Shopper comparison
Instacart vs Shipt — which pays shoppers more?
Both pay per order + tips, with no platform service fee deducted. The real differences come from order density, tip culture, and how strict each app is on shopping speed.
Instacart
Higher netBatch pay + tips
- Gross / 8h shift
- $184.00
- Gas + wear
- − $36.00
- Tax reserve
- − $26.73
- Net after tax
- $121.27
- True $/hr (incl. 1.5h unpaid)
- $12.77
Shipt
Order pay + tips, no service fee deducted
- Gross / 8h shift
- $176.00
- Gas + wear
- − $36.00
- Tax reserve
- − $24.57
- Net after tax
- $115.43
- True $/hr (incl. 1.5h unpaid)
- $12.15
Bottom line
Instacart usually wins on order volume and batch pay, while Shipt's preferred-member system rewards consistency. The right answer depends on your metro and how many hours you commit weekly.
Run your real numbers →Frequently asked
- Can I shop for both at the same time?
- Yes — many top shoppers multi-app. Just be careful about shopping-window overlap; both apps penalize lateness.
- Which has higher tips?
- Tip culture varies by market. Shipt customers historically tip more on average in suburban areas; Instacart tips can be higher per order in dense urban cores.
- Do I owe self-employment tax on tips?
- Yes. All tips, in-app or cash, are taxable income. Set aside 25–30% of net for taxes.