Instacart, DoorDash and several other companies are expanding discounts and fee waivers for households that use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, part of a broader push to make online grocery ordering more accessible to low-income shoppers.
SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and delivered via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. While the program helps millions of households buy eligible food, federal rules do not allow benefits to cover delivery fees, service charges or tips—costs that can make online purchases more expensive than in-store shopping.
In response, delivery platforms and participating retailers are offering price breaks that reduce or eliminate some of those add-on costs. The offers vary by company and location but can include reduced-price memberships, free or discounted delivery on qualifying EBT orders, and periodic promotional credits tied to SNAP-linked accounts.
The initiatives build on the rapid expansion of SNAP online purchasing since the pandemic, when USDA worked with states and retailers to enable EBT acceptance through apps and websites. Today, a growing roster of national and regional grocers take EBT online, often through third-party delivery services.
Companies say the discounts are meant to ease access for shoppers who face transportation hurdles, live far from full-service supermarkets or have mobility limitations. Advocates note that lowering delivery and service fees can help, but caution that online prices can differ from in-store, and that tipping remains an out-of-pocket cost for customers.
Availability still depends on where a shopper lives and which retailers in their area accept EBT online. Not all features are active in every state, and promotions are typically time-limited or tied to specific order minimums. Shoppers must also link their EBT card in-app and may need to split payments at checkout because fees and non-eligible items require a separate non-EBT payment method.
For SNAP recipients weighing their options, consumer groups recommend comparing total costs across services, checking participating retailers near them, and reviewing each platform’s terms on delivery zones, fees, and item eligibility.
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