How I pay less for gas: 5 apps I use to find the cheapest stations nearby

## Summary
WEX Connect Another free app for iOS and Android , WEX Connect will also find and display nearby gas stations, showing you the name, address, and price per gallon. Also: I found a free Google Maps alternative that doesn't track my location (or kill my phone battery) Though the basic app is free and works fine for tracking down nearby gas stations, a Pro version is available for $10 a year. Google Maps You don't necessarily need a separate app to find the lowest gas prices, not when Google Maps can handle that task. Also: Master your navigation: 41 hidden Google Maps settings you should know Even better, tapping a specific station takes you to a dedicated screen where you'll find the prices for different grades of gas, the hours of operation, an overall description, and any user reviews.

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How I pay less for gas: 5 apps I use to find the cheapest stations nearby
With gas prices climbing ever higher, these apps help me find the cheapest fuel based on my location.
Written by
Lance Whitney,
Contributor
Contributor
April 2, 2026 at 9:55 a.m. PT
Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Feeling pain at the pump lately? I certainly am. With war in Iran affecting oil supplies, gas prices are on the rise again. After declining over the past year, the price we pay to fuel our cars has now risen more than $1 per gallon in the US, reaching on average around $4 a gallon. In states like California, the cost has creeped up to almost $6 per gallon in certain areas.
Also:
How Google Maps just changed how you navigate and drive - in two profound ways
Though I can't do much about the international crisis, I can control how much I shell out to refuel my car. And one way I do that is through a mobile app. Several apps for iOS and Android will show me a list of nearby gas stations and reveal the current cost. I also can turn to navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze to check local gas prices.
Here's a look at several such apps and how they work.
1. GasBuddy
Free for
iOS
and
Android
, GasBuddy is simple to use. Just fire up the app and tap the button to find gas. The first time you do this, you'll have to give the app permission to view your location. You can also tell it what type of gas you need -- regular, premium, diesel, etc. In response, a list of nearby gas stations pops up. Each entry displays the name and address of the station, the number of stars it gets based on user ratings, and the price per gallon.
You can sort the list by price or distance, change the grade of gas you want, and see prices for credit-only or credit and cash. Tap the name of a specific station, and you can get directions to any station, which are then routed to Apple Maps on an iPhone or Google Maps on an Android device.
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And there's more. If you become a GasBuddy member, you can collect rewards and save money on future visits to the pump. A standard membership is free, while a premium plan with higher savings costs $10 a month. To cash in on the discount, you also have to link your bank account to collect the rewards and use a GasBuddy credit card to pay for gas.
I'm always wary of linking my financial information to third-party apps, so I use GasBuddy just to check out local gas prices. And here, the app is quick and easy to use. But GasBuddy also has
its own website
where I can check prices across the US and calculate the cost of a trip.
Show more
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
2. WEX Connect
Another free app for
iOS
and
Android
, WEX Connect will also find and display nearby gas stations, showing you the name, address, and price per gallon. You can sort the list based on price or distance and filter it by distance, brand, and grade of gas. Selecting a specific station displays a map and a button to get directions through Apple Maps on iOS or Google Maps on Android.
But WEX Connect goes a few steps further. You're able to use it to find nearby service stations and car washes. And those of you with electric vehicles can track down charging stations in the area. This one is easy to use and gets bonus points for these added features.
Show more
Screenshot

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## Expert Analysis

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### Areas for Consideration
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### Implications
- When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
- When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions.
- This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.
- If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers gas, maps, prices topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1646.