The short answer: open your usual grocery store’s app or website (or a delivery service such as Instacart), create an account, add items to your cart, pick a delivery or pickup time, review the total, and pay with a credit card. Your first order takes the longest. After that, most stores let you reorder past items with a tap.
This guide is for anyone placing an order for the first time, and for family members or caregivers setting it up for someone else.
Step 1: Decide where to order from
You have three common choices. Start with the store you already shop at in person, because you’ll recognize the brands and prices.
| Option | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Your local store’s own app or website | Usually the simplest. Look for “Pickup” or “Delivery” on the store’s home page. |
| Walmart | With a Walmart+ membership, scheduled Walmart deliveries are free on orders of $35 or more. As of October 20, 2026, Walmart+ can be bundled with Sam’s Club Plus for $120 a year (Walmart announcement). |
| Instacart | A shopper buys from stores near you. Instacart+ costs $99 a year or $9.99 a month and removes the delivery fee on grocery orders of $10 or more. Service fees still apply (Instacart). |
Using SNAP (EBT)? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP online purchasing is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Your state’s list of approved online stores is on the USDA’s SNAP online page.
Memberships are optional. You can order without one, and you’ll just pay delivery fees per order. Try one or two orders first and see how often you’d use it.
Step 2: Delivery or pickup?
- Delivery brings the groceries to your door. It’s the best choice if driving or carrying heavy bags is hard. Expect delivery fees, service fees, and an optional tip.
- Curbside pickup means you park in a marked spot and staff load the bags into your car. It’s often cheaper than delivery, and you skip walking the aisles.
Step 3: Place your first order
The buttons look a little different in every store’s app, but the steps are the same:
- Create an account with your email address and a password you don’t use anywhere else. Write the password down somewhere safe at home if that helps.
- Enter your address or ZIP code so the app shows your local store and its prices.
- Search for each item using the search bar at the top, for example “2% milk” or “bananas.” Tap Add (or the + button) to put it in your cart.
- Set substitution preferences. Most stores ask what to do if an item is out of stock: replace it with something similar, or skip it. Choose “don’t substitute” for anything you’re particular about, such as medicines or dietary items.
- Open your cart (usually a cart icon at the top or bottom of the screen) and check the quantities. It’s easy to order 12 lemons instead of 1.
- Pick a time slot for delivery or pickup.
- Review the total, including delivery fee, service fee, bag fee, tip, and tax, before you tap the final button.
- Pay and confirm. You’ll get a confirmation email or text. Keep it until your groceries arrive.
Tip for next time: most apps have a “Buy it again” or “Past orders” section, so your second order can take just a few minutes.
Paying safely
The Federal Trade Commission’s advice for online shopping applies to groceries too (FTC: Online Shopping):
- Pay by credit card when you can. If you’re charged twice or get the wrong item, you can dispute the charge with your card company.
- Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, a payment app, or cryptocurrency to a seller who insists on it. That’s a warning sign of a scam.
- Check the web address. “https” means the connection is encrypted, but the FTC notes it doesn’t prove a site is legitimate. Type the store’s address yourself or use its official app, rather than clicking a link in a text or ad.
- Keep your records: the order confirmation, what you paid, and any messages from the store.
When something goes wrong
- An item is missing or damaged: open the order in the app. Most stores have a “Report an issue” or “Get help” option for refunds on individual items.
- A substitution you didn’t want: report it the same way, and change your substitution settings for next time.
- You get a text saying there’s a “problem with your delivery” with a link: don’t click it. Open the store’s app directly to check your order. See our guide on why you shouldn’t click links in text messages.
For caregivers ordering for someone else
- Put their address on the order, and add delivery notes such as “please knock, doorbell doesn’t work” or “leave by the side door.”
- Some services let several people share one account. For example, Instacart+ lets you add members to an account to share carts and benefits (Instacart).
- Agree on a regular order day, so the person you’re helping knows when to expect the doorbell and isn’t surprised by a stranger at the door.
