Instacart Affiliate Program Overview

Instacart is a leading grocery delivery and pick-up service that partners with major retailers across the United States and Canada. Their affiliate program offers an opportunity to earn commissions by referring new users to Instacart’s platform, enabling affiliates to monetize their audience through promoting a widely-used online grocery shopping solution.

Commission Structure

• Commission Rates: Affiliates earn a fixed commission per new customer who completes their first order through an Instacart referral link. The exact payout is typically a flat fee rather than a percentage of the total order value. Though the exact amount can vary by campaign or retailer partner, the general structure rewards affiliates for every converted new customer.
• Recurring Commissions: The commission is paid as a one-time reward for the first completed order placed by a referred customer. There are no recurring or repeated commissions for subsequent orders by the same customer.
• Sub-Affiliate Commissions: Instacart’s affiliate program does not currently offer a sub-affiliate or tiered commission structure. Affiliates only earn from the direct referrals they generate.
• Cookie Duration: The tracking cookie for the Instacart affiliate program usually lasts for 30 days. This means if the referred user completes their first purchase within 30 days of clicking the affiliate link, the affiliate will receive credit for the sale.
• Affiliate Network Management: Instacart manages their affiliate program internally and also partners with leading affiliate networks. As of the latest data, their program is accessible through popular networks like Impact and FlexOffers, allowing affiliates to track performance and payments efficiently via these established platforms.

Instacart Promotion Policy

✅ Allowed Promotion Channels

• Personal blogs and review websites
• Email marketing to opted-in subscribers
• Social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest
• YouTube and other video platforms for review and tutorial content
• Paid search campaigns following network and program guidelines

❌ Prohibited Promotion Channels

• Spam or unsolicited email marketing
• Incentivized traffic or coupon sites offering misleading promotions
• Misrepresentation of Instacart’s services or pricing
• Advertising on platforms that do not comply with Instacart’s trademark and branding guidelines
• Use of trademark bidding in paid search without explicit program approval

Commission Payment

• Approval Timeframe: Commissions are typically approved after the referred customer successfully completes their first order and the return period has elapsed, often taking 30 to 45 days post-purchase for final approval.
• Payment Threshold: The minimum payout threshold is commonly set around $50, though this may vary slightly depending on the affiliate network used.
• Payment Schedule: Payments are usually issued on a monthly basis. On approved payment dates, affiliates receive commissions accrued in the prior month. Specific payment dates depend on the affiliate network managing the program.
• Payment Methods: Affiliates can receive their earnings through multiple methods, including direct deposit, PayPal, or wire transfer, depending on their selected payment preferences within the affiliate network platform.

In summary, the Instacart Affiliate Program is a straightforward and reliable way for affiliates to monetize their audience by referring new users to a highly popular grocery delivery service. Its fixed one-time commission, 30-day cookie window, and support via major affiliate networks provide a solid foundation for affiliate marketing efforts in the grocery and food delivery niche.