Apps to Get Condoms, Jeans, Toilet Paper, or Anything Else Delivered in DC

GROCERIES

Peapod

What You Get: Provisions from Giant.

How Long It Takes: Order today, receive it tomorrow.

Where You Can Get It: DC; Northern Virginia; parts of Montgomery, Prince George’s counties.

Premium You’ll Pay: $7.95 to $9.95 delivery fee; $60 minimum order.

What We Think: So quick and easy you may never set foot in a grocery store again.

Instacart

What You Get: Groceries from Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Costco, and more via courier.

How Long It Takes: One to two hours, or a future date up to seven days out.

Where You Can Get It: DC, Alexandria, Arlington, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Potomac.

Premium You’ll Pay: $3.99 to $5.99 delivery fee, $10 minimum order.

What We Think: Good for hitting multiple stores without making multiple stops.

TAKEOUT

Seamless

What You Get: Food from restaurants with delivery staffs (mostly cheap eats).

How Long It Takes: Depends on the restaurant and demand.

Where You Can Get It: All over the Washington area.

Premium You’ll Pay: Some restaurants add a delivery fee (tip not included).

What We Think: In our experience, unreliable if you’re really hungry.

ALCOHOL

Drizly

What You Get: Beer, wine, hard liquor from Sherry’s Wine and Spirits, Modern Liquors.

How Long It Takes: An hour or less.

Where You Can Get It: SW DC, H Street, Navy Yard, NoMa, Capitol Hill, parts of NW DC.

Premium You’ll Pay: $5 delivery fee, $20 minimum order.

What We Think: Strong selection, and the craft beer was still cold when we got it.

Klink

What You Get: Beer, wine, hard liquor from an undisclosed number of liquor stores.

How Long It Takes: An hour or less.

Where You Can Get It: DC except east of the Anacostia River.

Premium You’ll Pay: $3.87 delivery fee, $20 minimum.

What We Think: More widely available than Drizly, but the selection is watered down.

ALMOST ANYTHING

Postmates

What You Get: Various items on demand, including restaurant carryout food, via courier.

How Long It Takes: An hour or less.

Where You Can Get It: Much of DC, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Arlington.

Premium You’ll Pay: $5 and up for delivery, depending on distance; 9-percent service fee.

What We Think: Perfect for a date-night meal without having to make a reservation.

Google Express

What You Get: Guitars, diapers, condoms, and more from 12 retail partners.

How Long It Takes: Same day.

Where You Can Get It: DC.

Premium You’ll Pay: Free on over-$15 orders with $95 yearly membership; $4.99 to $7.99 otherwise.

What We Think: If you’re okay sharing info with the mega-search engine, it totally delivers.

Amazon

What You Get: Paper towels, car parts, laptops, and thousands of other non-bulky items.

How Long It Takes: Same day if ordered before noon, including Sunday.

Where You Can Get It: NW, SW, parts of NE DC; south to Montclair, Va., north to Gaithersburg.

Premium You’ll Pay: Prime members, $5.99; others, $9.99 first item, 99 cents per additional item.

What We Think: Hit-or-miss, especially on a Sunday.

This article appears in our June 2015 issue of Washingtonian.

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