Sign-up walkthrough
Where to Enter Your Referral Code on the Instacart Shopper App
Where to Enter Your Referral Code on the Instacart Shopper App
Clear facts, real numbers, current for 2026.Short answer: You enter the code while you're signing up as an Instacart Shopper. It shows up on the step that asks if someone referred you, usually an "I was referred by someone" toggle or a small "Referral code (optional)" box. Tap it open, type BEAN85579C, and check it before you hit submit. This is a one-time thing. There's no way to add it once your application exists, so put it in before you finish those first screens.
So you've decided to become an Instacart Shopper. The one thing people miss most often is the referral field. It's optional, it's easy to scroll right past, and you can't tack it on later. Knowing exactly where it shows up is what saves you from having to start the whole thing over. This page shows you where the field lives, what it looks like on screen, and how to be sure the code actually took.
Here's the honest truth about this whole thing. The referral field is tiny. On a lot of phones it's a single grey line of text tucked under the fields you actually care about, and your thumb flies right past it while you're busy typing your email. I've watched friends set up their accounts and miss it entirely, then message me a week later asking how to add the code. By then it's too late. Two minutes of paying attention up front beats an afternoon of trying to undo it, so slow down on those first screens.
Before you start
Sign-up goes quicker if you have your basics on hand. Instacart wants new shoppers to be 18 or older, have a smartphone, be able to lift around 50 lbs, and hand over a government ID plus a bank account for payouts. A Checkr background check runs once you apply, and it usually lands somewhere in the 3 to 10 business day range. The referral code doesn't touch any of that. All it does is tag your account so you can qualify for the new-shopper bonus, assuming one is running where you live.
Grab these before you tap start and the whole flow moves faster:
- ✓ A photo of your driver's license or government ID, or the physical card handy so you can snap it in good light
- ✓ Your bank routing and account number for direct deposit (a voided check or your banking app shows both)
- ✓ A phone that can get texts, since Instacart sends a verification code
- ✓ Your Social Security number (US) or SIN (Canada) for the background check and tax setup
- ✓ The referral code BEAN85579C copied to your clipboard so you don't mistype it
Do it somewhere with solid wi-fi and give yourself a clear fifteen minutes. Don't try to squeeze the application in at a red light or while your bus is pulling up. If the connection drops mid-form, some screens make you redo a chunk, and that's exactly the kind of scramble where the referral field gets skipped.
Where the referral field appears, step by step
- Open the official sign-up flow. Start a new Shopper application at shoppers.instacart.com or through the Shopper app. Skip the customer app. The shopper application is a completely separate thing.
- Pick your role. You'll choose Full-Service (you shop and deliver, so you need a car) or In-Store (shop only, hourly, no car). The referral step shows up the same way either way.
- Enter your contact details. Phone, email, and your ZIP or postal code come first. That's how Instacart checks your area is active.
- Watch for the "referred by someone" prompt. Somewhere on those early screens you'll spot a line like "I was referred by someone" or a collapsed field labeled "Referral code (optional)". A lot of the time it's a little toggle or link, and you have to tap it to open it up.
- Type the code. Put in BEAN85579C exactly, no spaces. The app usually takes it in upper or lower case. If you copied it above, just paste it and you won't fat-finger a letter.
- Make sure it saved. After you move to the next screen, the field should still show the code, or the toggle should stay flipped on. If it wipes itself clear, put it back in before you keep going.
- Finish the application. Work through the rest of the identity and payout steps, then submit and consent to the background check.
One thing worth calling out: the referral prompt almost always sits near the top of the flow, not the end. Instacart wants that tag on your account before the background check kicks off, so it asks early. If you're already on the ID upload or the direct-deposit screen and you still haven't seen a referral box, back up a step or two and look again. Odds are you blew past a collapsed link that says something like "Have a code?" in small text.
What the field might be called
Instacart tweaks its onboarding all the time, and the exact words shift a bit by region and by whether you sign up on the web or in the app. If the phrase above isn't what you're seeing, look for any of these. They're all the same field.
| What you might see | Where it usually appears |
|---|---|
| "I was referred by someone" | Toggle near the start of the app flow |
| "Referral code (optional)" | Text box under contact details |
| "Have a referral code?" | Expandable link on the sign-up screen |
| "Enter code" | Field shown after selecting your role |
| "Promo or referral code" | Combined field, sometimes lumped in with promos |
| "Invite code" | Wording that pops up in some app builds |
If none of those match what's on your screen, don't panic. The label matters less than the moment. It's the field that asks whether somebody sent you, and it lives in the first third of the application. Read every line before you tap "next," and you'll catch it.
Web sign-up vs. the app: a quick comparison
You can start your application from a phone browser or from the Instacart Shopper app, and the referral field can look a little different depending on which one you pick. Neither is "better," but knowing the small differences helps you spot the box.
| Web (shoppers.instacart.com) | Shopper app | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the code field sits | Often a visible "optional" text box under contact info | Frequently a toggle or collapsed link you tap open |
| Easy to paste? | Yes, long-press to paste works well | Yes, though the keyboard can hide the field briefly |
| Switching devices mid-way | Can feel clunky if the session times out | Stays put on one phone, less to juggle |
| Best for | Reading each screen carefully on a bigger view | Doing the whole thing in one sitting on your phone |
My honest take: use whichever one you'll actually slow down and read on. If you're the type who rushes through app screens, do it on the web where the fields sit out in the open. If you'd rather knock it all out on your phone in one go, the app is fine, just tap that referral toggle open before you keep moving.
