The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Instacart Mastercard review: Great for Instacart lovers but few others
Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
also contributed to this story
December 14, 2024 • 8 min read
FG TRADE/GETTY IMAGES
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note:
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
A grocery delivery-focused card offers elevated rewards for purchases at select merchants and includes a range of travel and purchase protections.
The card provides a sign-up bonus in the form of a merchant credit, with no spending requirement, but redemption options are somewhat limited.
Additional benefits include no foreign transaction fees and access to premium Mastercard perks such as baggage delay insurance and extended warranty protection.
While the card is appealing for dedicated grocery delivery users, its value may be less compelling for those not loyal to the brand or living outside service areas.
What to consider
The sign-up bonus is only available to new cardholders who have not received a bonus in the past 24 months.
The merchant credit cannot be used for taxes, tips, gift cards, prescriptions, delivery fees or other service fees.
Some offers previously mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how this card stacks up against other options for online grocery and delivery rewards.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Instacart Mastercard overview
The Instacart Mastercard® earns highly on more than just Instacart purchases and provides more benefits than typical for a card without an annual fee. However, its bonus categories require making purchases in specific ways that may not appeal to everyone. These restrictions are unlikely to convince those not already loyal to Instacart to get the card. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The popularity of grocery and meal delivery services has exploded over the past few years. Following this trend, the Instacart Mastercard launched in mid-2022 as the first credit card for grocery delivery fans.
This card provides elevated earning rates beyond Instacart purchases and more benefits than no-annual-fee cards typically offer. That said, it’s not ideal for everyone, given Instacart’s limitations and the earning opportunities on other credit cards.
Is the Instacart Mastercard the right card for you? Let’s take a detailed look at it to find out.
The information for the Instacart Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Instacart Mastercard pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Decent earnings rates
No annual fee
Limited redemption options
Limited earnings rates
Instacart Mastercard welcome offer
New applicants for the Instacart Mastercard can receive a $50 Instacart credit upon account approval. There is no spending requirement to unlock this bonus offer.
The offer terms say that the $50 credit should be applied to your Instacart account immediately upon approval for the Instacart Mastercard; however, the terms also state that it could take up to 10 days to receive the credit.
Additionally, you cannot receive this bonus if you have earned a bonus on this card in the past 24 months — which shouldn’t be an issue for too many people yet, given that this is a relatively new card.
THE POINTS GUY
The $50 account credit from the welcome offer can be applied to any Instacart purchase but cannot be used toward taxes, tips, gift cards, prescriptions, delivery fees or other service fees.
Previously, we've seen a complimentary year of Instacart+ offered along with the $50 welcome discount. It's unclear whether that welcome offer will ever return, but most consumers in this card's target demographic likely already have Instacart+.
The Instacart Mastercard is a World Elite Mastercard; this provides benefits like 24/7 concierge services and Mastercard Priceless experiences.
JACOB WACKERHAUSEN/GETTY IMAGES
You’ll also enjoy these perks:
Bagagge delay insurance: Provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day for up to three days after delays of six hours or more
Extended warranty protection: Adds an extra year to manufacturer’s warranties of three years or less
Purchase protection: Covers purchases made in the last 120 days against damage or theft for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account
Lost luggage reimbursement: Provides up to $3,000 of reimbursement per passenger for checked and carry-on luggage
Travel and emergency assistance services: Coordinates services on your behalf, though you’ll pay for these
Travel accident insurance: Provides up to $500,000 of coverage for accidental death or dismemberment
Roadside assistance: Provides dispatch services on a pay-per-use basis
Auto rental collision damage waiver: Provides coverage on rental cars when you pay for the entire rental with your car; coverage is secondary within the U.S. but primary elsewhere
With the Instacart Mastercard, you’ll earn rewards points that you can use as cash back — worth 1 cent apiece. These earnings are sometimes referred to as points, Instacart points or cash-back rewards — all of these terms mean the same thing.
Cardholders earn 5% cash back on Instacart.com and Instacart mobile app purchases, including membership and subscription charges. You won't earn 5% cash back on restaurant orders made through Instacart.
You’ll also earn 5% back on travel reservations made through Chase Travel℠.
CAROL YEPES/GETTY IMAGES
You’ll also earn 2% back at gas stations and on dining (including restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services) and select streaming services. Finally, you’ll earn 1% back on other purchases.
Rewards points and cash back don’t expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Redeeming cash back on the Instacart Mastercard
You can use your earnings to pay for all or part of a purchase in the Instacart app or on Instacart.com. Additionally, you can redeem your points in the following ways, most providing 1 cent apiece in value:
There are no minimum redemption amounts, though redemption values can vary depending on how you use your rewards. Pay attention to these to ensure you obtain solid value.
Which cards compete with the Instacart Mastercard?
The Instacart Mastercard is unique as the first credit card from a grocery delivery brand. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any competition:
If you want similar benefits but different earning categories: The Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) also has no annual fee and earns 5% back on Chase Travel purchases. You’ll earn 5% back in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter you activate), 3% back at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 3% back at drugstores, and 1% back on other purchases. You’ll enjoy similar World Elite Mastercard benefits. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
If you want similar perks but with Amazon instead: The no-annual-fee Prime Visa (see rates and fees) currently offers 10% or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com, 5% back on Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods orders, and Chase Travel purchases for those with a Prime membership, including grocery deliveries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods. You’ll also earn 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and local transit and commuting and get 1% back on other purchases. To learn more, check out our full review of the Prime Visa card.
If you want valuable rewards on online grocery purchases: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) as well as streaming and dining purchases. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you are a devoted Instacart fan, this card likely makes sense. However, if you are not loyal to the brand, it would be a better idea to get another credit card that earns points or cash back on online grocery services. Instacart is also not available everywhere in the U.S. Before applying, research delivery options in your area.
Bottom line
The Instacart Mastercard has a solid array of benefits for Instacart fans and those who want a card without an annual fee. Its earning categories extend beyond grocery delivery but may not sway those who aren’t already loyal to the brand.
If you’re ordering with Instacart, remember that you can earn additional rewards and discounts when shopping with Instacart. Click through the Rakuten shopping portal to earn 1%-3% cash back (or 1-3 American Express Membership Rewards points) on your shopping trips. Then, use an Instacart promo code to save money at checkout.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
