You can use your SNAP EBT card to buy groceries online at Amazon, Walmart, and most major grocery chains in every state, entering your card number and PIN at checkout just like in a store. SNAP pays only for eligible food — delivery fees, tips, and service charges must go on a separate payment method. The retailer list keeps growing, and your state’s SNAP site links the current lineup.
Which retailers accept EBT online?
The core national options, as of August 2026:
- Amazon — EBT-eligible items across Amazon Fresh and regular grocery listings; no Prime membership required for SNAP shoppers, and Amazon offers discounted Prime for EBT holders
- Walmart — pickup and delivery through walmart.com and the app
- Instacart — connects EBT to many regional chains (Aldi, Publix, Kroger banners, Safeway/Albertsons, and more, varying by area)
- Target, Kroger, Albertsons/Safeway, ShopRite, H-E-B, Meijer, Food Lion and other chains directly through their own sites in their regions
- DoorDash and Uber Eats — grocery orders from participating stores (not restaurant meals)
Availability differs by state and ZIP code — check your store’s app for an "EBT" payment option, or the USDA SNAP Online Purchasing page for your state’s approved list.
How do you add your EBT card and pay?
- In the retailer’s app or site, open payment methods and choose Add EBT card.
- Enter the card number; the site verifies it against your state’s EBT processor.
- Shop — eligible items are usually tagged "EBT eligible" as you browse.
- At checkout, choose how much of the total to charge to EBT (SNAP balance covers eligible food only).
- Enter your PIN in the secure prompt to authorize, then put fees, tips, and non-food items on a debit/credit card or cash-balance EBT if your state supports it.
Your SNAP balance updates immediately, and the receipt splits EBT and non-EBT amounts. If an item substitution occurs on a delivery order, the charge adjusts — substitutions must also be EBT-eligible or they shift to your backup payment.
What can’t SNAP pay for online?
Same rules as in-store, plus the delivery-era extras:
- Fees of any kind — delivery, service, priority, bag fees — and tips: backup card only
- Hot/prepared foods — rotisserie chickens and hot bar items remain ineligible online (unless you’re in a state Restaurant Meals Program situation, which works differently and mostly in person)
- Non-food items — soap, paper goods, pet food, alcohol, vitamins and supplements
If your household also receives cash benefits (TANF) on the same EBT card, some retailers let the cash balance cover fees — select the balance type at checkout where offered.
Is buying online with EBT safe?
Online ordering is actually one of the better defenses against card skimming, which targets physical point-of-sale machines. Still:
- Only enter your card number and PIN in the retailer’s official app/site PIN pad — never over the phone or in response to a text. State agencies never text asking for your PIN.
- Change your PIN periodically, and immediately after any suspicious transaction.
- Check your balance and transactions in your state’s EBT app; report unknown charges fast. If your benefits are stolen, replacement rules vary by state — here’s how EBT replacement works when cards or benefits go missing.
FAQ
Does SNAP cover grocery pickup instead of delivery?
Yes — pickup orders work the same way and usually have no fee at all, making them the cheapest way to use EBT online.
Can I use coupons and loyalty discounts with EBT online?
Yes. Store loyalty prices and digital coupons apply before EBT is charged.
Why won’t my card add to the app?
Common causes: a mistyped number, a state whose processor isn’t yet linked with that retailer, or a card that needs replacing. Verify the retailer supports your state, then call the number on the back of the card.
Do EBT online purchases affect my recertification?
No. Where you spend benefits is irrelevant to eligibility — just keep meeting your reporting requirements.