How To Get Free Instacart Groceries

Do you want to know how to get free Instacart groceries? If you’re trying to save money on groceries, there are ways you can save some money using Instacart.  Food is expensive, as everyone knows, and Instacart is pricey as well. But, it can be convenient at times, so you may be wondering how you…

Alexis Schroeder

Written By:

Alexis Schroeder

Last Updated: September 5, 2025

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to know how to get free Instacart groceries?

If you’re trying to save money on groceries, there are ways you can save some money using Instacart. 

Food is expensive, as everyone knows, and Instacart is pricey as well. But, it can be convenient at times, so you may be wondering how you can start saving money when using this site.

Today, I’m going to share how to save money on groceries with Instacart (yes, even how to get free gift cards to put toward Instacart), how to use rewards/cash back apps to save the most money, and more.

Quick note: If you’re a new user, you can sign up for Instacart here and get $10 off your first order.

How To Get Free Instacart Groceries

Below is a list of how to get free Instacart groceries and other helpful tips.

Recommended reading:

1. Instacart

There are a few ways to get free groceries on Instacart without paying, from referral links to special promos. The best way to get free groceries on Instacart is by signing up through a friend’s referral link, like this referral link here. You get $10 off your first order, and your friend earns $10 too. 

Sometimes, Instacart also has special promos for new customers. These promos offer things like free delivery, money off, or free trials of Instacart+, which is Instacart’s subscription with special perks. 

Instacart also offers a 14-day free trial of Instacart, which includes free delivery on orders over $35. Make sure to cancel before it renews if you don’t want to keep the subscription.

Also, some credit cards have special perks like Instacart+ for free during special promotions they might have.

2. Rewards apps

Some rewards apps pay in Instacart cash, gift cards, bank transfers, or PayPal cash, which can help lower a grocery budget.

You can get paid to answer surveys, test out new apps, and more.

Some sites to check out include:

Recommended reading: 15 Ways to Get Free Starbucks Gift Cards and Coffee

Instacart gift card on Fetch Rewards
I just checked my Fetch Rewards app – yes, Instacart gift cards are one of the options!

3. Grocery receipt apps

Grocery receipt apps are great, and they are one of my favorite easy ways to save money on groceries.

You can save money on groceries by taking a picture of your Instacart receipt and uploading it to the Fetch app (or linking your Instacart email to your Fetch App) to get cash back on groceries. The points you can get on Fetch Rewards can then be used for many different types of gift cards, such as Instacart.

You’re technically allowed to stack cash back apps (at least for most), so you can upload your receipt to multiple rewards apps to maximize your savings.

You can sign up for Fetch Rewards by clicking here.

4. Cash back sites

Besides rewards apps, you can also use cash back sites like Rakuten. Rakuten gives you 1% cash back (sometimes it is as high as 2% too!) on Instacart purchases, which adds up quickly. To get cash back on Rakuten, you need to shop through Rakuten’s Instacart link, which is available on computer or laptop browsers only.

I’ve personally used Rakuten for years, even when it was formerly called Ebates, and have successfully gotten hundreds of dollars in cash back from shopping through their cash back site. That’s because Rakuten works with all kinds of websites, not just Rakuten, so that cash backs really add up.

Also, it’s convenient that they pay out via PayPal or check every quarter. You also get a referral bonus anytime someone signs up with your Rakuten link, which is sometimes as high as $30 per sign-up. 

Please click here to sign up for Rakuten. Plus, you can get a $30 bonus when you spend $30 if you join right now (at the time of this writing; please double-check the current offer).

5. Gas cash back

If you’re already spending money on gas, you may as well get cash back for it. Upside is an app that gives you cash back when you fill up your tank at participating gas stations.

To get started with Upside, you download the Upside app, check for participating gas stations near you, claim an offer, and scan your receipt or pay with a linked card.

I live in a small town, and almost all of my local gas stations participate in the Upside app. All the extra money you save with Upside can be used toward your Instacart groceries.

