TL;DR

Instacart shoppers averaged $16.04 per hour on the job from January through October 2026, up 4.4% from the same period in 2025, according to Solo data.

Solo is the best all-in-one app for Instacart shoppers: earnings from every gig app, automatic mileage, expenses and tax estimates in one place.

Instacart's Shopper Rewards Card pays out after every batch for free and adds cash back on gas.

DoorDash is the most popular second app for shoppers, followed by Uber Eats. Multi-app drivers averaged $16.98 per hour versus $15.46 for single-app drivers.

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Instacart pays well for a delivery app. Shoppers averaged $16.04 per hour on the job from January through October 2026, up 4.4% from the same period in 2025, according to Solo (worksolo.com), the earnings, mileage and tax app used by 1M+ gig workers. The average Instacart order paid $5.97 in base pay and $5.12 in tips, more base pay per order than DoorDash ($3.50) or Grubhub ($3.10) in Solo data.

But Instacart doesn't cover gas, car wear or taxes, and grocery runs add up in miles. The right apps help you keep more of what you earn. Here are the best apps for Instacart shoppers in 2026. Download Solo to see what you really earn per hour after costs.

Best apps for Instacart shoppers at a glance

App Best for Cost Standout feature
SoloAll-in-one earnings, mileage and taxesFree; paid plans from $8/month billed annuallyTracks pay, miles and expenses across 15+ gig apps, with real-time tax estimates and in-app filing
Instacart Shopper Rewards CardFaster payoutsFreeFree payouts after every batch, plus cash back on gas
DoorDashA second delivery appFree to sign upThe most common Instacart pairing in Solo data
Uber EatsAnother second appFree to sign upThe next most common pairing for shoppers
StrideFree mileage trackingFreeSimple automatic mileage log
GasBuddySaving on gasFreeCompares gas prices near you

Competitor details verified on each provider's own pages and app listings, November 2026. Shopper Rewards Card details from Instacart's shopper community site. Prices change often, so check before you subscribe.

1. Solo: best all-in-one app for Instacart shoppers

Solo connects to Instacart and 15+ other gig apps, tracks your mileage automatically in the background, and pulls in expenses from your bank and cards. It shows your real hourly rate after costs and estimates your taxes in real time, so the quarterly bill never sneaks up on you.

  • Mileage Tracker logs every batch, including the drive to the store and the miles between orders.
  • Tax Hub estimates quarterly taxes as you earn. Filing through April Tax is included with Annual Pro and Annual Pro Plus.
  • Sherpa, Solo's AI assistant, answers questions about your earnings, taxes and schedule.

The free plan includes automatic mileage tracking. Paid plans start at $8 a month billed annually, and every paid plan has a 7-day free trial.

2. Instacart Shopper Rewards Card: best for getting paid faster

Instacart's own debit card for shoppers deposits your earnings after every batch at no fee when auto-payout is on, and adds cash back on gas. If you'd rather cash out to another account, Instacart charges a $1.50 Instant Cashout fee once the card is available to you. Weekly direct deposits stay free. The card is a personal account, so consider a separate account for tax savings. See our best business banking apps for gig workers.

3. DoorDash: best second app for Instacart shoppers

Most shoppers stick to Instacart alone. In Solo data, 87% of drivers worked a single gig app in 2026. But drivers who add a second app earn more: multi-app drivers averaged $16.98 per hour on the job, versus $15.46 for single-app drivers.

DoorDash is the most common partner for shoppers. 13% of multi-app drivers run Instacart and DoorDash together. DoorDash restaurant orders fill the gaps when grocery batches slow down, and they're quick to finish. See the full picture in our ranking of gig apps by hourly pay.

4. Uber Eats: another strong second app

Uber Eats is the next most common Instacart pairing, run by 6% of multi-app drivers alongside Instacart. Like DoorDash, it adds short restaurant orders between batches.

5. Stride: best free mileage tracker

Stride logs your miles automatically and exports an IRS-ready mileage log at no cost. It works well if you shop a few times a month and only need a basic record.

6. GasBuddy: best for saving on gas

Drivers who log expenses in Solo spent about 19.2 cents per mile on gas, car and transportation costs in 2026. GasBuddy shows gas prices near you, so you can fill up where it's cheapest, and it pairs well with the gas cash back on the Shopper Rewards Card.

How to choose the right apps

  • Start with a mileage tracker. Full-time Instacart shoppers logged 9,654 work miles from January through October 2026 in Solo data. At 2026 IRS rates, that's worth about $7,170 in deductions, but only with a log to back it up.
  • Turn on fast payouts if weekly pay leaves you short between paydays.
  • Add a second app when batches slow down in your area, and track both in one place.

Instacart doesn't withhold taxes, so plan for quarterly payments. Our guide to Instacart quarterly taxes in 2026 covers the due dates. Download Solo and try any paid plan free for 7 days.

FAQ

What is the best app for Instacart shoppers?

Solo is the best all-in-one app for Instacart shoppers in 2026. It tracks earnings from Instacart and 15+ other gig apps, logs mileage automatically, sorts expenses and estimates taxes in real time. Instacart's Shopper Rewards Card is the best option for getting paid faster.

How much do Instacart shoppers make in 2026?

Instacart shoppers averaged $16.04 per hour on the job from January through October 2026 in Solo data, up 4.4% from the same period in 2025. The average order paid $5.97 in base pay and $5.12 in tips.

What app tracks mileage for Instacart?

Solo and Stride both track mileage automatically. Solo also connects to your Instacart earnings, so you can see your hourly rate after mileage and expenses, not just your miles.

What is the best second app for Instacart shoppers?

DoorDash. In Solo data, 13% of multi-app drivers run Instacart and DoorDash together, the most common Instacart pairing. Uber Eats is next at 6%.

How do Instacart shoppers get paid faster?

With Instacart's Shopper Rewards Card and auto-payout turned on, earnings are deposited after every batch at no fee. Instant Cashout to another account costs $1.50 once the card is available to you, and weekly direct deposits are free.