7 Best Gas Apps To Save Money On Fuel

Some products in this article are from our partners. Read our Advertiser Discloser.

gas station

If you want to cut costs at the pump, download one of these gas apps that helps you save on gas.

Whether you’re planning a road trip or just want to save more money this year at the pump, the following apps can help you.

Top Gas Apps

Here are some apps to save on gas to consider.

1. GasBuddy

GasBuddy is probably one of the more well-known apps to help save you gas. It’s a crowdsourced app, meaning it gets much of its information from actual users.

GasBuddy has over 60 million users who use their app at the pump. The app is great because it also shows you where the best gas prices are and saves you a few cents for each gallon.

GasBuddy.com links your checking account to their app, and each time you fill up, you can use the app to save 5 cents per gallon and 15 cents per gallon for your first fill-up only.

According to their site, using their app, you can save roughly $340 a year on gas.

In addition to helping you find cheaper gas prices based on your location, GasBuddy also helps you find the closest locations, friendliest service, cleanest restrooms, and more.

They offer real-time gas prices at more than 140,000 gas stations in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Their website also has a number of handy tools for you to browse through, including a trip cost calculator for your next long road trip and handy gas price charts.

2. GetUpside

Upside is a money-saving app that helps you find the best deals on more than just gas. Using the app, you can save up to 25 cents per gallon on gas in DC, NY, MD, VA and FL.

It also has unique cash-back offers and works slightly differently than the other apps mentioned in this list. If you enter your phone number, the app texts you with an offer at a nearby gas station.

When you fill-up your tank with a credit card or debit card and then take a picture of your receipt, Upside will give you cash back via PayPal or a check.

It can help you save up to 35 percent at restaurants and 15 percent at grocery stores near your home.

3. Gas Guru

Similar to GasBuddy, Gas Guru shows you cheap gas prices from the Oil Price Information Service, which means their prices are up to date.

They even include the last price update, so you can determine whether the gas station is likely to have that price still.

Gas Guru, owned by Yellow Pages, helps you find the nearest pump with the best prices and then save it to your favorite locations so you can always go back to it when you return to that particular location.

This feature was the reason why people chose Gas Guru over GasBuddy on Slant.com. In a poll on their site, the community chose Gas Guru, but it didn’t win by much, making both good options to save money at the pump.

The app also lets you compare the gas price near your house, work or other favorite locations to find the best prices.

4. Waze

You’re thinking, “Waze can help me find cheap gas?” That’s right, the popular Google-owned crowdsourced navigation app can direct you to the cheapest gas station.

Like Gas Guru, Waze lets you set your preferred gas stations (and even gas type) and sort by price or brand.

Then, Waze shows you the best route to get there. Waze is great for road trips because it shows you how many minutes each gas station is off your route and the price of gas at that particular location.

If you drive over to one of their partner gas stations, you can save up on “Waze-only” deals too.

5. AAA TripTik® Planner

AAA has a feature called TripTik® Planner, which is part of their app. It helps you plan a road trip, allows you to plot trips with up to 20 stops, shows you the best places to stop for gas and gives you an efficient route.

They have more than 85,000 gas stations in their database and also give you updated gas prices so you can easily pick and choose.

You don’t need to be a member to use TripTik®, but to access the full app, you need to join.

6. Gas Prices by MapQuest

Mapquest has an app called Gas Prices by Mapquest that will show you where to find the cheapest gas and lets you select the type of fuel you want and then add it to your list of favorites.

The user-friendly app allows you to find the best prices for gas in your neighborhood, to and from your office and on road trips.

In addition to helping you find the best gas prices, the app comes with navigation features like making restaurant reservations, ordering food, voice-guided GPS, alternative routes in real-time traffic conditions and more.

7. GEICO Mobile

Car insurance company Geico has an app that helps you find the best gas prices in your area. You can find prices in real-time, and Geico uses gas prices provided by the Oil Price Information Service.

You can find gas stations near you by going to their website or by downloading their app and finding the feature for the gas price locator.

Tips That Help You Save on Fuel

Not only can finding cheap gas help you save money, but you can also take action to make your car as fuel-efficient as possible.

1. Check Your Tire Pressure

Check your tire pressure every few months before you go on a long road trip. Luckily, many cars alert you if the pressure is not at a certain level.

Regardless, you should check it to make sure they’re not too flat. This affects fuel efficiency.

2. Don’t Use Your Car As a Storage

Reduce the amount of things you have in your trunk. The heavier your car is, the more gas you’re wasting.

If it’s summer and you still have those heavy snow chains in your trunk, you’re wasting gas, so take it out and lighten the load.

3. Be Mindful of Idling

Be careful about how much you’re idling. We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in your car, picking up a friend, and idling outside her house for 10 mins.

Be aware of moments like these. Shut off your engine when you’re sitting around in your car, not moving.

Even if it’s winter and you’re trying to warm up your engine, be mindful of how long you’re doing this, and don’t excessively idle.

4. Use Cruise Control on Long Trips

If your car has it, try using cruise control more often. After all, it’s a computer controlling your speed rather than your foot.

Cruise control offers a steady speed that can save fuel because you’re not speeding up or slowing down constantly. A study by Edmunds revealed you can save 7 percent, by using cruise control on long trips.

5. Don’t Drive Aggressively

Driving fast and accelerating or stopping suddenly wastes fuel, so slow it down and be aware of how you maneuver around town.

You can save roughly 15 to 30 percent on the highway and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic, according to FuelEconomy.gov. Plus, no one likes the guy weaving in and out of traffic like their life depends on it.

6. Consider Switching to a Hybrid

If you are too obsessed with fuel efficiency, why not consider switching to an electric car or hybrid?

These days, a Prius gets 52 miles to the gallon, and according to Edmunds, it will cost about $959 per year to fill up if you drive 15,000 miles.

I drove a 2005 model Prius for years and loved the gas mileage I was getting (and the money I was saving). The gas tank was only nine gallons, so each time I filled it up, it only cost $30 or so.

This could save you even more money if you drive a lot or as a side hustle.

Summary

Finding the best gas prices in your area can save you money and improve your financial wellness. These apps can help you make sure you score the best gas prices.

Better yet, take it to the next level by making your car as fuel-efficient as possible.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

6 Comments

  1. It does provide pricing in the app now.

    1. We have 9 different apps listed on the site. Which one are you referring to? Are you referring to Waze, since that is the one that was previously commented about?

  2. Alora Lee Deising-Eovaldi says:

    I do not see anywhere on Waze that tells gas prices.

    1. I don’t think that’s part of the app. I think it is just supposed to help you get to a location that has the lowest prices, not provide the price. It would be difficult if not impossible for them to keep up with the prices of that many places selling gas since the prices change so often.

  3. This is a great post. I’ve never heard of most of these! But, we’ve used GasBuddy for awhile. It’s usually right on the money, and I like the filter where you can show extras like convenience stores, bathrooms etc. The trip cost calculator is handy too.

    1. Thanks! I’m glad you are having success with GasBuddy. Every time you save you’re putting more money back into your pocket!