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As online grocery shopping continues to grow, businesses must adapt to evolving consumer expectations. Whether you’re developing a new app or improving an existing one, understanding what works for industry leaders is crucial. This article explores 7 of the best grocery shopping apps in 2025, highlighting their key features, innovations, and customer engagement strategies. By analyzing these real-world examples, you’ll gain actionable insights to optimize your own grocery delivery app for success.
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Instacart
Instacart, founded in 2012, is a leading grocery delivery app operating across the U.S. and Canada. It connects customers with personal shoppers who fulfill orders from local stores and deliver them directly to their doors. Instacart’s success stems from its user-friendly interface, vast network of over 1,400 retailers (spanning 80,000 stores), and innovative features like same-day delivery and in-store smart cart technology.
Besides, the platform leverages advanced AI for personalized recommendations and real-time communication, alongside integrations with smart cart solutions like Caper to enhance in-store experiences.
Instacart had over 8 million downloads in 2022, making it the most popular grocery delivery app in the U.S. By 2025, daily downloads are estimated at around 11,498, although this represents a decline compared to previous years.
Key Features:
- Same-Day Delivery: Offers delivery within as fast as 30 minutes from local stores.
- Extensive Store Network: Partners with major retailers like Costco, Safeway, Aldi, and more across North America.
- Personal Shoppers: Employs over 500,000 shoppers to hand-pick items and ensure quality.
- Contactless Delivery: Provides a safe option for customers to receive groceries without direct interaction.
- Multi-Store Shopping: Allows customers to shop from multiple stores in one order.
- Smart Cart Integration: Utilizes Caper smart carts for seamless in-store shopping experiences, enabling scan-and-go functionality.
- Dietary Filters: Offers nutritional information and diet-based filters for health-conscious consumers.
- Instacart+ Subscription: Provides cost-saving benefits like free delivery on orders over a certain amount.
- Real-Time Communication: Enables live chat with shoppers to handle substitutions or preferences during shopping.
Shipt
Shipt is a U.S.-based online grocery delivery service founded in 2014, with the primary goal of simplifying grocery shopping by providing a convenient and streamlined experience. It connects customers with local stores like Target, Meijer, and CVS Pharmacy, allowing them to order groceries and other essentials directly to their doors. Shipt operates through a network of personal shoppers who pick up and deliver orders, ensuring real-time communication for personalized service. The platform is owned by Target Corporation and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
Key Features:
- Same-Day Delivery: Offers flexible delivery options, including same-day delivery, allowing customers to receive their orders quickly.
- Wide Store Network: Partners with numerous local and national retailers, providing access to a broad range of products.
- Personal Shoppers: Employs a network of shoppers who hand-pick items, ensuring quality and freshness.
- Real-Time Communication: Enables customers to communicate with shoppers via text for special requests or substitutions.
- Membership Plans: Offers various membership options, including annual and monthly plans, with unlimited deliveries on orders over $35.
- Product Variety: Delivers not only groceries but also household essentials, pet supplies, and more.
- Substitution Options: Allows customers to specify substitution preferences or request contact from the shopper if an item is unavailable.
- Exclusive Deals: Provides members with exclusive discounts and promotions from partner stores.
FreshDirect
FreshDirect is a pioneering online grocery delivery service founded in 1999 and headquartered in New York City. It revolutionized grocery shopping by offering a vast selection of fresh produce, meats, seafood, and other essentials directly to customers’ doors. FreshDirect operates on a direct-to-consumer model, sourcing products directly from farms and suppliers to ensure freshness and quality.
Its grocery shopping app allows users to browse and order groceries with options for same-day delivery in select areas. FreshDirect’s commitment to quality and convenience makes it a preferred choice for those seeking hassle-free grocery shopping experiences, particularly in the Northeast U.S. where it primarily operates.
Key Features:
- Wide Product Selection: Offers a comprehensive range of products similar to a traditional supermarket, including organic and locally sourced items.
- Quality Focus: Sources products directly from farms and suppliers to ensure freshness, with a rating system to guide customers to the best produce.
- Delivery Options: Provides flexible delivery scheduling, including same-day and express delivery options in select areas.
DeliveryPass Subscription: Offers a subscription service with free delivery and exclusive perks for frequent customers, making it cost-effective for regular users. - User-Friendly Interface: Allows easy browsing and ordering through its website or mobile app, with features like browsable categories and curated lists.
- 100% Happiness Guarantee: Ensures customer satisfaction by offering replacements or refunds for unsatisfactory items.
Getir
Getir, founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2015 by Nazim Salur and his team, is a “quick commerce” startup that revolutionized grocery delivery by offering ultrafast services, delivering groceries and essentials in as little as 10 minutes. It operates through a vertically integrated network of distribution centers and couriers, making it a market leader in Turkey’s grocery delivery industry.
Getir’s innovative approach combines digital disruption with operational excellence, leveraging AI and data science to optimize delivery routes and inventory management. Despite challenges in global expansion, Getir remains committed to redefining convenience in grocery shopping.
Key Features:
- Ultrafast Delivery: Delivers groceries, toiletries, and household essentials within 10–20 minutes.
- Vertically Integrated Model: Operates its own distribution centers and employs couriers for efficient logistics.
- Mobile App Convenience: Provides a seamless user experience through its app, enabling quick ordering and tracking.
- Expanded Services: Includes meal delivery, restaurant food courier services, and same-day delivery of household supplies.
- Dynamic Pricing: Generates revenue through marked-up product prices and delivery fees.
- Global Reach: Operated in multiple countries before consolidating operations to focus on Turkey and select markets like the UK, Germany, and the U.S.
- Strategic Acquisitions: Acquired competitors like Gorillas and FreshDirect to strengthen its market presence.
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh, launched in 2007 in Seattle, is Amazon’s grocery delivery and pickup service available exclusively to Amazon Prime members. The grocery shopping app allows customers to shop for groceries and household essentials from a wide selection of over 500,000 products, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, and organic items. It integrates advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and voice assistance through Alexa to enhance user convenience. With features like same-day delivery, personalized recommendations, and seamless payment options, the Amazon Fresh app has become a benchmark in grocery delivery innovation.
Key Features:
- Wide Product Selection: Access to over 500,000 items, including fresh produce, pantry staples, and personal care products.
- Same-Day Delivery: Offers 1-hour or 2-hour delivery windows for Prime members in select cities.
- Attended and Unattended Delivery: Customers can choose between attended deliveries or temperature-controlled unattended deliveries.
- Alexa Integration: Allows users to add items to their cart or shopping list via voice commands.
- Personalized Recommendations: AI-driven suggestions based on purchase history and preferences.
- Contactless Shopping: Enables seamless checkout through the app or at physical stores using “Just Walk Out” technology.
- Amazon Dash Cart: Smart shopping carts that automatically track items added and process payments when exiting the store.
- Pickup Option: Customers can pick up orders from designated locations, often at Whole Foods Market stores.
- Exclusive Discounts: Offers deals for Prime members and supports payment with EBT cards for eligible customers.
- Order Management: Allows users to modify or cancel orders before they are packed.
Peapod
Peapod has been making grocery shopping easier since 1989 when brothers Thomas and Andrew Parkinson founded it as one of the first-ever grocery delivery services in the U.S. Serving major metro areas like Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., Peapod lets customers shop for fresh produce, meats, pantry staples, and household essentials—right from their phone or computer. With convenient delivery and pickup options, a user-friendly app, and competitive pricing, Peapod continues to be a go-to choice for busy shoppers who want groceries without the hassle.
Key Features:
- Wide Product Range: Offers a comprehensive selection of products similar to a traditional grocery store, including fresh produce, meats, dairy products, and household essentials.
- Delivery Options: Provides both attended and unattended delivery services. Attended deliveries require customers to be home, while unattended deliveries leave groceries in insulated totes with dry ice.
- Flexible Payment: Accepts credit or debit card payments, with the option to apply coupons during attended deliveries.
- Peapod Pass: Offers a subscription service that includes free delivery on orders over $60, making it cost-effective for frequent users.
- Order Customization: Allows customers to add comments to their orders and manage substitution preferences.
- Coupons and Discounts: Doubles valid manufacturer coupons up to $0.99 and accepts internet coupons up to $5 per item.
- Pharmacy Services: Includes pharmacy refills and health-related products, enhancing its role as a one-stop-shop for household needs.
Beelivery
Since its launch in 2015, Beelivery has grown into the UK’s largest on-demand grocery delivery service, known for its ultra-fast delivery times. Operating as a tech-powered logistics marketplace, Beelivery utilizes a vast network of 50,000+ independent drivers to bring groceries from local stores to customers within 15 to 60 minutes. By leveraging the sharing economy, it streamlines last-mile delivery and makes grocery shopping more convenient than ever.
Key Features:
- Ultrafast Delivery: Delivers groceries and essentials in as little as 15 minutes, catering to urgent needs and late-night orders.
- 24/7 Service: Operates around the clock, providing convenience for customers who need groceries at any time.
- Wide Coverage: Delivers to over 90% of UK households, making it one of the most accessible grocery delivery services in the country.
- Crowdsourced Drivers: Employs a large network of freelance drivers, allowing for flexible scheduling and rapid response times.
- Advanced Technology: Utilizes GPS and algorithms to optimize delivery routes and ensure timely arrivals.
- App-Based Ordering: Offers a user-friendly app for easy ordering and tracking of deliveries.
Lessons from Top Grocery Shopping Apps
The success of leading grocery shopping apps in 2025 highlights how technology, innovation, and customer-centric strategies can transform the retail industry.
#1 Optimizing Customer Experience
A seamless shopping experience is key to customer retention. Grocery shopping apps like Instacart and Amazon Fresh leverage AI to personalize recommendations, create tailored shopping lists, and apply dietary filters. Convenience is also a priority—Getir offers same-day delivery, while Shipt provides flexible delivery options to suit busy lifestyles. Additionally, user-friendly interfaces like those of FreshDirect and Peapod make browsing, ordering, and tracking orders effortless.
#2 Leveraging Advanced Technologies
Cutting-edge technology plays a crucial role in improving efficiency. Instacart uses AI-driven real-time inventory updates to ensure stock accuracy, while Getir relies on route optimization algorithms to accelerate delivery times. Many apps also utilize cloud platforms like AWS for scalability and reliability, ensuring seamless operations even during peak demand.
#3 Building Strong Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are essential for customer retention. Subscription-based memberships like Instacart+ and Peapod Pass offer perks such as free delivery and exclusive discounts. Gamification strategies, seen in Beelivery’s reward model and Amazon Prime’s benefits, keep customers engaged and encourage repeat purchases.
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#4 Expanding Product Offerings
Diversifying product categories can increase order value and attract a wider audience. Amazon Fresh, for example, extends beyond groceries to include household essentials, pharmacy items, and meal kits. Meanwhile, Beelivery taps into niche markets by offering emergency and late-night delivery services.
#5 Emphasizing Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming a major differentiator in the grocery industry. For example, FreshDirect prioritizes eco-friendly sourcing by working directly with farms, reducing the supply chain’s environmental impact. Businesses adopting green initiatives can attract environmentally conscious consumers and build a responsible brand image.
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#6 Embracing Digital Transformation
With 25% of grocery shoppers now buying online, a mobile-first approach is essential. Features like barcode scanning, digital coupons, and virtual shopping lists enhance the mobile shopping experience. Additionally, automation in “dark stores,” where robotic pick-and-pack systems handle orders, can reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
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#7 Enhancing Employee Experience
Employee engagement is as important as customer satisfaction. Many grocery shopping apps provide internal tools for workforce management, such as scheduling apps and notifications, to improve productivity. As automation takes over repetitive tasks, businesses should focus on creating more fulfilling and value-driven roles for employees.
In conclusion, the best grocery shopping apps succeed by prioritizing user experience, convenience, and advanced technology. From AI-powered personalization to flexible delivery options, these innovations shape how consumers shop in 2025. By learning from industry leaders and integrating their best practices, you can enhance your app’s functionality, improve customer satisfaction, and stay competitive in the fast-changing grocery retail landscape.
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