Chase Instacart Mastercard Benefits Guide

Fans of online grocery delivery service Instacart already benefit by not having to visit the store in person all the time, but they can also benefit by earning cash back with the Instacart Mastercard®*. This co-branded credit card offers one of the highest rates of cash back for food delivery through the Instacart website or app, plus respectable rewards rates in everyday categories like gas, dining out and popular streaming services.

The Instacart card also comes loaded with benefits and features that can make signing up a good deal. This benefits guide will highlight the benefits you get if you sign up for this card and get approved.

Chase Instacart Mastercard card highlights

Chase Instacart Mastercard rewards benefits

The following perks come with the Instacart Mastercard:

Welcome bonus

The current Instacart Mastercard welcome bonus is a $50 Instacart credit automatically upon account approval. This bonus is better than nothing, but it’s less valuable than the previous bonus on this card (which was a $100 statement credit and a year of Instacart+ membership).

This bonus is also lower than the ones typically found on similar no-annual-fee cash back cards — usually a $200 or so bonus in exchange for a certain amount of spending in a certain timeframe. But, the Instacart Mastercard’s bonus has no spending requirement and is available immediately.

The ability to earn cash back on more than just groceries

This Chase credit card for food delivery features a generous rewards rate in its primary category — online grocery delivery. These purchases earn 5 percent cash back whether you place your Instacart order on a desktop or using the Instacart mobile app.

Also note that Instacart offers more than groceries through its app; the delivery service offers goods from more than 1,500 retail brands and 100,000+ stores across North America. You can make purchases for higher-end items like:

• Apple electronics
• Sports gear
• Home goods
• Pet supplies

With the Instacart Mastercard, this means you’ll earn 5 percent cash back on larger purchases that you might not earn as much on if you were using another rewards card. However, you should compare the final price — including any Instacart fees and potential markups — against the price offered directly by the retailer to see if you’re getting the best deal.

In addition to the potential to earn 5 percent back on thousands of items purchased through Instacart, you’ll also get 5 percent back on Chase Travel purchases and 2 percent back at gas stations, and on dining and select streaming services. Other spending categories still fetch 1 percent back.

With so many everyday spending categories covered, there are plenty of opportunities to maximize your cash back on the purchases you’ll put on this card.

Multiple redemption options

Once you start racking up rewards, you’ve got a few options for redemption. The first one is the obvious choice — using your points to cover all or part of eligible Instacart orders. Other redemptions for your rewards include:

• Gift cards
• Travel through Chase Travel (keep in mind these rewards aren’t Ultimate Rewards points, so they aren’t transferable and can’t be combined with Ultimate Rewards points earned through other Chase cards)
• A direct deposit or statement credit

Points are worth 1 cent each when redeeming with pay with points, cash or Chase Travel. Redemption values for other options may vary. Also be aware that there is no minimum redemption required for direct deposits, statement credits or Instacart orders. Points don’t expire while your account is open and in good standing.

No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

On top of no annual fee, you won’t have to pay any foreign transaction fees if you decide to travel with this card. This means that if you take a trip outside the United States, you won’t be charged additional fees on purchases in foreign currency made with this card.

Chase Instacart Mastercard additional benefits

There are a few extra perks to appreciate about the Instacart Mastercard, some of which you might believe you could only get with a travel credit card. Consider these benefits and how they could work in your favor.

Travel protections

Travel insurance benefits that come with this card include travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and roadside assistance. To activate these benefits, you generally need to pay for your trip and/or transportation (depending on the benefit) with your card.

Cardholders also get secondary auto rental coverage when they pay for an eligible rental with their credit card.

These benefits are worth the following amounts (if applicable):

Shopping protections

This card also comes with shopping benefits that can provide an extra layer of protection when items you purchase with the card are damaged or stolen or stop working before they should. These perks include purchase protection against damage or theft and extended warranty protection on eligible purchases.

These benefits are worth the following amounts (if applicable):

Access to Chase Pay Over Time

Chase Pay Over Time lets cardholders finance larger purchases without interest in exchange for a monthly fee of up to 1.72 percent of the transaction amount. This benefit only applies to certain purchases, and the monthly payments and plan fee depend on the amount financed and repayment timeline chosen.

World Elite Mastercard benefits

Because this card is part of the World Elite Mastercard network, you’ll also get access to that network’s benefits, like 24/7 concierge service and access to exclusive events and experiences through Priceless Experiences. Other Mastercard World Elite benefits include:

• Zero liability protection (for fraudulent transactions)
• Mastercard ID theft protection
• Instacart+ promotional offers (valid until Jan. 31, 2027)
• Promotional offers from Peacock, Lyft and ResortPass (expiration dates vary)
• Access to exclusive discounts and perks when booking travel through Mastercard Travel

Who should get the Chase Instacart Mastercard?

The right credit card can help you maximize rewards in categories like food and gas spending, and the Instacart Mastercard would be a great option to consider. There’s no annual fee for having the card, and you can earn 5 percent back on a range of purchases you can set up through Instacart.com or the brand’s mobile app. You can also get a $50 Instacart credit upon account approval, which translates to some free groceries right off the bat. The card’s travel and purchase protections are also quite robust for a no-annual-fee card.

Then again, this card isn’t right for everyone. This is especially true for those who do most of their shopping off this convenient app, as the card’s rewards rates on non-Instacart purchases are lackluster compared to competitors. .

For the most part, the Instacart Mastercard is best for:

• People who frequently order food and other purchases through Instacart
• Those looking for good travel and purchase protections on a no-annual-fee card
• Consumers who want flexible redemption options for their rewards
• Anyone who wants an easy (and quick) to earn welcome bonus with no spending requirement

Consider getting a different rewards credit card if:

• You don’t shop on Instacart regularly
• You primarily want to earn rewards on gas stations, dining or streaming services; other no-annual-fee cards offer higher rates on those categories
• You want a travel credit card with more benefits
• You need a credit card with an intro APR for purchases and/or balance transfers

The bottom line

The Chase Instacart Mastercard is a refreshing option in the world of rewards and grocery credit cards. At a time when people are doing their best to maximize rewards on all their spending, this card can help cardholders save both time and money while purchasing things they need.

The benefits this card offers can also make it well worth signing up for, but make sure to consider other cash back credit cards before you decide.

*The information about the Instacart Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.