What Shipt is and who runs it

Shipt is a same-day grocery and retail delivery service owned by Target. You place an order through the Shipt app or website, and a Shipt shopper — an independent contractor — buys items from a store near you and delivers them to your door, usually within a few hours. Shipt operates in most U.S. cities but not everywhere; you can check availability by entering your zip code on their website.

Shipt shoppers are not Shipt employees. They set their own schedules, choose which orders to accept, and keep earnings after Shipt takes a cut. Customers pay for items, delivery, and optionally a membership fee. Target owns Shipt but does not run the day-to-day operations — Shipt is a separate company that contracts with stores to fulfill orders.

Key Takeaways

  • Shipt shoppers are independent contractors who choose their own hours and which orders to accept, not employees on a fixed schedule.
  • Customers can order from multiple store types — grocery chains, Target, Whole Foods, and others — depending on what is available in their area.
  • A Shipt+ membership costs money and waives delivery fees, but you can also pay per delivery without joining.
  • Shipt shoppers see the order, store location, and estimated pay before accepting, and they keep a portion of what you earn after Shipt's commission.
  • Delivery times are usually two to three hours, though this varies by demand, store location, and time of day.

How ordering works as a customer

read the Shipt app or go to Shipt.com, enter your address, and see which stores are available in your area. You can browse items, add them to your cart, and choose a delivery window — usually same-day, with slots ranging from a few hours away to later that evening. At checkout, you pay for groceries, a delivery fee (unless you have Shipt+ membership), and optionally tip the shopper.

Once you place an order, Shipt sends it to shoppers in your area. A shopper accepts the order, goes to the store, picks your items, and delivers them. You can message the shopper through the app if items are out of stock or if you want to swap something. After delivery, you rate the shopper and can report any issues — damaged items, wrong quantities, or items not delivered.

Shipt+ membership costs a set amount per month (the price varies by region and changes periodically) and removes delivery fees from all orders. If you order infrequently, paying per delivery may be cheaper. If you order multiple times a week, membership often saves money.

How Shipt shoppers earn and work

Shipt shoppers read the app, create an account, and pass a background check. They then see available orders in their area — each order shows the store, estimated number of items, estimated pay, and delivery distance. Shoppers choose which orders to accept. There is no shift system; you work when you want, as long as you accept orders regularly enough to stay active in the system.

Shipt pays shoppers a base amount per order plus tips from customers. The base pay depends on order complexity, distance, and demand. Shipt takes a commission from the order subtotal before the shopper's cut is calculated. Shoppers also earn bonuses in some markets for completing a certain number of orders in a week, though bonus structures change.

Shoppers use their own vehicle, pay their own gas and car insurance, and are responsible for their own taxes — they receive a 1099 form at year-end, not a W-2. Shipt does not provide benefits like health insurance or paid time off. Shoppers can pause their account or stop accepting orders at any time.

Stores available through Shipt

Shipt partners with multiple store chains, and which ones are available depends on your location. Common partners include Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Publix, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and Target. Some areas have access to five or more store options; others have only one or two. You can see which stores serve your address when you open the app.

Different stores stock different items and have different prices. You can compare prices across stores before ordering, though most customers stick with one or two familiar chains. Specialty stores like Whole Foods tend to be pricier than conventional grocers.

Delivery fees, tips, and membership costs

Shipt charges a delivery fee per order — the amount varies by location and demand. During peak times or in areas with fewer shoppers, fees can be higher. Shipt+ membership removes delivery fees but costs a monthly subscription. The membership price is not the same everywhere and changes over time; check your local price in the app.

You can tip the shopper at checkout or after delivery through the app. Tips are separate from the delivery fee and go directly to the shopper. Many customers tip 15 to 20 percent of the order subtotal, though the amount is entirely up to you.

If you use Shipt occasionally — once or twice a month — paying per delivery is usually cheaper than membership. If you order weekly or more, membership often pays for itself in waived delivery fees alone.

What happens if items are out of stock or damaged

When a shopper arrives at the store, they may find that some items are out of stock. The shopper will message you through the app and suggest a replacement or ask if you want to remove the item. You can approve the swap, decline it, or suggest a different item. If you do not respond quickly, the shopper may make a reasonable substitution or remove the item to keep delivery on schedule.

If items arrive damaged or missing, you can report this in the app after delivery. Shipt typically refunds the cost of damaged or missing items. Keep photos of damaged items if possible — they help with refund requests. Refunds usually process within a few days.

Shipt versus other grocery delivery services

Shipt competes with services like Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and local grocery delivery programs. Shipt's main advantage is same-day delivery in most markets and access to multiple store types. Instacart also offers same-day delivery but uses a different shopper model and is available in more areas. Amazon Fresh delivers from Amazon-owned stores and requires an Amazon Prime membership in some regions.

Shipt's main limitation is that it is not available everywhere — coverage is concentrated in urban and suburban areas. In rural areas, you may have no Shipt coverage or only one store option. Pricing and delivery times also vary by location and time of day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order from multiple stores in one delivery?

No. Each Shipt order is from a single store. If you need items from two different chains, you place two separate orders and pay two delivery fees (unless you have Shipt+ membership, which waives fees on all orders).

How long does delivery usually take?

Most deliveries arrive within two to three hours of placing the order, though this varies. Peak times (evenings and weekends) may take longer. Early morning or mid-afternoon orders often arrive faster. You choose your delivery window at checkout and can see estimated arrival times.

What if a shopper cancels my order?

If a shopper accepts your order and then cancels, Shipt reassigns it to another shopper. If no one accepts the order within a certain time, Shipt cancels it and refunds your payment. This is rare but can happen during very busy periods or in areas with few active shoppers.

Do I have to tip the shopper?

Tipping is optional but encouraged. Shoppers depend on tips as a significant part of their income. Orders with no tip may take longer to be accepted, especially during busy times when shoppers can choose higher-tipped orders.

Can I become a Shipt shopper if I have a criminal record?

Shipt runs a background check on all shoppers. The specific criteria vary, but serious felonies and certain offenses typically disqualify applicants. You can contact Shipt directly to ask about your specific situation, though they do not always provide detailed reasons for rejection.