An Instacart gift card gives the recipient credit they can use toward eligible Instacart purchases. It can be a practical gift for groceries, household essentials, delivery costs, tips, and other qualifying order expenses without requiring you to choose a specific product or store.
Using one is fairly simple, but several rules can cause confusion. You need an Instacart account to redeem the card, the balance does not automatically apply at checkout, and Instacart currently requires a credit or debit card even when your gift-card balance appears high enough to cover the order.
This guide explains how to buy an Instacart gift card, redeem it, check your balance, use it at checkout, understand restrictions, and solve common gift-card problems.
Quick Answer
You can buy an Instacart gift card directly from Instacart or from participating third-party sellers. To redeem it, sign in to your Instacart account, open Credits, promos & gift cards, enter the gift-card code, and redeem it.
Your available Instacart gift card balance appears in the same account section. At checkout, you must select the gift card as a payment method because it does not automatically apply to every order.
Key Takeaways
- You need an Instacart account to redeem a gift card.
- Instacart gift cards do not automatically apply at checkout.
- A credit or debit card must currently be added when using a gift card.
- Current cash gift cards can cover eligible items, tips, taxes, service fees, and delivery fees.
- Remaining gift-card value can stay available for future eligible purchases.
- U.S. Instacart gift cards do not expire or charge inactivity fees.
- Gift cards cannot be reloaded or normally transferred between Instacart accounts.
- Store-specific gift cards cannot currently be used as Instacart gift cards.
- Standard cash gift cards and Instacart+ membership gift cards are different products.
What Is an Instacart Gift Card?
An Instacart gift card is a stored-value card that can be redeemed for eligible goods and services available through Instacart.
After redemption, the value is added to the recipient’s Instacart account. The available balance can then be applied toward qualifying purchases.
Instacart’s current U.S. terms cover both digital and physical gift cards and state that customers may purchase a gift card with or without an Instacart account. However, an Instacart account is required to redeem one.
An Instacart gift card is different from a store-specific gift card.
For example, a supermarket may sell its products through Instacart while also issuing its own branded gift cards. Instacart currently does not accept retailer-specific gift cards through its gift-card payment system.
How Does an Instacart Gift Card Work?
The process can be divided into three basic steps:
- Someone purchases an Instacart gift card.
- The recipient redeems the gift-card code into an Instacart account.
- The recipient selects the available gift-card balance when paying for an eligible order.
You do not need to spend the entire balance in one purchase. Any eligible remaining balance stays associated with your account for future orders.
One important difference is that redeeming an Instacart gift card and applying it at checkout are separate actions. Instacart currently says gift cards do not automatically apply during checkout, so the balance must be selected as a payment method.
Where Can You Buy an Instacart Gift Card?
The simplest option is to purchase an Instacart gift card directly through Instacart’s gift-card service. Gift cards may also be available through participating third-party sellers.
When purchased directly from Instacart, the recipient receives the card by email with instructions for redeeming it. You can purchase one without having an Instacart account yourself.
Before buying an Instacart gift card, confirm that Instacart operates in the recipient’s area. Instacart also currently states that gift cards can only be purchased, sent, and redeemed within the same country where the customer lives.
How to Buy an Instacart Gift Card Online
Buying an Instacart gift card directly through Instacart is straightforward:
- Open Instacart’s gift-card page.
- Choose the gift-card amount.
- Enter the recipient’s information.
- Select when you want the gift sent.
- Review the recipient, amount, and delivery details.
- Enter your billing information.
- Add an accepted credit card.
- Complete the purchase.
Instacart sends an order confirmation to the purchaser, while the recipient receives the gift card by email with redemption instructions.
Before purchasing an Instacart gift card, double-check the recipient’s email address. An incorrect email can delay delivery and make redemption more difficult.
Digital vs. Physical Instacart Gift Cards
Gift cards purchased through Instacart’s online service are delivered electronically, while Instacart’s U.S. terms also cover digital and physical Instacart gift cards.
Digital cards can be convenient for last-minute gifts because there is no need to wait for shipping. If you purchase an Instacart gift card through a third-party seller, check whether you are receiving a physical card or digital code and keep the receipt until it is successfully redeemed.
Regardless of the format, the recipient uses the gift-card code to add the available value to an Instacart account.
