Chase Instacart Credits: How to Actually Use Your $240/Year Benefit

Chase quietly rolled out one of the best grocery perks in the credit card world: free Instacart credits every month, plus a complimentary Instacart+ membership worth $99/year.

If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, United Club card, or several other Chase cards, you're sitting on up to $240/year in free groceries — and most people haven't activated it.

Which Cards Get Instacart Credits?

Not all Chase cards get the same amount. Here's the breakdown:

Card	Monthly Credit	Annual Value
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$20/month (2x $10)	$240/year
Chase United Club	$20/month (2x $10)	$240/year
United Club Business	$20/month (2x $10)	$240/year
Chase United Quest	$15/month	$180/year
Chase United Explorer	$10/month	$120/year
United Business Card	$10/month	$120/year
Chase Sapphire Preferred	$10/month	$120/year

Plus every card gets free Instacart+ membership (normally $99/year), which includes free delivery on orders over $35, reduced service fees, and 5% credit back on pickup orders.

Even the $10/month cards are getting $219/year in combined value when you count the Instacart+ membership.

How to Activate (Don't Skip This)

Credits don't start automatically. You need to activate your Instacart+ membership first:

1. Go to instacart.com/p/chase-united (or search "Chase" in the Instacart app)
2. Link your Chase card and activate the complimentary Instacart+ membership
3. Credits will start loading on the 1st of the following month

Important: If you don't activate Instacart+, you won't receive any credits. This is the #1 reason people miss this benefit.

The Split-Order Trick ($20/Month Cards)

If you have a Sapphire Reserve or United Club card, your $20/month comes as two separate $10 credits. Each credit requires its own order of $10 or more from a single retailer.

This means you can't just place one $20 order — you need two separate $10+ orders.

The trick: Split your grocery run into two orders from the same store. Need $40 in groceries? Place a $20 order, then immediately place another $20 order. Both credits get used.

Some ideas for splitting:

• Week 1: Fresh produce and dairy ($10+)
• Week 2: Pantry staples and snacks ($10+)
• Same day: One order for groceries, one for household essentials

What Counts (and What Doesn't)

Instacart credits work on:

• Grocery delivery from any retailer on Instacart (Costco, Kroger, Safeway, etc.)
• Convenience store orders (7-Eleven, CVS)
• Alcohol delivery (where available)
• Pet supplies, household items — anything on Instacart

The credit applies to the product total, not delivery fees or tips. So a $10 order of groceries with a $4 delivery fee and $3 tip uses one credit on the $10 product cost.

Don't Let Credits Expire

Credits are loaded on the 1st of each month and expire at month end. There's no rollover — if you don't use them by the last day of the month, they're gone.

Set a recurring reminder for the 25th of each month to check your Instacart balance. The Instacart app shows your available credits under Account > Credits.

Is It Worth It?

For the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee), the Instacart benefit alone covers $339/year in value ($240 credits + $99 Instacart+). That's 62% of the annual fee from one benefit.

For the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee), $120/year in credits plus $99 Instacart+ means this single benefit is worth more than twice the annual fee.

The benefit runs through December 31, 2027, so you have time — but you need to activate it first.

Track your Instacart Credits usage →