Does Instacart count as grocery?

Updated September 17, 2026 · from RightCard's verified card and merchant data

Usually not. Instacart codes as a delivery or meal service. These companies set their own merchant code. It is often not the restaurant or supermarket code your bonus is written for, and it varies by merchant. The strongest option in our data is a card with a built-in Instacart rate: Chase Instacart Mastercard (5% here, a card benefit). Everything else earns its flat rate.

Why the code decides, not the cart

Every card purchase carries a merchant category code (MCC). The store sets it once, for the whole store. Your bank pays a category bonus by that code, not by what is in your bag. That is why a cart full of groceries can still earn the base rate.

Many cardholders report grocery bonuses posting on Instacart orders. We do not publish that as a rule because it is Instacart's code, set by Instacart, and it can change. Our directory files Instacart as a delivery service, so RightCard shows your safe card and lets a statement prove the rest.

Cards with a built-in rate here

These are permanent card benefits in our verified data, not limited-time offers.

Card	At Instacart
Chase Instacart Mastercard	5%

What actually earns here

Your best flat-rate card. A 2% everywhere card beats a 6% grocery card that pays 1% at this store. Verified flat-rate cards in our data:

Card	Everything	≈ value / $1
Robinhood Gold Card (needs a Robinhood Gold membership)	3%	3¢
Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard	2x miles	2¢
BJ's One+ Mastercard	2%	2¢
Blue Business Cash Card from American Express	2%	2¢
Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card	2%	2¢
Capital One Spark Cash Plus	2%	2¢

Some popular 2% cards are not in this table yet because they have not cleared our two-source verification. Missing means unverified, not worse.

Also check whether one of your cards is carrying a targeted bank offer for this store. Those are free money and they beat any category math.

How RightCard handles this: search "Instacart" in the app and it will not pretend your grocery card wins. It shows your best guaranteed card with a note that this store codes as a delivery or meal service. The app is free and private. No bank login. Recommendations are computed on your phone.

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FAQ

Does Instacart count as grocery for credit card rewards?

Usually not. Instacart codes as a delivery or meal service. These companies set their own merchant code. It is often not the restaurant or supermarket code your bonus is written for, and it varies by merchant. The strongest option in our data is a card with a built-in Instacart rate: Chase Instacart Mastercard (5% here, a card benefit). Everything else earns its flat rate.

Is it safer to order through the store's own app?

Often yes. Ordering from a supermarket's own site or app usually carries the store's supermarket code.

Where these numbers come from: RightCard's data pipeline re-checks each card's published rates weekly and lists a rate only after two independent sources agree. Merchant codes come from our merchant directory. If a card or store is missing here, it is because we could not verify it, not because we guessed.

More guides: Costco rewards guide · Walmart rewards guide · Freedom Flex 5% calendar · Does DoorDash count as dining? · Which Citi card for gas?