How to Redeem an Instacart Gift Card
You need an Instacart account to redeem an Instacart gift card. Before entering the code, make sure you are signed into the correct account because Instacart does not currently allow redeemed gift-card balances to be transferred to another account.
Redeem in the Instacart App
- Open the Instacart app.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Open the Account section.
- Select Credits, promos & gift cards.
- Select Add.
- Enter the gift-card code.
- Tap Redeem.
After redeeming your Instacart gift card, the available value is added to your account for eligible purchases.
Redeem on Instacart.com
- Sign in to your Instacart account.
- Open the menu.
- Select Credits, promos & gift cards.
- Select Add.
- Enter the gift-card code.
- Select Add funds.
After redemption, check your available balance before placing an order.
How to Check an Instacart Gift Card Balance
You can check your Instacart gift card balance after the card has been redeemed and added to your account.
Check Balance in the Instacart App
Open the app, sign in, and go to Credits, promos & gift cards. Your available balance appears near the top, with a View balances option for additional details.
Check Balance on Instacart.com
Sign in to Instacart.com and open Credits, promos & gift cards. Your current balance appears in this section. Select View balances for a more detailed breakdown.
Checking your Instacart gift card balance before placing a large order can help you estimate how much may need to be paid with another payment method.
How to Use an Instacart Gift Card at Checkout
Adding an Instacart gift card to your account does not automatically apply the balance to your next purchase. You need to select it manually during checkout.
To apply the balance:
- Continue to checkout.
- Find the Pay with section.
- Select Edit.
- Open Benefits and gift cards.
- Select your gift card.
- Choose Apply.
- Review the payment breakdown before placing your order.
Instacart displays how much of your Instacart gift card balance will be used and any remaining amount that will be charged to another payment method.
Do You Need a Credit Card With an Instacart Gift Card?
Yes. Instacart currently requires a credit or debit card at checkout when using an Instacart gift card, even if the available balance appears sufficient to cover the estimated order.
This is because the final grocery total can change during shopping due to:
- Weighted products
- Added items
- Product replacements
- Quantity changes
- Price differences
If the final order exceeds your Instacart gift card balance, the remaining amount can be charged to the credit or debit card provided at checkout.
What Happens to an Unused Instacart Gift Card Balance?
You do not need to spend your entire Instacart gift card balance in one purchase. If only part of the available value is used, the remaining balance stays in your account for future eligible orders.
For example, if you have $100 available and spend $65 on an eligible order, the remaining $35 can be used later. This means an Instacart gift card can be used across multiple qualifying purchases until the available balance is spent.
Can You Reload an Instacart Gift Card?
No. Instacart’s current U.S. terms state that an Instacart gift card cannot be reloaded.
Once the original value has been redeemed and spent, you cannot add new funds to the same card. However, you can redeem another eligible Instacart gift card to add more gift-card funds to your account.
An unused balance is different from reloading. Any remaining value can stay available for future eligible purchases, but new funds cannot be added back to the original card.
What Can You Buy With an Instacart Gift Card?
A current Instacart gift card can cover several eligible order costs, including:
- Grocery and retail items
- Eligible alcohol purchases
- Eligible prescriptions
- Tips
- Taxes
- Service fees
- Delivery fees
This makes an Instacart gift card useful for more than the cost of grocery items alone. However, normal laws, age requirements, retailer policies, and product restrictions still apply to regulated purchases such as alcohol and prescriptions.
What About Instacart Gift Cards From Before November 18, 2020?
An older Instacart gift card purchased or received before November 18, 2020 can still be redeemed, but different restrictions apply.
These older cards do not cover:
- Service fees
- Delivery fees
- Tips
- Taxes
- Prescriptions
- Alcohol items
An Instacart gift card purchased or received on or after November 18, 2020 can cover these eligible costs under the current gift-card system. This difference may explain why an older card covers less of an order than expected.
What Can’t You Buy With an Instacart Gift Card?
An Instacart gift card is stored value for eligible Instacart purchases, not unrestricted cash.
Under current U.S. terms, it generally cannot be:
- Reloaded
- Used outside supported Instacart services
- Redeemed for more than its face value
- Transferred for value
- Resold
- Exchanged for cash except where required by law
- Used to purchase another gift card
- Used for prepaid open-loop cards
- Used for certain third-party gift cards
Instacart may also limit gift-card quantities and eligible products or services. Checking current terms before making an unusual purchase with an Instacart gift card can help avoid checkout problems.
