Which is Best For Online Grocery Shopping?

Online grocery stores offer a broad range of quality products at prices that could be less expensive than your local store. To determine which is the best option, I tested a few well-known services to find ones that combine various brands, high-quality products and fair prices with convenient delivery or pick-up option.

A key to online shopping is making a list of your needs and claiming a delivery time slot before the spots are filled up. You'll also have to be able to make swaps based on availability.

1. Instacart

This grocery delivery service online allows you to place orders on an app or website, creating a virtual shopping cart that's fulfilled by an individual shopper on a designated day. Instacart collaborates with more than 1,400 local, national, and regional retail banners across North America to deliver products from over 80,000 locations. You can find membership-only stores like Costco or Sam's Club.

Instacart's fees include a $2.99 same-day delivery charge and an additional $3.99 service fee (plus tips for the shopper). These prices are similar to what you'd pay at your local grocery store. However, you don't need to drive or sit in a parking lot, vimeo.com or wait in a the line. In addition, if you shop through Instacart at minimum 14 times a year, you can sign up for Vimeo an annual Instacartmembership and reduce shipping and service charges.

If you're concerned about grocery costs, you should price-shop prior to adding items to your cart. Instacart lets you add nutrition information and specific prices to your list so that you can compare the prices and ingredients of the items you have in your cart. It is also possible to use your Instacart application to create an "shoppable" shopping list that you can use for future grocery shopping trips.

However, Hindert points out that using Instacart to purchase groceries might not be as effective than shopping on your own since it can result in buying impulse items. Additionally the grocery delivery service does not always provide the same sales as the local supermarket.

2. Amazon Grocery

With Amazon Grocery, individuals can have their groceries delivered directly to their doorstep. The products are delivered from local Amazon warehouses via couriers or at a designated location. The service offers same-day or next-day delivery. Amazon provides a wide range of grocery items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats and seafood, packaged foods, frozen food and household items.

Amazon Grocery has become one of the most well-known services for grocery shopping and with good reason. Its competitive pricing, large selection and convenience features make it a great option for those who want to save time and money on their groceries. It is also a great option for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Its focus on the weekly grocery shopping trip, affordable price point and curated selection place it in direct competition with traditional supermarkets Brick Meets Click's Bishop said. "Grocers that don't stand out in any of these categories are more vulnerable to Amazon Grocery," Bishop added.

Amazon has introduced new perks that will make it easier for its Prime customers to place more and larger grocery orders. One of them is the ability to deliver groceries for free. This will help make the company a one-stop shop for many customers' everyday requirements.

Another way Amazon is attempting to draw customers to its grocery stores is through its merchandising ideas. These include featuring local brands that have proven successful in its smaller 365 stores, like Rockenwagner Bakery and Groundworks Coffee. This allows shoppers to have an authentic experience in the supermarket and helps build loyalty.

3. Walmart

With a hectic schedule of work with family commitments and a general dislike for crowds, it's no surprise that shopping online is a popular choice. Click and ship makes everything easier, from clothing to Armless Fabric Office Chair equipment. Now, grocery shopping is getting in on the action.

Online grocery stores are booming. Some provide convenience, while others offer quality products at reasonable prices. But which one is right for you? We've rounded-up the most popular grocery delivery services to help you pick the best option for you.

Instacart is a renowned online grocery service that connects you with personal shoppers who will shop for you in local stores. It is available in thousands of cities, and can be an ideal option for shoppers who prefer supermarkets with chains, but also want to avail discounts at wholesalers such as Costco and Aldi. Instacart provides same-day delivery in a variety of markets, including stores such as Food Lion, Kroger and Wegmans. It offers bulk items as well, which is great for those who frequently visit the store to stock up on staples.

Walmart is another big name in the world of grocery e-commerce. You can shop online and pick the time of delivery or pickup, then add your purchases to the virtual shopping cart. The site offers rollback discounts and offers a wide range of products, from produce to pantry staples and personal care items. The site also offers a Walmart+ service that delivers groceries and other items from local stores.

Thrive Market, an online grocery store, specializes in organic foods and non-GMO items. Membership costs $5 per month, billed annually, and offers an array of foods to select from, including meat, fish and dairy. Thrive offers free delivery for orders over $35, and its selection includes healthy options for both you and the environment.

4. Smith's

Online grocery shopping can be a lifesaver for many busy families. Not only can these services help you shave one errand per week off your to-do list, but they can also help you meal plan and budget. Not all online grocery stores provide the same benefits. If you're looking for convenience, a variety of products or the best price, you must select the right option for your family.

In addition to Smith's many other online grocery stores offer convenient delivery and pick-up options. Some, like Instacart make use of personal shoppers who visit local stores to look for your order and then deliver the item to your workplace or home. Walmart Grocery is one of the many services that allow you to shop on-line and pick up your purchase at a designated store.

Thrive Market, another popular online grocery store, offers an array of organic and natural products that include pantry staples as well as cleaning supplies. Contrary to other online grocery stores Thrive doesn't have any minimum orders or a flat delivery charges. Additionally, it offers a free membership option which lets you test the service for two weeks before you decide to sign up for the service.

For shoppers who rely on government benefits, Smith's offers an online grocery service that accepts EBT and SNAP cards to pick up your groceries at more than 70 stores. To avail this service, just select the store location from your Smith's app, shop and place your order, then choose a time for pickup and a parking space. When you arrive, pull into your parking space and dial the number to inform the associate that you're there. The associate will carry your order to you in the parking lot.

5. Peapod

Peapod is the first to offer online grocery shopping. It is present in 24 US markets. Customers can order and receive deliveries of pantry items, groceries fresh produce, deli goods and meats, dairy products organic and natural food and prepared meals, school and office products, personal care items and alcohol at certain markets. Customers can also pick up their purchases at more than 200 Peapod pickup points that are located in brick-and-mortar shops owned by Ahold USA like Stop & Shop.

Peapod utilizes the information it collects to identify the brands and products that shoppers like, and allows them to suggest similar products. It also allows shoppers to look through all the items in their cart in a single glance and then use filters to narrow the results. And since grocery shopping is a routine activity, the Skokie company uses information to predict which products the customer will purchase, pushing those items toward the top of the list.

The drivers who are known as brand ambassadors, play a crucial element of the service. "Food is a very emotional experience," Bienkowski told Food Dive and being able to communicate with the person who brings customers their orders makes the experience more enjoyable and convenient. And unlike many online deliveries when customers meet the driver with their groceries, they know that the order is in good hands.

As an early pioneer of online grocery shopping, Peapod has invested in technology to stay competitive against its rivals. It hasn't made as much of an impact on the business as other grocery delivery services such as Instacart or Amazon Fresh. The veteran of 28 years of the battle of online grocery stores is trying to boost its competitiveness by expanding its ecommerce options. It has launched a new mobile experience built on the PRISM platform that is exclusive to Ahold Delhaize USA, and its own websites.