Some people test out skincare. Others spend weekends experimenting with oat milk brands. Me? I spent four weeks comparing grocery apps—just to figure out which one actually saved time, money, and sanity.
To be clear: I don’t mind grocery shopping. I’m not someone who’s going to complain about Trader Joe’s parking lots or the fact that avocados are $2.99 each now (okay, maybe a little). But I do mind wasting money on food I forget to cook or spending 90 minutes scrolling for what should be five pantry staples. So I decided to try out the top grocery apps to see which ones helped me shop smarter—without turning my cart into a black hole of kale chips and freezer waffles.
Before we get into the rankings, here’s how I made the comparison fair (or as fair as possible without spreadsheets and lab coats). I gave each app a full week of my grocery life. That included planning meals, creating shopping lists, checking prices, ordering delivery or pickup when available, and using any loyalty rewards or in-app coupons.
I also evaluated them across a few key categories:
I tried: Instacart, Walmart Grocery, Amazon Fresh, Kroger, Shipt, Flipp, Target Circle, and the app that surprised me most—My favorite (you’ll meet it soon).
Instacart is the go-to name when it comes to grocery delivery, and it does deliver convenience in spades. You can shop from multiple local stores, track your shopper, and even text them mid-order. It’s ideal if you value speed and flexibility.
The downside? Prices are often marked up, and fees can sneak up quickly. The membership fee (Instacart+) may save you money in the long run, but you need to use it regularly to make it worth it.
Best for: Time-strapped folks who need same-day delivery and don’t mind paying extra for it.
Walmart’s grocery app is functional, no-nonsense, and budget-first. Prices are among the lowest of any app I tried, and the order-ahead feature for pickup is surprisingly smooth. Their delivery subscription (Walmart+) is also cheaper than some competitors.
But the interface lacks polish. It’s not a fun or friendly app to use, and there’s little meal planning or recipe support, which left me jumping between apps more than I wanted.
Best for: Budget-conscious households who already shop at Walmart and don’t need bells and whistles.
If you're already an Amazon Prime user, Fresh integrates smoothly into your life. The interface is fast, filters are helpful, and product availability tends to be solid in metro areas. Delivery windows were usually wide open—and fast.
Still, pricing was inconsistent, and I found myself over-ordering just to meet the delivery minimum. Also, the selection sometimes felt oddly curated—great international pantry finds, but why no fresh basil?
Best for: Prime members who need quick delivery and already shop Amazon anyway.
Flipp isn’t a grocery delivery app—it’s a deal-finding tool. You enter your zip code and see weekly circulars from every grocery chain nearby. It helps you plan a cost-effective list, but you’ll need to build your cart elsewhere or in real life.
If you love browsing circulars or planning a big haul by store, Flipp gives you all the intel. But if you want one-click ordering? You’re going to be flipping through a lot before you eat.
Best for: Strategic shoppers who love couponing and don’t mind visiting multiple stores.
Shipt, owned by Target, offers a really user-friendly experience. The app is intuitive, the deliveries are quick, and there’s a live chat feature that actually feels human. I also loved being able to add last-minute items even after placing my order.
That said, availability varies a lot by region, and the membership model means casual users might not get full value.
Best for: Target lovers in Shipt-friendly areas who want a concierge shopping vibe.
Target’s app is more than a digital catalog—it’s filled with Circle-exclusive offers, birthday discounts, and a surprisingly strong grocery section (especially if you lean toward organic or specialty items). The Drive Up feature is also game-changing if you want curbside pickup without going inside.
It’s not as customizable as some apps in terms of weekly meal planning or syncing, but if you shop at Target regularly, the savings and convenience add up fast.
Best for: Occasional bulk buyers and Target loyalists looking to stack savings.
Here’s the thing: I went into this expecting a delivery app to win. But by week four, the app that saved me the most time, money, and decision fatigue was AnyList—a shared grocery list app with recipe importing, pantry tracking, and yes, retailer integrations.
AnyList doesn’t deliver groceries. But it helped me plan better, avoid duplicates, and only shop once a week. I synced it with meal planning tools (like Paprika and NYT Cooking), and the result was smarter lists and fewer “oh, I already had that” moments.
Best for: People who love planning and want full control over what ends up in the cart.
I didn’t expect a grocery app test to teach me so much about energy management. But it turns out, the right app does more than save you $15—it saves your attention. It prevents the “what was I supposed to buy?” brain fog and helps you plan meals around your life, not the other way around.
My top tip? Don’t just go with what everyone else uses. Think about what part of grocery shopping stresses you out most—and start there. That’s how you’ll find your actual favorite.
