Grocery stores with free pickup
If you’re short on time, using curbside pickup for your groceries can be a serious time saver. You can place a pickup order through a grocery store’s website or smartphone app. No major grocery store offers curbside pickup by phone.
Learn where you can always get free curbside pickup, and where you need to qualify for the service. If your local grocery store isn’t covered, visit their website or local branch to learn more about their curbside pickup program.
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Free curbside pickup#free-curbside-pickup
Target’s “Drive Up” curbside pickup program is free for all orders. To use the Drive Up program, shoppers have to place the order within the Target app. Drive Up is only available at select Target locations, so check if your store is eligible before getting started.
If your store doesn’t have Drive Up, you can opt to pick up your order in-store.
Whole Foods also offers free curbside pickup when you shop online, through Amazon, or in the Whole Foods app. Pickup is not available at all locations, and there may be a small service fee added to the order.
Sam’s Club offers free curbside pickup to members. You can order through the website or app.
Free curbside pickup, with an order minimum#free-curbside-pickup-with-an-order-minimum
Most grocery stores offer free curbside pickup, as long as you meet the minimum order amount. You can get free curbside pickup at the following national chains, as long as your order is $35 or more:
- Walmart: If your order is under $35, you will be charged a “below order minimum fee.” The fee varies by location. This policy applies to all shoppers, even Walmart+ members.
- Sprouts: There is a $3.99 pickup fee for orders under the minimum.
- Kroger: There is a $4.95 pickup fee for orders under the minimum.
- Meijer: There is a $4.95 pickup fee for orders under the minimum.
Curbside pick up through Instacart#curbside-pick-up-through-instacart
Some national stores and local chains offer curbside pickup through Instacart partnerships, including Aldi and Costco. Pickup fees can vary based on how quickly you want the order prepared, order minimums, and store.
Instacart is not free for EBT users, but the app does offer a discount for EBT cardholders for Instacart+. The cost is $4.99 a month for the first year. You have to have placed an EBT SNAP order on Instacart within the last six months, to get the discounted membership.
An Instacart+ membership guarantees $0 delivery fees on grocery and retail orders over $10, and Costco orders over $35, including curbside pickup. Service fees apply.
Remember, if you’re shopping through Instacart without a premium membership, service fees and curbside pickup fees are not SNAP-eligible. In addition to providing your EBT card information, you’ll need to provide another form of payment to cover the fees.
What to watch out for#what-to-watch-out-for
Curbside pickup can save you time, but it won’t always save you money. Here are some ways that the costs may go up unexpectedly:
- Online prices aren’t always the same as in-store prices. Your grocery bill may be higher if you shop online. Prices on Instacart and other third-party apps may be higher than in-store prices. To guarantee in-store pricing, you’ll need to shop in person.
- You don’t get a choice. While pickup can be convenient, someone else is shopping for you. That means you don’t get to choose produce based on freshness or preference. Your store may offer you the option to choose an alternative if your grocery item is unavailable, but if it doesn’t, ask to see how they choose replacements.
