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Family accounts

Customers can create family accounts, allowing them to invite three additional members to link their accounts and collaboratively contribute to a shared family cart. Also, if one member of the family account has Instacart+, all members can enjoy the Instacart+ benefits when shopping with the family cart.

Members of a family account can choose to shop using either the family cart or their personal cart. They can easily switch between carts from the cart panel. When customers first shop with a family account, they see a one-time prompt on the storefront and in the cart that helps them discover how to switch between carts. Customers who are shopping using the family cart will see a family icon beside their cart. After placing an order, members can also collaborate to help manage it while it is being fulfilled.

The following image shows the family icon and cart icon:

Shows a shopping cart icon with the number 1, indicating one item, next to a person group icon on a green background.

Coupons, discounts and loyalty programs work in the same manner as personal accounts, but the family member who places the order will receive any loyalty points as if they were shopping with a personal account.

The following image displays the cart panel, showing items in the family cart. Below the family cart, you can see the personal cart, which the customer can switch to if they want to add items to their personal cart instead.

Shows a family cart screen with one item and a personal cart with one item. A green button for checkout is visible.

Example journey​

Customers can create a family account and invite up to three additional members to link their accounts to the family account. Customers can invite members to their family account from the storefront page, shopping cart, or account menu.

  1. The customer opens the account menu and then selects Start a family account.

    Shows a menu with options: Your orders, Account settings, Instacart+, Start a family account (highlighted in orange), and Addresses.

    The invite screen is displayed.

    Shows an invitation to add up to 3 people for family carts. Features include adding items, Instacart+ delivery benefits, and personal shopping options. Includes an "Invite now" button.

  2. The customer clicks Invite now.

    The invite dialog is displayed.

    Shows a form to invite someone to shop in family carts with fields for first name and email, and a green "Send invite" button.

  3. The customer enters the name and email of the person that they want to invite, and then clicks Send invite.

    The invite sent dialog is displayed.

    Shows a confirmation of an invitation sent to kamalsingh@example.com, with options to cancel or copy the invite link. The invite expires in 7 days. There's an "Invite another member" button.

    The person who was invited receives an email invitation. The customer also receives an email notification to confirm that the invitation was sent.

  4. The member views their email invitation and clicks the link to join the family account.

  5. The member can add items to the family cart.

Membership management​

After creating a family account and inviting a member to your family account, you can manage the family account from the Family Account page. On the Family Account page, the owner of the family account can add or remove members and deactivate the family account.

The following image shows the Family Account page:

Shows a family account page with perks for shared shopping, private shopping, and sharing Instacart+ benefits. Shows members Kamal S. (Owner) and Josephine F. (Invited). Two invites are remaining.

Order collaboration​

After placing an order, the customer can allow other household members to help manage it while it is being fulfilled. This process is separate from pre-checkout collaboration through the family cart. On the order status page, the customer turns on Allow family members to manage your orders after checking out.

The following image shows the Family order section on the order status page and the toggle to allow family members to manage the order after checking out.

Shows the order status page with a Family order section displaying two member avatars, and a settings panel with a toggle labeled "Allow family members to manage your orders after checking out" in the off position.

After enabling this option, household members can:

  • Add, remove, and modify items
  • Set replacement preferences
  • Approve or reject replacement suggestions
  • Chat with the shopper

Each action is labeled with the household member who took it on the order status page. The avatar of the member who last modified an item appears on that item and the name of the member who set a replacement preference appears with that preference. When a household member approves or rejects a replacement suggestion, their avatar and name appear with the response.

The following image shows an example of an order where a family member added an item and set a replacement preference for that item:

Shows the Your items page with a list of items to be shopped. One item displays a member avatar and a replacement preference set by a family member, highlighted in orange.

Household members can view the order status and receipt but cannot see payment method details. The customer who placed the order controls collaboration and can turn it off at any time.

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