Instacart vs Uber Eats 2026 Comparison
Instacart specializes in grocery delivery with 15-minute express options and 45,000+ partner stores, while Uber Eats focuses on restaurant food delivery with 150,000+ restaurant partners and integrated ride-sharing benefits. Instacart is better for grocery shopping; Uber Eats is better for restaurant meals.
Instacart
Same-day grocery delivery service from 45,000+ supermarkets and specialty retailers.
Households doing weekly grocery runs, bulk shoppers, families needing staples and pantry items, customers in areas with strong supermarket partnerships
Uber Eats
On-demand food delivery platform with 150,000+ restaurant partners and integrated ride services.
Restaurant meal delivery, regular takeout orders, urban diners, Uber ride users wanting membership synergy, international travelers
Quick Answer
AI SummaryInstacart specializes in grocery delivery with 15-minute express options and 45,000+ partner stores, while Uber Eats focuses on restaurant food delivery with 150,000+ restaurant partners and integrated ride-sharing benefits. Instacart is better for grocery shopping; Uber Eats is better for restaurant meals.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Instacart if you do regular grocery shopping and value fast bulk deliveries from supermarkets with competitive pricing. Choose Uber Eats if you primarily order restaurant meals, want the broadest restaurant selection, and benefit from integration with Uber ride services through Uber One membership.
Was this verdict helpful?
Choose Instacart if
Households doing weekly grocery runs, bulk shoppers, families needing staples and pantry items, customers in areas with strong supermarket partnerships
Choose Uber Eats if
Best pickRestaurant meal delivery, regular takeout orders, urban diners, Uber ride users wanting membership synergy, international travelers
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Primary Service Model:Grocery delivery from supermarkets and retailers vs Restaurant food delivery with some grocery options
- Delivery Speed (Express/Premium):✓ Instacart wins(15 minutes on select items (Instacart Express) vs 30 minutes average for restaurant orders)
- Restaurant Partners:✓ Uber Eats wins(~150,000 restaurant partners globally vs ~5,000 restaurant partners)
Key Facts & Figures
80 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+ | — | — |
| 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) | $3.99-$5.99 | $2.99-$5.99 | |
| Store/Restaurant Partners(count) | 85,000+ stores | 750,000+ restaurants | |
| 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 | — |
| US Market Coverage(% of population) | 95% | 99% | |
| Average Delivery Fee(USD) | $3.99 | $1.50-$3.00 | |
| Available Restaurant/Store Partners(count (global)) | 50+ supermarket chains | 500,000+ restaurants | |
| Monthly Active Users (US)(millions) | 9.5 million | 28 million | |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions) | $2.8 billion | $8.7 billion | |
| Minimum Order for Free Delivery(USD) | $35-50 | $15-20 (with Uber One) | |
| App Rating (iOS App Store 2024)(stars out of 5) | 4.6 stars | 4.7 stars | |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 90 minutes (most areas) | 30-40 minutes | |
| Geographic Coverage (Cities)(cities) | 5,500+ cities | — | — |
| Partner Store Locations(locations) | 80,000+ partner stores | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $8.25/month ($99/year Instacart+) | — | — |
| Minimum Order Amount(USD) | $0-$10 (varies by retailer) | — | — |
| Delivery Fee (No Membership)(USD per order) | $3.99 per order | — | — |
| Product SKU Count (Average)(products) | 20,000+ products (depends on retailer) | — | — |
| Customer Satisfaction (App Rating)(stars) | 4.4/5 (iOS App Store, 2026) | — | — |
| Restaurant Partners (Global)(restaurants) | ~5,000 | ~150,000 | |
| Grocery/Retail Partners(stores) | 45,000+ | ~10,000 | |
| Express Delivery Speed (Premium)(minutes) | 15 minutes (select items) | 30 minutes average | |
| Membership Annual Cost(USD) | $99 (Instacart+) | $99 (Uber One with rides included) | |
| Average Order Value (Typical)(USD) | $45-65 (groceries) | $18-30 (restaurant meal) | |
| User Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.3 stars (iOS App Store) | 4.2 stars (iOS App Store) | |
| US Market Share | 23% | 23% | |
| Countries Operating | ~45 | ~45 | |
| Annual Revenue(USD billions) | $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(organizations) | 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) | 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(days) | 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 | |
| Average Delivery/Pickup Time(minutes) | 25-35 minutes | 25-35 minutes | |
| Cities/Markets Served (US)(cities) | 2,000+ cities | 2,000+ cities | |
