Guides · Updated October 24, 2026 · 8 min read

What do real Instacart shoppers show in their 2026 field videos?

The six videos at a glance

Videos play from YouTube in privacy-enhanced mode only after you press play. They belong to their creators; this site is not affiliated with any of these channels or with Instacart.

1. Your first order, start to finish (IB Delivering)

25:26

A full walkthrough for shoppers who were just approved. The chapter list follows one order from the first screen to the doorstep:

• Reading the batch screen (1:30) and batch details (4:10): where the pay, tip, miles, items and store sit on the offer.
• Heavy, Bulky and Boosted labels (6:09): what the extra-pay tags mean before you accept.
• "Start with small orders" (8:48): the creator's advice for the first days, before taking multi-customer batches (21:12).
• Shopping, checkout and delivery (10:45 to 17:26), then replacements (20:00).

How it lines up with our guides: the same order of checks is in your first Instacart batch and the 5-point checklist in how to pick good batches. For the heavy-item tags, see Instacart Heavy Pay.

2. A real Costco batch with the app on screen (KrmaKazi)

18:01

The creator walks through the Shopper app and then films one Costco order from accepting the batch to the final earnings screen. The description lists checking item quantities, handling replacements and unavailable items, the shopping timer, Costco checkout, the receipt and the drop-off.

How it lines up with our guides: quantity checks and bulk-pack sizes are where Costco orders go wrong most often; our Costco batch guide covers timing, the checkout flow and the weight to plan for.

3. A first day as Diamond Cart (Gig POV)

16:39

The creator reports completing 8 orders for $83.65 on the first day at Diamond Cart, with batches from Binny's, Walgreens and Meijer, and asks whether the top tier really brings better orders. The description does not state the hours worked, so the result cannot be turned into an hourly rate.

How it lines up with our guides: a higher tier changes which offers you see first; it does not raise the pay on each batch. That is why Cart Star is worth chasing only when the batches you already take still clear your per-mile and per-hour thresholds.

4. Running Instacart, then adding DoorDash (Gig_DollarMan)

22:06

A ride-along of a full day on Instacart with DoorDash switched on toward the end, for a busy evening. The "over $400" in the title is the creator's own total for that day.

How it lines up with our guides: turning a second app on during the evening rush, rather than mixing orders mid-batch, matches the safer pattern in our multi-apping guide. Pause the other app once you accept a batch so a detour does not make an Instacart order late.

5. Eight habits that protect tips (This That and Those Carrots)

7:27

A short list from an experienced shopper. The chapters cover a custom greeting message (0:45), how percentage tips work (1:45), shopping as if the order were your own (3:00), avoiding refunds (4:05), double bagging (5:05), neat deliveries (6:10) and a delivery message that works (7:10).

How it lines up with our guides: refunds shrink percentage tips, which is why good replacements matter (see out-of-stock replacements). Ready-to-send greetings and delivery notes are in customer message templates.

6. A 12-hour test with gas and miles counted (NerdWallet)

16:22

NerdWallet writer Tommy Tindall spends 12 hours over four days as a shopper and breaks down what he earned, what gas and driving cost, and which batches were worth taking. The chapters include tips from a long-time shopper and from a Diamond shopper. His main takeaway, per the description: pick one main grocery store, learn its layout, avoid long-distance orders and stop driving in circles.

How it lines up with our guides: the gap between the payout screen and money kept is the subject of your real Instacart hourly pay; the 2026 IRS mileage rate for the deduction is in the mileage deduction guide.

What the six videos agree on

• Store familiarity beats speed tricks. Knowing one store's layout comes up in the beginner, Costco and NerdWallet videos alike.
• Read the whole offer before you tap Accept: items versus units, heavy tags, distance and the tip type.
• Communication protects money. A greeting, clear replacement choices and a short delivery note are the cheapest way to keep tips from being lowered.
• A good-looking day can shrink after costs. Count every mile, including the drive back, before comparing days or apps.
• Results vary by market and day. Every number in these videos is one shopper's result in one area.

How we picked these videos

We looked for videos published in 2026 that show real stores, the real Shopper app and real deliveries, and that cover different parts of the job. Each summary uses only what the creator states in the title, description and chapter list; we did not edit or re-host any footage. If you are a creator and want a video added, corrected or removed, email gigearningsguide@gmail.com.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• How do you complete your first Instacart batch?
• When do Instacart Costco batches drop?
• Can you multi-app with Instacart safely?

Sources

• IB Delivering: Your First Instacart Order (2026 Step-by-Step for Beginners), YouTube
• KrmaKazi: How to Instacart at Costco, YouTube
• Gig POV: My First Day as Diamond Cart in 2026, YouTube
• Gig_DollarMan: DoorDash & Instacart at the Same Time, YouTube
• This That and Those Carrots: 8 Proven Ways to Increase Your Instacart Tips in 2026, YouTube
• NerdWallet: I Tried Instacart in 2026 (Here Are the Results), YouTube

By the Gig Earnings Guide Editorial Team. Independent publication; not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Maplebear Inc. (Instacart). Rates and rules change; check the official sources above.