Chase Instacart Mastercard Review 2024

Do you prefer to delegate your supermarket shopping trip to someone else? Whether you have your groceries delivered to your front door or pick them up curbside, you’ll end up paying extra for the privilege.

This is why many people steer clear of services such as Instacart. However, the card_name can mitigate the cost—at least for the first year. It’s not your normal cash back credit card.

TIME’s Take

The no-annual-fee card_name offers decent real-world savings to Instacart customers during the first cardmember year, thanks to its free Instacart+ membership and cash bonus intro offers. After that, though, the card’s Instacart benefits are limited to its rewards rate. Unless you spend a significant amount of money through Instacart, there are other rewards credit cards that will better serve your goals.

Chase Instacart Mastercard: Pros and cons

Who is the card for?

The card_name is for people who prefer to have someone else do their grocery shopping. Perhaps you find great value in the time you don’t need to spend traveling from store to store, or save money by avoiding impulse purchases that inevitably occur as you wander the aisles. You might have small children or others to care for at home—or have physical difficulty navigating the shopping process.

Whatever your reason for using card_name, if you spend a lot through this service, this is definitely the most rewarding card for those purchases.

Of course, you must live in an area that is served by Instacart. As obvious as that sounds, a number of people don’t, especially those in smaller towns and rural areas.

Finally, applications for the card_name are restricted by the Chase “5/24 rule,” which dictates that those who have opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months (excluding most small-business credit cards) will not be approved for this card.

Features

Welcome bonus

The card_name offers a welcome bonus similar to those offered by other no-annual-fee cash back credit cards. The difference is that only those who use Instacart consistently will manage to squeeze the full value from it.

You’ll receive a $100 Instacart credit to use for future orders and a complimentary year of Instacart+ membership (worth $99 annually) immediately upon account opening. This makes it one of the few rewards credit cards that doesn’t require you to meet a minimum spending requirement to unlock its intro offer.

Instacart+ comes with benefits such as free delivery on purchases of $35 or more, lower service fees, and a 5% credit when you elect to pick up instead of requesting a delivery. It’s certainly worth having if you regularly make purchases through Instacart. Just note that once your free year ends, you’ll automatically be enrolled for a paid subscription unless you cancel it.

Earning rewards

The card_name is a cash back credit card. You’ll earn rewards at the following rate.

• 5% cash back for Instacart.com and Instacart app purchases.
• 5% cash back for travel reserved through the Chase Travel Center.
• 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and select streaming services.
• 1% cash back for all other eligible purchases.

As you can see, the reward for Instacart spending is generous. The ability to earn uncapped 5% cash back on anything is unusual, especially for a common expense such as groceries. Note that the money you’ll likely pay in driver tips and various fees may take a big bite out of those earnings.

Redeeming rewards

To redeem your cash back, you can request a direct deposit or statement credit at any time. You can redeem as little at a time as you want.

Alternatively, you can use your rewards to book travel or pay your Instacart bill. Both of these are bad ideas for one reason: They are the spending categories in which you earn the most cash back with the card_name. By redeeming cash back to offset these purchases, your credit card won’t be charged for them, and you won’t earn 5% cash back on them.

Instead, you should simply buy your travel and Instacart purchases normally. You can then request a statement credit in the amount of your bill. This way you’ll earn rewards and still get your travel and groceries for free.

The fine print

The card_name does not charge an annual fee, but you will pay other common credit card fees, including:

• A purchase/balance transfer annual percentage rate (APR) of 20.24% to 28.99% variable.
• A cash advance APR of 29.99%.
• A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the transferred amount, whichever is greater.
• A cash advance fee of $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater.
• A late or returned payment fee of up to $40.

One bright spot is that you won’t pay a foreign transaction fee with the card_name, so it’s a good card to use when traveling abroad.

Additional hidden perks

You’ll receive the following perks automatically when you use your card for payment.

Travel insurance

Though it is not considered a “travel” credit card, the card_name comes with a healthy list of travel protections. Here’s what you’ll get.

• Rental car insurance. If you decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver (CDW) and use your card to pay for your rental car, you’ll get automatic coverage for theft or damage. Coverage is secondary in the U.S., so it’ll cover whatever your personal insurance does not.
• Baggage delay insurance. When your bag is delayed by the common carrier by more than six hours, you are entitled to up to $100 per day (for a maximum of three days) for reasonable expenses, such as clothing and toiletries.
• Travel accident insurance. You have up to $500,000 in coverage in the event of dismemberment or loss of life during your trip.
• Lost luggage reimbursement. You’ll receive up to $3,000 in coverage if the common carrier loses or damages your carry-on or checked bags.

You also get travel and emergency assistance services in the form of a telephone hotline. It can help you with problems such as a lost passport and give you legal and medical referrals. Just note that any services beyond simple information (an emergency flight home, for example) will cost you.

Finally, the card comes with roadside assistance similar to AAA, though you’ll have to pay for most services. Still, if you need to be towed or jump-started, or a tire needs changing, help is an easy phone call away.

Purchase coverages

Again, card_name is good for more than just groceries. All sorts of merchants appear on the platform, including electronics and sporting goods stores, home improvement outlets, and more. Eligible purchases will be covered by the following:

• Purchase protection. Eligible items are covered for theft and damage up to 120 days after the purchase date. You can receive up to $500 per claim (there’s a maximum of $50,000 per account).
• Extended warranty protection. Eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties lasting three years or less will be extended for an additional year.

What could be improved

The card_name does little to serve its ferociously loyal Instacart fanbase after the first year. In fact, the single Instacart-specific benefit that members will get is a 5% return rate via Instacart.com or in the app.

The card_name could do more by offering various cardholder discounts or providing some way to achieve a free Instacart+ membership after meeting a yearly spending threshold.

An alternate enhancement would be to increase the card’s 1% base earning rate. There are many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer a minimum of 1.5% on all purchases. Increasing the card's lowest return would put it in the running for one of the best cash back credit cards in existence.

Alternatives

Bottom line

If you’re an Instacart addict, the card_name is a fine option. You’ll earn 5% on groceries (one of the biggest monthly expenses) and other items purchased through the platform. With a solid intro offer of $100 in Instacart credit and a one-year Instacart+ membership, you’re bound to save a lot in the first year.

You’ll also receive unlimited 5% cash back for Instacart purchases. This perk can turn the myriad fees and tips associated with delivery services into a palatable prospect. However, you’ll have to pay for your Instacart membership after the first year, and the card’s 1% base earning rate on non-Instacart purchases is low compared with comparable cards.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the Instacart Mastercard?

The Instacart Mastercard is a credit card that focuses on rewarding you for your Instacart purchases. It also comes with a variety of travel and purchase protections.

Is the Instacart Mastercard hard to get?

No, though there are a couple of caveats. First, those without a FICO credit score rated “good” or better (670 and above, according to myFICO) should improve their score before applying. Second, the card abides by the Chase “5/24” rule, which stipulates that if you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months (excluding most small- business cards), you won’t be approved.

Can I use the Instacart Mastercard anywhere?

Yes. It can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

What bank issues the Instacart Mastercard?

J.P. Morgan Chase issues the Instacart Mastercard.