Instacart has become the most widely used grocery delivery service in the United States. As the company has grown, it has created more options and opened more avenues for customer choice, including retailers, products, and even methods of payment.
However, if you err on the side of caution when shopping online, you might be wondering: Does Instacart take PayPal as a form of payment? If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
Does Instacart Take PayPal In [currentyear]?
Instacart does take PayPal as an acceptable form of payment in [currentyear]. Customers can add their PayPal information into the Payment methods section of the Instacart app and begin using it immediately. Customers who can’t normally use PayPal in grocery stores can make their purchases on Instacart instead.
To learn more about how to set up PayPal with Instacart, why someone might prefer to pay with PayPal, and even whether you can use PayPal and another payment method together, read on!
Does It Cost Money to Use PayPal on Instacart?
There is no charge to use PayPal on Instacart as your payment method.
While PayPal fees can be brutal for service-based payments, you won’t be charged any more than your order total to use PayPal on Instacart.
How Do You Use PayPal with Instacart?
Now that you know it’s free to use PayPal on Instacart, let’s look at how to get everything set up.
First, you will need an Instacart account, which is also free (unless you opt for the Express membership).
Once you are all signed up, navigate to the account menu, which you can pull up by pressing on the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of the Instacart app.
A drop-down menu will appear, so press on “Account settings.” Third down the list should be Payment methods, so press on that.
Here you can enter any credit card information, but the app also has separate payment options for PayPal and EBT SNAP.
Press the word “Add” across from PayPal. You will be prompted to enter your PayPal login information (and/or be asked to enter a one-time code sent to your mobile number).
Once you have entered the code, you’ll be asked about your payment preferences when using PayPal.
Namely, you can opt to use your PayPal balance first, and then the rest of the charges to any of the financial accounts you have on file.
However, if you don’t normally carry a balance in your PayPal account, toggle that feature off and just use your credit card account.
Once you have completed the add-on, you can start shopping.
When your cart is ready, head to check-out. Instacart takes you through the motions of picking your delivery/pick-up time and date and so on.
When you get to Payment methods, make sure PayPal is selected. Continue through check-out and submit your order.
Success! You have paid for your groceries with PayPal.
Why Use PayPal with Instacart?
You might be wondering why someone would opt for PayPal instead of a debit or credit card to pay on Instacart.
First, it can be safer, because your card information is stored on PayPal, not the Instacart app.
If you’re looking to reduce the number of places where hackers could get a hold of your financial information, this is one way.
Second, some people – freelancers, artisans, third-party sellers, etc. – carry a regular balance on PayPal.
It’s available instantly on the PayPal account, but if you want it available instantly in your checking account, you have to pay a fee.
You can therefore save some money by using PayPal at checkout, rather than having to withdraw the money from the PayPal account to your checking account.
Does PayPal Work with All Instacart Stores?
If the retailer is on Instacart’s marketplace then yes, you can use PayPal to check out.
This is especially cool because most retailers you find on Instacart do not accept PayPal at its brick-and-mortar location cash registers.
Some don’t even accept the payment method on their own online ordering sites, either.
Instacart is really out here making more retailers accessible to more shoppers.
What Can’t You Buy on Instacart with PayPal?
There is one type of item you specifically cannot use PayPal to purchase via Instacart, and that is alcohol.
Yes, alcohol sales are prohibited from PayPal transactions.
You’ll have to pay a different way or combine your PayPal with another payment method.
Can You Use PayPal with Something Else on Instacart?
You can combine PayPal with another payment method at check-out with Instacart.
For example, you could purchase foodstuffs with EBT SNAP and then pay for the non-eligible items with PayPal.
To know more about Instacart, you can also read our posts on whether or not Instacart takes EBT, what is Instacart Express, and why is Instacart so expensive.
Conclusion
Instacart accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including PayPal. It’s easy to add PayPal to your account payment methods, and easier still to check out with it.
Just bear in mind that you are not allowed to make any alcohol purchases with PayPal, and must defer to a different payment source.
