Gas prices on Google Maps are great, but these apps can save you even more money

There’s no doubt that Google Maps can be useful in helping you save on your vehicle’s gas costs. You can use the app to find gas stations with the lowest prices in your city. But Google is just a middleman, relying on public data from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), which allows Google Maps to know gas prices and their accuracy, and users have no way to reduce the bill further. With Google Maps you simply see the current fares and can choose the nearest station with the lowest price. You can’t get cash back this way or get additional savings. Fortunately, there are better solutions and we’ve rounded up the best choices for the best savings.

Ultimately, whether you prefer apps that offer free gas station memberships, apps that rely on paid wholesale club memberships, or even crowdsourced apps that offer their own savings and rewards, you’re covered in today’s roundup. In other words, these top sources can help you save beyond the lowest price in town that day. So instead of driving across town every few days to save a few pennies, you can now take advantage of one of these hand-picked apps to help you save more and beat the average price per gallon. We’re here to help you with three dedicated picks that can easily save you a lot more money, no matter if you’re using Android or iOS.

There are many gas stations across the country, as we won’t be saying goodbye to fossil fuels with this gas alternative just yet, but Shell is the largest chain with the most gas stations. This means its companion app Shell: Fuel, Charge & More offers the best savings coverage, ensuring most people can take advantage of it, especially since the app is free on Android and iOS, with no paid subscription required.

What’s especially cool about Shell’s rewards program is that anyone can join for free, and every new member starts with the Gold plan, which offers five cents off per gallon. To maintain this Gold status, you only need to fill up six times with a minimum of 10 gallons per fill-up within three months. If you miss the mark, your plan is automatically downgraded to Silver, which offers three cents in savings per gallon, where the free membership will remain until you (literally) increase your numbers.

You can also increase Shell savings by adding partner memberships within the app, such as a AAA membership. This combo will grant you a permanent Gold membership, but also a bonus of 30 cents on your first fill-up once the accounts are combined. The only downside is that AAA membership is limited to 20 gallons per fill-up. Luckily, these savings apply automatically when you use the app’s mobile payment feature, saving you money every time you visit one of Shell’s 12,483 locations.

Costco and its wholesale membership can really help you save pennies in the long run. You’ll have to pay for the privilege and you’re limited to Costco locations for its gas, but those savings are some of the best around, averaging 10 to 30 cents less per gallon. Savings can be as much as 40 or 50 cents per gallon in states like California. Every Costco membership provides access to discounted fuel, so you don’t have to pay extra for the Executive level; you only need a $65 Gold Star level.

What’s particularly cool about the Costco app is that it offers a QR code, which can be used directly at the pump to realize your savings. Plus, since Costco memberships also offer cash back with its credit card, if you use a Costco Anywhere Visa Card from Citi at the pump, you can earn 5% back on your Costco gas purchases, and that’s on top of the lower price Costco already offers its members. The only downside here is that this cash back accumulates and is then offered as a credit card rewards certificate, usually included in your Citi billing statement, and you must use it within the year it was issued or you lose it. Not only does Costco typically offer the lowest base gas price in most cities, but you can also earn cash back using the company’s credit card, all facilitated through Costco’s wholesale app available on Android and iOS.

Relying on crowdsourcing to reduce gas prices is a great way to save money, and that’s precisely how the GasBuddy app works – and it’s free to use. You can also save even more if you sign up for a free Pay with GasBuddy+ debit card, saving you three to five cents at participating stations. If you like Costco’s approach, then GasBuddy+ Plus at $90 per year or GasBuddy+ Premium at $100 per year will save you 20 cents per gallon for your first 50 gallons per month.

Unlike a traditional debit card, you can only use the Pay with GasBuddy+ card at supported stations, but you can also use it for non-gas items at those stations, like snacks, while earning an extra three cents per gallon for every $25 spent. The app also offers more savings with Flash Deals, and if you open the app and click on one of these localized alerts before you start pumping, you can save up to 25 cents per gallon using your Pay with GasBuddy+ debit card.

If you sign up for the Pay with GasBuddy+ debit card, you can also use it in the GasBuddy app for even more savings with GasBack online shopping credits. This virtual store lets you get up to 10% of your total purchase price back at retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, Petco, and Macy’s, and the app is available for free on Android and iOS.