Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping?

Online grocers provide a wide variety of quality goods at prices that could be less expensive than your local store. I compared several well-known services to determine which one is best. I looked for those that offer variety, quality brands, and fair prices, and an easy option for delivery or pickup.

Shopping online is all about planning your list, and claiming your delivery time slot before it gets full. Also, you'll need to be willing to swap items based on availability.

1. Instacart

This online grocery delivery service allows you to place orders on a website or mobile app creating a virtual shopping cart that's fulfilled by a personal shopper on a specified day. Instacart works with over 1,400 local, national and regional banners across North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. There are even stores with membership only like Costco and Sam's Club, on the platform.

Instacart's costs include a $2.99 delivery fee on the same day and a $3.99 service charge (plus a tip for the customer). These fees are similar to those associated with shopping at your local grocery store but you don't need to be concerned about parking, driving and standing in line to pay. Instacart offers a year-long membership for those who purchase at least 14 times in a year. This will save you money on service and delivery fees.

If you're concerned about grocery costs, Hindert suggests price-shopping prior to adding items to your cart. Instacart lets you include nutrition information and prices specific to your list to allow you to compare the prices and the ingredients of the items you have in your cart. You can also create a "shoppable list" using the Instacart application. This is useful for future grocery shopping trips.

Hindert suggests that Instacart might not be the best option for grocery shopping since it could lead to impulse purchases. Additionally, grocery delivery services don't always offer the same in-store sales that you would find at your local supermarket.

2. Amazon Grocery

Amazon Grocery lets customers get their groceries delivered directly to their door. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses by couriers or at an attended location. The service is available for same-day and next-day delivery options. Amazon has a wide range of grocery items, including fresh dairy, produce seafood, meat and other frozen foods, packaged goods, and household products.

Amazon Grocery has become one of the most sought-after services for grocery shopping and for good reason. It has an affordable pricing structure, a huge selection, and useful features that make it an excellent option for those looking to save time and money on their grocery shopping. It is also a great choice for those looking to cut down on their carbon footprint.

Bishop of Brick Meets Click said that Amazon Grocery's focus on grocery shopping for the week and its low cost and its well-curated selection puts it in direct competition against Area Rug Traditional Design supermarkets. "Grocers that aren't recognizable in one of these areas are most susceptible to Amazon Grocery," he added.

Amazon has introduced new perks that will make it easier for its Prime customers to place more and bigger grocery orders. One of them is a free grocery delivery. This will allow the company to position itself as an all-in-one shop for a large portion of its customers' daily requirements.

Amazon's merchandising technology is a different way it tries to attract customers to their stores. Local brands that have proven successful in smaller stores like Rockenwagner Bakery or Groundworks Coffee are among the many local brands that Amazon is promoting. This gives shoppers a more authentic grocery experience and makes it easier to build loyalty.

3. Walmart

With a hectic schedule of work with family commitments and general dislike of crowds, it's no wonder that shopping online is a favorite option. From clothing to office supplies, everything seems easier when you can just click and ship. Now groceries are becoming a part of the fun.

Online grocers are booming with some offering convenience, while others offer quality items at competitive prices. Which one is best for you? We've reviewed the best grocery delivery services to help you choose the right one for you.

Instacart is a leading online grocery service that connects you with personal shoppers who can shop for you at local stores. It is accessible in a multitude of cities and is a great alternative for those who prefer to shop at chain supermarkets but also want to benefit from discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart offers same-day delivery in numerous markets, and the selection includes stores like Food Lion, Kroger, Wegmans and Shop n Save. It offers bulk items as well, which is ideal for those who frequently visit the store to stock up on basic items.

Walmart is a well-known brand in the world of e-commerce for grocery items. You can order online and pick the time of delivery or pickup, and then add your items to a virtual shopping cart. The site offers rollback discounts and [empty] offers a wide selection of items, from food to pantry essentials and personal products for health. The site also offers the Walmart+ service that delivers food items and other products from local stores.

Thrive Market, an online grocery store that specializes in organic food and non-GMO items. The membership fee is $5 per month, billed annually. It offers a variety of choices for food items including fish, meat and dairy. Thrive offers free shipping on orders of more than $35, and the selection includes items that are healthy for you as well as the planet.

4. Smith's

Online grocery shopping can be a lifesaver to many busy families. These services can allow you to not only cut one weekly chore off your list, but also to plan your meals and budget for. Not all online grocery stores offer the same services. If you're looking for convenience, a broad selection of products or the best price, you must select the best service for your family.

In addition to Smith's many other online retailers provide convenient delivery and pick-up options. Instacart is one of the online grocery stores which allows personal shoppers to shop in local stores and deliver your order to your home or office. Others, like Walmart Grocery, allow you to shop online, and Oil Rubbed Pot Filler then pick up your order at the designated place.

Thrive Market, another popular online grocery store, features an array of organic and natural products such as pantry staples and cleaning supplies. Unlike other online grocers, Thrive does not have an minimum order requirement or a flat rate for deliveries. Additionally, it offers an option for free membership that allows you to try the service for a period of two weeks before you decide to purchase it.

For shoppers who rely on government benefits, Smith's offers an online grocery service that accepts EBT and SNAP cards to pick up your groceries at more than 70 stores. To use this service, simply select the store's location from your Smith's app shop, make your purchase, then choose a pickup time and parking space. Once you arrive, park in your assigned space and dial a number to inform the associate that you are there. The associate will carry your order out to you in the parking lot.

5. Peapod

Peapod is a pioneer in online grocery shopping. It operates in 24 US markets. Customers can place orders and receive the delivery of pantry items, groceries fresh produce, deli goods and meats, dairy products organic and natural foods, prepared meals, office and school items, personal care products and alcohol in certain markets. Customers also can collect their orders at more than 200 Peapod pickup locations, the majority of which are located within Ahold USA's brick and mortar stores such as Stop & Shop.

Peapod uses data to identify shoppers' favorite brands and products that allow the online grocer to recommend similar items. The system lets shoppers view everything in their shopping cart at once and use filters to narrow down results. Because grocery shopping is a routine activity the Skokie, Illinois-based company makes use of data to predict which items the customer will purchase, pushing these items towards the top of the list.

Its drivers, who are referred to as brand ambassadors, are a key element of the service. Bienkowski explained to Food Dive that food is an emotional experience. Being able to communicate directly with the person who is delivering the order makes it more enjoyable and convenient. When customers are able to see their groceries delivered by the driver, they are assured that their order is safe with the driver.

As an early pioneer of online grocery shopping, Peapod has invested in technology to keep up with its rivals. It hasn't had as big of an impact on the market as other grocery delivery services such as Instacart or Amazon Fresh. But the 28-year veteran of the online grocery delivery wars is trying to increase its competitiveness by expanding its online shopping options. It launched a new mobile experience based on the PRISM platform that is exclusive to Ahold Delhaize USA, and its own websites.