Are you a student or a stay-at-home mom looking for side jobs?
Here is the perfect side hustle for you—being an Instacart Shopper.
I know there are many food delivery side hustles like Postmates and Doordash, but Instacart works in a different way. If you have a car and want to start a side hustle, then this is a great way to earn extra money.
Let’s find out everything about this company and how you can start a new side gig as an Instacart Shopper.
Instacart Shopper review
About Instacart
Founded in 2012, Instacart is an online grocery delivery service that makes the whole grocery delivery process easier.
Instacart is available in more than 5,000 locations in the US and Canada. It has varied delivery options ranging from within as little as an hour to one week. With over 600,000 shoppers, this side gig is something worth trying if you’ve got some free time in the week.
What are the Instacart Shopper requirements?
Instacart has two types of roles for people interested in working as an Instacart Shopper: full-service shoppers and in-store shoppers.
Full-service shoppers
In this role, you will be shopping for and delivering groceries. The requirements for this role are
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must be eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada
- Must have a smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 9 or later
- Must have a functioning, registered vehicle
- Must have vehicle insurance
- Must have the ability to lift 30+ pounds
This role is a good fit for someone who wants to work flexible hours. You will be working as an independent contractor. There is no limit to the number of hours you can work in this role.
In-store shopper
For this job, you only need to do the shopping, and delivery drivers will pick up the order. You don’t need a car to work as an in-store shopper. The hours are a maximum of 29 hours per week.
Other requirements for this role include
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must be eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada
- Must have a smartphone with Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 9 or later
- Must have the ability to lift 30+ pounds
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How to become an Instacart Shopper
If you are interested in becoming an Instacart Shopper, then head over to the website and apply online. You need to fill in all the details like your name, email address, etc.
You also need to provide proof of your driver’s license and a background check will be done.
For the in-store shopper role, you will have an in-person onboarding session once approved.
About the Instacart Shopper app
Everything can be done from the Instacart Shopper app, from registration to taking the orders.
You can go to the website, enter your mobile number, download the app, and start right away.
How much does being an Instacart Shopper pay?
The pay for a full-service shopper can vary depending on the number of hours you work, the location you work in, the type of orders you take, and the distance you travel. You get to keep 100% of any tips you receive.
In-store shoppers are on an hourly wage, which is decided when you are approved for the job.
According to Glassdoor, the average pay is around $14–$15 an hour.
Pros and cons of being an Instacart Shopper
Though this is a pretty low-stress job, here are some of the pros and cons of being an Instacart Shopper:
Pros
- Flexibility to work when you want to (full-service shoppers)
- Choice of two types of roles
Cons
- Pay is not consistent (full-service shoppers)
- Not suitable for people who don’t like to drive (full-service shoppers)
Other Instacart Shopper reviews
- On Glassdoor, Instacart Shopper has a rating of 3.2 with positive reviews about the flexibility to choose your own hours.
- The low pay and not enough work in some areas are some of the negative reviews.
- Indeed.com has a rating of 2.7 for Instacart Shopper with both good and not-so-good reviews.
Tips to earn more as an Instacart Shopper
Work during busy hours
Working in peak hours means taking more orders and more pay. Instacart has Peak Boost times when the stores are busy and shoppers can take more orders. If you want to make more money, work during these hours.
Know your orders
You should have good knowledge of the layout of the stores, the dairy, fresh produce, and the meat section. This will help you to shop quickly and get your orders delivered on time.
Points to remember before you become an Instacart Shopper
- Like any other food delivery jobs, being an Instacart Shopper has its good and bad points.
- If you are someone who loves driving and likes social interaction, then this could be a good side job for you. Otherwise, here is a list of sites to earn extra cash while you binge watch TV.
Some of the plus points of being an Instacart Shopper are the freedom to choose your own hours and the ability to choose from two types of roles.
