How to Permanently Delete Your Instacart Account in 2024: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Instacart has become a major player in the $1 trillion US grocery market, with over 500,000 shoppers and 40,000 stores across 5,500 cities as of Q4 2021.[^1] More than 10% of US households are now monthly active users on the app.[^2]

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While Instacart provides a convenient way to get groceries delivered, there may come a time when you want to delete your account. Perhaps you‘re trying to cut costs, moving to an area without service, or have privacy concerns.

Whatever your reason, this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to delete your Instacart account quickly and permanently. I‘ll also share expert insights as a retail analyst and avid Instacart user to help you make an informed decision. Let‘s get started!

Reasons to Delete Your Instacart Account

Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s explore some of the top reasons Instacart users delete their accounts:

  1. Cost: Instacart‘s service and delivery fees can add up over time, especially if you‘re not an Express member. According to a 2020 survey, fees were the top complaint among Instacart users.[^3]

  2. Lack of use: Some users find they just don‘t use Instacart enough to justify keeping an account open. Over 1/3 of shoppers use grocery delivery services like Instacart less than once a month.[^4]

  3. Privacy concerns: Instacart collects a variety of personal data, including your address, payment info, and order history. Some users prefer to limit their digital footprint by deleting unused accounts.

  4. Bad customer experience: Shoppers can get the wrong items, deliveries can be late, and customer service isn‘t always helpful. After one too many poor experiences, deleting your account might sound appealing.

  5. Moving: If you‘re relocating to one of the few areas where Instacart doesn‘t operate, there‘s not much reason to keep your account open.

If any of these situations resonate with you, then it may be time to consider deleting. But before you do, make sure to cancel any active Express memberships and check if you have credits or gift cards to use up.

Step 1: Download Your Account Data

Before you close your Instacart account permanently, I recommend downloading a copy of your data. This includes your past orders, receipts, and any saved addresses or payment methods.

Having a personal backup can be useful for expense tracking, taxes, or if you need to reference an old order. Plus, it‘s always good practice to keep your own copy of data before deleting an online account.

To download your Instacart data:

  1. Log into your account on a web browser (not the app).
  2. Go to Account Settings > Your Account > Privacy & Security.
  3. Click "Request a copy of your data" and complete the form.
  4. Instacart will email you a link to download your data within 14 days.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] with the subject line "Data Request" and ask for a copy of your data. Just be sure to send it from the email address associated with your account.[^5]

Once you have a copy of your data, you‘re ready to start the account deletion process.

Step 2: Contact Instacart to Delete Your Account

Unlike some apps and websites, Instacart doesn‘t allow you to delete your account with the click of a button. You‘ll need to contact customer service directly and request account deletion.

There are three main ways to do this:

1. By Phone

The quickest way to delete your account is to call Instacart‘s customer service line at 1-888-246-7822. Agents are available 24/7.

When you get connected with a representative, clearly state that you want to permanently delete your account. They will likely ask for your account info (name, email, phone number) to verify your identity.

The agent may also ask why you want to delete and if there‘s anything they can do to keep you as a customer. Feel free to share your reasons, but stay firm in your request to delete if that‘s what you want.

In most cases, the agent can complete your deletion request on the phone and your account will be closed immediately.

2. By Email

Another option is to email Instacart‘s customer service team at [email protected].

In your email, include:

  • Your name
  • The email address and phone number associated with your account
  • A clear request to permanently delete your account

Use a clear subject line like "Request to Delete Account." Here‘s a sample email:

Subject: Request to Delete Account

Hi Instacart Support,

I‘m writing to request the permanent deletion of my Instacart account. 

Name: [Your Name]
Email: [Your Email] 
Phone Number: [Your Phone Number]

Please delete my account and all associated data from your systems. 

Thank you,
[Your Name]

An Instacart agent should reply within 1-2 business days to complete your deletion request or ask for more information. Keep an eye on your spam folder and promptly reply to any follow up messages.

3. By Live Chat

The third way to delete your account is via Instacart‘s live chat feature. Here‘s how:

  1. Log into your account on the Instacart website or app.
  2. Click or tap the "Help" option in the main menu.
  3. Click "Chat with us" to open the chat window and connect with an agent.
  4. Request that the agent permanently delete your account.
  5. Provide your account details to verify your identity.
  6. Answer any follow-up questions and wait for confirmation your account has been deleted.

Live chat is available 24/7 in the app and from 8am-11pm EST on the website.

What Happens After Your Account is Deleted

Once you request account deletion, Instacart will permanently close your account and remove your data from their systems within 14 days. This includes your account info, order history, and all other saved data.

