Best Grocery Delivery With No Membership Fee

The standard advice is to sign up for a $99 annual membership to save on grocery delivery fees. But not every senior orders groceries every week. If you only need delivery once or twice a month, or you want to try grocery delivery without a long-term commitment, a membership may not be worth it.

This guide covers the best grocery delivery services that do not require an annual membership. You order when you need to, pay a per-delivery fee, and go on with your day. No subscriptions to cancel, no annual renewals to remember.

Walmart Grocery Delivery

Walmart wins the no-membership category for one big reason: the prices are the same as in-store. Most grocery delivery services mark up prices by 10% to 15% on top of the delivery fee. Walmart does not. What you see on the shelf is what you pay online, plus the flat delivery fee.

If you order $100 worth of groceries and pay $7.95 for delivery, your total is $107.95. The same order through a service that marks up prices by 12% would cost $112 before the delivery fee. That difference adds up over a month of orders.

Walmart also has the largest grocery selection of any retailer in this list. You can add over-the-counter medications, household supplies, and pet food to your grocery order. One order covers everything instead of running to multiple stores.

Amazon Fresh

Amazon Fresh works well if you already use Amazon for other purchases and are comfortable with the Amazon website. The interface is the same Amazon shopping experience: search bar at the top, add to cart, check out. No new app or website to learn.

The main catch is that Amazon Fresh is not available everywhere. It covers most major metro areas but skips many rural and small-town ZIP codes. Before planning your shopping around it, go to amazon.com/fresh and enter your ZIP code to confirm availability.

For seniors who batch their shopping into one large order every week or two, Amazon Fresh is a strong choice. Place a $120 order once every two weeks and you pay no delivery fee at all.

Kroger Delivery

Kroger operates under many regional names: Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Fry's, Smith's, QFC, and others. If your local supermarket is one of these, Kroger delivery is likely available. The prices are competitive with in-store, though some items carry a small markup.

The digital coupon system is genuinely helpful. If you are used to clipping paper coupons from the Sunday newspaper, Kroger's digital version does the same thing automatically. When you add an item to your cart that has a digital coupon, the discount applies at checkout without any extra steps.

Instacart Pay-Per-Order

Instacart without a membership works best for occasional use. If you order once or twice a month, paying $3.99 plus a service fee each time costs less than a $99 annual membership. Do the math: if you order 20 times in a year, the membership probably breaks even. Fewer than that, pay as you go.

One thing to watch: Instacart displays the service fee at checkout, not in the cart. The service fee varies but typically runs 5% to 7% of the order total. On a $100 order, expect roughly $5 to $7 in service fees on top of the delivery fee. Always check the final total before placing the order so you are not surprised.

Cost Comparison Across Services

Service	Per-Delivery Fee	Price Markup	Free Over	EBT Accepted
Walmart Grocery	$7.95–$9.95	None	N/A (membership)	Yes
Amazon Fresh	$6.95–$9.95	Small	$100	Yes
Kroger	$9.95	Small	N/A (membership)	Yes
Instacart	$3.99+	10-15%	N/A (membership)	Select stores

Free Curbside Pickup — The Zero-Dollar Alternative

If the delivery fees are still too much, curbside pickup is free at most major grocery chains. You place the order online, drive to the store at your chosen time, park in a designated spot, and an employee brings the bags to your car. You never leave your vehicle.

Walmart, Kroger, Publix, and most regional chains offer free curbside pickup. The employee loads the groceries into your trunk. All you do is pop the trunk and say thank you. For seniors who can still drive but have trouble walking through a large supermarket or carrying bags, this is the most cost-effective option.

Some chains have a $30 or $35 minimum order for free pickup. Check your local store's website. And if you use a walker or wheelchair, look for stores with designated accessible pickup spots closer to the entrance.

When a Membership Actually Makes Sense

This article is about avoiding memberships, but fair is fair. Here is when a membership saves you money:

• You order at least once a week. At 50+ orders per year, a $99 membership costs less than $2 per delivery.
• You need same-day delivery often. Most membership plans prioritize members for the best time slots.
• You split the membership with family. Walmart+ and Instacart+ can be shared with one other person in some plans. Two people splitting $99 is $49.50 each.
• You order small amounts. If you place $40 orders, the per-delivery fees on pay-as-you-go plans hurt more as a percentage of the total.

If none of those apply to you, stick with pay-per-order and save the $99.

How to Get Started Without a Membership

1. Pick one service. Start with the store you already use. If you shop at Walmart, try Walmart Grocery. If you shop at Kroger, try Kroger. Learning one service at a time is less confusing.
2. Check for a first-order discount. Most services waive or reduce the delivery fee on your first order. Kroger and Amazon Fresh run these promotions regularly.
3. Create an account with your email and ZIP code. You do not need to enter payment information to browse. Look around the website first.
4. Start with a small order. Pick 10 to 15 items you know the prices of. This lets you compare the final total to what you normally pay in-store.
5. Choose a delivery window when you will be home. Delivery windows are typically 1 to 4 hours. Pick a time when you can bring the groceries inside right away, especially in summer when heat can spoil produce and dairy.