Whether you’re too busy to shop, want to save valuable time, or simply don’t want to spend hours in the store, shopping online is incredibly convenient. But with so many online grocery services, choosing the best one can be more time-consuming than going to a physical store.
In our guide to the best online grocery sites, we break down all the costs, how different services work, their pros and cons, and more to make your online shopping experience unique.
Breaking Down Our Top 10 Choices: Which Is Best For Your Needs
- HelloFresh. Delicious and responsible ingredients
- Home Chef. Quickly prepare pre-portioned meal kits
- Factory. Nutrition advice and guidance
- Instacart. Multiple delivery options and member discounts
- Public Goods. Organic and sustainable food
- Fulton Fish Market. High-quality seafood
- Kroger. Regular coupons and discounts
- Life Choice. Responsibly sourced seafood
- Rastelli’s: Premium beef, chicken, and pork
- Delivery: Easy online ordering and same-day delivery
The Lowdown on the Top Grocery Delivery Services
HelloFresh
- $8 delivery per order
- 2 meals per week for 2 people
- 5 days after ordering
HelloFresh is ideal for those who don’t want to waste time creating menus and shopping for groceries because they do all the work for you. HelloFresh sends you a thoughtfully packaged box with a variety of seasonal ingredients and recipe cards that take less than 30 minutes and only 6 steps. Most ingredients are already prepared, chopped, or mixed, saving you time. Meal options are customized to your dietary needs. HelloFresh allows you to save money on groceries because you get exactly what you need to make special meals. Their food is designed for a variety of cuisines and is suitable for everyone in your family.
HelloFresh is known for its excellent customer service. You can manage your subscription preferences on their easy-to-use website or cancel your delivery during the week if necessary. Any issues or questions are easily resolved via the website’s live chat or by calling a customer service representative. HelloFresh delivers any day of the week, anytime between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, which means your package could arrive during work or after lunch, so plan ahead. HelloFresh can be a great option for those who are stuck in the kitchen or looking for a way to avoid ordering takeout as often.
Pros
- It accommodates a variety of dietary preferences.
- Convenient shortcuts like pre-cut ingredients.
- Easy-to-manage subscription that you can extend or cancel at any time.
Cons
- The price per serving means that ordering for a large family won’t save you money.
- The recipe text is small and confusing, which makes it a little difficult to follow.
Home Chef
- Free shipping on orders over $45.
- 2 meals per week for 2 people.
- 4 days after ordering.
Home Chef is ideal for those who want a quick, home-cooked meal without having to rely on takeout (again). The meal kits are quick to put together, and most are ready in less than half an hour. The foods are categorized by difficulty level and type of preparation. It’s easy to choose dishes that suit your preferences and request additional ingredients, such as extra proteins. For those in a hurry to whip up a home-cooked meal, Hc is ready to cook in the oven, grill, or microwave.
Home Chef lets you create a taste profile so future recommendations reflect your preferences. You can choose your meal up to 5 weeks in advance to order once and have it ready when you want it. You can skip delivery for a specific week or cancel your plan at any time. Home Chef recipes are clearly explained, making it easy to prepare and cook dinner with minimal effort. hc lets you substitute or double the amount of protein in certain dishes, and you can even choose the premium option as a delicious treat. If you’re ordering just for yourself, keep in mind that the minimum order is two servings, so choose the dish you’d like to repeat at another meal. Home Chef dishes can be ordered online or purchased at various grocery chains nationwide.
Pros
- Customize your meals (up to 30 options per week) by substituting or doubling proteins.
- Meal plans come with easy-to-follow instructions so you learn real skills
- The meal plans include easy-to-follow instructions to help you learn how to prepare them.
Cons
- Options are limited for people with special diets or food allergies.
- You can order for 2, 4 or 6 people, so singles will find it less useful.
Factor
- Free
- 2 meals a week for 2 people
- MW date depends on zip code.
Factor offers over 20 healthy meals per week, developed by nutritionists, made with fresh ingredients and prepared by the company’s chefs. The food is high quality and free of antibiotics, hormones, GMOs and refined sugar. Factor’s weekly menu is filtered according to your dietary needs, such as paleo, low-calorie, low-carb, keto or vegetarian.
The food stays fresh for up to 10 days and can be frozen for later use. Factor also offers nutritional advice to help you eat healthily. If you’re looking for an easy way to live a healthy lifestyle, Factor could be the ideal food delivery service for you.
Pros
- Meals are delivered ready-made.
- A variety of special meal options.
- No delivery fees.
Cons
- No family meal plans.
- Not many vegetarian options.
Instacart
- Starting at $5.99
- $10
- Only 1 hour
Instacart is an excellent online grocery delivery service that is available in many cities in the US and Canada. It partners with local stores to offer you the best service. It is worth the extra cost to save you time and money on travel and avoid impulse purchases. This is what makes this service invaluable to many of its customers.
