About Instacart

Instacart is a leading North American technology company that operates a grocery delivery and pickup service. Founded in 2012, it partners with thousands of national, regional, and local retail banners, giving customers the ability to shop online from over 80,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. The orders are fulfilled by personal shoppers who pick, pack, and deliver the items within the customer’s chosen timeframe.

Disclaimer
Affiliate program terms can change frequently. The figures below are based on general information and may vary based on specific campaigns or affiliate tiers.

Instacart Affiliate Program Overview

The Instacart Affiliate Program (also sometimes referred to as the Instacart Tastemakers program or managed through affiliate networks) allows affiliates to earn commissions by promoting Instacart’s grocery delivery service to their audience. This program is a way for publishers and content creators to monetize their content by encouraging audience members to use Instacart, often by making recipes or shopping lists “shoppable.”

FeatureDetails
IndustryE-commerce, Grocery Delivery, Food & Drink, Logistics
Product TypeService (Online Grocery Shopping, Delivery, and Pickup)
Affiliate Program TypeCost Per Action (CPA) / Commission on Sales

Instacart Affiliate Program Offers

Affiliates are provided with the necessary tools and guidelines to effectively promote the service. The program typically offers a variety of creatives to integrate into different content types.

Promotional FactorDetails
Promotional MaterialsText links, eye-catching banners, social media content, and Shoppable Recipe widgets/plugins for food bloggers.
Affiliate Cookie DurationTypically 7 days, though some sources may cite 30 days depending on the affiliate network or campaign.
Accepted Traffic SourceBlogs, niche websites (e.g., food/recipe sites), SEO (organic search), email campaigns, and social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube).
Accepted CountriesUnited States (U.S.) and Canada.
Explicit ContentGenerally not accepted (affiliates must adhere to program terms which typically prohibit offensive content).
Religious or Political ContentGenerally not accepted for promotional placement (affiliate terms often prohibit content that is derogatory, discriminatory, or political in nature).

Instacart Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The Instacart affiliate program often uses a percentage commission model for qualifying purchases or a flat rate per new customer action.

Payment FactorDetails
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing)No; this is a single-tier affiliate program, meaning you earn commissions only from sales/leads you directly refer.
Commission RateVaries, commonly cited as 3% on qualifying grocery purchases. Some campaigns may offer a fixed CPA (e.g., $2–$10 per referred lead/new customer).
Commission StructureSingle-Tier, Percentage of Sale (RevShare) or Fixed CPA/CPL (Cost Per Lead).
Payout FrequencyUsually monthly.
Payout MethodsTypically through the managing affiliate network (e.g., PayPal or Bank Transfer).
Minimum PayoutVaries by network, but commonly cited as low as $20.

Suitable Affiliates for Instacart Affiliate

The Instacart affiliate program is particularly suitable for content creators and publishers who have an audience interested in food, cooking, recipes, home & lifestyle, or convenience services.

Affiliate TypeSuitabilityRationale
BloggersHighEspecially food/recipe bloggers who can integrate “Shoppable Recipes” to allow readers to easily purchase ingredients.
TikTokersHighCan create short, engaging content about meal prep, easy cooking, and the convenience of grocery delivery.
KOC/KOL/InfluencersHighLifestyle, food, parenting, and wellness influencers who promote convenience and time-saving solutions.
YouTubersHighCan produce review videos, recipe tutorials, or “What I Eat in a Week” videos with integrated Instacart links.
Video EditorsMediumIf they are the ones creating the content for an affiliate channel, yes. As a standalone skill, no.
LivestreamersMediumThose who do cooking streams or lifestyle chats can easily integrate promotional links.

Instacart Affiliate Software

Instacart uses established third-party affiliate marketing platforms to manage its program. It does not rely solely on in-house software.

  • Instacart’s affiliate program has been managed through major affiliate networks such as Impact, CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction), and FlexOffers.

3 Alternatives for Instacart Affiliate Program

Instacart competes with several other major online grocery and food delivery services that also offer affiliate programs. Three common alternatives are Walmart Grocery Delivery, Shipt, and Amazon Fresh.

Comparison FactorInstacart Affiliate ProgramWalmart Grocery Delivery AffiliateShipt Affiliate ProgramAmazon Fresh Affiliate
Average Bill (Estimate)$110 (based on overall transaction data)Similar to Instacart, potentially $100+Similar to Instacart, potentially $100+Similar, potentially $80–$120+
Entry Fees$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)
Withdrawal ThresholdVaries by Network, e.g., $20Varies by Network, often $10–$50Varies by Network, often $10–$50Varies by Network, often $10–$50
Payment FrequencyMonthlyMonthlyMonthlyMonthly
Commission3% RevShare or $2–$10 CPAVaries, typically Percentage RevShareVaries, often a Fixed CPA/CPLVaries, often Percentage RevShare
ConversionFocus on new customer orders or recipe ingredient sales.Focus on new customer sign-ups and online grocery sales.Focus on membership sign-ups and first orders.Focus on new customer orders and Prime sign-ups.
Marketing MaterialsBanners, Text Links, Shoppable RecipesBanners, Text Links, Deal LinksBanners, Text LinksBanners, Text Links, Amazon Associate Tools