Common mistakes that lose people the code
The sneakiest of the four is the disappearing code. On some builds, if you type BEAN85579C and then tap away too fast, the field validates and either accepts it or silently wipes it. So after you enter it, tap into the next field, then glance back. If the code's still showing, you're good. If the box went empty, paste it again and this time watch it stick before you move on.
Quick checklist
- ✓ You're on the Shopper sign-up, not the customer app
- ✓ You opened the "referred by someone" toggle or optional field
- ✓ You typed BEAN85579C with no spaces
- ✓ The code is still showing before you submit
- ✓ You finished identity, payout, and background-check consent
What the code actually does
Typing BEAN85579C tags your new account so it can qualify for the current new-shopper bonus in markets that offer one. The usual setup is finishing a set number of batches inside a window, often written as something like "30 batches in 30 days." But the target, the dollar amount, and whether there's even a promo live at all vary by market and change over time. Instacart is the one that decides who's eligible and what gets paid, so confirm the exact offer in the Shopper app. For a plain-English rundown, see how the referral bonus works and the full bonus terms.
A few realistic notes on the earning side, so you go in with clear eyes. Shopper pay is per batch plus 100% of your tips, and what a batch pays swings a lot based on item count, distance, and how many orders are stacked together. Depending on your market and the hours you work, take-home often lands somewhere in the rough $15 to $25 an hour range once you're moving, though slow afternoons can drag well below that and a busy Sunday with fat tips can run higher. Treat those as ballpark, not a promise. Your rating matters too. Keeping it up around 4.7 helps you see better batches, and good ratings come from communicating on out-of-stock items and not squishing the bread. The bonus is a nice head start, but the day-to-day pay is what keeps you going, so build good habits early.
Quick word on taxes, since it trips up first-timers. As a shopper you're an independent contractor, which means no taxes get withheld from your pay. You're responsible for tracking earnings and setting some aside, and your mileage is usually deductible. The rules get specific fast, so talk to a tax professional about your own situation rather than taking a stranger's word for it.
New here?
See the whole path from application to first batch, plus what the bonus requires.
How it works →Am I eligible?
Age, vehicle, ID, and background-check details for Full-Service and In-Store.
Requirements →Ready to sign up?
Start your Instacart Shopper application and add code BEAN85579C at the referral step.
FAQ
Common questions about entering the code
Where exactly is the referral field on the Instacart Shopper app?
It shows up during sign-up, on one of the first screens. Usually it's an "I was referred by someone" toggle or a "Referral code (optional)" box, and you often have to tap it to open it. Enter BEAN85579C there before you submit your application.
Can I add a referral code after I already applied?
Usually not. The code is a one-time entry you make during sign-up, and most shoppers find there's no way to attach it afterward. Check that the code is showing before you tap submit.
The referral field isn't showing up. What do I do?
First, make sure you're on the Shopper sign-up and not the customer app. Then look for other wording like "Have a referral code?" or "Enter code." Whether it appears can also come down to your region. If your market really doesn't offer it, you can't force it, and no bonus is guaranteed.
Does the code work in both the US and Canada?
Code BEAN85579C is for new Instacart Shopper sign-ups in the US and Canada. Whether a bonus is running right now, and what its terms are, depends on your specific market. Confirm the exact offer in the Shopper app.
Is the code case-sensitive, or does formatting matter?
Type BEAN85579C with no spaces. The app usually takes it no matter the case, but pasting the copied code is the safest way to dodge a typo that gets it rejected.
How much is the bonus, and how do I qualify?
The amount varies by market and current promotion, so confirm the exact offer in the Instacart Shopper app. The common setup is finishing a set number of batches in a window, often described as roughly "30 batches in 30 days," though the rules shift over time. Instacart decides eligibility and payment.
I entered the code but I'm not sure it saved. How do I check?
Before you submit, scroll back up to the referral field. The code should still be sitting in the box, or the "referred by someone" toggle should still be switched on. If the field looks empty, type or paste BEAN85579C again and confirm it stays put before you move to the next screen. There's no reliable way to verify it after you've submitted, so the moment to check is now.
Do I have to pick Full-Service or In-Store before I enter the code?
You'll usually choose your role first, but the referral field works the same whichever one you pick. Full-Service means you shop and deliver with your own car and get paid per batch plus tips. In-Store means you shop only, no car needed, and it's typically an hourly setup. Enter BEAN85579C on the early screens either way.
Will using a referral code slow down my application or background check?
No. The code just tags your account for a possible new-shopper bonus. It has nothing to do with the Checkr background check, which runs on its own and generally takes about 3 to 10 business days. Adding the code doesn't add steps or delays.
Is this an official Instacart page?
No. This is an independent guide, and we're not Instacart or affiliated with it. We share the referral code and walk you through where to enter it. Instacart alone decides eligibility, bonus amounts, and payment, so always confirm current terms in the Shopper app.