Softwr

E-Commerce · head to head

Instacart vs Spocket

Instacart logo

Instacart

E-Commerce

US and Canada grocery delivery and pickup marketplace with a paid membership tier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spocket logo

Spocket

Inventory

Dropshipping with US/EU suppliers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Instacart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Instacart item prices shown in the app are frequently higher than the same items in the physical store, and this markup is not clearly separated from delivery and service fees at checkout, making true cost comparison difficult.; Spocket the Starter plan at $39.99 per month is capped at 25 unique products and includes no premium products
  • They diverge on capability: Instacart covers Multi-retailer marketplace, Spocket covers Supplier marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instacart and Spocket actually diverge.

Attributes where Instacart and Spocket differ
AttributeInstacartSpocket
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree to download; item markups plus delivery and service fees per order, optional subscriptionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, Browser extension, Cloud-based
CategoryE-CommerceInventory
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Instacart

  • Multi-retailer marketplace
  • Instacart+ membership
  • Same-day and scheduled delivery
  • Pickup option
  • Item substitution controls
  • Instacart Ads and retail media

Only in Spocket

  • Supplier marketplace
  • Product import
  • Inventory sync
  • Order automation
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce
  • Wix

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Instacart

  • A household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chainnot Spocket
  • A frequent orderer comparing whether an Instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order feesnot Spocket
  • Someone using SNAP EBT benefits at a participating retailer through the appnot Spocket
  • A shopper who wants to order ahead and collect at pickup to avoid the delivery fee entirelynot Spocket

Spocket

  • Sourcing dropshipping products from US and EU suppliersnot Instacart
  • Importing supplier products into a Shopify or WooCommerce storenot Instacart
  • Automating order fulfilment to dropship suppliersnot Instacart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Instacart

  • Item prices shown in the app are frequently higher than the same items in the physical store, and this markup is not clearly separated from delivery and service fees at checkout, making true cost comparison difficult.
  • Shoppers are a mix of employees and independent contractors depending on market and retailer, and gig-classified shoppers have raised pay and working-condition complaints that have drawn regulatory attention in several US states.
  • The service fee and delivery fee combination means a small grocery order can carry a large proportional surcharge, making Instacart uneconomical for frequent small top-up shops.
  • Item substitutions chosen by a shopper when stock runs out can differ meaningfully from what was ordered, and refund handling for a poor substitution requires customer support intervention.
  • Availability is limited to the US and Canada, and even within those countries, delivery zones and retailer coverage vary block by block in a way that is not obvious until you enter an address.

Spocket

  • The Starter plan at $39.99 per month is capped at 25 unique products and includes no premium products
  • Premium products start on the Professional plan at $59.99 per month, which allows 25 of them
  • Supplier chat requires the Professional plan
  • The free trial lasts 7 days across all plans
  • The lowest advertised monthly rates require annual prepayment

Pricing, plan by plan

Instacart

Free
  • Pay per orderFree
    • Item prices often marked up versus in-store
    • Delivery fee varying by store and delivery window
    • Service fee of roughly 5 percent of order subtotal
  • Instacart+$9.99/month
    • Delivery fees waived on orders over a store minimum
    • Reduced service fees
    • Also offered at a discounted annual rate

Spocket

On request
  • Starter$39.99/month
    • 25 unique products
    • 0% transaction fee
    • Access to 100M+ product catalog
  • Professional$59.99/month
    • 250 unique products
    • 25 premium products
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Empire$99.99/month
    • 10,000 unique products
    • 10,000 premium products
    • 0% transaction fee
  • Unicorn$299.99/month
    • 25,000 unique products
    • 25,000 premium products
    • 0% transaction fee

Which should you pick?

Choose Instacart if

  • You need multi-retailer marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want instacart+ membership.
Instacart review

Choose Spocket if

  • You need supplier marketplace.
  • You work on Web, Browser extension, Cloud-based.
  • You also want product import.
Spocket review

Questions people ask

Is Instacart or Spocket better?
Neither clearly leads. Instacart starts at Free and Spocket at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Instacart or Spocket?
Instacart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Instacart and On request for Spocket.
Does Instacart or Spocket run on more platforms?
Instacart runs on iOS, Android, Web. Spocket runs on Web, Browser extension, Cloud-based.
Can I use Instacart for free?
Yes. Instacart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spocket starts at On request.
What is Instacart best used for?
Instacart is most often used for a household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chain, a frequent orderer comparing whether an instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order fees, someone using snap ebt benefits at a participating retailer through the app, a shopper who wants to order ahead and collect at pickup to avoid the delivery fee entirely. Of those, a household with limited time wanting groceries delivered same day from a familiar supermarket chain and a frequent orderer comparing whether an instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order fees are not what Spocket is typically brought in for.
What can Instacart do that Spocket cannot?
Instacart covers Multi-retailer marketplace, Instacart+ membership, Same-day and scheduled delivery, Pickup option. Spocket covers Supplier marketplace, Product import, Inventory sync, Order automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Instacart: Are Instacart prices the same as in the store?

Often not. Many retailers set higher item prices for Instacart orders than for in-store purchase, on top of delivery and service fees.

Spocket: What does Spocket charge per transaction?

Spocket charges 0% transaction fees across all plans. Customers pay only the monthly plan fee without additional per-transaction costs.

Source
Instacart: Does Instacart+ pay for itself?

Only for households ordering often enough that the waived delivery fees exceed the subscription cost; occasional orderers usually do not break even.

Spocket: Is there a free trial for Spocket?

Yes, Spocket offers a 7-day free trial available at signup, and customers can cancel their plan at any time.

Source
Instacart: Are Instacart shoppers employees?

It depends on the market and retailer; Instacart uses a mix of directly employed and independent contractor shoppers.

Spocket: How many products can I list on each Spocket plan?

The Starter plan includes 25 unique products. Professional adds 250 unique products (with 25 premium). Empire provides 10,000 unique products (with 10,000 premium). Unicorn offers 25,000 unique products (with 25,000 premium). All plans provide access to 100M+ products from the catalog.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Instacart

More on Spocket

Keep looking

Other head to heads