When you shop at Instacart, you can be sure that you will never run out of anything because we offer same-day delivery. Customer service is excellent, and if they make a mistake with the delivery and something doesn’t arrive, they will send it to you as soon as possible or refund you immediately.
Pros
- Customers can communicate with buyers.
- Order history makes it easy to reorder the same items.
- Offers coupons and discounts online.
Cons
- Shipping costs
- You have to trust the buyer with your product selection.
Public Goods
- Varies by location and order size, free on orders over $45 or subscription over $100
- None
- Fast shipping within 10 business days
At Public Goods, we believe in taking care of yourself and the planet. That’s why we offer a wide range of healthy, sustainable, and everyday essentials. From groceries and essentials to health and body care, vitamins and supplements, cleaning products, and everyday essentials, Public Goods products are designed to be eco-friendly, healthy, and fashionable.
All Public Goods products are non-toxic, paraben- and sulfate-free, and pure. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available, and everything is GMO- and cruelty-free. The products are also sustainably and responsibly sourced, offsetting your carbon footprint with every order. So whether you’re using these products to satisfy your hunger, make your bed, or clean your windows, Public Goods helps you feel good and relax better knowing you’re making a responsible choice with every purchase.
Pros
- Organic product line
- Healthy: Free of chemicals, parabens, or sulfates.
- Non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free options.
- Free shipping on some orders.
Cons
- Limited free shipping, even for members.
- Can take up to 10 business days.
Fulton
- Free:
- None.
- 2 days.
If you love seafood, you’ll love the Fulton Fish Market. It’s one of the largest fish markets in the country and arguably has the largest selection of seafood. You can choose from the usual premium fare like grouper, halibut, perch, salmon, tilapia, and redfish. Or try something new and discover a new favorite like sea urchin, eel, or sashimi.
Fulton Fish Market offers all the fresh, frozen, smoked, and cured seafood you could want. And best of all, delivery is free. Create your own box or let Fulton Fish Market select the catch of the day, the best cuts available at the time, for a more eclectic menu. You can even order additional supermarket side dishes to complement your fish-based dishes, like condiments and rice.
Pros
- Largest seafood selection in the area.
- Fresh fish is delivered for free.
- Trusted brand and customer service policy.
Cons
- Can’t replace regular shopping.
- Orders over $99 must be shipped for free.
Kroger
- Free or $3.99 to $11.95
- No one
- 2 hours, same day, next day
Kroger is a popular supermarket chain that also offers online grocery delivery. You can choose between same-day or next-day delivery, and they’ll even deliver your groceries within two hours or more. Plus, delivery times are flexible, so you don’t have to worry about wasting your entire day because the delivery service isn’t available.
Kroger has a loyalty program for members. You can earn points on your purchases and use them to pay for more, or simply enjoy cashback by transferring them to your PayPal account. Kroger has an excellent platform with useful features like shopping lists that make ordering easier.
Pros
- Membership card benefits
- Easy digital couponing
- High-quality fresh produce.
Cons
- High shipping fees
- Delivery only available in select areas
Vital Choice
- Free shipping on orders over $98; otherwise $6.95 to $12.95
- Perishable orders: $65
- 1 to 7 business days depending on items ordered, overnight delivery available
Vital Choice focuses on high-quality food. This unique online grocery service offers sustainable and ethical sourcing methods, as well as organic products to consumers who want to make a difference in the world. Vital Choice carefully selects its suppliers, ensuring humane methods and high-quality proteins. Choose from wild-caught seafood and pasture-raised beef.
Vital Choice also offers a variety of helpful tools and tips on its website. You can educate yourself about the environment by reading its core values, watching professional cooking videos created by chefs, or exploring the helpful guide section on grilling, desalting, and other cooking methods.
Pros
- Responsibly sourced organic seafood and produce
- Wide selection of fresh and frozen fish and seafood.
- Quality assurance
- Monthly reminder before subscription renewal
Cons
- Subscription boxes cannot be personalized
- No 24/7 live chat support
Rastelli’s
- $25 on orders under $100 $10 on orders $200 or more Free shipping
- Nothing
- Within 5 business days
Rastelli’s is a family-owned company that delivers high-quality fresh and frozen protein anywhere in the continental United States. The local service believes in quality and only partners with farmers and fisheries that share their passion for humanity and sustainability. All proteins are sourced responsibly and humanely. Plus, these proteins are free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids. Simply pure and delicious.
- Rastelli’s offers several subscription options, and you can also order individual products or buy à la carte. Orders arrive frozen within five business days. And shipping is free on orders of $200 or more. Choose from a wide variety of proteins, including beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and seafood. Or opt for plant-based proteins like VBites burgers and plant-based hot dogs.
Pros
- A wide selection of proteins, including plant-based ones.