| Base Service Fee(USD) | $3-8 delivery fee | $3-8 delivery fee | |
| Premium Subscription Cost (Annual)(USD/year) | $99.99 (Uber One) | $99.99 (Uber One) | |
| Monthly Active Users (2024)(millions) | 120+ million | 120+ million | |
| Global Country Coverage(countries) | 70+ countries | 70+ countries | |
| Restaurant Partner Options (US Average)(restaurants) | 6,000+ per city | 6,000+ per city | |
| US Restaurant Partners(restaurants) | ~900,000 restaurants | ~900,000 restaurants | |
| Restaurant Commission Rate(%) | 25-30% | 25-30% | |
| Loyalty Program Average Discount(%) | 10% (Uber One) | 10% (Uber One) | |
| US Market Share(%) | 31% | 31% | |
| U.S. Market Share (Q3 2025)(%) | 24% | 24% | |
| Countries of Operation(countries) | 70+ | 70+ | |
| Active Restaurant Partners (Global)(millions) | 1.2 million | 1.2 million | |
| Active Delivery Personnel (U.S.)(millions) | 1.8 million drivers | 1.8 million drivers | |
| Loyalty Program Monthly Cost(USD) | $9.99 (Uber One) | $9.99 (Uber One) | |
| Customer App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.6/5 stars | 4.6/5 stars |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Grocery delivery from supermarkets and retailersPrimary Service ModelRestaurant food delivery with some grocery options
- 15 minutes on select items (Instacart Express)(winner)Delivery Speed (Express/Premium)30 minutes average for restaurant orders
- ~5,000 restaurant partnersRestaurant Partners~150,000 restaurant partners globally(winner)
- 45,000+ supermarkets and retailers(winner)Grocery Store Partners~10,000 grocery/convenience stores
- $3.99-$5.99Delivery Fee (Base Average)$2.99-$5.99(winner)
- Instacart+ $99/year or $9.99/monthMembership Cost (Annual)Uber One $9.99/month or $99/year (includes Uber rides)
- 95% of US populationService Area Coverage (US Markets)99% of US population(winner)
- Primary Service Model
Instacart
Grocery delivery from supermarkets and retailers
Uber Eats
Restaurant food delivery with some grocery options
- Delivery Speed (Express/Premium)
Instacart
15 minutes on select items (Instacart Express)(winner)
Uber Eats
30 minutes average for restaurant orders
- Restaurant Partners
Instacart
~5,000 restaurant partners
Uber Eats
~150,000 restaurant partners globally(winner)
- Grocery Store Partners
Instacart
45,000+ supermarkets and retailers(winner)
Uber Eats
~10,000 grocery/convenience stores
- Delivery Fee (Base Average)
Instacart
$3.99-$5.99
Uber Eats
$2.99-$5.99(winner)
- Membership Cost (Annual)
Instacart
Instacart+ $99/year or $9.99/month
Uber Eats
Uber One $9.99/month or $99/year (includes Uber rides)
- Service Area Coverage (US Markets)
Instacart
95% of US population
Uber Eats
99% of US population(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Uber Eats | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (2024)(Billion USD) | $3.3 billion | — |
| YoY Revenue Growth (2024)(percent) | 11% | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 75 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time (Food)(minutes) | 25-32 minutes | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 15+ million | — |
| Monthly Active Users (US)(millions) | 9.5 million | 28 million(winner) |
| Monthly Active Users (2024)(millions) | 120+ 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) | — |
| Subscription Monthly Cost(USD) | $9.99/month | — |
| Service Fee Range(percent) | 5-35% of items | — |
| Subscription Cost (Monthly)(USD) | $9.99/month (Instacart+) | $9.99/month (Uber One) |
Show 16 more attributesAnnual 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 Average Delivery Fee(USD) $3.99 $1.50-$3.00 Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) $8.25/month ($99/year Instacart+) — Minimum Order Amount(USD) $0-$10 (varies by retailer) — Delivery Fee (No Membership)(USD per order) $3.99 per order — 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 — Base Service Fee(USD) $3-8 delivery fee — Premium Subscription Cost (Annual)(USD/year) $99.99 (Uber One) — Loyalty Program Monthly Cost(USD) $9.99 (Uber One) — Base Delivery Fee Range(USD) $2.99-$5.99 — | ||
| Number of Partner Retailers(retailers) | 500+ | — |
| Geographic Coverage(states) | Nationwide (all US states) | — |
| Cities/Markets Served (US)(cities) | 2,000+ cities | — |
| Typical Delivery Speed(hours) | 1-2 hours | — |
| Standard Delivery Time(minutes) | 60-120 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 90 minutes (most areas) | 30-40 minutes(winner) |
| Express Delivery Speed (Premium)(minutes) | 15 minutes (select items)(winner) | 30 minutes average |
| 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% | — |
| US Market Share(%) | 31% | — |
Show 1 more attributeU.S. Market Share (Q3 2025)(%) 24% — | ||
| Partner Retail Categories(categories) | Groceries, pharmacies, convenience, household | — |
