How to Give and Redeem an Instacart Gift Card
Instacart offers gift cards, so if someone you know is debating trying the service, or already loves using it, it makes a perfect gift. In this article we'll give a brief rundown of Instacart, show you how to give and redeem a gift card, talk about other ways you can save with the company, and answer some frequently asked questions.
Jump To:
How to Give an Instacart Gift Card
Instacart is one of the most popular grocery delivery apps in the gig economy. So it makes sense that an Instacart gift card is a thoughtful gift for anyone who could use a little help with grocery shopping.
An Instacart gift card can also be great for new parents, someone dealing with an illness, someone starting a stressful time at work – anyone who will find it difficult to make a run to the grocery store.
The gift card can be redeemed by anyone with an active Instacart account and, once applied, will automatically be applied to the next order.
Note: If you receive a gift card and want to save it for a future order, just keep the gift card in your inbox and don’t click on the link until you want to redeem.
Let’s get into how to give an Instacart gift card.
First, you will need to go to a computer and log in to Instacart.com. Unfortunately, the Instacart app does not currently support the purchase of gift cards.
Once you’re on your home page, you will need to click on “Account” in the top right corner.
Once you’ve clicked there, you will see a menu that will give you the option to “Buy Gift Card.” Click on that.
Now you’ll be taken to a page where you can fill out the relevant information.
First, you will be asked to select the denomination that you would like to give with your gift card. You can select preset amounts of $25, $50, $100, or a custom amount.
Custom amounts can be any number you want up to $3,000, but must be in whole dollar amounts.
At this point you will also be asked to provide your credit card information and expiration date. While Instacart lets you pay for groceries with Apple Pay or Google Pay, gift cards must be bought with a credit card.
They also take debit cards, but only if they are connected to a credit card company. They do not currently allow PayPal, EBT, or transfers from your financial institution to buy gift cards.
Once you’ve given your card number and confirmed the gift card amount, you will provide the recipient’s email address, your name, and a personal note (if desired).
You’ll also see a note there that reminds you: Instacart gift cards can’t be used to purchase alcohol.
Once you’ve ordered, check your email for an order receipt, a final total, and a copy of the note you’ve sent along. Unfortunately, Instacart only offers digital gift cards at the moment, so you can’t send a physical gift card.
How to Redeem a Gift Card
Here’s how it works.
First, you need to log in to your Instacart account. If you don’t have an Instacart account, you’ll need to make one — and make sure to use the email address where you received the gift card.
This is important! If it’s the wrong email, you won’t be able to redeem the gift card. If you do receive a gift card to a different email address than the one you use for your Instacart, you will have to contact support or set up a new account with the email address used.
Once logged in, it’s as simple as this:
- Go to your inbox
- Click the link
- The gift card will automatically be applied to your account
Once the gift card balance is applied to your account, you don’t need to do anything further — it will automatically be applied to your next purchase.
Again — the gift card funds can’t be used toward alcohol, and you can’t delay when it is applied. If you want to hold on to use the gift card later, do not click the link in the email until you are ready!
How to View Gift Card Balance
Want to view your gift card balance? Easy!
On your phone you can tap the account icon.
Tap on “Credits & promo codes.”
It will show you your account balance there.
As soon as a gift card is applied to your account, it will automatically be applied to the next orders until it runs out.
Related: Instacart Promo Codes (And Other Ways to Save Money)
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if there are issues with the gift card?
If you have issues redeeming your gift card, you should contact Instacart customer support at help@instacart.com.
Make sure to provide them with your gift card number and all other relevant information.
What stores work with Instacart?
Many of your favorite stores including Whole Foods, Kroger, Giant, and even Petco work with Instacart. The company works with Walmart at their Canadian locations, but not in the United States. To see what options are available in your area, you should visit Instacart.com.
It’s also a good idea to check the area where the person you want to send a gift card to lives. Instacart is in a ton of markets, but it’s not everywhere.
To see what Instacart offers in a given area, just head to their website and search for an address.
Does Instacart do referrals?
They sure do. In the “Account” section of the app or online you can find a referral code that is personal to you.
If you are giving a gift card to a new Instacart user, you can double up by referring them to the app — giving them $10 off their first order and you $10 off your next order — and then sending them the gift card. Plenty of savings to go around.
Can I sell my Instacart gift card back to the company if I don’t use it all?
No, you cannot sell your gift card back to Instacart. Howver, there are a variety of other ways to make money from your gift cards, including selling them to online gift card brokerage platforms.
What is Instacart Express?
An Instacart Express membership is Instacart’s premium option which offers members unlimited free delivery on all orders over $35. The $99 is an additional cost up front, but it does allow users to avoid the $3.99 standard delivery fee on all orders.
For people who do their weekly shopping with Instacart, the Express membership will pay for itself in six months.
Can I gift someone an Instacart Express membership fee?
Not currently. Gift cards can only be applied to food orders at the moment. If the person you are gifting to already has an Instacart Express membership, the gift card will work normally with their account.
Give the Gift of Groceries
If you have a friend, family member, or loved one who’s an avid user of the Instacart service, a gift card can be a nice gift to save them time and help them with groceries. An Instacart gift card is also a thoughtful gift for anyone who will find it difficult to get to a grocery store.
When you follow the above steps, the process is quick and easy. Now that you have it down, think about getting a ClassPass gift card for your next celebration. Convenience is always a perfect gift!
