What Shipt Is and How It Works

Shipt is a same-day delivery service that brings groceries and household items from stores to your home. You place an order through the Shipt app or website, select which store you want to shop from (usually a Target, Kroger, Whole Foods, or other local retailer), and a Shipt shopper picks and delivers your items the same day. You pay a membership fee for unlimited deliveries, plus the cost of your groceries and a delivery fee.

The service works by connecting you with independent shoppers who use their own cars to pick items from partner stores and bring them to your address. When you place an order, Shipt assigns it to an available shopper in your area. That shopper shops for your items, checks out, and drives to your home. Most deliveries arrive within a few hours of ordering, though timing depends on how busy Shipt is in your area and what time you order.

Shipt operates in most U.S. cities but not everywhere. You can check whether Shipt serves your address by entering your zip code on their website or app before you sign up. The service is owned by Target and primarily focuses on grocery and household goods, though some orders include items from other retailers.

Key Takeaways

  • Shipt charges a membership fee (usually $9.99 per month or $99 per year) for unlimited same-day deliveries, plus you pay for the groceries themselves and a delivery fee per order.
  • You order through the Shipt app or website, choose which store to shop from, and a shopper picks and delivers your items within a few hours.
  • Shipt shoppers are independent contractors who use their own vehicles, so delivery times and quality can vary based on who is assigned to your order.
  • You can communicate directly with your shopper through the app if they need to ask about substitutions or if you want to add or remove items before checkout.
  • Shipt is available in most major U.S. cities but not nationwide, so you should check your zip code first to confirm service in your area.

Membership Costs and Delivery Fees

Shipt offers two membership options: a monthly plan at $9.99 per month or an annual plan at $99 per year. The annual plan works out to about $8.25 per month if you use the service regularly. Both memberships give you unlimited same-day deliveries with no cap on how many orders you can place.

On top of the membership, you pay for the groceries themselves at the store's regular prices, plus a delivery fee that varies by order size and location. Delivery fees typically range from $2 to $10 per order, though Shipt sometimes waives the fee for larger orders or during promotional periods. Some stores also charge a small markup on certain items compared to in-store prices.

If you only need delivery occasionally, Shipt offers a pay-as-you-go option without a membership, but the per-delivery cost is much higher — usually $7 to $15 per order instead of the flat membership fee. For most people who order more than once or twice a month, the membership pays for itself quickly.

How to Place Your First Order

read the Shipt app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or visit Shipt.com on your computer. Create an account with your email address and password, then enter your delivery address. Shipt will show you which stores in your area are available for delivery.

Select the store you want to shop from — usually Target, Kroger, Whole Foods, or a local supermarket depending on your region. Browse the store's inventory through the app, add items to your cart, and review the total. You can set special instructions for your shopper, such as "no substitutions" or "ring doorbell twice." When you are ready, choose your preferred delivery window (usually a 2-hour window) and check out.

You will be asked to provide a payment method (credit card, debit card, or digital wallet) and confirm your delivery address. Once you submit the order, Shipt assigns it to a shopper in your area. You can track the shopper's progress through the app and message them directly if you have questions or want to make changes before they check out.

Communicating With Your Shipt Shopper

After a shopper is assigned to your order, you can message them through the Shipt app. This is useful if you want to swap out an item, ask about a substitution if something is out of stock, or clarify a special request. Shoppers can also message you if they have questions about your order or if an item you requested is not available.

If an item is out of stock, the shopper will suggest a replacement or ask if you want them to skip it. You can respond through the app to approve the substitution, choose a different item, or tell them to leave it off your order. This back-and-forth happens in real time, so it is important to keep your phone nearby while your order is being shopped.

If you do not respond to a shopper's message within a certain time frame, they will make a judgment call based on your standing instructions or the item's similarity. Most shoppers try to find reasonable replacements, but communication helps may support you get what you actually want.

Delivery Windows and Timing

Shipt offers same-day delivery, meaning your order can arrive the same day you place it. Delivery windows are typically 2 hours long — for example, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The available windows depend on how busy Shipt is in your area and what time you order. If you order early in the morning, you might have a delivery window later that same day.

During busy times (weekends, evenings, or holidays), available windows may fill up quickly, and you might only see windows for the next day. If you need groceries urgently, ordering earlier in the day increases your chances of getting a same-day delivery window. Some areas also offer early-morning delivery windows starting at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m.

Shipt does not may provide a specific arrival time within your chosen window — the shopper will arrive sometime during the 2-hour window you selected. If a shopper is running late, you can see their location in the app and get a more precise estimate.

What Happens if Items Are Out of Stock or Damaged

If an item is out of stock, your shopper will message you through the app with a suggested replacement. You can approve the replacement, ask for a different item, or tell the shopper to skip it entirely. If you do not respond, the shopper will either substitute a similar item or remove it from your order based on your standing instructions.

If an item arrives damaged or spoiled, you can report it through the Shipt app within a certain time frame (usually 24 hours). Shipt will refund you for the damaged item or issue a credit to your account. You do not need to return the damaged item — just take a photo if the app asks for one.

Shipt's refund policy covers items that are genuinely damaged or not as described, but it does not cover items you straightforward change your mind about. If you want to return a grocery item you ordered by mistake, contact Shipt support through the app to discuss your options.

Tipping Your Shipt Shopper

Shipt shoppers are independent contractors, not Shipt employees, and they rely on tips as a significant part of their income. You can tip your shopper through the app at checkout (before delivery) or after delivery is complete. Tips are optional but strongly encouraged — most shoppers expect a tip similar to what you would give a restaurant delivery driver, typically 15 to 20 percent of your order total.

You can adjust your tip after delivery if you want to increase it based on how well the shopper handled your order. If you had a problem — items were forgotten, substitutions were poor, or the shopper was rude — you can reduce the tip or remove it entirely and leave feedback explaining why.

Tipping directly affects whether shoppers accept your future orders. Shoppers can see your tip history and may deprioritize orders from customers who tip poorly or not at all, especially during busy times. If you consistently do not tip, you may experience longer wait times or have fewer shoppers willing to take your orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Shipt if I do not have a smartphone?

You can place orders on Shipt.com using a computer or tablet, but you will need a way to receive messages from your shopper — either through email or by having someone else monitor the app on their phone. The app is the primary way to communicate with shoppers about substitutions and changes, so a smartphone makes the experience much easier.

What if Shipt is not available in my area?

Check your zip code on Shipt.com to see if the service operates near you. If it does not, you can look into other grocery delivery options like Amazon Fresh, Instacart, or local grocery store delivery programs. Some areas are added to Shipt's service map over time, so you can check back periodically.

Can I order from multiple stores in one Shipt order?

No, each Shipt order is from a single store. If you need items from two different stores, you will need to place two separate orders. Each order will have its own delivery fee and can be assigned to different shoppers.

What if my shopper does not show up?

If your shopper does not arrive within your delivery window, contact Shipt support through the app. They can check on the shopper's status, reassign your order to someone else, or issue a refund. Shipt tracks shopper locations, so they can usually tell you what happened if a delivery is significantly delayed.

Do I have to be home when the shopper arrives?

You should be home or available to receive your delivery, especially for perishable items like groceries. You can leave delivery instructions in the app — for example, "leave on porch" or "ring doorbell twice" — but Shipt recommends being present to accept cold items and verify that everything arrived correctly.