DoorDash agreed to buy Instacart for $17 billion, TechCrunch reported on October 29. The price works out to $65 per Instacart share, and both boards have approved the deal.
The merger joins two of the biggest delivery platforms that independent contractors use. Shoppers, drivers, and grocery sellers who work through either app should track how the combination develops. The deal will take a long time to close, so nothing changes overnight.
What The Deal Actually Includes
Instacart’s market value topped $13 billion before the announcement, and its stock was up 25% this year. DoorDash says it will keep the Instacart brand, enterprise technology, and app. The two companies will run separately until the deal closes.
Closing should come toward the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. Deals of this size often draw regulatory review, though the report describes none yet. Bloomberg earlier reported that Instacart held talks with Uber and then walked away.
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said that “Grocery is one of the hardest things to get right online.”
The announcement gives workers little detail beyond the price and the timeline. DoorDash has not described changes to the Instacart app or to how Instacart pays its shoppers. That silence leaves room for guesswork, so stick to confirmed facts.
Why This Matters For Self-Employed Delivery Workers
The report does not mention shopper or Dasher pay, headcounts, or contract terms. Any effect on workers is still unknown. Even so, fewer large platforms can mean fewer places to find gigs and less leverage when pay formulas change.
Many gig workers already run both apps to keep their income steady. If the companies eventually share technology or matching systems, that flexibility could narrow. Independent contractors should treat working across several apps as a hedge worth protecting.
Grocery shoppers earn through orders that vary in size and pay. Any change to matching or tipping would hit income directly. Workers who rely on grocery runs have the most to lose if the rules shift.
What Self-Employed Delivery Workers Should Do Next
Track your earnings per hour on each app for the next few months. Those records give you a baseline if pay formulas change after the merger. A simple spreadsheet with mileage, tips, and base pay is enough.
Keep another income source in the mix, such as restaurant delivery, courier work, or direct local clients. Also review your self-employment tax set-aside, since a drop in one platform’s volume can change your quarterly payments.
Join worker groups or forums where drivers and shoppers share pay screenshots. Group data helps you spot changes faster than your own logs alone.
What To Watch Next
Watch for filings that describe how DoorDash plans to treat Instacart’s shoppers after closing. Those documents can reveal more than press statements about pay and classification. Regulators’ comments on competition will also matter.
Related news is already moving. Uber agreed to buy ezCater earlier this month, as covered in our report on the Uber and ezCater deal. Two big platform deals in one month suggest more consolidation ahead.
Check each app’s terms of service update notices, since contractor agreements often change through those emails.
