✅ Last verified 2026-05-17. Instacart's EBT SNAP program is active. Offers and retailer list confirmed from instacart.com/ebt-snap.
What You Get
If you have an EBT card with CalFresh (California's SNAP) on it, you can buy groceries online and have them delivered or pick them up curbside. You pay for food with SNAP. You pay fees, tax, and tip with a debit or credit card.
Instacart's current offers for EBT customers:
- $0 delivery fee on your first 3 orders (orders $10+, placed within 14 days of your first order).
- 50% off Instacart+ membership for one year. Instacart+ gives you free delivery on orders over $35. You must have placed at least one EBT order in the prior 6 months to claim this. [Source: instacart.com/ebt-snap (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Stores in California That Accept EBT Through Instacart
- Safeway
- Costco (membership required)
- FoodMaxx
- Raley's / Bel Air / Nob Hill
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Lucky / Lucky California
- ALDI (in stores that have it)
Not every store does delivery in every ZIP code. Put in your address on instacart.com to see what's near you. [Source: instacart.com/ebt-snap (accessed 2026-05-17)]
How to Set It Up
- Make an Instacart account at instacart.com or in the app.
- Add your EBT card under Payment methods. You'll enter your card number and PIN.
- Add a debit or credit card too. SNAP can't pay for fees, tax, delivery tip, or non-food items like soap or paper towels.
- Pick a store, shop, and check out. At checkout you can move SNAP-eligible items to your EBT card and put everything else on your other card.
Other Apps That Take EBT SNAP in California
You don't have to use Instacart. These all work in California too:
- Walmart — delivery and free curbside pickup in all 50 states. $35 minimum for free pickup. [Source: walmart.com/cp/snap-online (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Amazon Fresh / Amazon.com — SNAP-eligible groceries in many California ZIP codes.
- DoorDash — only for grocery and convenience stores (Safeway, ALDI, 7-Eleven, etc.), not restaurants. SNAP customers can get DashPass for $4.99/month instead of $9.99. [Source: doordash.com / NCOA, accessed 2026-05-17]
- Uber Eats — grocery and convenience only, in select areas.
Full national list: fns.usda.gov/snap/online.
Common Pitfalls
- SNAP never pays fees or tips. Have a debit card ready, even if it's just got a few dollars on it for the tip.
- No hot food, no soap, no vitamins on SNAP. Same rules as in the store. Non-food items go on your other card.
- Pickup is usually free; delivery is not. If money is tight, choose curbside pickup at Walmart or Safeway.
- Tip the shopper if you can. They are gig workers, not store employees. Even $2–$5 helps.
- Watch out for "service fees" and "heavy item fees." They add up. Pickup avoids most of them.
Where to Get Help
- CalFresh questions (apply, recertify, balance): call 1-877-847-3663 (1-877-847-FOOD), or go to getcalfresh.org.
- EBT card lost / stolen / PIN: call EBT Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677, 24/7.
- Nevada County help in person: Nevada County Health & Human Services, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City. 530-265-1340.
- Instacart EBT support: in the app, go to Help → Payments → EBT SNAP.