14 Apps That Help You Save Money on Gas
If you see dollar signs being deducted from your bank account every time your odometer shifts to the next mile, there is — as they say — an app for that. In fact, there are several.
Inspired by Mashable’s 2012 list of 9 Mobile Apps That Help You Find Cheap Gas, we put together an updated — and expanded — list to maximize your savings potential. These apps don’t just help you find the cheapest gas; they also help you plan the most efficient route, improve your vehicle’s fuel economy and more.
From free apps to paid apps across all major smartphone platforms, you’re bound to find at least one app that nets you some serious savings at the pump.
1. Gas Buddy
Find nearby gas stations and their current prices, as reported by users, who are entered into a weekly $250 gift card giveaway for contributing. Search by zip code or city and sort stations by price and distance. For a free app, it’s worth a look, although the user-reported aspect does allow for occasional price errors.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone, Android and Windows phones
2. Gas Guru
With prices straight from the Oil Price Information Service, this app promises more consistently accurate data. Its user interface is easy to use, and it also tells you what restaurants, repair shops and other businesses are near each station, to help you plan the most efficient stops on your road trips. Gas Guru’s handy bookmarking feature allows you to save information for the stations you visit most often.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone and Android
3. Waze
Updated by its community of users, Waze gives you the scoop on more than just gas prices. It also lets you know the best way to get to wherever you’re going with real-time updates on traffic jams, accidents and road hazards. If you’re looking to save time and stress in addition to money, this app’s for you.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone, Android and Windows phones
4. MapQuest Gas Prices
Find nearby gas stations, sorted by price, and see how much gas you’ll have to use to get there. You can also see which attractions are around the gas station of your choice.
Price: Free
Available for: Web
5. The Coupons App
As the name implies, you’ll find a ton of great local coupons with this app, including ones you can use at the pump. Search for the cheapest gas in the area, see if the station has any coupons you can take advantage of, then get coupons for other area attractions like restaurants and stores while you’re at it.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone and Android
6. Bankrate Calculator
Perfect for those who like to calculate their savings to the cent, this online calculator helps you determine whether it’s really worth it to drive to that cheaper gas station. Plug in your car’s gas tank capacity and gas mileage, plus the gas prices and distances of any two stations, and the calculator will compare your net savings if you drive to station A rather than station B.
Price: Free
Available for: Web
7. AAA TripTik Mobile
Awesome for road trips, this app shows you current gas prices and helps you find attractions and points of interest (including AAA-approved hotels and restaurants). It also provides voice-guided directions and enables AAA members to connect with roadside assistance.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone
8. YP Local Search & Gas Prices
Brought to you by the Yellow Pages, this app is also great for travelers (as well as those buzzing about their hometowns). Connect with local businesses by doing everything from finding the cheapest gas to browsing menus and booking a table at restaurants.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone and Android
9. Route4Me
Chart the most fuel-efficient course with this app, which helps you plan your routes for maximum gas savings. It claims its directions are 25-35% more optimized than other route planners.
Price: Free
Available for: iPhone and Android
10. SmartFuel
Find gas stations along your route, sort them by price or distance and get turn-by-turn directions. This app is great for people who are often on the road and want to know not only which stations are cheapest, but also which are close enough to make the drive there worth their while.
Price: $0.99 for a limited time (normally $2.99)
Available for: iPhone
11. Fuel Finder
In addition to gas station prices, this app also tells you whether they have amenities like a food mart, car wash or ATM. The “On Fumes” feature is great for those times you’re on the road and your gas tank indicator is hovering dangerously close to “E” — it will help you find the closest station and connect to roadside assistance should you not make it there in time.
This app gets its gas station prices and locations from the GasBuddy community, however, so you do face a margin of user error.
Price: $2.99
Available for: iPhone
12. Gas Cubby
This app helps you boost your fuel economy by calculating how much mileage you’ve managed from previous tanks, with reports covering the time between your most recent fill-up and the first time you used the app. It also helps tracks your vehicle’s mileage and maintenance, making sure you’re not just getting good fuel economy but also keeping your car in tip-top shape. It also lets you store important vehicle info like your VIN and license plate number.
Price: Free (or $2.99 for the ad-free version)
Available for: iPhone
13. aCar
Like Gas Cubby, but for Android phones. Track car-related expenses including gas mileage, repairs and trips.
Price: Free (or $5.99 for bonus features)
Available for: Android
14. car-pal+
Like Gas Cubby and aCar, but for Windows phones. Monitor fuel efficiency, keep track of maintenance reminders and locate the nearest gas station. Keep an eye on your gas spending by logging how often you fill up and how you spend each time. High kudos for its user-friendly interface.
Price: $1.99
Available for: Windows phones
Your Turn: What other apps do you use to cut back on gas costs? Share your favorites in the comments!
Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.
