Refreshing Cart Star to Celebrate Shopping Excellence

Kahtea -  218 deliveries

Since launching Cart Star three years ago, we’ve been able to recognize and reward top shoppers for their care, commitment, and effort. As Cart Star evolves, we want to further recognize quality service, as it’s the truly exceptional experiences that keep customers coming back. That’s why we’re excited to refresh Cart Star to celebrate shopping excellence at every level with even more rewards. 

Starting July 1, we’re including the shopping quality score as a tier requirement, simplifying from earning points to completing orders, and delivering greater rewards like increased batch access the higher you achieve. 

Updates to tier requirements 

To recognize shoppers who consistently deliver quality to customers, each tier now includes a minimum shopping quality score requirement. Additionally, we’ve heard from you that earning points based on how much you shop to achieve tiers is confusing. To address this feedback, we’ve gotten rid of points and each order you complete goes towards unlocking the next tier. Diamond Cart tier is also evolving so we are able to offer even more exclusive rewards for truly exceptional service. See the new tier requirements below: 

New meaningful rewards

We’re excited to recognize excellence with even greater rewards that support your goals at every tier, while ensuring continued access to familiar favorites! See what achieving each tier unlocks:

1. Cart Star priority access unlocks greater access to batches the higher the tier level. This means Diamond Cart shoppers will get the greatest access to batches, followed by Platinum Cart, then Gold Cart.  

When you are close to the store and in the store’s highlighted area: 

• With Diamond priority, you see batches before shoppers with a lower Cart Star status and those not in Cart Star.
• With Platinum priority, you see batches before Gold Cart and not in Cart Star shoppers.
• With Gold priority, you see batches before shoppers not in Cart Star.

When you are farther away from the store and not in the store’s highlighted area: 

• With Diamond priority, you’re most likely to see batches.
• With Platinum priority, you’re more likely to see batches before Gold Cart and not in Cart Star shoppers.
• With Gold priority, you’re more likely to see batches before shoppers not in Cart Star.

Before stores open:

• With Diamond priority, you see available batches before stores open while shoppers without Diamond Cart status will only see available batches after stores open.

2. An Instacart+ membership lets you enjoy $0 grocery and restaurant delivery fees¹, share membership perks with family, and more!

What to expect

We’re rolling out the Cart Star updates to shoppers in two waves:

• Wave 1: On July 1, 2025, the new tier requirements, which includes the shopping quality score, will be available. Respectively, on October 1, 2025, the new rewards will be available if you qualify.
• Wave 2: On January 1, 2026, the new tier requirements, which includes the shopping quality score, will be available. Respectively, on April 1, 2026, the new rewards will be available if you qualify.

Check the Cart Star page in-app on July 1, 2025 to see which tier requirements you’re working towards through September 30 to qualify for Cart Star.

You can learn more about the Cart Star program, rollout information, and tier rewards on our webpage.

Resources to nail shopping with quality 

Access additional resources on our webpage so you’re confident that you’re delivering excellence! 

Other initiatives to reward shopping excellence

A shopper debit card is also coming soon. To learn more about it, go here.

1. The Instacart+ membership will remain active through the end of the 3-month period in which a shopper achieves Diamond Cart status. Service and other fees apply. $0 grocery delivery fees are on orders of $10+. $0 restaurant delivery fees are on eligible orders of $25+.
2. Upside is not currently available in Canada.
3. Pay only $1/hour for in-home care for children, seniors, and pets through Care.com ($1.27 CAD per hour in Canada). Only in-network senior care is available. Care for children and seniors is limited to 20 hours per quarter (4-hour per day minimum and 10-hour per day maximum). Petcare is limited to up to 2 days per quarter.