Instacart Free Delivery 2026: Promo Codes & Instacart+

Instacart's promo code landscape changes constantly — codes expire, get retailer-restricted, or quietly stop working — but the core new-customer offer and the Instacart+ membership math have stayed fairly stable through 2026. Here's what's actually reliable.

The new-customer offer

New accounts get free delivery on their first three orders of $10 or more, automatically applied at checkout, as long as each order is placed within 14 days of your first order. No code needed — it's tied to the account, not a promo code you have to remember to enter.

Is Instacart+ membership worth it?

Instacart+ costs $99/year (or $9.99/month) and includes:

• Unlimited free delivery on orders over $10 ($35 at Costco, $25 at restaurants)
• Lower service fees on every order
• 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders
• A 14-day free trial before you commit

The math is straightforward: if you place two or more orders a month, the annual fee is typically less than what you'd otherwise pay in delivery fees alone — before counting the lower service fees or pickup credit. If you order groceries only occasionally, skip the membership and rely on the free-delivery windows and rotating retailer promos instead.

How the referral program works

Share your personal referral link or code. When a friend signs up and completes their first order, they typically receive a new-customer credit and you receive a bonus (commonly around $10) once their order goes through. There's no cap on how many friends you can refer.

Common promo code mistakes

• Assuming codes stack. Instacart applies only one active promotion per order — the one expiring soonest — so if you're saving multiple codes, you'll need to place separate orders to use more than one.
• Missing the 14-day window. The three-order free-delivery perk expires 14 days after your first order, whether or not you've used all three.
• Confusing existing-customer status. If you've ever completed an order on an account, phone number, or email before — even years ago — most first-order codes will be filtered out at checkout as "new customer only."

Instacart free delivery: key takeaways

• New customers get Instacart free delivery on their first three orders of $10 or more, placed within 14 days of the first order. No promo code is needed.
• After that, Instacart+ membership gives $0 delivery on orders of $35 or more and lower service fees, and there's a free trial first.
• Only one Instacart promo code can be applied per order, and credits expire, so use them early.
• Pickup orders skip the delivery fee entirely, which is a good option when free delivery isn't available.
• Service fees and tips aren't covered by free delivery.

Ordering for an office, school, or restaurant? Instacart Business has its own offer: $0 delivery fees for a year with Instacart+ through a business referral. See our Instacart business promo page.

A simple rule of thumb: use the free delivery on your first three orders to stock up on heavy or bulky items, then decide on Instacart+ based on how often you actually ordered in that first month. If it was only once or twice, pickup or the occasional delivery fee is usually cheaper than a membership.

Frequently asked questions