| Base Delivery Fee(USD) | $3.99-$5.99 | $2.99-$5.99(winner) |
| Minimum Order for Free Delivery(USD) | $35-50 | $15-20 (with Uber One)(winner) |
| Membership Annual Cost(USD) | $99 (Instacart+) | $99 (Uber One with rides included) |
| Store/Restaurant Partners(count) | 85,000+ stores | 750,000+ restaurants(winner) |
| Available Restaurant/Store Partners(count (global)) | 50+ supermarket chains | 500,000+ restaurants(winner) |
| Product SKU Count (Average)(products) | 20,000+ products (depends on retailer) | — |
| Restaurant Partners (Global)(restaurants) | ~5,000 | ~150,000(winner) |
| Grocery/Retail Partners(stores) | 45,000+(winner) | ~10,000 |
Show 2 more attributesAvailable Restaurants (U.S.)(count) 320,000 — US Restaurant Partners(restaurants) ~900,000 restaurants — | ||
| Geographic Coverage(countries) | 2 countries (USA, Canada) | 70+ countries(winner) |
| Countries of Operation(countries) | 70+ | — |
| US Market Coverage(% of population) | 95% | 99%(winner) |
| Geographic Coverage (Cities)(cities) | 5,500+ cities | — |
| Partner Store Locations(locations) | 80,000+ partner stores | — |
| Geographic Coverage(cities) | 6,000+ cities | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions) | $2.8 billion | $8.7 billion(winner) |
| App Rating (iOS App Store 2024)(stars out of 5) | 4.6 stars | 4.7 stars(winner) |
| Customer Satisfaction (App Rating)(stars) | 4.4/5 (iOS App Store, 2026) | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5 stars | — |
| Customer App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.6/5 stars | — |
| Average Order Value (Typical)(USD) | $45-65 (groceries) | $18-30 (restaurant meal) |
| User Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.3 stars (iOS App Store)(winner) | 4.2 stars (iOS App Store) |
| Countries Operating | ~45 | — |
| Annual Revenue(USD billions) | $12.1 Billion (Eats segment) | — |
| App Size(MB) | 68 MB | — |
| Number of Integrated Services(services) | 1 (Food Delivery only) | — |
| States with Alcohol Delivery(count) | 40 states | — |
| Integration with Other Services | Rides, Eats, Cash, Freight | — |
| Available Restaurants(restaurants) | 600,000+ | — |
| Global User Base(organizations) | 50+ million monthly users (Eats subset) | — |
| App Load Time(seconds) | 1.9 seconds | — |
| Operating Countries(countries) | 70+ | — |
| Restaurant Commission Rate (Mid-Range)(percent) | 25% (15-35%) | — |
| Restaurant Commission Rate(%) | 25-30% | — |
| Average Customer Rating(stars) | 3.8/5 | — |
| Minimum Order Amount(USD) | $15.00 | — |
| Restaurant Selection(restaurants) | 240,000+ | — |
| Average Delivery Time(days) | 32 minutes | — |
| Service Type | Food and grocery delivery | — |
| Average Delivery/Pickup Time(minutes) | 25-35 minutes | — |
| Global Country Coverage(countries) | 70+ countries | — |
| Restaurant Partner Options (US Average)(restaurants) | 6,000+ per city | — |
| Loyalty Program Average Discount(%) | 10% (Uber One) | — |
| Active Restaurant Partners (Global)(millions) | 1.2 million | — |
| Active Delivery Personnel (U.S.)(millions) | 1.8 million drivers | — |
Show 16 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Instacart
Pros
- 15-minute express delivery on select items for eligible members
- 45,000+ grocery and retail partners including Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, Costco
- Lower service fees for grocery items compared to restaurants
- Instacart+ membership includes alcohol delivery and other discounts
- Excellent for bulk grocery shopping with large cart capacity
Cons
- Significantly fewer restaurant options (~5,000 vs 150,000 competitors)
- Shopper quality and availability varies by location, causing delivery delays
- Higher prices on many items compared to in-store shopping
Uber Eats
Pros
- 150,000+ restaurant partners globally offering diverse cuisines
- Integrated with Uber rides—Uber One membership covers both services
- Average 30-minute delivery time for restaurants in most urban areas
- Lowest base delivery fees ($2.99 starting) among major platforms
- 99% US market coverage with strong international presence
Cons
- Grocery delivery options limited compared to specialized grocery apps
- Restaurant markup prices typically 15-30% higher than dine-in
- Driver quality inconsistent; food arrives cold more often than competitor apps
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Yes, Uber Eats offers grocery delivery through ~10,000 convenience stores, supermarkets, and specialty retailers, but Instacart has significantly more grocery partners (45,000+) and faster express delivery for bulk orders. Uber Eats groceries are better for quick items; Instacart is better for full grocery runs.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
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