.00-$3.50) compared to competitors
- Partnerships with 85,000+ stores including Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, and specialty markets
- Better for bulk purchases and pantry stapling with larger item selection per order
- Real-time price comparison across partner stores for cost optimization
- Instacart+ membership removes delivery fees on orders $35+ at partner stores
Cons
- Limited to United States and Canada only, with no international expansion plans
- Slower average delivery time (35-45 minutes) due to in-store shopping model
- Significantly fewer restaurant options compared to meal-focused competitors
Uber Eats
Pros
- Fastest average delivery time (28-35 minutes) with optimized restaurant pickup routes
- 750,000+ restaurant partnerships providing diverse cuisine options globally
- Available in 70+ countries including USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and Brazil
- Uber One membership ($9.99/month) bundles ride credits with delivery fee waivers
- Superior restaurant discovery with detailed menus, real photos, customer reviews, and ratings
Cons
- Higher base delivery fees ($2.99-$4.99) plus percentage-based restaurant markups averaging 15-30%
- Not suitable for grocery shopping with limited access to supermarkets and no bulk item delivery
- Restaurant availability varies significantly by neighborhood and time of day
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Uber Eats operates in 70+ countries including the UK, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Brazil, making it the clear choice for international travelers. Instacart is restricted to the United States and Canada only, with no plans for international expansion. If you travel frequently, Uber Eats' global presence provides consistent access across continents.
Instacart is significantly cheaper for groceries. Base delivery fees start at $2.00 (vs Uber Eats' $2.99), and Instacart+ membership ($99/year) removes delivery fees on orders $35+. Uber Eats charges 15-30% restaurant markups and higher base fees, making it unsuitable and expensive for grocery shopping. For weekly grocery runs, Instacart saves users an estimated $150-250 annually.
Uber Eats averages 28-35 minutes delivery versus Instacart's 35-45 minutes. Uber Eats is faster because restaurants pre-prepare meals, enabling optimized pickup-to-delivery routes. Instacart requires in-store shopping and item gathering, adding time. If speed is critical, Uber Eats is the better choice by 10-15 minutes on average.
Instacart+ ($9.99/month or $99/year) waives delivery fees on grocery orders $35+. Uber One ($9.99/month) bundles restaurant delivery fee waivers with Uber ride credits, making it better for users who use both services. If you only need delivery, Instacart+ is cheaper annually ($99 vs $119.88), but Uber One adds ride-sharing value for multi-service users.
Uber Eats has limited grocery partnerships compared to Instacart's 85,000+ stores. While Uber Eats expanded grocery offerings in select cities, it's not comprehensive or competitive with Instacart's selection. For reliable grocery delivery, Instacart remains the specialized platform with vastly superior store partnerships and bulk-buying options.
Resources & Learn More
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