Does Instacart Take EBT?

Yes, Instacart accepts EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps. 

For those who qualify, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) deposits funds onto the same EBT card as SNAP benefits, and TANF funds can be used like cash, to be spent on necessities such as food, rent, medical bills, transportation, or child care.

Instacart is an online grocery service for delivery or pickup. There is also an app available. Please proceed to read the rest of this article to fully understand the details of shopping at Instacart with EBT.

“EBT SNAP-eligible Instacart customers in the U.S. can pay for online grocery orders containing eligible items with a valid EBT card, in full or in part, from participating stores in select states. You can shop at any participating stores as long as the state that issued your EBT card is participating in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot.”

The following retailers in the following states participate in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot:

• Alabama: Aldi, Amazon, Food City, Greer’s Cash Saver, Hometown Market of Limestone County, Marino’s Market, Piggly Wiggly (Deatsville), Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Wright’s Markets
• Arizona: AJ’s Fine Foods, Albertsons, Aldi, Amazon, Basha’s (Food City), Basha’s, Cardenas Markets, Eddie’s Country Store, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Arkansas: Albertsons, Aldi, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, City Markets, Harps Food Stores, Hays Supermarket, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• California: Albertsons, Aldi, Amazon, Brothers Marketplace, Cardenas Markets, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Food 4 Less, FoodMaxx, Gong’s IGA Market, Jacksons Food Stores, Lucky Supermarkets, Mar Val Foods, Pavilions, Rancho San Miguel Markets, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Save Mart Supermarkets, Sprouts Farmers Market, Slater Bros., Super King Market, Superior Grocers, Target, The Market by Superior, Vons, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Colorado: Albertsons, Amazon, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Connecticut: Acme, Aldi, Amazon, Big Y, BJs Wholesale Club, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarket, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Delaware: Acme, Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Food Lion, Giant of Maryland, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets
• District of Columbia: Aldi, Amazon, Giant of Maryland, Safeway, Target, Wegmans, Whole Foods
• Florida: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, Freshfields Farm, Greers’s Cash Saver, Hitchcock’s Markets, JC’s Market and Food Kitchen, Mt. Plymouth Grocery, Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Georgia: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, Food City, Food Lion, Little Giant Farmers Market, Nam Dae Mun Farmers Markets, Piggly Wiggly (HAC), Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Shoppers Value Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Hawaii: Amazon, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Idaho: Albertsons, Amazon, Broulim’s, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Jacksons Food Stores, Manito Super 1 Foods, Rosauers Supermarkets, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Yoke’s Fresh Market 
• Illinois: Aldi, Amazon, Capri IGA, County Market, Dave’s Supermarket, Fairplay Foods, Jewel Osco, Local Market, Meijer, Metropolis Big John Grocery, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schnuck’s Market, Supermercados El Guero, Target, Tony’s Fresh Market, Walmart, Whole Foods, Woodman’s Markets
• Indiana: Aldi, Amazon, Giant Eagle, Jewel Osco, Meijer, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schnuck’s Market, Strack and Van Til, Target, Town and Country, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Iowa: Aldi, Amazon, Jewel Osco, New Pioneer Food Co-op, Ramsey’s Market, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Kansas: Aldi, Amazon, Country Mart, Harps Food Stores, Pyramid Foods, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, The Merc Co-op, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Kentucky: Aldi, Amazon, Food City, Food Lion, Meijer, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Louisiana: Albertsons, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Spring Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Maine: Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Hannaford, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Shaws, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Maryland: Acme, Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Food Lion, Geresbeck’s Food Market, Giant Eagle, Giant of Maryland, Martin’s, Price Rite, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Whole Foods
• Massachusetts: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Brothers Marketplace, Daily Table, Geissler’s Supermarket, Hannaford, McKinnon’s Supermarkets, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Roche Bros, Shaws, Star Market, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Whole Foods
• Michigan: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, Garden Fresh Market, Meijer, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Wesco, Whole Foods
• Minnesota: Aldi, Amazon, Ernie’s Food Market, Hornbacher’s, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Ukura’s Big Dollar, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Mississippi: Aldi, Amazon, Froogel’s, Greer’s Cash Saver, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Superlo Foods, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Missouri: Aldi, Amazon, Bratcher’s Market, Cameron Market, Country Mart, County Market, FavTrip Independence, FavTrip KCMO, Harps Food Stores, Hays Supermarket, Price Cutter, Pyramid Foods, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schnuck’s Market, Sliced Bread Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sweet Springs Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Woods Supermarket 
• Montana: Albertsons, Amazon, Manito Super 1 Foods, Rosauers Supermarkets, Safeway, Super 1 Foods Brookshire, Target, Walmart, Yoke’s Fresh Market 
• Nebraska: Aldi, Amazon, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Nevada: Albertsons, Amazon, Cardenas Markets, ExtraMile by Jacksons, FoodMaxx, Jacksons Food Stores, Lin’s Fresh Market, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Save Mart Supermarkets, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Vons, Walmart, Whole Foods
• New Hampshire: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Hannaford, McKinnon’s Supermarkets, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Shaws, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• New Jersey: Acme, Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Food Bazaar, Food Circus Super Markets DBA Super Foodtown, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stop & Shop, Target, TheFreshGrocer, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Whole Foods
• New Mexico: Albertsons, Amazon, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go,  Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• New York: 3 Guys from Brooklyn, Acme, Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Dash’s Market, Fairway Market, Ferreira Foodtown, Food Bazaar, Foodtown-Freshtown, Gourmet Garage, GreenStar Food Co-op, Hannaford, Manhattan Fruit Market, My Foodtown, Pioneer Supermarket, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schneider’s of Kirkwood, ShopRite, Skip’s on the Ridge, Stop & Shop, Target, Tops Market, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Whole Foods
• North Carolina: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Carlie C’s, Compare Foods, Compare Foods Clayton, Deep Roots Market, Earth Fare, Fairvalue Grocery Stores, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly of Kinston, NC (Hwy 258 N), Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Whole Foods
• North Dakota: Aldi, Amazon, Hornbacher’s, Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart
• Ohio: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarket, Earth Fare, Giant Eagle, Just Dash It, Lucky’s, Meijer, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Oklahoma: Aldi, Amazon, Apple Market, Country Mart, Doc’s Food Stores, FireLake Discount Foods, HAC DBA Cash Saver, Harps Food Stores, Homeland Food Stores, Phelps Market, Price Mart, Reasor’s, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sooner Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, United Supermarkets, Walmart, Warehouse Market, Whole Foods
• Oregon: Albertsons, Amazon, Bend Food 4 Less, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Rosauers Supermarkets, Roth’s Fresh Markets, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Pennsylvania: Acme, Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Burkhokder’s Market, Cottman Food Market, Dave’s Super Duper, Giant Company, Giant Eagle, Lake Region IGA, Martin’s, Mignosi’s Super Foodtown, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stauffers of Kissel Hill, Target, TheFreshGrocer, Tops Market, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Whole Foods
• Rhode Island: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Cartwheel RI, Price Rite, Shaws, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• South Carolina: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, Food Lion, Opie Drive-Thru Grocery, Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• South Dakota: Aldi, Amazon, Buche Foods, Safeway,  Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart
• Tennessee: Aldi, Amazon, Earth Fare, Food City, Food Lion, H.G. Hill Foods Store, Memphis Cash Saver, Publix, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Superlo Foods, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Texas: Albertsons, Aldi, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, Central Market, FRESH by Brookshire’s, H-E-B, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Lewis Food Town, Randall’s, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Spring Market, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Target, Tom Thumb, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Utah: Albertsons, Amazon, Dan’s Fresh Market, Davis Food and Drug, Dick’s Fresh Market, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Fresh Market, Jacksons Food Stores, Lin’s Fresh Market, Macey’s, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods
• Vermont: Aldi, Amazon, Hannaford, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Shaws, Target, Tops Market, Walmart
• Virginia: Aldi, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, Food City, Food Lion, Giant of Maryland, Martin’s, Publix, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Whole Foods
• Washington: A&J Select Market, Albertsons, Amazon, Rosauers Supermarkets, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Super 1 Foods Rosauers, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Yoke’s Fresh Market 
• West Virginia: Aldi, Amazon, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, Martin’s, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Spencer Cash Saver, St. Mary’s Galaxy, Target, Walmart, Weis Markets
• Wisconsin: Aldi, Amazon, Capital Centre Market, Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery, Meijer, Miller and Son’s Supermarket, Ptacek’s IGA, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Schnuck’s Market, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Woodman’s Markets
• Wyoming: Albertsons, Amazon, Broulim’s, Hines General Store, Safeway, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods

