GasBuddy is a free app that tracks live gas prices at stations across the U.S. and Canada, so you always know where the cheapest fuel on your route is before you pull off the highway on instinct.
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive station in a given area routinely runs $0.30 to $0.50 per gallon, and that gap adds up fast on a long drive. I've used GasBuddy on every road trip I've taken over the past several years, and I've never once found a better option for finding cheap gas on the road.
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What is GasBuddy?
GasBuddy is a free app that tracks live gas prices at stations across the U.S. and Canada using a combination of crowdsourced reports from drivers and direct data from station owners. It's available on iOS and Android, costs nothing, and includes a free rewards program that earns you additional savings per gallon.
Finding cheap gas along your route, not just nearby
The most basic way to use GasBuddy is by searching your current location for the cheapest nearby station. It pulls live prices, sorts by cost, and shows you exactly how far each station is. The more useful feature for road trippers is the route search, which lets you enter your destination and see the cheapest fuel along the way, so you can time your fill-up rather than stopping at the first station you see when your tank hits a quarter.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
Prices on GasBuddy are submitted by drivers passing through or by the station owners themselves. The crowdsourced model means prices can lag by a few hours in quieter areas, but on major highways, the data is generally current enough to rely on. The app shows when each price was last reported, so you can judge for yourself how fresh the information is before committing to a detour.
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The rewards program saves a few more cents per gallon
GasBuddy offers a free Pay with GasBuddy card that links to your bank account and delivers a small per-gallon discount at participating stations. The discount varies by station and isn't life-changing, but it's a passive saving that costs nothing to set up. You earn additional GasBack rewards for reporting prices, writing reviews, and completing offers, which accumulate as credit toward future fill-ups.
The rewards program isn't the reason to download GasBuddy, but it's a nice layer on top of an app you'd already be using anyway.
A road trip essential with no real competition
GasBuddy is free, lightweight, and solves a specific problem that comes up on every long drive. No other app does the same thing as well, and there's no meaningful free alternative.
It's worth keeping on your phone year-round, not just during road trips, since the daily commute costs add up the same way a road trip does. Find GasBuddy alongside four other road trip picks in our guide to the best road trip apps.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we put it to the test to evaluate whether it delivers on its promises.
- Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We select tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual to figure out. - Affordability
We lean into quality apps that don't cost a fortune. Extra points if they're free. - Hands-on testing
We tested GasBuddy across multiple road trips to verify price accuracy and route search reliability.
GasBuddy FAQ
Is GasBuddy free?
Yes, GasBuddy is free to download and use. The Pay with GasBuddy card and rewards program are also free, though they require linking a bank account.
How accurate is GasBuddy?
Accuracy depends on how recently prices were reported in a given area. Major highway corridors tend to have current data; smaller or more remote areas may show prices that are a few hours old. The app displays the timestamp for each submission so you can judge accordingly.
Does GasBuddy show gas prices along a route?
Yes, you can enter a destination, and GasBuddy will show you the cheapest gas stations along your full route, not just near your current location.
Does GasBuddy work in Canada?
Yes, GasBuddy covers gas stations across the United States and Canada.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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