4.81★ from 1,630,017 ratings · version 4.497.2 · 37 of the last 66 written reviews are one or two stars
Customer service unhelpful or unreachable
5of the 37 read·14%
Support provides only automated responses, lies about payment updates, or is completely unavailable when shoppers need help.
›read 3 of these reviews
“Good and Bad — They do weird stuff with the app. The developers/owners are not forthcoming at all with their shoppers” — ★★☆☆☆“Horrible support — Can’t even get started. I keep clicking complete application to get started but it doesn’t register and it’s the one thing I need to do to get started. Been to support multiple times for the same problem and got hung up on Every time. Yes my app is updated and yes my phone is too.” — ★☆☆☆☆“DONT DOWNLOAD customer service sucks. — The customer will always be right to them no matter what they did and one bad rating will give you zero orders and customer service will be no help! Either it’s automated messages or they’re really helpless. DO NOT recommend working for them. Bad franchise. Doordash pays less per order but has wayyyy better customer service and more orders and your rating won’t mess you up for…” — ★☆☆☆☆
Stuck on waitlist unable to get approved
4of the 37 read·11%
Shoppers report being on the waitlist for years without approval or meaningful communication, even after being told they were off the list.
›read 3 of these reviews
“Waiting list — I been on waiting list 8 years and I can’t even work anyone know how to get online let me know because it crazy that you can’t even work” — ★☆☆☆☆“Phony — My review will stay at one star until I get approved to shop. I wish I can give it zero. Having people on a waitlist for 3 years is just plain unacceptable” — ★☆☆☆☆“Off waitlist — Got an email saying that and still cannot sign up cannot get codes sent to my email or phone number cannot get to any customer service representatives cannot do anything this app is a joke and even on Reddit people have had the same problem even if you respond immediately to the email saying you're off the waitlist doesn't matter it's impossible to even sign up maybe one of the people at Instacart will…” — ★☆☆☆☆
App crashes, lags, or fails verification
4of the 37 read·11%
Reviewers report loading delays, inability to complete setup steps, face verification failures, and login problems.
›read 3 of these reviews
“Horrible support — Can’t even get started. I keep clicking complete application to get started but it doesn’t register and it’s the one thing I need to do to get started. Been to support multiple times for the same problem and got hung up on Every time. Yes my app is updated and yes my phone is too.” — ★☆☆☆☆“Set up — Trying to get set up to become an Insta shopper and it will not take a picture of my ID so I can finish my set up” — ★★☆☆☆“Loading/ lagging issue — App has issues loading in store when trying to start shopping also same issue when attempting the delivery which is affecting my shopping time and delivery time. Other than the loading issues I have no complaints” — ★★☆☆☆
Orders pay too little for time required
3of the 37 read·8%
Reviewers report orders take an hour regardless of batch total, making hourly pay very low even for larger orders.
›read 3 of these reviews
“horrible pay — 80% customers not tipping well then we gonna do lot job for this delivery” — ★☆☆☆☆“Tons of hype — You see a bunch of people on here saying that they did great and they did this and they did that but it’s not true. I literally signed up for Instacart. Did it every morning from 6 AM – 10 AM most days only made $20 whether you pick a short $16 order or you pick a $45 order it’s still gonna take up at least an hour each order because you have to shop for it and deliver it and come back. The app doesn’t…” — ★☆☆☆☆“This app has so much BS-Documentation no income! — Don’t see anything good here, just keeps you into level below F. poverty! Just BS App” — ★☆☆☆☆
Shoppers penalized when stores lack stock
3of the 37 read·8%
Shoppers receive low ratings or pay cuts when items are out of stock at the store, which is not their fault.
›read 3 of these reviews
“Me bajaron la puntuación por artículos no encontrados — Eso no es culpa del conductor eso tiene que ver con las tiendas si la app supiera el esfuerzo que hacemos para encontrar todo no hicieran esa injusticia, si la tienda no tiene existencia de lo que piden los clientes yo no puedo inventármelo tengo que reembolsarlo por qué no tienen en existencia, muy mala experiencia si es así mejor recomiendo ni uso la app por…” — ★☆☆☆☆“Penalizing Shoppers — Terrible app. Us shoppers do our best do get all items ordered and when the store doesnt have the item in stock we bet penalized.” — ★☆☆☆☆“Instacart Punishes Shoppers for Following Its Own Rules — ⭐ 1/5 — Instacart has become one of the most shopper-unfriendly platforms I have ever worked with. The difference between what Instacart used to be and what it has become is unbelievable. Over time, this platform has changed dramatically for the worse. Instead of treating experienced shoppers as valuable partners, it increasingly feels like shoppers are…” — ★☆☆☆☆
Account closed or deleted with no support
3of the 37 read·8%
Shoppers have accounts terminated or deleted and support ignores messages, ends chats immediately, or provides no recourse.
›read 3 of these reviews
“Never become a shopper — I have been an outstanding shopper in my area for 6 years and my account randomly got terminated in July. I’ve sent messages and emails across all platforms for help and have been ignored. Support also ends chat right away after I ask for help. They should be ashamed for how they treat their shoppers and I wouldn’t ever recommend someone to shop for Instacart ever again. It’s not worth your…” — ★☆☆☆☆“Shopper Dedra T — My shopper account has been closed because it show my license had expired. My license was reinstated and my account is still closed” — ★☆☆☆☆“My account got deleted and they want me to get a new phone number to create a new account — My account got deleted and they want me to get another phone number for create an account. I have had this number over 10 years!? This policy needs to be changed asp. I am not buying a new phone just to sign in. Let me know if it gets fixed. I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way. Unable to access my account.” — ★☆☆☆☆
Apple publishes the most recent written reviews, up to five hundred, and that is what was read — not a search for bad ones. Why so many of them are angry. The complaints above come from the 37 most recent negative ones. Newest review 3 days ago (07.09.2026), last collected yesterday.