After a long day at work, spending an hour fighting through crowds of shoppers at the grocery store is probably the last thing you want to do. Whether you need just one thing or a cart’s worth, it’s an errand that can feel both time-consuming and frustrating. Perhaps that explains the rising popularity of going online for the best grocery delivery services, allowing users to have someone else pick up the essentials and bring them straight to the front door.
Like so many things, grocery shopping has been changed significantly by the pandemic. What was once a routine errand in most households is now easily (and relatively affordably!) outsourced to delivery services. A recent survey even reports that almost 70 percent of Americans believe the traditional run to the grocery store is a thing of the past, thanks to COVID-19.
The poll of 2,000 Americans also finds 68 percent reevaluated their shopping habits during quarantine. 64 percent of respondents report having groceries delivered, while another 58 percent say they pre-order groceries online and opt for curbside pickups.
While these numbers have certainly been influenced by the public health crisis, this marks another major shift in pre- and post-pandemic life. Just as many workers do not plan to return to the office, many shoppers have come to prefer delivery to shopping for themselves. As a result of this rise in demand, more and more services have popped up in the market. To help you find the right fit for your unique needs, StudyFinds searched the internet for expert opinions on the best grocery delivery services. This list includes the most frequently recommended companies, but as always, be sure to drop your favorite in the comments below!
The List: Best Grocery Delivery Services, According to Experts
1. Instacart
Practically synonymous with grocery delivery, Instacart is a pioneer in the industry. With a wide array of options for stores, delivery, and products, it’s hard to beat for versatility. “Instacart allows you to order groceries and other items from participating stores near you,” says NBC. “You can schedule deliveries or curbside pickup days in advance, as well as choose from same-day and one-hour options if you need products quickly.”
“Instacart is a grocery delivery service where personal shoppers select your items from the store and then deliver them to your door,” adds Good Housekeeping. “Since the order minimum is only $10, our experts like that Instacart can deliver small orders for one or a few missing ingredients that you need for tonight’s dinner.”
Ordering via Instacart can also gain you access to products from stores you may not otherwise be able to find. “You can even order from Costco and Sam’s Club without needing a membership (though you will pay more than members would in the store),” points out Tom’s Guide. “Some areas even allow you to order from liquor stores, pet stores and pharmacies.”
2. Shipt
Target lovers rejoice! Shipt is a membership-based grocery delivery service owned by the shopper’s favorite, Target. “Available in over 5,000 cities, Shipt is a grocery delivery service that lets you shop from different stores depending on where you live — including an exclusive partnership with Target,” says Good Housekeeping. “You’ll also find options like Costco, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond and Petco.”
“Shipt is similar to Instacart but requires you to sign up for a membership, which comes with free shipping on orders over $35 (for smaller orders, the fee is $7),” Tom’s Guide explains. “Shipt has a somewhat limited coverage area versus the other best grocery delivery services, but still offers convenience and decent prices. They promote weekly sales, coupons and deals (including buy-one-get-one-free) if you’re looking to save on your grocery budget.”
“Besides the wealth of low prices, another big draw for using Shipt is having groceries delivered same-day, sometimes as quickly as an hour,” adds CNET. “Other services require you to schedule delivery times days in advance. This is great if you’re not the best at planning your weekly routine and often need groceries in a hurry.”
3. Amazon Fresh
Believe it or not, you’re probably already a member of this grocery delivery service. If you have an active Amazon Prime membership, you’re free to take full advantage of Amazon Fresh’s vast product offerings. “Amazon Fresh is essentially a digital grocery store. It used to be an add-on service but now comes free for Amazon Prime members,” states Tom’s Guide. “The store offers fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood, packaged foods, Whole Foods 365 products and household goods, such as cleaning supplies. You can even shop for electronics, clothing and toys on Amazon Fresh.”
“Amazon Fresh offers a larger variety of food compared to Whole Foods since you’re not limited to what one specific supermarket carries,” adds NBC. “In addition to pantry items and fresh produce, Amazon Fresh also allows you to order baby, pet, healthcare, personal care and cleaning products.”
“You’ll get access to tons of fresh produce, packaged foods and more from the Amazon digital interface you know and love,” says Good Housekeeping. “Prime members can also take advantage of 5% cash back at Amazon Fresh when shopping with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, which can be a major perk if you frequent the virtual grocer.”
4. FreshDirect
For residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington D.C, FreshDirect is an excellent option for delivering the items you want the freshest. You can trust FreshDirect with grocery items like fruit, vegetables, and meat that you may typically prefer to select yourself. “FreshDirect stocks plenty of organic and specialty items at similar prices to Stop & Shop or Wegmans,” says CNET. “Customer service is also great and if anything is missing or damaged, they’ll replace it in the next delivery or credit your account — no questions asked.”
You’ll need to plan ahead to make sure your order arrives on time, but once it does, it’ll save you plenty of time on inspecting produce for bruises and checking expiration dates. “This popular service delivers high-quality produce and meat selections. You usually need to order a day in advance and any changes need to be made before the cutoff deadline,” adds Good Housekeeping.“The service also offers a 100% Happiness Guarantee, where they will credit you if you don’t like something you’ve received.”
“FreshDirect is limited to a handful of Northeast states and offers those areas high-quality produce, meat, seafood, cheese, baked goods and pantry staples,” lists Tom’s Guide. “They also make their own brand of meal kits and prepared meals — you could buy an entire Thanksgiving meal, as an example. You can also buy farmshare boxes, fresh flowers, household goods, personal care items and alcohol in some areas.”
5. Hungryroot
Hungryroot is more than your typical grocery delivery service. Rather than filling your virtual cart with your own selections, Hungryroot helps guide your grocery shopping with personalized suggestions. “Hungryroot is a cross between a meal delivery service and a grocery delivery service,” NBC explains. “When you sign up, you take a quiz about your dietary preferences, tastes, culinary skills and more, and Hungryroot recommends meals and groceries for you based on that information,”
For those with diet and health goals, Hungryroot can be a helpful partner in your meal planning. “Hungryroot is (…) catering to health-conscious and plant-based offerings,” says Good Housekeeping. “The service creates a grocery plan and recipes to fill your cart. You can also mix and match by editing your delivery to get exactly what you need that week.”
“If you don’t want the options that Hungryroot selected, it’s easy to modify them. You can peruse other recipes and add all of their ingredients with just one click,” adds Tom’s Guide. “Or you can forego recipes entirely and simply browse their products, which include packaged goods like condiments and cereals. They also offer prepared ready-to-eat foods, like tuna salad and chicken burritos.”
You might also be interested in:
- Best Food Delivery Apps
- Best Delivery Apps to Work For
- Best Meal Kit Delivery Services
- Best Easy Dinner Ideas
Sources:
- NBC
- Good Housekeeping
- Tom’s Guide
- CNET
- GQ
- Healthline
- The Penny Hoarder
- US News
- USA Today
- Verywell Fit
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links.