We tried three alcohol delivery services that deliver within an hour here's how Drizly, Minibar,

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  • Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey are three of the most popular alcohol delivery services right now. 
  • They partner with liquor stores in your area to bring you beer, wine, and spirits so you don't have to leave your home. 
  • We liked Drizly the best. See how all three compare when it comes to service, fees, and selection below. 

This content is intended for readers 21+. Please drink responsibly. If you or anyone you know is dealing with alcohol abuse, get help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) provides a free, confidential, 24/7, treatment referral, and information service.

Nowadays, anything you want can be delivered to you, sometimes within the hour. Beer, wine, and spirits are no exception. If you can't or don't want to pop over to your local liquor store, delivery's an easy and convenient way to get your drink of choice.

Since third-party delivery sites often take hefty sales commissions, which can cost local businesses extra money, we recommend calling your favorite liquor store directly first to see if they offer their own delivery. Otherwise, services like Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey can do the job for you. They partner with liquor stores around you and make it easy to shop for and order the alcohol you want. Though their basic models are the same, these three popular sites differ in their delivery zones, extra fees, and online shopping experiences. 

We tried all three to get a firsthand understanding of how they work and help you decide which one suits your needs. We found that Drizly offers the best overall experience, but Minibar and Saucey have their own features (and possibly lower prices depending on where you live) that make them strong options as well. 

See how Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey compare below. 

Where they deliver

Minibar

Drizly serves the largest number of markets — more than 220. Find the full list of cities and states here

Minibar comes in next, serving more than 90 markets. Find the full list of cities and states here.

Saucey is more limited, delivering to 48 cities. Find the full list of cities in the FAQ section here. 

Alcohol prices

Drizly; Minibar; Saucey; Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

It's hard to say definitively which service has the best prices because it all depends on your local store. For example, the price for 750 mL of Tito's vodka in my area (Los Angeles County) is: 

  • $19.99-$39.99 from three different stores on Drizly
  • $22.99 from one store on Minibar
  • $27.99 from one store on Saucey

If you want the best price, you might have to do your own work and cross-check all three websites. But you should also keep in mind that delivery fees and store minimums could change the total price.

Delivery fees and times

 DrizlyMinibarSaucey
Delivery fee

$5 in most areas

Free in NYC (usually)

Depends on store partner

Free in select markets like NYC

Shoprunner account holders, on-demand delivery is free

Flat $5 courier fee
On-demand deliveryYesYesYes
Order in advanceYesYesYes
Ground shipping feeFlat rate depending on individual retailers and courier usedFlat rate depending on individual retailers and courier usedFlat rate depending on individual retailers and courier used
Ground shipping time

Varies

Most orders are packed and labeled within 24 hours

Varies3-5 days

Speaking of, here's all the info you need about delivery and shipping. There are a few different ways you can order from these services. The first is on-demand delivery, where you should receive your drinks within an hour of placing your order. You can also schedule delivery for a future timeslot. Lastly, depending on the type of alcohol (e.g. wine) and the retailer, you may need to settle for shipping, which takes a few days. 

In all cases, you must be present for delivery to prove you're 21+ years old and to sign for your order.

There are tradeoffs when it comes to fees. For example, Drizly is the most widely available service but you'll most likely have to pay $5 for delivery (which is still not a bad price). 

Everything you can order

Business Insider

All three services sell more than alcohol. You can also find happy hour accessories like soda, juice, and savory snacks, as well as supplies like cups and corkscrews. The extra options could save you a run to the store or a separate order from another app like Postmates.

Alcohol variety

Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

Whether you want a glass of wine to accompany dinner, cold beer to enjoy while lounging outside, or a spirit to concoct a complex cocktail, you can order it from these three services.

Again, stock will 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. 

If you're specifically interested in wine, we'd recommend Minibar because it has a special program called Vineyard Select. Minibar partners with premium vineyards in the country to offer exclusive, curated collections. 

Online shopping and ordering experience

Drizly

I found Drizly to have the most intuitive and organized shopping experience. If you're browsing, rather than searching directly for what you want, you can filter by alcohol category, price, and store. The results page labels any active deals, best sellers, and staff picks, and also shows customer ratings. Once you've clicked through to the individual product page, you can choose your size, store, and delivery method.

The app, available for iOS and Android, is well-designed and easy to navigate. Whether you use the app or website, your past purchases will be shown at the top of the page, letting you reorder your favorites in seconds. 

The customer service also impressed me. My Drizly order arrived a little after my desired time window, and I got an apology email the next day along with a promo code for $5 off or free delivery on my next order. 

Minibar's site was also split into various categories and shoppable by many (if not too many) filters, but it felt more cluttered and overwhelming than Drizly's approach. I did, however, appreciate that there was a "Quick Re-Order" feature in the corner of the homepage. 

Saucey had a more simple interface, with short and sweet descriptions for all of its products and prominent labels for available deals. Product supply seemed inconsistent though, at least in my area. I checked the site pretty frequently, and beer, for example, wasn't available at all some days, while other days there was a large selection. There was also a period of time when the checkout page would not display properly and I couldn't place my order. 

Special programs

Business Insider

If you enjoy your experience, invite a friend to place an order, too. You'll both get discounts from each of these services. Saucey is the only one that has a rewards program, should you become a frequent user. 

The bottom line

Minibar/Instagram

Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey each have their own unique features that make them stand out, so it's difficult to call an overall winner. Here's what we recommend based on specific features: 

Shop Drizly for:

  • Large selection of alcohol and store options
  • Easy shopping experience
  • Straightforward delivery fees 

One-Hour Delivery Fee

Shop at Drizly

Shop Minibar for:

  • Reliable shipping
  • In-store pickup option 
  • Exclusive wine program 

Delivery Fee

Shop at Minibar

Shop Saucey for:

  • Free delivery, always
  • A loyalty rewards program 

Delivery Fee

Shop at Saucey

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Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she led coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combined rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021  The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products. Read more Read less

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