- Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey are three of the most popular alcohol delivery services out there right now.
- They partner with liquor stores in your area to bring you beer, wine, and spirits when you can’t or don’t want to leave your home.
- We liked Drizly, which has the most nationwide reach, the best. See how all three compare when it comes to service, fees, and selection below.
- See more: The best places to buy alcohol online
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
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 Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, San Diego, San José, Sacramento, Oakland, Orange County, Silicon Valley, Dallas, and Washington DC.
Alcohol prices
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
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). Meanwhile, Saucey is the most geographically limited, but delivery is always free.
Everything you can order
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
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
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
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
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
Shop Minibar for:
- Reliable shipping
- In-store pickup option
- Exclusive wine program
Shop Saucey for:
- Free delivery, always
- A loyalty rewards program
Check out our other related stories
The best wine subscriptions
No matter how many apps you have on your phone or how many books you've read, buying wine is never an easy process. With so many varietals and vineyards to choose from, it's hard to discover if you'd prefer a Cabernet Franc to Cabernet Sauvignon without taste-testing both. And even then, there are so many regions to choose from. Enter wine subscription clubs.
The best wine glasses
The size, shape, construction, and style of a wine glass can dramatically alter how the wine will taste. Find the best overall wine glasses for everyday use and different types of wine in this guide.
The best wine openers and corkscrews
There's nothing like a glass of wine after a long day, but getting into the bottle can be a hassle without a good wine opener or corkscrew. To get that cork out as easily as possible, you should get the best one around.
The best bar carts
The perfect bar cart has room to store all the bottles and glasses you need, has wheels for easy mobility, and fits perfectly with every home aesthetic. With so much variety, you want to choose the bar cart that's best for your personal style, whether that's vintage with stained dark wooden shelves, more modern with glass and gold accents, or more boho-chic with handwoven handles.