These Apps Will Help You Find the Cheapest Gas.
Following the conflict between the US and Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz , oil prices have risen sharply on the international market. This is now beginning to impact gasoline and diesel prices in the US, where in some regions, prices at the pump are rising by as much as 30% . Gasoline prices are dynamic, changing daily and even by city or state. For example, according to AAA , the national average gasoline price as of March 2026 is $3.96. However, in Iowa, the average price was $3.33, and in Illinois, $4.17.
If you’re planning to fill up, it might be worth doing some research first to save money. Using special gas price finder tools based on local data, you can find the cheapest gas stations in your area, as well as cheaper options nearby. Apps like these can help with this.
Use GasBuddy to find low gas prices and get free gas.
GasBuddy (available for iOS and Android ) is a popular user-created app for tracking gas prices. With over 10 million downloads in the Play Store alone, the app has a huge community of users who update fuel prices in near real-time. It also includes official price data from popular gas station operators, such as Costco. Community members who update prices earn points that can then be redeemed for gas.
You can use your current location to find gas stations near you, or use the search bar or map to find cheaper gas stations in your city or neighboring areas. GasBuddy will show you the cheapest options first (for regular fuel, though you can also filter for mid-grade and premium options). Each station has a rating and an indicator showing how recently the price was last updated. Sometimes it’s a few hours, but you’ll often find gas prices that were updated just an hour or a couple of minutes ago. The app also indicates which stations accept cash only and whether they offer other amenities, such as an ATM, convenience store, or frequent-user discounts.
In case of fuel shortages, GasBuddy also has a feature that tracks which stations have fuel and electricity, as well as when a specific fuel type is running low. GasBuddy works best as an app, as it has built-in location and navigation features. But if you simply want to find cheap gas in your area or city, you can also simply use the “Find a Station” feature on their website.
Check fares for your route on Google Maps or Waze.
Google Maps also has a built-in tool for checking gas prices, but it’s not supported by the community and isn’t updated as frequently as we’d like (many listings show prices that are more than 24 hours old). However, it’s convenient because it’s built right into an app you probably already use.
To find gas prices in your area, open Google Maps and search for “Gasoline.” You’ll see a list of all nearby gas stations, including the price of regular gasoline. To see more nearby gas stations, zoom in or out on the map and click “Search in this area.” You can also simply search for “[City Name] Gasoline” to find gas prices in a specific area.
Each gas station will be marked on the map with a small price sign. Select a station to see detailed information and prices for mid-grade, premium, and diesel fuel. The app will also show if the price was last updated more than 24 hours ago.
If you don’t use Google Maps, you can also use a similar, more detailed feature in Waze . Simply type “gas station” into the search bar to see all prices near you. Unlike Google Maps, Waze uses user-generated gas price data. Above each price, you’ll see when the data was last updated.