Benefits of the Instacart Mastercard

If you spend a significant portion of your paycheck on groceries, you may be interested in the many credit cards that offer extra rewards on your trips to the supermarket. But to consistently get the highest rewards, you’ll generally have to pay an annual fee. Not so with the $0-annual-fee Instacart Mastercard®, which earns an above-average rate on Instacart purchases.

People who rarely use Instacart will likely fare better with a different grocery credit card. But if you’d rather skip the crowds and shop for groceries from your couch, the Instacart Mastercard® could be the perfect fit.

Here are the card’s benefits:

Standout rewards

1. Stellar rewards on Instacart purchases

You’ll earn 5% cash back on Instacart purchases with the Instacart Mastercard®, which is a higher rate on groceries than you’ll typically find on a no-annual-fee card. But in exchange, you won’t earn elevated rewards on groceries not purchased through Instacart.

» MORE: Credit cards and food delivery: Rules on rewards rates

2. Elevated rewards beyond groceries

On top of elevated rewards on Instacart purchases, you’ll also earn 2% cash back on restaurants, gas stations and select streaming services. You can find higher rewards on these categories elsewhere, but if you prefer to keep your reward strategy simple, these solid rates on other categories make the Instacart Mastercard® appealing as your go-to card.

The Instacart Mastercard® also gives you 5% back on travel purchases, but only those booked through Chase's travel portal. It’s important to note, though, that unlike other Chase credit cards, you won’t be able to book online. In order to earn 5%, you’ll need to book travel purchases via Chase over the phone.

3. Flexible redemption options

The Instacart Mastercard® is primarily a cash-back card, and you can redeem your rewards as either a statement credit or a direct deposit. But you can also redeem your rewards for travel booked over the phone with Chase.

Money-saving perks

4. Lucrative sign up bonus

Once you’re approved for the Instacart Mastercard®, you’ll automatically receive a welcome offer: Get a free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. Membership auto-renews. Terms apply. Some cards offer higher bonuses, but it’s rare to receive a welcome offer without having to spend some money first.

Instacart+ membership comes with free delivery on orders over $35, lower service fees and an additional 5% back on pickup orders (excluding alcohol). After the first year, your membership will be automatically renewed unless you cancel it. Current Instacart+ members will have their subscription renewal date pushed back a year upon being approved the card.

5. No annual fee

You won’t have to pay anything to carry the Instacart Mastercard®, because it comes with a $0 annual fee.

6. Access to My Chase Plan

When you make a purchase of $100 or more on the card, you have the option to split your balance into multiple equal monthly payments through My Chase Plan. You won’t be charged interest, but you will have to pay a small monthly fee. Most of the time, it’s best to pay off your entire balance each month. But if that’s not always possible for you, breaking up your bill into set payments can save you a significant amount of money by keeping interest from accruing.

Travel benefits

7. No foreign transaction fees

The Instacart Mastercard® won’t charge you foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad. Foreign transaction fees usually run around 3% of each transaction you make in a different currency.

» MORE: Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee

8. Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance

If your luggage is lost or delayed more than six hours, the Instacart Mastercard® will reimburse you for the items you lost.

9. Rental car insurance

When you pay for a rental car with the Instacart Mastercard®, decline the rental company’s insurance, and your card will cover collision damage and theft. Note, though, that this insurance is secondary, meaning it will only cover what your car insurance won’t.