What Can You Buy With EBT at Instacart?

Different grocery stores offer different products. The following products are EBT-eligible:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, and fish
• Dairy products
• Breads and cereals
• Snack foods 
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat

What Can You NOT Buy With EBT at Instacart?

According to this government website, products such as hot foods, alcohol, tobacco products, non-food items, vitamins, medicines, and supplements may not be purchased on EBT.  These items can be purchased with TANF funds, however.

How to Use an EBT Card at Instacart

1. Check Your Balance:  Before shopping at Instacart, check your balance on your EBT account to make sure you know your spending limit. You can check your balance by calling the number on the back of your card and following the prompts on the call.
2. Log into your account: If you do not already have an Instacart account, you will need to create one.
3. Add your EBT card on your Instacart account. Go to your Account Settings to add your EBT card as a payment method. “A separate credit or debit card must also be linked to your Instacart account to cover fees, bottle deposits, taxes, delivery tips, and any other non-EBT SNAP-eligible items, per government regulation.”
4. Shop: You may purchase any food items, seeds, and non-alcoholic beverages. These products are marked with an ‘EBT’ label when browsing at participating stores. Only these food items may be purchased on EBT.
5. Pay for your groceries using your EBT PIN. At checkout, make sure EBT SNAP is selected as a payment method.

What is the Instacart Return Policy for Items Purchased With EBT?

According to this federal law, all SNAP recipients must be treated like any other customer. It says that “you may return or refund an item bought with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, so long as store policy allows it. 

All refunds for food items that you purchased with SNAP benefits go directly onto your EBT card. Cash refunds are not allowed for food items purchased with SNAP benefits under any circumstances.”

Instacart refunds must be made within 7 days of pickup or delivery. “To request a refund for EBT SNAP-eligible items or if you’d like to return an item purchased with an EBT card, please contact Instacart Care instead of the retailer.

Only Instacart can process a refund for EBT SNAP online purchases, not the retailer. Instacart typically processes refunds for EBT SNAP-eligible items within the same day to your EBT card.”

What Instacart Locations Accept EBT?

“Currently, customers with a valid EBT SNAP card in all states except Alaska, Louisiana and Montana can use their SNAP funds on Instacart at participating retailers.” You may find retail stores that use Instacart here. 

EBT Card FAQ at Instacart