Spark Driver Review: Worth It? (Not for Everyone)

The Spark Driver app sounds like an appealing way to earn money by delivering groceries and other orders. You get to choose when you work, accept the delivery offers you want, and get paid for completing deliveries.

That flexibility can make it seem like an excellent gig. However, before you sign up, you need to understand how the platform works, how drivers actually get paid, and what challenges you may face.

In this Spark Driver review, I'll explain everything you need to know so you can decide whether Spark Driver is worth joining.

So, let’s begin.

What is Spark Driver, and what does it offer?

Spark Driver is Walmart's delivery platform for independent contractors, so you can be confident it's a legit opportunity to earn cash. Instead of hiring traditional employees for local deliveries, Walmart partners with drivers who use their own vehicles to deliver customer orders.

That’s how you can earn from Spark. But the question is, is it the right fit for you? Well, the only way to find out is if we break down how its earning opportunity works, so you will understand how it works and how good it really is.

So, here’s how to earn from Spark.

The earning opportunity – Offers

You’ll have to accept offers to earn from Spark. Once you become a member, you can log in to the app to view all the offers you can accept. Accepting an offer is not mandatory, so you can choose which orders to accept.

If you feel an offer is not worth it because it is too far, you can skip it and choose another. The types of offers you can accept fall into three general categories: Delivery, Shopping, and Returns (refer to the photo below).

Delivery offers have been prepared by Walmart, so all you have to do is go to the store, pick up the order, and deliver it to the customer. Shopping offers will involve driving to a specific store, shopping a list of items, and delivering the order. For this type of offer, the customer pays for the purchase.

Lastly, Return offers will ask you to pick up an order from the customer and drive it back to a Walmart store. After completing an offer, the compensation will be credited to your Spark account.

One good thing about being a Spark Driver is that if a customer leaves you a tip, you get to keep 100% of it.

How your earnings are calculated depends on several factors. The photo below gives you a snapshot of how earnings are calculated.

In general, the farther away the delivery destinations, the more earnings you will receive. Aside from that, you will earn more when you deliver orders with more items. If there are additional conditions to complete an order, an extra fee will be added. A good example is delivering an order to a customer who lives on the 7^th floor of an apartment complex.

Every offer will display all the information you need to decide whether to accept it. So, you shouldn’t have a hard time figuring out which offers to accept.

As for Spark’s delivery schedule, it starts from 6 am to 11 pm. So, you can just choose to complete offers anytime during that period. There are some details about working as a Spark driver that you will learn along the way, but the general idea of how to earn is as explained above.

Recommended: Check Out the Best Gig Jobs and Where to Find Them

How do you get paid?

Every time you complete an offer, the compensation will be credited to your Spark Driver account balance. Now, the question is, how can you withdraw your earnings?

Well, the great thing about Spark is that it offers a convenient payout method. Your earnings will be deposited directly into your bank account at the end of every week. So, you don’t actually have to do anything after setting up the payout method.

It also means you don’t need to reach a threshold to withdraw your earnings. Overall, I would say its payout system is quite convenient and straightforward.

I like that it pays via direct bank transfer, because it is one of the most convenient payout methods, in my opinion. If you are interested in more sites that use a convenient payout method, I suggest you also check out the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.

How much money can you make?

Based on my experience, the amount you can earn from a gig economy platform like Spark will mostly depend on your location and the amount of time you are willing to spend doing the work. Your location will mostly dictate how many offers will be available in your area.

Big cities will always offer more earning opportunities than smaller cities. So, if you live in one with a Walmart store, then there’s a good chance the earning potential will be quite good.

As for how much you can earn per offer, as explained earlier, it depends on a few things like distance, size, and other details. That being said, Spark also has additional features that can help you earn more.

I’m talking about the incentives feature where you can earn more by completing certain tasks/missions. For example, you’ll earn an additional amount for completing a certain number of offers.