You can sign up for Upside by clicking here.

screenshot of my Freecash earnings
As you can see here, I have personally made money on Freecash by playing games. Here’s a game of Scrabble I played and earned points with.

6. Play games on your phone

If you like to play games on your phone, then I recommend Freecash. This is a site where my sister personally earned around $300 in one week playing games on her phone, and yes, it’s real! You can learn more about her experience at How I Made $302.80 Playing Games on My Phone (In One Week).

Freecash is a site where you can get paid in points to play games like Monopoly, answer surveys, and download apps like TikTok.

Then, once you have enough points, you can redeem them for PayPal cash, bank transfer, Visa gift cards, and more, which you can then put toward your next Instacart order.

Please click here to sign up for Freecash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions about getting free money on Instacart.

Can you really get free groceries through Instacart?

While you won’t get free groceries for months through Instacart, there are ways to save some money on the service and groceries. You may be able to get free delivery, a 14-day free trial of Instacart, as well as credit through their referral program (this is probably where you can make the most money – by referring others to Instacart. One user reported making $100 by referring 10 people they knew).

Recommended reading: 12 Ways to Get a Free Uber Eats Gift Card

Does Instacart have any discounts for students or seniors?

Instacart does have discounts for students and seniors, including:

  • Students: Get free delivery on your first 3 orders of $10+ through a Student Beans verification.
  • Seniors: Instacart has a Senior Support Line (1-844-981-3433) to help seniors place orders and also has Instacart+, which gives a person free delivery over a certain amount.

What’s the difference between Instacart and Instacart+?

Instacart is the basic version, whereas Instacart+ is the subscription service.

You pay per order with Instacart, which may include delivery fees, service fees, and tips. There’s no monthly subscription required, and it’s good for people who occasionally use the service.

Instacart+ is a paid membership at $10 per month or $99 a year that gives you unlimited free delivery on orders over $10 or $35, depending on the store, and reduced service fees. This membership is ideal for someone who orders groceries regularly. 

Are there any cash back or rewards apps that work with Instacart to save even more money?

Yep, you can take advantage of apps like Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, and Rakuten to stack savings and save even more money. Signing up for these apps may even include a special sign-up bonus, which helps you make even more money.

Can I use coupons or promo codes with Instacart orders?

Yes, you can use coupons and special promo codes on Instacart as long as you enter them in your account before checkout. Also, keep in mind that coupons and promo codes usually have a minimum order requirement and cannot be applied to tips, alcohol, or fees. Sometimes you can “clip coupons” right on the Instacart site for certain items or apply BOGO offers.

How can I get free Instacart+?

If you want to try Instacart+ for free, you can also get it through a credit card like Chase. These credit cards often offer a complimentary Instacart+ membership and monthly credits when you activate the offer. At this time, Costco members can also get two free months of Instacart+ by signing up through Costco. Mastercard sometimes has promos that give eligible Mastercard holders two free months of Instacart+ and $10 off their order each month.

How To Get Free Instacart Groceries – Summary

I hope you enjoyed my article on how to get free Instacart groceries.

There are many ways to save money on groceries and get free delivery on grocery orders. Instacart has plenty of options for getting free delivery, reduced fees, and also has freebies and discounts for students and seniors.

Now, you most likely won’t be able to get every single Instacart order that you have for free, but you may be able to occasionally get some free groceries (or save a little bit of money on a purchase). These days, every little bit is helpful!

Do you use Instacart?

Recommended reading: 


Alexis Schroeder

Author: Alexis Schroeder

Alexis Schroeder is a personal finance writer. With budgeting and side hustles, she paid off over $40,000 of debt and is on her way to early retirement. She writes about ways to save money and how to make extra money. In her free time, Alexis enjoys reading, cycling, and hanging out with her family and dogs in the desert.

Like this article?

Join the Conversation

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *