Instacart agreed to a $60 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after the agency alleged that the grocery-delivery company misled customers about “free delivery,” automatically enrolled people in paid Instacart+ memberships, and made refunds and satisfaction guarantees difficult to understand. A federal judge entered the stipulated order on January 13, 2026.
The payment is intended as consumer monetary relief, not simply a government fine. However, the official materials do not say that every Instacart user will be paid, provide a universal payout amount, or establish a confirmed claims deadline.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Instacart eGift Card | $200.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Instacart eGift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Instacart Physical Gift Card - $100 | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Instacart eGift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Instacart Physical Gift Card - $150 | $150.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The settlement at a glance
| Item | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| FTC announcement | December 18, 2025 |
| Court order | January 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
| Company | Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart |
| Amount | $60 million monetary judgment for consumer relief |
| FTC vote | 2–0 |
| Legal posture | Settlement of FTC allegations, not a trial verdict or admission of wrongdoing |
The FTC’s announcement describes allegations involving delivery-price disclosures, Instacart+ subscriptions, refund handling and the company’s “100% satisfaction guarantee.” The agency’s announcement and case page contain the complaint and order.
What the FTC alleged
“Free delivery” promotions still required a service fee
According to the FTC, Instacart advertised free delivery on a consumer’s first order—or, in some descriptions, the first three qualifying orders—while still requiring a service fee. The agency said that fee could add as much as 15% to an order and was not clearly disclosed in the relevant advertising.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- GROCERY SHOPPING MADE EASY: Get your entire grocery store list delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Prefer pick up? Order your groceries online, pick up at your local store, and skip the fees and tipping.
- GROCERY COUPONS AND DEALS: Discover exclusive deals and grocery coupons found only on the Instacart app.
- SHOP GROCERY STORES NEAR YOU: Instacart connects you with over 85,000 supermarkets and stores across North America.
- Redeem in the app: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Enter the main menu Tap Credits, promos & gift cards Enter the code Redeem on the website: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Click Account or your name Click Add promo or gift card Enter the code
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
The allegation is about presentation and disclosure, not a ruling that every Instacart service fee is unlawful. “Free delivery” can mean that a delivery charge is waived while other mandatory charges remain. The FTC challenged whether consumers were given a clear enough explanation before choosing the promotion.
Free trials allegedly converted to paid Instacart+ memberships
The FTC alleged that Instacart’s free-trial enrollment flow did not adequately explain that the trial would automatically convert to a paid Instacart+ membership. It said hundreds of thousands of consumers were charged membership fees without express informed consent or without receiving the membership benefits or refunds they expected.
This is a negative-option feature: a subscription continues or begins unless the customer takes action to stop it. Under the stipulated order, Instacart must clearly disclose the material terms and obtain express, affirmative consent before charging for a transaction that uses such a feature. The order is available in the FTC’s PDF.
Rank #2
- GROCERY SHOPPING MADE EASY: Get your entire grocery store list delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Prefer pick up? Order your groceries online, pick up at your local store, and skip the fees and tipping.
- GROCERY COUPONS AND DEALS: Discover exclusive deals and grocery coupons found only on the Instacart app.
- SHOP GROCERY STORES NEAR YOU: Instacart connects you with over 85,000 supermarkets and stores across North America.
- Redeem in the app: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Enter the main menu Tap Credits, promos & gift cards Enter the code Redeem on the website: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Click Account or your name Click Add promo or gift card Enter the code
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
The “100% satisfaction guarantee” allegedly promised more than customers received
The FTC said the phrase “100% satisfaction guarantee” could lead customers to expect a full refund when an order was late or service was unprofessional. The agency alleged that customers were often offered only a small credit toward a future order instead.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The order bars Instacart from misrepresenting whether refunds are available or the conditions and limits attached to a guarantee. It also requires clear disclosure of material restrictions and an explanation of available remedies before the company issues a refund, credit or similar remedy under a guarantee.
Refund choices were allegedly buried in self-service support
The FTC alleged that Instacart hid the refund option in its self-service support menu. That design could make customers believe that account credit was the only remedy, even when a refund might have been available. The allegation concerns how choices were presented; it does not establish that every current support screen violates the order.
Rank #3
- GROCERY SHOPPING MADE EASY: Get your entire grocery store list delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Prefer pick up? Order your groceries online, pick up at your local store, and skip the fees and tipping.
- GROCERY COUPONS AND DEALS: Discover exclusive deals and grocery coupons found only on the Instacart app.
- SHOP GROCERY STORES NEAR YOU: Instacart connects you with over 85,000 supermarkets and stores across North America.
- THOUGHTFUL GIFT: Share the gift of time by taking a chore off a friend’s or family’s to-do list. Perfect for new parents!
- Redeem in the app: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Enter the main menu Tap Credits, promos & gift cards Enter the code Redeem on the website: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Click Account or your name Click Add promo or gift card Enter the code
What the order requires going forward
- Stop misrepresenting the cost of delivery services, including mandatory charges associated with delivery promotions.
- Clearly and conspicuously disclose restrictions and conditions on satisfaction guarantees and refund promises.
- Explain available remedies before providing a refund, credit or similar compensation under a guarantee.
- Clearly disclose negative-option subscription terms, including automatic conversion and billing.
- Obtain express, affirmative consent before charging a consumer for a negative-option feature.
The stipulated order has the force of law after approval and signature by the district court judge. The order cites Sections 13(b) and 19 of the FTC Act and Section 5 of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
Who might receive money?
The $60 million figure is a monetary judgment intended for consumer relief. The FTC specifically identifies consumers who were charged for Instacart+ without express informed consent as potential refund recipients. That does not mean every person who used Instacart, paid a service fee or saw a “free delivery” promotion automatically qualifies.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Eligibility, payment amounts and the distribution method depend on the eventual administration of the refund program. The official materials available for this case do not establish a final per-person amount, a confirmed deadline or whether every eligible consumer will be paid automatically. They also do not confirm whether some consumers will need to submit a claim.
Rank #4
- GROCERY SHOPPING MADE EASY: Get your entire grocery store list delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Prefer pick up? Order your groceries online, pick up at your local store, and skip the fees and tipping.
- GROCERY COUPONS AND DEALS: Discover exclusive deals and grocery coupons found only on the Instacart app.
- SHOP GROCERY STORES NEAR YOU: Instacart connects you with over 85,000 supermarkets and stores across North America.
- THOUGHTFUL GIFT: Share the gift of time by taking a chore off a friend’s or family’s to-do list. Perfect for new parents!
- Redeem in the app: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Enter the main menu Tap Credits, promos & gift cards Enter the code Redeem on the website: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Click Account or your name Click Add promo or gift card Enter the code
The FTC’s general explanation of its refund process says the agency may use company records for direct payments or a claims process when records are insufficient, and may distribute funds proportionally if the available money cannot fully compensate everyone. Those are general procedures, not a confirmed Instacart-specific plan. See How the FTC provides refunds.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Instacart customers should do now
Check your own records
- Review bank and card statements for unexpected Instacart+ charges.
- Search email receipts for a free-trial enrollment and the date it converted to paid membership.
- Save order receipts, screenshots, cancellation confirmations and communications with Instacart.
Keeping records may help if the FTC later announces eligibility instructions, but it is not a guarantee that you will receive money.
Use only official refund information
Monitor the FTC’s Instacart case page and official FTC refund announcements. The reviewed materials do not identify an approved Instacart claims website or a payout schedule, so do not submit financial information through an unofficial settlement page.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBest Value
- GROCERY SHOPPING MADE EASY: Get your entire grocery store list delivered in as fast as 30 minutes. Prefer pick up? Order your groceries online, pick up at your local store, and skip the fees and tipping.
- GROCERY COUPONS AND DEALS: Discover exclusive deals and grocery coupons found only on the Instacart app.
- SHOP GROCERY STORES NEAR YOU: Instacart connects you with over 85,000 supermarkets and stores across North America.
- THOUGHTFUL GIFT: Share the gift of time by taking a chore off a friend’s or family’s to-do list. Perfect for new parents!
- Redeem in the app: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Enter the main menu Tap Credits, promos & gift cards Enter the code Redeem on the website: Sign up for Instacart or log into your existing account Click Account or your name Click Add promo or gift card Enter the code
Watch for settlement scams
The FTC does not demand payment from consumers, threaten them, or require gift cards, cryptocurrency or a fee to release a refund. Treat unsolicited texts, emails and calls asking for bank credentials or payment as likely scams. Suspected fraud can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What Instacart says
Instacart said it settled to resolve the FTC’s questions and move forward. In its company statement, it said it does not charge hidden or unnecessary fees, that fees are itemized, and that its membership and refund policies are transparent and customer-friendly.
Those statements are Instacart’s position. The settlement resolves the FTC’s claims without a trial finding that the allegations were proven, and Instacart did not admit deceptive conduct by agreeing to the order.
Why the case matters beyond Instacart
The enforcement action reflects broader scrutiny of online-delivery pricing and subscription design. Mandatory delivery, service, small-order, priority and other charges can appear at different points in checkout, while free trials can become paid plans unless a customer cancels.
In April 2026, the FTC sought public comment on whether it should address unfair or deceptive fee practices by online food and grocery-delivery platforms. The agency cited the Instacart “free delivery” allegations as an example of charges that may be unclear or disclosed too late. That proceeding does not by itself change Instacart’s prices or create a nationwide fee rule.
Bottom line for customers
Instacart’s $60 million FTC settlement creates legal requirements for clearer fee, refund and subscription disclosures and sets aside money for consumer relief. It does not establish that all Instacart users are owed a payment. Until the FTC publishes case-specific distribution instructions, check your records, preserve evidence and rely only on official FTC communications.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
