Instacart is a service that connects you with personal shoppers in your local area, delivering groceries to your door.

Easier than Going to the Supermarket.

Instacart delivers groceries to your door in one hour, saving you the time it takes to commute to and from specific grocery stores, loading and unloading those groceries and all the other annoyances that accompany a trip to the supermarket. The company currently only serves residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Boston, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago, primarily because it’s useful for customers in large metropolises where getting groceries can be more difficult. The site works by connecting individuals with personal shoppers in the nearby area. Those shoppers pick up and deliver your groceries from any number of local stores. Instacart does not work directly with the grocery stores, but simply employs individuals that shop at these stores for you. These individuals are screened and trained by Instacart.

Quick Service.

According to Instacart’s personal records, the company’s fastest delivery took only 12 minutes. Most deliveries, however, arrive within 2 hours of ordering. Users can also schedule for a specific time in the future. The cost of delivery varies from area to area, but Instacart prides itself on keeping prices low. The typical delivery cost in under two hours is $3.99, a modest fee to pay considering the services provided. The company, however, may have somewhat hidden costs. Instacart names prices for grocery products on its own, so their prices may vary from your local grocery store’s prices. Also, it is generally accepted that your personal shopper should be tipped, although tipping is not required. The service does allow you to get extremely specific with your orders — you can even specify the amount of ripeness you’d like for your produce. The site also has pricing plans for more regular users. If you’re willing to spend a little more on your routine grocery shopping, the site is worth consideration.