DoorDash buys Instacart for $17 billion. What it means for users - USA Today

DoorDash's acquisition of Instacart means its users will soon be able to shop from more stores and businesses while enjoying additional perks, including both memberships for the price of one.

DoorDash is acquiring Instacart in a lucrative move that the company says will give shoppers more stores to choose from, more savings for local shoppers and faster delivery options. The companies agreed to the $17 billion closing price on Oct. 22, DoorDash said in an Oct. 29 news release.

Instacart CEO Chris Rogers said in a statement that by utilizing its grocery technology and pairing it with DoorDash’s global reach, the brand can give customers “an even better experience.”

“Together, we can accelerate innovation across the grocery industry and make online grocery more seamless and affordable for the millions of households we serve,” Rogers said.

Since 2024, DoorDash has owned more than two-thirds of the U.S. food delivery market, reported Bloomberg. That’s more than Uber Eats and Grubhub.

Once the deal is finalized at the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028, DoorDash said it will likely keep Instacart’s brand, technology products and app. 

Here is how the deal will impact customers, delivery drivers and retailers.

Thanks to the deal, delivery customers can soon choose from nearly 100,000 stores on the Instacart app and more than 50,000 available through DoorDash, according to DoorDash's news release.

The acquisition also means a single membership fee for DashPass and Instacart+ users, saving customers an estimated $100 million per year, DoorDash said.

Instacart couriers and DoorDash delivery drivers will also benefit, DoorDash said. They will still be able to choose how much they work, get information to decide which orders to accept and choose whether they want to deliver for DoorDash or solely Instacart.

However, because DoorDash has local businesses on its platform, Instacart couriers can now earn more through grocery orders, restaurant orders or both.

Instacart works with nearly 100,000 stores and utilizes technology grocers can use to run their own websites and reach more customers online. 

DoorDash has its own DashMart Fulfillment Services and says it offers “faster, more accurate, and more affordable delivery.”

According to DoorDash, both companies intend to help local businesses grow. The company noted that families use DoorDash and Instacart for different purposes – Instacart for “the big weekly shop” and DoorDash for meals and other items in less than an hour.

DoorDash said the deal will give retailers access to DoorDash’s delivery network and Instacart’s technology platform, while bringing together the companies’ advertising and AI capabilities.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.