Instacart
Instacart frequently offers generous referral bonuses for both the referrer and the new driver.
Current Instacart Promotional Examples
(Exact offers vary by region and date)
- Invite friends, make up to $400. Make $400 when your referral signs up as a Full-Service Shopper and completes 30 batches in their first 30 days, or $25 when your referral signs up as an In-Store Shopper and works 40 hours in their first 30 days in NYC.
- Invite friends, make up to $2,500. Make $2,500 when your referral signs up as a Full-Service Shopper and completes 125 batches in their first 30 days, or $25 when your referral signs up as an In-Store Shopper and works 40 hours in their first 30 days in the San Francisco Bay Area.
These incentives change often, and your actual bonus depends on your city, promotion period, and driver type.
Want to earn even higher bonuses?
Whether you’re already an Instacart driver or planning to become one, simply click Live Chat to talk with our support team — we may be able to help you unlock earnings far beyond what you expect.
If you’d like to learn driving tips, bonus strategies, or anything related to working with Instacart, feel free to join the chat room below and connect with other drivers.
Instacart Shopper FAQ
How much can Instacart shoppers earn per week?
Instacart earnings depend on how many batches you accept, your market, and how efficiently you shop and deliver. Some shoppers use Instacart as part-time extra income, while others treat it as full-time gig work. Your real weekly profit depends heavily on batch quality, tips, and travel costs.
How is Instacart batch pay calculated?
Each batch pay typically includes base pay for the order, adjustments for distance, effort, and heavy items, and customer tips. In busy periods, Instacart may also add promotions or boosts to encourage shoppers to work specific times or areas.
Is Instacart worth it for shoppers?
Instacart can be worth it if you work during busy grocery times such as evenings, weekends, and holidays, learn store layouts and shop quickly, and focus on high-pay, high-tip batches. If your area has low pay, few orders, or many heavy low-tip batches, you may want to combine Instacart with other apps.
Are there new ways for Instacart shoppers to earn besides regular batches?
Yes. Instacart has introduced tasks such as brand-related tasks and in-store assignments where shoppers are paid to take short videos or photos of store shelves or check stock levels for brands. These can sometimes pay well for a small amount of time and provide extra income beyond standard shopping and delivery.
How do Instacart referral and bonus programs work?
Instacart runs several referral programs over time for customers, business accounts, and sometimes for shoppers. Generally the rule is that the new user must sign up with your code, place an order or complete required tasks, and follow the terms and deadlines. The referrer then gets a reward, such as Instacart credits or cash, and the new user gets their own discount or bonus. Some shopper referral campaigns have been worth hundreds of dollars if the new shopper completed a high number of batches within a strict time window.
How does referring new Instacart shoppers help both sides?
When Instacart runs shopper referrals, the referrer gets a cash or credit bonus when the new shopper completes the required number of batches on time. The new shopper gets an extra incentive on top of regular pay, which can make their first month much more profitable. If you know people who are reliable and willing to shop seriously, these programs can be profitable for everyone involved.
Who is Instacart best suited for?
Instacart is ideal for people who enjoy grocery shopping and walking around stores, do not mind lifting bags or heavier items, prefer not to have passengers in their car, and are detail-oriented and good at communication and substitutions. If you like shopping more than driving passengers, Instacart is a strong option.
What are the best times to shop for Instacart to earn more?
Typically, the best times include evenings after work, weekends, holidays, and weather events when people prefer delivery. You can also watch for Instacart’s own alerts about busy times and zones in the shopper app.
How do taxes and expenses work for Instacart shoppers?
Instacart shoppers are usually independent contractors. You are responsible for fuel, car maintenance, and taxes. Most shoppers track their mileage and related costs and then use a tax professional or software to properly claim deductions.
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