Maplebear Inc. D/B/A Instacart 401(k) Review & Grade
Maplebear Inc. D/B/A Instacart Retirement Plan
San Francisco, CAProfessional, Scientific & Technical Services2,944 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$6,535Employer $ per active participant
$15,708Employee $ saved per active participant
0.04%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$297.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$85,529Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity42.0 / 5084th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost21.1 / 2584th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving12.7 / 1585th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score66 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (231 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 84th |
| Lower admin cost | 84th |
| Employee saving | 85th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 47% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($2,630 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $51,261 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Maplebear Inc. D/B/A Instacart put in about $6,535 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($2,951). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $19,236,529 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $46,236,573 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $9,587,528 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $98,383 |
| Benefits paid out | $22,432,407 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $205.1M / $297.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 3,246 / 2,641 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,473 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Clark Nuber P.S. |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Fidelity Investments Institutional | $106,487 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251014082607NAL0001113091001, received 2025-10-14, EIN 46-0723335, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.