Instacart Mastercard® Review

If you enjoy the convenience of having your groceries delivered on a regular basis, you may want to consider a credit card that offers rewards on those purchases — like the recently launched Instacart Mastercard® from Chase.

Along with a generous cash back rate on purchases you make in the Instacart app and on Instacart.com, the card offers an Instacart credit and a complimentary one-year Instacart+ membership upon approval. Just know, the annual membership will automatically renew after the first year — but you can cancel anytime.

We highlight the pros and cons of the Instacart Mastercard®, and show how it compares to other credit cards that offer cash back on groceries.

• Cash back rewards

  Instacart Mastercard® cardholders earn 5% cash back on Instacart app, Instacart.com and Chase Travel purchases, 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and on select streaming services and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

  Rewards can be redeemed for direct deposits, statement credits and travel. You can also use rewards to pay for all or part of your purchases in the Instacart app or on Instacart.com.

• Free first-year Instacart membership

  Get a $50 Instacart credit automatically upon approval.

  Instacart+ membership includes free delivery for orders over $35, lower service fees, 5% back on eligible pickup orders and the ability to add family members to your membership.

• Annual fee

  The Instacart Mastercard® charges a $0 annual fee.

• Instacart+ membership fee after first year

  After a year, your Instacart+ membership will automatically renew into an annual membership for $99 per year. Note, however, that you can cancel your membership at anytime.

• Grocery purchases made in-store do not earn higher rate

  If you use your Instacart Mastercard® to make purchases inside of grocery stores, you’ll only earn 1% cash back on those purchases.

  That said, the Instacart Mastercard® does offer 5% back on eligible pickup orders.

  Interested in earning cash back on groceries?

  See our top grocery credit cards

• No intro APR on purchases

  If you carry a balance on your Instacart Mastercard® month over month, you’ll be subject to interest charges at an APR of 19.74% - 28.49% variable.

  Therefore, if you plan to finance large purchases and pay them off over time, you may be better off with a card that offers a 0% intro APR for a year or longer.

Compare it to the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

 
If you want the opportunity to earn a generous rewards rate on groceries purchased through the Instacart app as well as inside U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a great alternative.

The card lets you earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply. Cash back is earned in the form of Rewards Dollars, which can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com.

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express also lets new card members earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

Unlike the Instacart Mastercard®, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express comes with an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months. After that, a 18.49%-29.49% Variable APR applies. This is ideal if you need to finance a large purchase and pay it off over time (though we do recommend paying your credit card balance in full each month).

Just be aware, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express charges an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. and caps the elevated cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets to the first $6,000 spent annually. Still, if you max out that amount, you can earn $360 cash back on those purchases alone each year.

You should also know that the following merchants are not included in the U.S. supermarket category — and, therefore, only earn the 1% cash back rate: specialty food stores, small corner grocery stores, gourmet shops, online superstores (like Amazon), warehouse clubs and meal-kit delivery services.

If you regularly shop for groceries using the Instacart app, the Instacart Mastercard® provides a great opportunity to earn a generous cash back rate on those purchases, as well as an Instacart credit and a free Instacart+ membership the first year.

But if you want more flexibility on where you can earn your grocery rewards, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express may be a better fit. Along with a high cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets (which includes groceries purchased through the Instacart app), the card offers elevated rewards on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, at U.S. gas stations and on transit. The card does, however, charge a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

And if you want to earn cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases, but don’t want to commit to paying an annual fee, you may want to consider the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express. The charges a $0 annual fee and offers 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.