It’s a good way to reward drivers who are very active on the platform. And as explained earlier, you’ll also receive 100% of the tips you receive, so if you do a good job and get lucky, you can earn more than what you can from a day job.

But again, I have to emphasize that it will all depend on your location. So, I can’t really generalize how good its earning potential is, because it will all depend on your situation.

Can you use it on a desktop?

Spark Driver is a mobile-only platform, so you will need to use your mobile phone while working as a Driver. This also makes sense given the nature of the earning opportunities it offers.

You’ll have to be mobile when you work as a Driver, so it would only make sense that you’ll need an app to earn from it.

As for the app, it runs on both Android and iOS devices, so compatibility won’t be a problem. The app is also very easy to use, so you should be able to navigate it with ease.

Based on what I observed when I was testing it, the user experience is quite pleasant, which is to be expected from an app like Spark. After all, it is owned by one of the biggest companies in the US.

Who can join Spark Driver?

Now, here’s the most important thing you need to know about Spark. It is only available in the US. So, if you live somewhere else, then this is not for you.

To be eligible as a driver, you need to have one of the following:

• Have a valid U.S. driver's license (REAL ID-compliant or equivalent)
• Have a U.S. Social Security number
• Have a U.S. phone number (+1)
• Have a U.S. bank account for receiving earnings
• Provide proof of valid auto insurance for the vehicle you'll use

As for the type of vehicle needed, it can be anything that can accommodate grocery bags, etc. So, that means bicycles, motorcycles, and electric scooters are not viable.

To begin the sign-up process, you must install the app first.

After the app is installed, you’ll have to provide all the requirements mentioned above. After submitting the requirements, the next step is to go through a background check. There’s no mention of a fee for the background check, but based on my experience, background checks usually require a fee.

So, don’t be surprised if you’ll have to pay for one. Background checks can last up to a week, depending on your state and county processes. Once the background check results are complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details for the next steps.

If you get accepted, you’ll have to go through the onboarding process, which will include selecting your zone. Now, take note that if the driver positions are full for a certain zone, you won’t be able to apply as a driver. You’ll have to wait for a spot to be vacant to proceed with the application.

For this step, you’ll have to choose the Walmart store closest to you. You can change this anytime you want by going to your account settings.

This means you can actually work as a Spark Driver even when traveling across the country (as long as there is a Walmart in your location). You’ll also have to select the type of offers you are interested in accepting.

Once you are done with these steps, you can start working as a driver. So, as you can see, it’s a bit of a lengthy process. And, in my opinion, it isn’t ideal for someone who doesn’t live close to a Walmart store, because you’ll have to factor in gas expenses every time you start your shift.

Can you get support?

You can check out the FAQ section of Spark Driver if you have questions about the platform. It discusses most of the basic topics you need to know.

If you can’t find the answers you need, you can contact their support team through the Contact Us link inside the app. Overall, I would say it does provide good support to its drivers, since it offers an easy way for you to ask for assistance, which is all you can really ask from an app like this, in my opinion.

Final Verdict

Spark Driver is a legit gig economy app that lets you earn by working as a delivery driver. It has a few good features, but it also has some considerations you must take into account.

Let me end this review by summarizing its pros and cons, so you can see a clear breakdown of what it offers. Then, you can decide whether it is a good fit for you.

In my opinion, Spark Driver is not for everyone. It is really only ideal for people who live close to a Walmart. If you live far from one, you won’t really profit a lot from it because of gas expenses.

But if you do live close to one, then it can be a good option to earn extra cash, especially if you live in a big city where there will be many earning opportunities available. You just have to commit some time to earn from it, which is really how gig economy apps work.

But if you are looking for easier ways to earn extra cash, one that doesn’t take up a lot of your time, or if Spark Driver isn’t available in your location, then I suggest you check out the top survey and GPT sites in your country instead.

The sites and apps on this list all have good earning potential, so you can earn a decent amount quickly. Plus, you will definitely find a site or app you can join regardless of where you live. You can also earn from the comfort of your home.

If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Spark Driver, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.