Instacart Batch Grabbers & Bots (What They Are & How They Work)
If you want to make extra cash on the side, Instacart is one of the best side hustles out there.
But this gig app is also extremely competitive. In fact, it's so competitive that some people are even using Instacart bots and Instacart batch grabbers to get more batches.
So you're probably wondering: what are Instacart batch grabbers and bots, how do they work, and are they worth using?
This guide is covering everything you need to know plus real tips to get more Instacart batches, so buckle in!
What Are Instacat Bots? (Instacart Batch Grabbers)
Instacart boths, also known as Instacart batch grabbers, are apps that automatically accept Instacart batches for you before other shoppers have a chance to accept them. Some Instacart bots also give you a notification when new batches come online so you can manually check and claim batches yourself.
This is a similar tactic Amazon Flex drivers use to get more Flex blocks, and it's a way to cheat Instacart to get more orders than other shoppers.
Instacart batch grabbers are also known as Instacart bots, and in 2021 and 2022, Instacart bots have made headlines since some shoppers are using them to unfairly game the system.
This video from YouTuber Gig Nation actually shows an Instacart batch grabber app in action and how it all works.
In essence, the Instacart bots let you get more Instacart batches than other shoppers. This unfair advantage ultimately makes it harder for more people to make money with this side hustle, and it's also against Instacart's terms of service.
How Do Instacart Batch Grabbers & Instacart Bots Work?
The purpose of Instacart batch grabbers and bots is to help you make more money by securing you more batches than you'd normally get.
Here's how batch grabbers for Instacart typically work:
- You download an Instacart batch grabber app for Android (iPhones don't really have available apps since they're banned)
- You connect your Instacart Shopper app to the batch grabber
- The batch grabber app automatically refreshes your Shopper app to look for new batches
- The batch grabber automatically claims available batches before human shoppers have a chance to
This means you don't get stuck with low-paying batches or batches that are super far away if you don't want to, helping you maintain high Instacart Shopper pay.
Popular Instacart Bot Grabbers Shoppers Use
The most popular Instacart batch grabber people use is InstaMan.
This Instacart bot has been removed from the Google Play Store. But people still download its APK files from various sites and install it manually.
People also post links to new Instacart batch grabber apps on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and Pinterest all the time.
However, since these Instacart bots violate Instacart Shopper terms and services, the app listings get taken down all the time and are very hard to find.
Some shoppers go so far as to hire developers to make them batch grabbers from scratch, and I've seen listings on freelance job websites for $250 to $500 for this sort of work.
Long story short: InstaMan is the most popular Instacart bot, but these applications are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Should You Use An Instacart Bot?
You shouldn't use Instacart batch grabbers and bots to try and cheat the system. This is because doing so violates terms of service and also gets you deactivated. Plus, Instacart is getting better at detecting bots and will ban you from ever using its platform again if it catches you.
And Instacart spells all of this out very clearly in its Shopper Terms And Conditions.
Here's what Instacart says about using batch grabbers and bots:
- Section 3.2.e: “You may not use or promote the use of any form of modifications, exploits, or other unauthorized means to interfere with, or gain undue advantage in your use of the Instacart Platform.”
- Section 3.2.h: “You may not attempt to decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, hack, defeat, or overcome any of Instacart’s software, encryption technologies, or security measures or data transmitted, processed or stored by Instacart.”
As you can see, using Instacart bots for getting batches clearly violates both these sections. So, don't use an Instacart batch grabber since this risks deactivation!
How To Get More Instacart Batches (The Right Way)
Now that you know how Instacart batch grabbers work and why they are a terrible idea to use, let's cover some Instacart shopping tips you can use to get more batches.
1. Improve Your Shopper Rating
The main way to make more money with Instacart is to improve your Shopper rating.
This is because one main metric Instacart uses to assign batches is shopper ratings. Your Shopper rating is from 0 to 5 stars and is the average of your last 100 deliveries.
Tips for getting higher Instacart ratings include:
- Messaging the customer with questions and updates about the order
- Being on time
- Being friendly when communicating with the customer
- Trying your best to find substitution products
2. Shop On The Busiest Days
Shopping at the best Instacart times is also important to make more money with this side hustle.
Jobs like Instacart and DoorDash are based on supply and demand. So, if more customers are placing orders, you have a higher chance of getting more batches without having to use Instacart bots.
