DoorDash is buying Instacart for about $17 billion, the two companies announced on Oct. 29, 2026. If you use either app, nothing changes yet: the deal isn’t expected to close until the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028, and until then DoorDash and Instacart keep running as separate companies. The biggest promised change for shoppers is that DashPass and Instacart+ members would pay one membership fee instead of two once the deal is done.
Here’s what was announced, what it could mean for your grocery and takeout bills, what Dashers and Instacart Shoppers were told, and what still has to happen before anything changes.
The DoorDash–Instacart Deal at a Glance
- Price: $65.00 per Instacart share, an equity value of roughly $17 billion, according to the official DoorDash announcement.
- Premium: 26% above Instacart’s closing price on Oct. 22, 2026, the last trading day before media reports of a possible deal.
- Payment: At least 75% cash. Instacart stockholders can choose cash, DoorDash stock, or a mix, with stock capped at 25% of the total.
- Timing: Expected to close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028.
- Approvals needed: Instacart stockholders, a U.S. antitrust review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and regulators in other countries including Canada and Israel.
- Brand: DoorDash expects to keep the Instacart brand, its app and its enterprise technology after closing.
What Changes for DoorDash and Instacart Customers?
Right now: nothing
Both companies say they “will continue to operate as separate and independent companies” until the transaction closes. Your DashPass or Instacart+ membership, your saved payment methods, your order history and your current prices all stay where they are. There’s no account to merge and nothing you need to do today.
After closing: one membership instead of two
The headline consumer promise is a combined subscription. In the companies’ words, “DashPass and Instacart+ members would pay one membership fee instead of two,” which they estimate would save members about $100 million a year in membership fees alone.
What hasn’t been announced is just as important. DoorDash hasn’t said what the combined membership will be called, what it will cost or which perks will carry over, as Digital Trends noted. Both programs have been priced at $9.99 a month, so anyone paying for both today is the most obvious winner. If you only pay for one, the value depends on details that don’t exist yet.
More stores in the Instacart app
DoorDash says Instacart customers could shop at more than 50,000 additional stores, on top of the nearly 100,000 stores already on Instacart. DoorDash also pitches “faster delivery options,” since it runs one of the largest local delivery networks in the country. Again, that’s a post-closing promise, not something you’ll see in the app this holiday season.
Will prices go up?
Nobody can say yet, and it’s the main worry critics have raised. AP News reported that the tie-up could help the companies compete with rivals like Amazon, but “could also lead to less competition in the delivery space, which could raise prices for consumers and give grocers fewer partners to negotiate with.”
The timing is sensitive. NBC News pointed out that shoppers have been complaining about the cost of food delivery, and that soaring fuel costs this year have led to new fees and surcharges. (If fuel costs are squeezing your budget too, see our guide to why gas prices are so high and how to save.)
Why Is DoorDash Buying Instacart?
The companies frame it as a way to help local grocers compete with the biggest online retailers, which are building their own delivery fleets, warehouses, membership programs and AI shopping tools. DoorDash brings its delivery network; Instacart brings grocery-specific technology and relationships with more than 2,200 retail banners.
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu put it this way in the announcement: “Grocery is one of the hardest things to get right online. Someone has to pick a ripe avocado, find a substitute you’d choose yourself, and get the ice cream to you before it melts.” Instacart CEO Chris Rogers said the combination would help “make online grocery more seamless and affordable for the millions of households we serve.”
The business backdrop matters too. NBC News reported that DoorDash commanded about two-thirds of U.S. food delivery volume as of 2024, citing Bloomberg data, while Instacart’s stock “has gone nowhere over the past two years” as it faced growing competition from Amazon and Walmart. The deal is also the latest in a wave of delivery consolidation: DoorDash bought U.K.-based Deliveroo last year, and Uber owns Postmates.
What It Means for Dashers and Instacart Shoppers
DoorDash made two specific post-closing commitments aimed at workers and stores:
- Shoppers keep their setup. Instacart Shoppers can keep “the flexibility to choose how much they work and the information they need to decide which batches to accept,” and can choose whether to take DoorDash orders or keep shopping only on Instacart.
- No grocery exclusivity. Local grocers can keep working with any delivery platform they choose.
The companies also say more combined orders could mean more ways to earn, such as grocery batches on a slow day and restaurant orders at peak times. How pay works in practice will only become clear after closing.
Should You Change Your Membership Now?
There’s no reason to cancel or switch anything because of this news. The combined membership is at least a year away, and its price and perks haven’t been set. A few practical moves make sense in the meantime:
- Audit what you pay for. If you have DashPass, Instacart+ and another bundle, check which one you actually use. Some memberships overlap with programs like the Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus bundle.
- Check credit card perks. Some cards include a delivery membership as a benefit, so you may not need to pay for one directly.
- Watch for emails from both apps. Any change to your membership terms should be communicated directly by the companies before it happens.
- Compare totals, not delivery fees. Service fees, item markups and tips often add more than the delivery fee itself, so compare the final checkout price when deciding where to order.
And if you’re ordering food this weekend, our roundup of Halloween food deals covers freebies you can grab without a delivery fee at all.
What Happens Next
Instacart stockholders still have to vote; holders of about 19% of the shares have already agreed to vote in favor. U.S. antitrust officials and regulators in Canada, Israel and elsewhere must also clear the deal, and a large merger like this can draw a long review. DoorDash says it will pay the cash portion with cash on hand and debt financing, backed by a JPMorgan bridge loan commitment, and that the deal does not depend on financing. We’ll update this post as approvals or membership details are announced.
FAQ
When will DoorDash officially own Instacart?
The companies expect the deal to close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, if stockholders and regulators approve it.
Will the Instacart app go away?
No plans to shut it down have been announced. DoorDash says it expects to keep Instacart’s brand, app and enterprise technology after closing.
Will DashPass and Instacart+ merge?
The companies say members would pay one membership fee instead of two after the deal closes. The name, price and perks of that combined membership haven’t been announced.
Do I need to do anything with my account?
No. Until closing, both apps operate separately, and your current membership and account work exactly as before.
How much is DoorDash paying for Instacart?
$65.00 per Instacart share, or an equity value of about $17 billion, paid at least 75% in cash.
Sources: DoorDash, Instacart Newsroom, AP News, NBC News, Digital Trends. Featured image: “Publix Instacart Parking Spot” by pokemonprime, CC BY-SA 2.0.
