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E-Commerce · head to head

Instacart vs Trustpilot

Instacart logo

Instacart

E-Commerce

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Trustpilot logo

Trustpilot

E-Commerce

Review management platform for ecommerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Trustpilot review invitations are rationed monthly, at 50 on free, 100 on Starter and 300 on Plus, so collecting reviews is the metered resource
  • They diverge on capability: Instacart covers Multi-retailer marketplace, Trustpilot covers Review collection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instacart and Trustpilot actually diverge.

Attributes where Instacart and Trustpilot differ
AttributeInstacartTrustpilot
Pricing modelFree to download; item markups plus delivery and service fees per order, optional subscriptionfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

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 Trustpilot

  • Review collection
  • Email surveys
  • Review moderation
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Response management
  • Star rating display
  • Widgets
  • API access

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 Trustpilot
  • A frequent orderer comparing whether an Instacart+ subscription pays off against per-order feesnot Trustpilot
  • Someone using SNAP EBT benefits at a participating retailer through the appnot Trustpilot
  • A shopper who wants to order ahead and collect at pickup to avoid the delivery fee entirelynot Trustpilot

Trustpilot

  • Review collection and managementnot Instacart
  • Customer reputation monitoringnot Instacart
  • Review widget integrationnot Instacart
  • Multi-location business review trackingnot 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.

Trustpilot

  • Review invitations are rationed monthly, at 50 on free, 100 on Starter and 300 on Plus, so collecting reviews is the metered resource
  • The Plus and Premium plans are priced per domain, so a second brand doubles the cost
  • Starter at $99 a month billed annually allows one user, two widgets and one domain
  • Customising the public profile to match a brand requires the Plus plan at $319 a month
  • Sentiment analysis and custom dashboards are Premium only at $799 a month
  • Every published price requires annual billing

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

Trustpilot

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 review invitations monthly
    • Unlimited Support Center access
    • Basic review collection and management
  • Starter$99/month
    • 100 review invitations monthly
    • 2 widgets, 1 user, 1 domain
    • 15 integrations
  • Plus$319/month
    • 300 invitations monthly
    • 10 widgets, 3 users
    • Up to 3 domains
  • Premium$799/month
    • 1,000 invitations monthly
    • 21 widgets, 10 users
    • Unlimited domains

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 Trustpilot if

  • You need review collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email surveys.
Trustpilot review

Questions people ask

Is Instacart or Trustpilot better?
Neither clearly leads. Instacart starts at Free and Trustpilot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Instacart or Trustpilot?
Instacart starts at Free and Trustpilot at Free.
Does Instacart or Trustpilot run on more platforms?
Instacart runs on iOS, Android, Web. Trustpilot runs on Web.
Can I use Instacart for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Trustpilot is typically brought in for.
What can Instacart do that Trustpilot cannot?
Instacart covers Multi-retailer marketplace, Instacart+ membership, Same-day and scheduled delivery, Pickup option. Trustpilot covers Review collection, Email surveys, Review moderation, Analytics dashboard.

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.

Trustpilot: Does Trustpilot offer a free plan?

Yes. Trustpilot's Free plan includes 50 review invitations monthly, unlimited Support Center access, and basic review management at no cost.

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.

Trustpilot: What is the minimum contract length for Trustpilot paid plans?

All Trustpilot contracts require a 12-month commitment, prepaid annually. This applies to Starter, Plus, Premium, and Enterprise plans.

Source
Instacart: Are Instacart shoppers employees?

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

Trustpilot: Does Trustpilot charge per domain or per organization?

Pricing for Plus and Premium plans is per domain. The Starter plan includes 1 domain; Plus covers up to 3 domains; Premium supports unlimited domains. Enterprise pricing is custom.

Source
Trustpilot: Can data be accessed after canceling Trustpilot?

Yes. Trustpilot states that 'Reviews remain accessible if service is discontinued,' ensuring customers retain access to collected review data even after canceling.

Source
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