Instacart and Shipt hold a significant stake in the grocery shopping space. Their biggest strength is the Shoppers who make grocery shopping easy and quick for the customers.
Instacart has more than 130,000 shoppers spread across thousands of US cities whereas, Shipt is available in nearly 300 cities. As a Shopper, you cannot work for a company that pays more but for the one available in your area Because you need to consider other factors like Gas, vehicle, distance, and orders. After everything, a company that makes you spend less and earn more will pay higher in the end.
The Pay structure for Instacart and Shipt Shoppers
Instacart has two categories of shoppers. One is their in-store shopper, which is more of a part-time job that can pay you around $4-$13 depending upon the area whereas, Instacart full-time shoppers are independent contractors who can earn anywhere between $7-$18 per order on average. Instacart pay structure depends on:
- The size of your order
- Distance covered for the delivery
- Timing of the delivery(earn more during rush hours)
- Tips from customers
Shipt owned by Target can pay you higher as a new shopper. According to Glassdoor, Shipt shoppers earn around $18-$22 per order. But you will get fewer delivery orders because of the unavailability of Shipt in many areas. Shipt Pay structure is straightforward.
- A shopper earns $5 per order as base pay.
- Mileage and order size
- Traffic and rush hour
- Tips
The pay structure of the companies can be vague to understand. A shopper can earn more with experience and Tips. Usually, some shoppers can make up to $30 per order because they deliver specific orders at their convenience.
Instacart Vs Shipt: Working as a Shopper
Working as a Shopper comes with its challenges. Sometimes you may not get tips. Customers might place an order to the wrong address. You might not get any orders etc. Pay is a deciding factor but so is your working experience.
Instacart: shoppers sometimes even earn as low as $7. The company algorithms favor shoppers with more experience and order acceptance rates. Hence, if you are an Instacart shopper with an acceptance rate of 90%, you will get more delivery options to choose from, and you can earn more than the average salary.
Shipt: is not available in many areas, so people might prefer to order from Instacart. Shipt shoppers usually complain about not getting more delivery orders especially, if you are in a semi-urban area. So, you will have fewer delivery options and fewer earnings at the end of the day.
Instacart Vs Shipt: What’s best for the Shoppers
Whether you work for Instacart or Shipt, you will make the same amount of money. The catch in the Grocery shipping platform is that you have to be fast, make more deliveries, serve in a particular area, be familiar with the stores to earn more.
As a shopper, there are a few Pros and Cons of working with Instacart and Shipt. To earn more, you have to optimize the benefits and learn the trade of a shopper. Here is a comparison for the shoppers.
| Instacart | Shipt |
| 1. A shopper is an Independent contractor and can work whenever they want. | 1. A shopper is an Independent contractor and their own boss. |
| 2. An average shopper earns around $13-$17 hourly. | 2. An average Shipt shopper earns around $18-$22 hourly. |
| 3. Instacart is available in most of the US cities and has more than 300 retail partners. | 3. Shipt is available in fewer cities and has fewer retail partners compared to Shipt. |
| 4. You need to be 18 years old, have a bank account to get started. | 4. You need to be 18, have a bank account, and own a vehicle to get started. |
| 5. Instacart pays you weekly but you can also use Instant cash out anytime. | 5. Shipt pays you weekly. |
| 6. You can keep all the tips. | 6. All tips are yours. |
So, who pays more?
Let’s not compare apples and oranges. The point is you will earn somewhat similar whether you work for Instacart or Shipt.
As a shopper, you earn more when you deliver more. If you live in an urban area and Shipt is available, go for it because it will pay you more. If Shipt is unavailable where you live then, choose Instacart. You can also work for both to get more delivery options and maximize your earnings. Hence, calculate the gas price, vehicle maintenance price and choose a service that can give you maximum return.
To Conclude
Shipt pays you more by a dollar or two, but Instacart can give you more delivery options, and if you can optimize, you can easily make more money with Instacart due to its high market penetration. However, if you are a new shopper, and Shipt is available near you then, Shipt will be your best bet to learn more while making more.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the perks of an Instacart and Shipt shopper?
A. You can get discounted on vehicle insurance and other shopper perks. However, Shipt organizes meetups and events for its shoppers so, if you are a social person then, go for Shipt.
2. Can I register to drive for both Instacart and Shipt?
A. Yes, you can drive for both, however, you need to divide your time and choose shifts that can give you maximum profit.
3. Where can I make more money as a delivery shopper?
A. The amount you earn depends on where you live, gas charges, and other factors. So before calculating your pay, consider what’s your net profit after deducting extra charges because, in recent times, Instacart and Shipt are paying somewhat similar to their shoppers.
