The Instacart and Costco partnership recently rolled out 2 noteworthy changes that apply to shopping on both Costco Same Day (which is run by Instacart) and the Costco store on Instacart.com. The first change – lower price savings for Instacart+ members is disappointing. The second change – a new monthly $10 credit for Costco Executive members is a positive update. Read on for full details of each change and my take on them.
Instacart+ Costco Price Changes
On June 27, Instacart sent the following message with the headline “Instacart+ Benefits Update” as part of an email to Instacart+ members:
The savings that Instacart+ members get on Costco Same-Day are changing. As of June 30, 2025, Instacart+ members will save up to 3.5% (previously up to 7%) compared to non-Instacart+ members on every Same-Day order. Instacart+ savings reduce item markups used to pay for Instacart delivery services.
My Take on this update: I’m not quite sure if this is a Costco or Instacart prompted change, but lower cost savings is obviously disappointing for Instacart+ members. It’s also not entirely clear whether this means non-Instacart+ member prices will be lowered ~3.5% or if Instacart+ member prices will be increased ~3.5%. Probably the latter. I’ll be re-running my Costco warehouse vs. Costco Same-Day vs. Costco on Instacart investigative price comparison in an attempt to see how this all shakes out.
I don’t believe that a 3.5% change is a deal killer for shopping at Costco with Instacart when you combine things like discounted Instacart gift cards (which have been found at Costco, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Amazon, and elsewhere in recent years, the new Chase Instacart credits, and other Instacart offers and store promotions. Which leads me to the 2nd update…
A New Monthly Costco Same Day (or Costco Instacart) Credit for Costco Executive Members
For Costco Executive members, there is also a positive change with a new monthly $10 Costco Same Day or Costco Instacart credit available. Later, in the aforementioned email, Instacart also noted:
Also, starting June 30, 2025, Costco Executive Members will receive a $10 monthly credit for Same-Day delivery orders of $150 or more placed through Sameday.costco.com or Costco via Instacart.
Costco expanded on this with an email of their own and put up an FAQ with full terms on the Costco Same Day site:
As a valid Costco Executive Member card holder, you can receive one (1) $10 instant credit in your Instacart account to use at either Costco on Instacart’s marketplace or SameDay.Costco.com (collectively, the “Eligible Accounts”) each month you have a valid Costco Executive Membership that is linked to your Instacart account starting 6/30/2025. Each monthly credit is only eligible on one purchase of $150 or more of eligible products made from Costco on either Instacart.com or SameDay.Costco.com. The monthly credit will be made available to you in your Eligible Accounts at the beginning of each calendar month or on the date you become a Costco Executive Member.
To summarize Costco Executive members are eligible for one $10 credit, per month, on a $150+ purchase on either Costco Same Day or Instacart’s Costco store (but not both stores). The Costco FAQ gets into the full details, but that’s the gist of it.
My take on this update: Costco Same Day frequently runs promotions for Costco members (e.g. this July there is a $15 off $50+ order promotion). I have confirmed that this new $10 monthly credit will stack with that promotion (and hopefully others like it in the future). A $10 savings on a $150 order equals a 6.67% savings. So, if you’re a Costco Executive member, there is a good opportunity to come out ahead with these changes, even if you’re saving ~3.5% less with your Instacart+ membership. Not a Costco Executive member? I’ve broken down the numbers on if a Costco Executive membership is worth the extra cost. Short answer: it depends on how much you spend at Costco.
There’s also the odd scenario when – if there is no Costco Same Day promotion – you could save more money by shopping on the Costco Instacart store when using the Chase Instacart monthly credits, versus shopping on Costco Same Day. I’ve confirmed that the Chase credits only apply to Instacart.com orders – not Costco Same Day.
Those are the updates for the players in this game.