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DoorDash Is Buying Instacart for $17 Billion: What It Means for Dashers and Shoppers
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DoorDash agreed on October 29 to buy Instacart for about $17 billion. Nothing changes for drivers yet, and the deal may not close until 2028. Here's what's confirmed, what isn't, and what Dashers and Shoppers should do now.
On October 29, 2026, DoorDash announced a deal to buy Instacart (officially Maplebear Inc.) for about $17 billion. If you deliver for either app, or both, the big questions are simple: will there be more orders or fewer, and will pay change? Here's what we actually know.
The deal at a glance
| Announced | October 29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Price | $65 per Instacart share, about $17 billion in total. At least 75% will be paid in cash. |
| Expected to close | End of 2027 or the first half of 2028 |
| Still needed | Approval from Instacart shareholders and U.S. antitrust regulators, plus regulators in Canada and Israel |
| Instacart app and brand | DoorDash says it expects to keep both after the deal closes |
What DoorDash says it means for drivers
DoorDash's announcement says Dashers and Shoppers will get "more earnings opportunities" and more choice over when and how they earn. It makes three specific promises for Instacart Shoppers:
- Shoppers keep their current features, including choosing how much they work.
- Shoppers keep the information they use to decide which batches to accept.
- Shoppers can choose to also take DoorDash orders, or keep shopping only on Instacart.
The announcement gives no pay figures and no promises about pay rates, tips or batch pay after the deal. Treat "more opportunities" as a goal, not a guarantee.
Why regulators will look closely
Together the two companies would be very large. Data firm YipitData, cited by Reuters, put last year's share of orders among the three biggest delivery apps at 65.1% for DoorDash, 25.8% for Uber Eats and 9.1% for Instacart. Reuters reported the deal is likely to face scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which normally reviews grocery deals.
Separately, on October 28, the day before the deal was announced, the FTC sent orders to nine companies, including DoorDash, Instacart, Uber and Lyft. The orders ask whether the companies use personal data to set prices and, for the gig apps, worker pay. The companies have 45 days to respond. This is a study, not a lawsuit, and it doesn't change your pay. But it means regulators are paying attention to how app pay is set.
What could change for you later
None of this is confirmed. These are the things to watch if the deal closes:
- More grocery orders in the Dasher app. DoorDash already delivers groceries. Combining with Instacart could mean more shop-and-deliver offers for Dashers.
- More work for Shoppers who opt in. If Shoppers can also take restaurant orders, slow grocery hours could be filled with food deliveries.
- Less competition between apps. When apps compete for drivers, they add bonuses and promotions. Fewer big competitors could mean fewer of those.
- Changes to pay models. DoorDash pays per offer or by active time. Instacart pays per batch plus tips. Any merger of the two systems would matter more than the deal itself.
What to do now
- Keep working both apps if you already do. Running more than one app is still the best protection against slow hours. See 10 ways gig drivers earn more per hour.
- Track your real hourly pay on each app now. Write down weekly earnings, hours and miles. If pay changes after the deal, you'll have numbers to compare. Our earnings calculator shows your take-home after car costs.
- Have a third option. Uber Eats, Walmart's Spark Driver and Shipt are separate companies and aren't part of this deal. Compare them in the company directory.
- Read any new terms carefully. If DoorDash or Instacart asks you to accept new terms after the deal closes, look for changes to pay, tips and deactivation rules before you tap Accept.
Frequently asked questions
Will Instacart shut down? No. DoorDash says it expects to keep the Instacart brand and app after the deal closes.
Will I need a new account? Not now. The companies stay separate until closing, which DoorDash expects at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. Nothing has been announced about combining accounts.
Could the deal be blocked? It's possible. It needs antitrust approval in the U.S. and approval in other countries. Large deals are sometimes delayed, changed or abandoned during review.
Will my pay go down? Nobody knows yet. DoorDash hasn't announced any pay changes for Dashers or Shoppers.
Bottom line
For now, this is news, not a change to your paycheck. The deal is at least a year away from closing and may change along the way. Keep your options open, track your numbers and watch for any new terms from either app. We'll update this article when there's news.
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