Can You Use an Instacart Gift Card With Promo Codes?
Yes. Instacart allows an Instacart gift card to be used with eligible credits or promo codes already available in your account.
Keep in mind that promotions can have their own conditions. Some may require a minimum order amount, apply only to certain retailers or products, or expire after a specific date.
Before placing the order, review the checkout total to see how your promotion, credits, and gift-card balance are being applied.
Can You Use an Instacart Gift Card at Multiple Stores?
Instacart currently does not support using a gift-card balance for multiple retailers within the same order.
If you want to shop from another retailer with your remaining Instacart gift card balance, complete the first purchase and place a separate order with the second retailer.
Can You Use a Grocery Store Gift Card on Instacart?
No. A gift card issued by a grocery store cannot normally be entered as an Instacart gift card, even if that store is available through Instacart.
For example, if you have a supermarket’s own gift card, it remains a retailer-specific card. To pay through Instacart, you need an eligible Instacart gift card or another payment method accepted at checkout.
Instacart Gift Card vs. Instacart+ Membership Gift Card
A standard Instacart gift card and an Instacart+ membership gift card serve different purposes. A regular gift card helps pay for eligible Instacart order costs, while a membership gift card pays for a specific period of Instacart+.
| Feature | Instacart Gift Card | Instacart+ Membership Gift Card |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Eligible order costs | Instacart+ membership |
| Grocery purchases | Yes, when eligible | No |
| Tips and taxes | Eligible with current cash cards | No |
| Service/delivery fees | Eligible with current cash cards | Not general checkout credit |
| Pays for Instacart+ | No | Yes |
| Account required to redeem | Yes | Yes |
Instacart currently offers Instacart+ membership gift cards for 3 months at $29, 6 months at $59, and 1 year at $99.
Unlike a regular Instacart gift card, the membership version cannot be used at checkout for groceries, tips, taxes, or other general order expenses. Its value is specifically for Instacart+ membership.
If the recipient is not already an Instacart+ member, the gifted membership does not automatically renew when the gifted period ends. If the recipient already has an automatically renewing membership, the gifted term is added to the existing membership period, after which the normal renewal settings continue.
Does an Instacart Gift Card Expire?
No. Under Instacart’s current U.S. terms, an Instacart gift card does not expire, and the loaded value does not expire.
Instacart also states that inactivity and gift-card service fees do not apply. This means you do not need to spend your Instacart gift card quickly because you are worried about losing the remaining balance.
Rules may differ outside the United States, so customers in other countries should check the terms that apply to their specific card.
Can You Transfer an Instacart Gift Card Balance?
Generally, no. Once an Instacart gift card has been redeemed to an account, the unused balance cannot normally be transferred to another Instacart account.
For this reason, make sure you are signed in to the correct account before entering the gift-card code.
This is especially important if you have multiple accounts or use different email addresses. Redeeming an Instacart gift card to the wrong account may leave the balance attached to that account.
Are Instacart Gift Cards Refundable?
Generally, no. An Instacart gift card cannot normally be returned for cash, resold, or transferred for value except where required by law.
Before purchasing one, double-check the recipient’s email address, country, and ability to use Instacart. This can help prevent problems after the Instacart gift card has been purchased or redeemed.
Keep in mind that refunding a gift card is different from receiving a refund or credit for a problem with an Instacart order.
Can You Buy Instacart Gift Cards in Bulk?
Yes. Instacart offers a corporate program for businesses and organizations purchasing larger quantities of Instacart gift cards.
Customers purchasing more than 10 cards can use Instacart’s corporate gift-card portal. Instacart currently lists a $2,000 minimum purchase for bulk orders involving USD or CAD gift cards.
Bulk purchases can be useful for employee rewards, customer incentives, holiday gifting, corporate programs, or community initiatives. Businesses planning a large Instacart gift card purchase should verify the latest corporate program requirements before ordering because terms can change.
Why Is My Instacart Gift Card Not Working?
An Instacart gift card may not work because of an incorrect code, account issue, country restriction, or checkout setting. Before contacting support, check these common causes:
- Incorrect code: Check the original gift-card email and make sure there are no extra spaces before or after the code.