The best times to shop for Instacart include:
- Friday evening
- Saturday
- Sunday
Monday is also a good day to shop, but the middle of the week can be slow for Instacart.
Also note that Instacart batches start around 8am, so you can also wake up early to claim the first batches!
3. Accept Double Batches
Instacart sometimes offers double batches which involve shopping for two separate customers from the same store.
As you can see in the screenshot below, this batched order has info for Customer A and Customer B.
Double-batches are tricky since you have to separate products and then make two different deliveries.
However, double-batches can pay a lot of money. And this is much better than using an Instacart batch grabber and getting banned forever!
4. Wait Near Stores
One simple tip for Shoppers is to wait near large grocery stores instead of at home when you go online. And this is a very effective option instead of using Instacart bots.
Location is another factor Instacart considers when assigning batches.
So, if you wait miles away from stores, you're even less likely to beat Instacart bots and batch grabbers plus regular shoppers who are waiting in the parking lot.
5. Try Other Food Delivery Apps
While it sounds counter-intuitive, sometimes, your best bet is to ditch Instacart for a bit and to try other driving apps that pay.
The fact is Instacart can get slow in many markets, and no number of Instacart bots is going to magically get you more batches.
But the great news is there are plenty of Instacart Shopper alternatives you can use to make quick money:
- DoorDash: The leading food delivery app that's available in over 5,500 cities!
- Uber Eats: A great way to deliver food and make money with your bike, car, or scooter.
- Shipt: Another leading grocery delivery service you can use to make money.
- Roadie: A popular peer-to-peer delivery app that pays you for delivering packages.
- Walmart Spark: Get paid for delivering groceries and everyday essentials to Walmart customers.
- GoShare: Another delivery gig where you can deliver with your cargo van, box truck, large sedan, or truck.
Between these delivery apps, you can definitely make decent money in your spare time.
Jobs like DoorDash and Uber Eats are best if you want the most orders possible and to deliver food and restaurant meals.
But the other gigs are also high-paying driving jobs that can help you increase your monthly income.
Extra Reading – The 15+ Best Ways To Get Paid To Shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Instacart Determine Who Gets Batches?
Instacart assigns batches to Shoppers using five different factors:
- Instacart Shopper rating
- Customer demand
- Shopper location
- Timeliness with previous batches
- Accuracy with deliveries
As mentioned, your Shopper rating is most important, but so is the day you shop and your location.
Previous performance on batches like your timeliness and order accuracy also play a role in how Instacart assigns batches.
How Do You Cheat On Instacart?
Using Instacart bots and batch grabbers to get extra batches is cheating on Instacart. However, this violates the Instacart Shopper agreement and is a quick way to get banned for life.
Are Instacart Bots & Batch Grabbers Illegal?
Using Instacart batch grabbers or bots to get more batches isn't illegal. But this practice violates the Instacart Shopper agreement and risks deactivation. And if you develop these sorts of bots, I wouldn't be surprised if you get into legal trouble or get a cease and desist letter from Instacart lawyers.
How Do You Beat Bots On Instacart?
The best way to beat bots on Instacart is to maintain a high shopper rating and to shop during busy periods. You should also wait close to major shopping centers to try and get as many orders as possible.
People will always try to cheat on Instacart and jobs like DoorDash or any gig economy app.
However, playing by the rules is the best way to make money in the long run and to avoid getting banned.
Extra Reading – The Highest Paying Apps.
Are There Any Instacart Hacks To Get Batches?
No, you can't hack Instacart to get more batches. Even Instacart bots aren't hacking the app; they're just gaining an unfair advantage over other shoppers by claiming open batches more quickly.
If you see applications claiming they can guarantee more batches, you should stay away since they're likely a scam.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide on Instacart bot grabbers helps you understand how batch grabber apps work, why people use them, and why they're not worth it.
Instacart is a flexible way to make extra money on the side. And if it's slow in your area, you can always try other gigs like DoorDash or Uber Eats to get more deliveries.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I mean, apps like Steady help you find local cash gigs and other income opportunities. And you can also explore plenty of options to earn money online if you want to work from home.
So, don't use Instacart batch grabbers, and keep things legit!
Happy shopping!
Looking for even more ways to make extra money? Checkout:
DoorDash disclaimer: Dash now subject to availability and background check.
