Where to order alcohol online: Best alcohol delivery services in 2024

Delivery cost: Free for Instacart+ members, otherwise varies based on the retailer, delivery window, and order total

Instacart works with your local grocery and liquor stores to quickly deliver wine, beer, spirits, mixers, snacks, and party supplies. The platform is technically free to use, but you'll pay a delivery fee and a service fee unless you're an Instacart+ member. Those fees typically average about 10% of your order total, but will vary based on retailer, size of your order, and speed. There are also add-on fees for heavy orders or rush delivery, and you'll also want to factor in a tip for your delivery driver. If you plan on ordering more than once a month, we recommend springing for the $9.99 a month Instacart+ membership, which can significantly cut down on the fees you pay.

Stock and pricing really depend on your neighborhood retailer, but you should expect all the big brands and bar essentials, as well as more unique offerings such as craft brews, bottles from local distillers, and exclusive wines. They should cost you the retail price or a little more, though Instacart also regularly runs deals and promotions to save you some money. In many markets, you can also shop big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club through Instacart, even if you don't have a membership, which is great if you're stocking up for a party.

Both the website and app are easy to use, and you can look at your past purchases to make reordering a breeze. Keep in mind that an adult with a valid ID must be home to receive alcohol deliveries, and Instacart won't deliver alcohol to businesses or college addresses.

Shipping cost: Flat $9.99 shipping fee and a $5.99 service fee on all orders. 

ReserveBar is an online delivery platform offering everything from bottom- and middle-shelf wine and spirits to the very tippy-top, like Armand de Brignac Blanc de Blancs and Remy Martin Louis XIII.

However, since it does charge a premium on common bottles and brands, we recommend going to other sites or your local liquor store for the bottom- and middle-shelf stuff and focusing instead on all the rare vintages and limited offerings — if you have the budget. You'll also find custom engravings, fancy crystal and barware sets, and gift baskets.

Read our ReserveBar review.

Shipping cost: Varies by delivery address, but around $19.99 per order. Free on select bottles for Black members ($40 a year)

The world of fine and niche spirits can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to the scene. But if you're interested in trying small-batch whiskeys, vodkas, tequilas, and more, Flaviar is an excellent place to start.

It carries more than 20,000 different spirits, and you can choose from full-sized bottles or a curated Tasting Box filled with various samples. This alcohol delivery service offers many other perks, including member reviews, articles about different spirits, cocktail recipes, and interviews with industry experts. 

Find out more about how it works in our Flaviar review.

Shipping cost: Varied and based on the number of bottles and the size and weight of your order

There's no shortage of choices when buying wine online at Wine.com, where you can shop by variety and region, or browse various curated lists and deals. 

Each product page features helpful winemaker notes, reviews from trusted critics like James Suckling, and additional information about the vineyard. There's also a live wine expert chat function in case you need extra help. 

In addition to home delivery, the site offers order pickup from more than 10,000 participating locations, including Walgreens and FedEx. If you anticipate ordering often, get the annual $69 membership, which is called the StewardShip program, and gives you free shipping on every order for a full year with no purchase minimum.

Read more about where to buy wine online.

Shipping cost: Varied and based on the value of the order and what state you're shipping to

NakedWines.com specializes in lifting up independent wine labels around the world. You can become an "Angel" who invests $40 a month directly in up-and-coming winemakers, and in return, you'll get wholesale prices (up to 60% off wine) and a free gift bottle every month. 

Even if you don't want to become an Angel, you can still shop the large variety of red, white, sparkling, rose, and sweet wines on the site and try the user-friendly filtering system. You can even browse winemaker profiles to hear directly from the source, read customer reviews, and easily shop all the wine from that maker. 

There's a generous welcome offer of $100 off your introductory case that includes six bottles of reds and whites. For future orders, there is a six-bottle minimum. 

Read more in our NakedWines review.

Membership cost: $59.95/month

Winc is always updating its stock of wine, which it produces based on consumer interests and emerging trends. That means you'll always have something new to look forward to when you do your monthly wine-shopping haul. 

Winc's site is easy to use and browse for different varietals and regions, and you can view member ratings and descriptions for each wine. We also love it because its wines are pretty affordable, ranging from $13 to $32 a bottle. 

Amateur wine enthusiasts can start with the Palate Profile, which will point them in the right direction of different wines to try. 

Read our Winc wine review.

Read more about the best online wine subscriptions.

Shipping cost: Free on orders over $50 for Unlimited Shipping members ($99 a year), otherwise varies by weight

If you've never drunk sake outside a Japanese restaurant, you're missing out on a whole world of booze. And if part of the reason is that you're not sure what to order or what to pair it with, you might want to sign up for Tippsy. 

Tippsy is another place you can order alcohol online, as long as it's sake. Bottles can be purchased à la carte or through a subscription that arrives one, two, or four times a year. Each box contains six 10-ounce bottles, and your first box comes with a Sake 101 guide with tasting notes, and suggestions on food pairings and even what temperatures to enjoy the sake. 

Read our Tippsy review.

Shipping cost: Varies based on location, generally between $10 to $16 per order 

If you have a particular craft beer in mind — maybe you tried it while traveling or you bought it from a store once and never saw it again — chances are that Craft City carries it. Not only is it a great place to order alcohol online, but it also carries other fizzy drinks, like craft kombucha and craft soda. The nice thing is that you can buy single bottles rather than full packs, so you can create a fully customized beer stash when you order alcohol online. 

Read about more places to buy beer online.

Membership cost: $37.95 to $45.95 a month, plus $16 shipping. 

Beer of the Month Club's panel members have some impressive experience up their sleeves, including over 100 collective years in the brewing industry and 500 beers rated every year to bring you only top-tier beers. 

Beer of the Month offers five different membership types: US Microbrewed, US and International Variety, Hop Heads Beer, International Beer, and Rare Beer. You'll get 12 bottles that represent two to four beer styles and breweries, plus profiles and tasting notes. 

Selection: If you're ordering for a party, go for the widest selection possible so you can save on shipping and take advantage of bundled deals. Alcohol delivery services like Instacart and ReserveBar offer the widest selection of alcohol, but they might not offer niche organic wines or local craft beers. A wine or beer-only retailer is best for when you have a targeted interest or want to expand your palette and need expert advice. 

Availability: Make sure that your area doesn't have specific regulations that limit or prevent the delivery of alcohol. Check the National Conference of State Legislatures' Direct Shipment of Alcohol Statutes page for the most updated information. Some liquor stores offer another shortcut option: ordering alcohol online and picking it up in-store.