- Sustainable, antibiotic-free, and humanely raised.
- Easy ordering options.
Cons
- No shipping to Canada, Hawaii, or Alaska.
- You can’t choose your own delivery days/windows.
Shipt
- $7 to $35, free over $35
- Busy and homebound people
- Just 1 hour
If you lead a busy lifestyle and don’t know where to find time to do your weekly grocery shopping, Shipt is a great solution. All you have to do is log in or use the app to select the store you need. Then, simply fill your cart, pay, and wait for your scheduled delivery.
One of the best things about Shipt is that if you need to pick up something quickly, you can place your order and have it delivered to your door in just an hour. You know you can be sure that shoppers will choose the best products available and receive all their food in perfect condition.
Pros
- A live chat option is available for immediate changes.
- Customer service is available 24/7/365.
- You can place your order online or through the app.
Cons
- Only available at select local stores.
- Does not offer delivery from restaurants or grocery stores.
Here’s How We Rated The Best Online Grocery Services
To rank these top online grocery delivery services, we took a close look at how they work, what they offer, and their pros and cons. We conducted extensive research to evaluate how grocery delivery sites can:
- Save your time
- Save money
- Help your diet
- Be more efficient
Since coronavirus has recently become a buzzword, online grocery delivery services have been booming. But these services were already popular even before this disaster. If you love the idea of convenient, fast, easy, and time-saving grocery shopping, it’s time to step into the 21st century with the latest in online shopping. Read on to find out what all the fuss is about.
Grocery Delivery: 2023 Style
Online grocery shopping services truly benefit all consumers. From busy moms who don’t have time for… everything (and still manage to do it all) to ambitious workers looking to advance in their fields, online grocery shopping services offer the convenience, ease, and efficiency that the average consumer is looking for today. Here are some of the benefits of this convenient service for your busy life.
Time-saving
No one has time to waste these days. From students to parents, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between, one thing we all have in common is a significant time crunch. Any service that allows us to free up our precious time is worth exploring. Without a doubt, online grocery services are a real time saver. Even if you’re lucky enough to avoid the store’s traffic, it still takes time to find a parking spot, fill your cart, and do that all-important price comparison for those $5.99 bulk cookies. And that’s not even talking about the checkout line.
All of this adds up to valuable hours that you can spend on more important and, of course, more fun activities. The great thing about ordering online is that it allows you to get back into your busy schedule, allowing you to do more of what you want. By buying groceries online, you eliminate traffic, parking, aisle searches, and, most importantly, lines. So, you get your groceries and toiletries without wasting so much time.
Convenience
In addition to saving time, online grocery services offer convenience. First, clicking on a product online doesn’t compare to the sensory explosion of a traditional supermarket aisle. On the other hand, online grocery services are neatly organized into products and categories that you can browse or simply search directly for the individual products you want. Either way, you eliminate all the extra stress that often accompanies a regular supermarket visit.
And of course, having your groceries delivered to your door is the most convenient. Who likes to carry shopping bags to the store and back?
Cost-effective
Online grocery stores charge a small fee to deliver your groceries. But if you use the right services, you will save more than you spend on that small fee. The best online grocery stores offer coupons, easy price comparison tools, and many even include loyalty programs that allow you to earn points when you shop online. So you will enjoy the convenience and time savings, as well as save money on your weekly shopping.
With online grocery services, you buy what you need, what is on your list, and nothing else. So you will save a lot on all those little things that you never needed or wanted.
Saves your waistline
Similarly, online supermarkets will also help you save calories. Research has shown that when you only get the items on your list and aren’t swayed by sales and attractive packaging, you eat healthier. After all, it’s not that much of a stretch to look at a photo of a Lay bag.
Plus, online grocery services offer healthy meal bundles to help you stay healthy and save cooking time. These meal kits give you all the ingredients you need to prepare delicious, nutritious meals for you and your family. Choose from homemade classics to exotic flavors and more, and have all the ingredients ready to cook, easy-to-follow instructions, and serving suggestions. The meal kits you order from most online grocery stores will also have your diet already balanced. So there’s no calorie counting to do and you know you’re getting all the essential nutrients in one dish.
How to Choose the Best Online Grocery Services for You
The most important factor when choosing the best online grocery service is delivery options. After all, if an online store has all the delicious foods you want but doesn’t deliver, that’s a bummer. So, make sure to start your search by clarifying this important detail first. Some online grocery services offer in-store pickup. This is another convenient service that saves you a lot of time by doing your shopping for you. You can visit the store after work, pick up your groceries, and have everything you need ready to go without any hassle or worry.
Once you know you can have your groceries delivered, review the selection, availability of coupons, and any savings programs (such as loyalty or other rewards programs) that can help you get the best deals. If you need specialty items, such as gluten-free or diabetic foods, make sure that the online grocery stores you choose regularly have them in stock.
