Chase Instacart Credits 2026: How to 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:
- Go to instacart.com/p/chase-united (or search "Chase" in the Instacart app)
- Link your Chase card and activate the complimentary Instacart+ membership
- 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 ($795 annual fee), the Instacart benefit alone covers $339/year in value ($240 credits + $99 Instacart+). That's 43% 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.