The best grocery delivery services in Chicago

This tech startup has become the answer to city dwellers' prayers (especially of the non-vehicle–owning variety). Dubbed the "Uber for Groceries," InstaCart delivers any goods of your choosing from your favorite Chicago grocery stores—Mariano's, Jewel-Osco, Whole Foods, Costco, Eataly, Plum Market, Pete's Fresh Market, even Petco, CVS and Binny's. Prices are also the same as in-store for many retailers, and delivery usually ranges between $3.99 and $7.99.

Shop your favorite localty food stores—like the Dill Pickle Food Co-op in Logan Square or Local Foods in West Town—with Mercato, a delivery service that specializes in independent grocers. Delivery fees vary by store and location, but you can also subscribe to Mercato Green for unlimited free deliveries; the $96-a-year "neighborhood" plan covers stores within three miles of your apartment, while the $228-a-year plan covers stores within 10 miles. 

As if Amazon Prime could get any more convenient, it turns out they also deliver groceries. For free. Yes, those with an Amazon Prime subscription living in Chicago can take advantage of free on-demand, same-day grocery delivery. While the company's local grocer partnership list is limited to Whole Foods and Fresh Thyme Market—plus Amazon's online marketplace—the beauty is that you can get the bulk of the goods you'd typically buy at good ol' Jewel directly through Amazon.

Though most people use Postmates for late-night Shake Shack deliveries, the on-demand service will also stop by stores like Mariano's and Jewel-Osco to pick up your everyday groceries. The best part? A friendly fleet member will be at your door fast—often between 45 and 60 minutes. 

If you're looking for craft goodies and Chicago-made products—like Bang Bang Pie, Metric coffee, Lagunitas beer and Letherbee gin, to name a few—shop the curated selection at Foxtrot Market. The local company has brick-and-mortar locations in the West Loop, Lincoln Park, River North, Old Town, Lakeview and Wicker Park but will happily deliver all kinds of funky goods to your door. 

Looking for an especially discerning personal shopper? For an annual membership fee of $99, Shipt will bring you your groceries hand-selected for little details (like top-notch, non-soggy produce), with no delivery charges for orders over $35. You can also keep in touch with the shopper with an in-app messaging service for any last-minute order changes. The company's owned by Target, and in Chicago, they deliver goods from stores like Target, CVS and Petco.

If you're OK with the occasional blemish on your produce—a lumpy grapefruit, for example, or a weird-looking carrot—Imperfect Foods can net you up to 30 percent savings on your grocery deliveries compared to regular stores. The service collects food rejected from traditional grocery stores for trivial reasons, like being cosmetically unappealing or surplus, and delivers it to users in a weekly bundle. You can visit their website to take a quick questionnaire to help you figure out which bundle is right for you—delivery fees start at $4.99.

Similar to Imperfect Foods, Misfits Market sends subscribers boxes of organic produce that might have otherwise been thrown away due to blemishes or other cosmetic imperfections for a flat shipping rate of $5.50. You'll get a mix of fruits and veggies from farms across the Americas at prices up to 40 percent off retail, plus other pantry staples for an additional price—choose from a $22 small box or a $35 larger box.