Does Thrive Market take EBT?
Yes, Thrive Market takes EBT—in fact it was the first online-only grocery store to accept SNAP. Thrive Market is an exclusively online grocery store that offers organic and natural foods delivered to your home.
You have to have an annual membership to shop online at Thrive Market, but SNAP-recipients can qualify for a year of free Thrive membership (a regular membership costs $59.95 a year).
Tips for shopping at Thrive Market with an EBT card:
- Apply for a free Thrive membership in advance, it can take 7 to 10 days to process
- Understand the SNAP rules for eligible food items
- Use the Propel app to track your EBT balance and budget around your SNAP monthly deposits
Propel is the #1-rated EBT balance checking app
How to use EBT on Thrive Market#how-to-use-ebt-on-thrive-market
Here’s what you need to do in order to use your EBT card to shop at Thrive Market:
- Create a Thrive Market account and apply for a free membership with EBT here
- Wait 7 to 10 business days for your Thrive membership to be approved
- Log on to your Thrive Market account and go to your “account” page
- Under “account settings” select “payment”
- Under “alternate payment methods” select “add an EBT card”
- Enter your EBT card number and click "continue.” From here, you'll be asked to add your secure 4-digit PIN to save the card to your account
Once your EBT card is saved to your Thrive account, you can start shopping. You can browse Thrive Market’s “meat and seafood” and “food” categories to find SNAP-eligible groceries.
Once you’re ready to check out, choose from the delivery options. Remember that you’ll need to add an extra payment method to cover shipping and delivery fees—SNAP funds can’t be used for extra fees. You may be able to qualify for free shipping if you meet a minimum order requirement.
Look out for other extra costs that will require a backup payment method, like:
- Non-EBT items (items that aren't SNAP-eligible)
- Higher-cost substitutions (trading one item for a similar item if not available)
- Changes in weight for produce or meat
What can you buy with EBT at Thrive Market?#what-can-you-buy-with-ebt-at-thrive-market
You can buy any SNAP-eligible food items at Thrive Market, remember that SNAP is meant to cover most groceries and pantry staples. SNAP-eligible items include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat and fish
- Dairy, like milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Eggs
- Bread and cereal
- Grains like rice and quinoa
- Beans, either dried or canned
- Snack foods like pretzels, nuts, and chips
- Non-alcoholic drinks like juice and bottled water
There are some things you can’t buy with EBT if you get SNAP, including non-food items like pet food, medicine, vitamins, supplements, or any household supplies like diapers, wipes, toilet paper, or cleaning products.
Is Thrive Market free for EBT recipients?#is-thrive-market-free-for-ebt-recipients
Yes, if you get SNAP benefits you may be eligible for a free one-year Thrive Gives membership. If you believe you qualify, you can apply here. Thrive has accepted SNAP since 2024.
Remember that Thrive Market is membership only, you can only order from Thrive if you’re already a member.
Protecting your EBT card while shopping at Thrive Market#protecting-your-ebt-card-while-shopping-at-thrive-market
EBT theft is a major issue. Your card information can be stolen even if you’ve taken every precaution, but it’s still important to do what you can to protect your EBT card, no matter where you’re shopping:
- Don't share your EBT PIN with anyone, and change it every month before you get your benefits
- Keep your physical EBT card in a safe place
- Use a safe app like Propel to check your EBT transaction history regularly and turn on safety features like card locking
Immediately report a lost or stolen card by calling your state EBT number