- Already redeemed: Check Credits, promos & gift cards to see whether the balance is already in your account.
- Wrong account: If you have multiple Instacart accounts, check whether the card was redeemed to another one.
- Retailer gift card: A supermarket or retailer’s own gift card cannot be redeemed through Instacart’s gift-card system.
- Country restriction: Gift-card purchasing, sending, and redemption are subject to Instacart’s country requirements.
- Not selected at checkout: A redeemed balance may need to be manually selected in the payment settings before placing the order.
- Instacart+ confusion: A standard cash gift card is different from an Instacart+ membership gift card.
- Lost or stolen card: Instacart states that lost, stolen, or unauthorized-used gift cards generally cannot be replaced.
If your Instacart gift card still does not work, take a screenshot of the error and contact Instacart Customer Experience for help.
What If the Instacart Gift Card Email Never Arrives?
If an Instacart gift card was sent but the email never arrives, first check the spam or junk folder. You should also confirm that the purchaser entered the correct email address and check any other email accounts the recipient may use.
If the Instacart gift card email is still missing, the purchaser should keep the original order confirmation and contact Instacart Customer Experience for assistance.
Instacart Gift Card Safety Tips
Treat an Instacart gift card code like stored money. Buy from Instacart or a reputable seller, keep the code private, and double-check the recipient’s email address before completing a digital gift purchase.
Never provide an Instacart gift card code to someone who unexpectedly demands gift cards as payment for a debt, prize, technical-support issue, job opportunity, tax bill, emergency, or unrelated service.
Once someone else obtains the code, recovering the value can be difficult. Instacart states that lost, stolen, or unauthorized-used gift cards generally cannot be replaced.
Is an Instacart Gift Card Worth Giving?
An Instacart gift card can be a practical gift because it gives the recipient flexibility to choose eligible groceries and other items instead of receiving a specific product.
It can be useful for:
- College students
- New parents
- Housewarming gifts
- Holiday gifts
- Family members
- Grocery assistance
- People recovering from illness
- Anyone who prefers grocery delivery
Whether an Instacart gift card is a good fit depends on Instacart availability, participating retailers, and the recipient’s shopping preferences. Check service availability in the recipient’s area before buying.
Conclusion
An Instacart gift card offers a flexible way to pay for eligible groceries, household items, tips, taxes, delivery fees, and other qualifying Instacart order costs. The process is simple: purchase a card, redeem the code to your account, check the available balance, and select the gift-card balance during checkout.
Before using an Instacart gift card, remember that an account is required for redemption, a credit or debit card may still be required at checkout, and retailer-specific gift cards cannot be used as Instacart gift cards. Checking these details before ordering can help prevent redemption and payment problems.
FAQs About Instacart Gift Card
1. Can I use an Instacart gift card for pickup orders?
An Instacart gift card can generally be applied to eligible pickup orders placed through Instacart, subject to retailer and order eligibility.
2. Can I use two Instacart gift cards on one account?
You can redeem eligible gift cards to the same Instacart account, with their value becoming available as gift-card funds for qualifying purchases.
3. Can I schedule an Instacart gift card for future delivery?
Yes. When purchasing a digital Instacart gift card directly through Instacart, you can select when you want the gift sent to the recipient.
4. Can I send an Instacart gift card to myself?
You can purchase an Instacart gift card for personal use, provided the purchase and redemption meet Instacart’s applicable terms.
5. Can I use an Instacart gift card for restaurant delivery?
Eligibility can depend on the service and order. Check the payment options at checkout before assuming your Instacart gift card balance applies.
6. Can I combine an Instacart gift card with another payment method?
Yes. If your eligible Instacart gift card balance does not cover the final order total, another accepted payment method can cover the remaining amount.
7. Can I use an Instacart gift card for convenience-store orders?
An Instacart gift card may cover eligible purchases from participating retailers available through Instacart, subject to applicable restrictions.
8. Can I print a digital Instacart gift card?
You can keep or print the gift information for presentation, but the important part is the valid Instacart gift card code used for redemption.
Disclaimer: Instacart gift-card features, prices, eligibility, payment rules, and terms may change. Check the latest Instacart Help Center and applicable gift-card terms before purchasing or redeeming a card.