Specifically, here‘s what to expect:

  • No more account access: You will no longer be able to log into the app or website with your old credentials. Attempting to do so will return an error message.

  • Erasure of data: Instacart will erase your account data from its production servers. Limited data may be temporarily preserved in encrypted backups, but will be fully purged within 14 days.[^6]

  • Loss of Instacart benefits: Deleting your account voids any unused account credits, gift cards, referral bonuses, and other perks. Use these up before you delete!

  • Email confirmation: Instacart will email you to confirm your account has been deleted. This usually arrives within 1-2 business days of your deletion request.

It‘s important to note that deleting your account is permanent and irreversible. Instacart does not preserve any of your info in case you want to reactivate later. You can still create a new account, but you‘ll be starting from scratch.

Instacart Account Deletion vs Deactivation

Some users ask about temporarily deactivating their Instacart account instead of deleting it. Unfortunately, that‘s not possible for Instacart customers.

Unlike social media sites and other apps, Instacart doesn‘t provide an option to freeze or suspend your account. It‘s either fully active or deleted.

However, Instacart shoppers (the independent contractors who fulfill and deliver orders) can request to be deactivated if they want to stop receiving batches temporarily.[^7] Shopper deactivation puts the account on hold but doesn‘t delete data.

Deactivated shoppers can contact Instacart later to reactivate their account and have their rating, reviews, and stats reinstated. But for customers, account deletion is an all-or-nothing proposition.

How to Cancel Instacart Express

Instacart Express is a membership program that costs $99/year or $9.99/month. It includes perks like $0 delivery fees on orders over $35 and reduced service fees.[^8]

If you pay for Express but want to cancel your membership, here‘s how:

  1. Log into your account on the app or website.
  2. Click or tap on "Account" in the main menu.
  3. Select "Instacart Express" and then "End Membership."
  4. Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation.

Your Express membership will stay active until the end of the current billing cycle, after which you‘ll lose access to Express benefits.

If you signed up less than 15 days ago, you‘re eligible for a full refund of your Express fee.[^9] For later cancellations, you won‘t be refunded but you will keep Express perks for the remainder of the current month or year.

It‘s important to cancel Express separately from deleting your account. Just because you delete your account doesn‘t automatically mean you won‘t be charged for any active Express memberships!

Tips for a Smooth Instacart Deletion

Finally, here are some expert tips to make your Instacart account deletion as seamless as possible:

  1. Cancel Express first: If you have a paid Express membership, cancel it a few days before you delete your account. That way you won‘t be accidentally charged for an additional month.

  2. Use up credits and gift cards: Instacart won‘t refund any unused account credits or gift card balances when you delete. Make sure to apply these to an order before closing your account.

  3. Check for active orders: If you have any active orders, wait until they‘re completed before deleting your account. Otherwise, you could lose access to tracking info and customer support.

  4. Keep order details: Jot down any order confirmation numbers, item prices, or delivery info you might need later for your records. These will disappear from your account once it‘s deleted.

  5. Update payment methods: Make sure to remove your saved payment cards and update any subscriptions that were billed through Instacart (e.g. Costco membership).

  6. Get your data: Remember to request and download a copy of your account data before you delete. You never know when those records might come in handy.

Conclusion

Deciding to delete your Instacart account is a personal choice that depends on your unique circumstances and needs as a consumer. While it‘s a convenient service for many, Instacart isn‘t the best fit for everyone.

If you do choose to delete, know that you‘re in control of your data and you have the right to close your account at any time. By following the steps in this guide, you can delete your Instacart account permanently, securely, and with minimal hassle.

Just remember, account deletion is final. There‘s no going back once your data is erased. So carefully consider your options, get a copy of your account history, and make sure you‘re ready to say goodbye to Instacart before you submit that deletion request.

Hopefully this guide has given you a clearer understanding of how Instacart account deletion works from a consumer protection and retail industry perspective. As the grocery delivery wars continue to heat up, it‘s more important than ever to be an informed and empowered customer.

Happy shopping (or deleting), whichever you choose!

[^1]: Instacart Corporate – Company Stats
[^2]: Supermarket News – 10% of US Households Use Instacart Monthly
[^3]: Grocery Dive – Instacart User Survey 2020
[^4]: C+R Research – Consumer Grocery Delivery Trends 2021
[^5]: Instacart Help Center – Data Access and Deletion Requests
[^6]: Instacart Privacy Policy – Data Retention
[^7]: Instacart Shopper Help – Deactivation Policy
[^8]: Instacart Express Terms
[^9]: Instacart Help Center – Cancel Instacart Express