He The conflict in the Middle East has caused a rise in fuel prices.meaning both daily commutes and summer road trips are becoming more expensive.
Fortunately, you can save money on gasoline when registering in loyalty programs offered by major gas companies. That said, your favorite chain may not have the best prices, even with loyalty discounts, or may not have stations along your travel route. That’s where GasBuddy comes into play.
GasBuddy is an app that helps you find the cheapest gas near you. Even better, the program’s Pay with GasBuddy+ feature can save you more than 20 cents per gallon. Read on to learn everything you need to know about saving money on gas with GasBuddy.
Related: 7 tips to get the most out of a gas tank
Find the best gas prices near you
The GasBuddy app shows prices at all nearby stations to help you find the best gas deal. Simply download the mobile app and let it see your current location. You can filter by what type of fuel you would like to purchase and how far you are willing to drive for gas.
There is also a map view.
Tap a gas station to see the price of each type of gasoline. GasBuddy relies on crowdsourcing for pricing data, so prices may not always be accurate. However, we have found that most stations update at least once a day; You can see the last update time below the price.
GasBuddy will also notify you about flash offers, which you can activate in the app. Some of these require having a membership at the gas station, like this one through Fuel Rewards.
GasBuddy can save you money on regular fill-ups, but it’s especially useful during long road trips when you need to fill up in unfamiliar places.
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Related: Route 66 Road Trip Planner: Best Stops Along the Way
Save more by paying with GasBuddy+
When you sign up for Pay with GasBuddy+ and link a bank account, you’ll receive a free card in the mail that you can use to pay at the pump anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Transactions will be charged to your linked bank account and any available discounts will be applied automatically.
There are two types of membership. Signing up for the Standard plan is free and guarantees savings of at least 3 cents per gallon, although you can save up to 25 cents per gallon depending on where you fill up. You can save even more with a Premium plan; We’ll talk more about that in a moment.
Here are some tips to help you maximize your payment with GasBuddy+.
Sign up for a Premium membership if you drive a lot
The Premium option, which costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year, promises savings of at least 20 cents per gallon (on the first 50 gallons per month, then 5 cents per gallon). Plus, Premium members have access to Allstate’s 24-hour roadside assistance (twice a year).
It may be worth paying for a Premium membership if you know you’ll be driving a lot in a given month. Do the math beforehand to ensure you get enough value to offset the fee.
Accumulate gasoline loyalty programs
One of the best features of Pay with GasBuddy+ is that you can combine it with other fuel rewards programs.
For example, you can still enter your Fuel Rewards number at the pump when using your Pay with GasBuddy+ account. Fuel Rewards Platinum members save 10 cents per gallon at Shell stations, meaning GasBuddy Premium members can theoretically save more than 30 cents per gallon at some gas stations.
Related: How to Maximize Savings with a Shell Credit Card
Earn GasBuddy Rewards
Another part of the app, GasBuddy Rewards, allows you to earn points by taking surveys, playing games, watching videos, dining out, taking receipts, and more.
You can redeem points for digital gift cards or, if you have a Pay with GasBuddy+ membership, redeem them for additional savings on gas. Two thousand points equal 10 cents off per gallon and the savings will automatically be applied to your next fill-up.
Related: Best Road Trips in the USA
Is it worth using Pay with GasBuddy+ instead of a credit card?
One downside to paying with GasBuddy+ is that you have to pay with your GasBuddy card, which basically works like a debit card, so you’ll miss out on any credit card rewards. However, depending on the cards you have in your wallet and the savings you can get through GasBuddy, it might make sense to choose GasBuddy.
For example, the Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees) earn 3 ThankYou Rewards points for every dollar spent on gas purchases. Since Citi points are worth 1.9 cents each in our March 2026 report ratingsthat’s a 5.7% return. If you find a station where GasBuddy offers 6 cents or more off, paying with your GasBuddy card makes more sense.
You might consider keeping your GasBuddy card in your wallet along with one of our highest earning credit cards for gasoline purchases. Then, each time you refill, you can do the math to see which one offers the best performance.
Related: The best credit cards for gasoline purchases.
In a nutshell
GasBuddy is a great way to save fuel, especially when prices go up. Download it and apply for a Pay with GasBuddy+ card before your next big road trip, and don’t forget to combine it with other fuel rewards programs. After all, every penny per gallon counts.
