Review: Worth It?

The Instacart Mastercard is a no annual fee card offering 5% cash back on Instacart purchases, 2% back at gas stations and on dining (including restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services) and select streaming services, and nice travel and purchase protections.

This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let's dive right in.

Welcome Bonus

The Instacart Mastercard currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Get a $50 Instacart credit automatically upon approval.

Benefits of Instacart+ membership include free delivery on orders of $35 or more, lower service fees and earning 5% back on pickup orders.

Earning Cash Back

The Instacart Mastercard earns cash back at the following rates:

• 5% back on Instacart.com and via the Instacart app;
• 5% back on travel purchased via the phone through the Chase Travel Center;
• 2% back on dining (including restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services);
• 2% back at gas stations;
• 2% back on select streaming services; and
• 1% back on all other eligible purchases.

No Annual Fee

One of the best aspects of the Instacart credit card is that it has no annual fee.

Instacart Card Benefits and Perks

The Instacart Mastercard offers the following card benefits and perks:

Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.

Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.

120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases - one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.

Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn't have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: You'll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn't add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.

Pros and Cons of Instacart Mastercard

Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

• 5% back on Instacart purchases.
• Travel and purchase protections.
• No annual fee.

Cons:

• Instacart+ Membership is not complimentary after the first year.
• Only 1% cash back on other purchases.
• Small welcome bonus.

Alternatives to the Instacart Mastercard

Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Best Starter Travel Card


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• bonus_miles_full
• 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
• 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
• 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
• 10% Anniversary Points Boost
• Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
• Primary Rental Car Insurance
• $95 Annual Fee

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

Learn More

Our Review

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.

For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.

Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.

Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.

American Express^® Gold Card

4x Points at Restaurants and Supermarkets






American Express® Gold Card

• bonus_miles_full
• 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar)
• 4x Points at Restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• Up to $120 Uber Cash Credit (Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.)
• $120 Dining Credit (up to $10 in monthly statement credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, & select Shake Shacks)
• $250 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)

Learn How to Apply

Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points advertiser. Terms Apply; Enrollment is Required for Some Benefits

The American Express® Gold Card (review) is one of my favorite cards because it earns:

• 4x Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.,
• 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x).
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com

Plus, card members get nice credits when you enroll your Gold Card to offset the annual fee:

• $120 Uber Cash: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get up to $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets and on U.S. Streaming






Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• bonus_miles_full
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year; 1% thereafter) and on Select U.S. Streaming
• 3% Cash Back on Transit, Ridesharing, Parking, and at U.S. Gas Stations
• $0 Intro Annual Fee for the First Year, then $95 (rates & fees).

Learn More

Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points Advertiser; Terms Apply

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (review) offers an outstanding 6% cash back rewards for purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year; 1% thereafter) and on U.S. streaming services, making it perfect for anyone who wants to maximize earnings from everyday expenses.

Plus, the card offers 3% cash back on transit, rideshare, parking, and at U.S. gas stations.

Is the Instacart Mastercard Worth It?

For most people the Instacart Mastercard is not worth it. You would really need to get all of your groceries from Instacart to make this card worth it.

A much better option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card (review), which offers 3x points on online grocery, plus bonus points in many other categories.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.