You can use your EBT card to buy groceries online from major retailers that participate in the USDA’s SNAP Online Purchasing Program. The process works similarly to using a debit card: you add your EBT card to your account on a participating retailer’s website or app, shop for eligible food items, and enter your PIN at checkout. Here’s how to set it up and what to expect.
Which Retailers Accept EBT Online
Not every grocery store or delivery service accepts EBT for online orders. Only retailers specifically approved through the USDA’s SNAP Online Purchasing Program can process these transactions. The list includes many large national chains as well as some regional grocers. You can find the full, current list of participating retailers on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website at fns.usda.gov/snap/online.
Availability also depends on your location. A retailer may participate in the program nationally but only offer online EBT acceptance in certain areas. When you visit a retailer’s website or app, it will typically tell you during account setup or at checkout whether EBT is accepted for your zip code.
How to Set Up Your EBT Card for Online Shopping
Before you can shop, you need to link your EBT card to your account with the retailer. The general process looks like this across most participating stores:
- Create an account or log in. Go to the retailer’s website or download their app. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one with your name, email, and a password.
- Add your EBT card to your payment methods. Navigate to your wallet, payment settings, or payment cards section. Enter the 16-digit number on the front of your EBT card. Some retailers may also ask for the expiration date or cardholder name exactly as it appears on the card.
- Start shopping. Browse the store’s online selection and add items to your cart. Many retailers label which items are SNAP-eligible so you can see what your EBT balance will cover.
You only need to add your card once. After that, it stays saved in your account for future orders.
What You Can and Can’t Buy
The same rules that apply in a physical store apply online. SNAP benefits cover food items intended for home preparation and consumption: fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereal, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. Seeds and plants that produce food are also eligible.
You cannot use SNAP benefits to pay for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, supplements, hot prepared foods, or any non-food household items like cleaning supplies or paper products. Critically for online shopping, SNAP benefits also cannot cover delivery fees, service fees, convenience fees, or tips. Those charges must be paid with a separate payment method.
How Checkout and Split Payments Work
At checkout, you’ll select your EBT card as a payment method. The retailer’s system will separate your cart into SNAP-eligible food items and everything else (non-food items plus any fees). Your EBT card covers the eligible food portion, and you’ll need a second payment method, like a debit card or credit card, to cover the rest.
You’ll enter your four-digit EBT PIN during the checkout process, just as you would at a card terminal in a store. Your SNAP EBT card can only be authorized with your PIN at the time of checkout, so the retailer charges the amount you approve in that moment. If your EBT balance doesn’t fully cover the eligible food in your cart, most retailers let you split the food total between your EBT card and another payment method.
For pickup orders, the final charge may adjust slightly if an item is out of stock and gets substituted or removed. In that case, you’d only be charged for what you actually receive.
Pickup vs. Delivery
Most participating retailers offer both pickup and delivery for online EBT orders. With pickup, you place your order online, choose a time slot, and drive to the store where an employee brings your bags to your car. With delivery, a driver brings the order to your door.
Pickup is often the more budget-friendly choice because many retailers offer it for free or at a lower fee than delivery. Since SNAP benefits can’t pay for any fees, choosing free pickup means your entire eligible order can be covered by EBT with no out-of-pocket cost. Delivery typically comes with a fee ranging from a few dollars to $10 or more depending on the retailer and order size, and that fee must come from a separate payment method.
If Your Transaction Gets Declined
Several things can cause an EBT transaction to fail online. The most common issues and how to resolve them:
- Insufficient funds. Your order total for SNAP-eligible items exceeds your current EBT balance. Check your balance by calling the number on the back of your card, logging into your state’s EBT portal, or using the retailer’s balance check feature. Remove items or add a backup payment method to cover the difference.
- Wrong PIN. If you enter your PIN incorrectly, you’ll get a chance to try again. But after four failed attempts, your account locks until 12:01 AM the following day. There’s no way to unlock it early, so take your time entering your PIN.
- Card number entered incorrectly. Double-check the 16-digit number saved in your payment settings. Even one wrong digit will cause the transaction to fail.
- No PIN assigned. If you received a new or replacement card and never set up a PIN, the transaction won’t go through. Contact your state’s EBT customer service line (printed on the back of the card) to select a PIN before trying again.
- Technical errors. Occasionally the EBT processing system experiences outages or connectivity issues. If everything on your end looks correct, wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists, try a different browser or device, or contact the retailer’s customer support.
Cash Benefits on EBT Cards
Some EBT cards carry both SNAP benefits and cash benefits from programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). These are two separate accounts on the same card. The SNAP Online Purchasing Program specifically covers food purchases using SNAP benefits. Whether you can spend cash benefits online depends on the retailer and your state’s rules, so check with both your state agency and the specific store before assuming cash benefits work the same way.
Tips for a Smooth Experience
Check your SNAP balance before you start shopping so you know how much you have to work with. This prevents surprises at checkout and helps you plan your cart. Most states offer a mobile app or website where you can check your balance in real time.
Keep a backup payment method on your account. Even if you plan to pay entirely with EBT, having a debit or credit card saved ensures you can cover any fees, non-food items, or overages without abandoning your order. Some retailers require a backup payment method before they’ll let you check out with EBT at all.
Pay attention to item substitutions. If you order a specific brand and it’s out of stock, the store may substitute a similar item at a different price. Most retailers let you set substitution preferences, including opting out of substitutions entirely, so your final total stays closer to what you expected.