6 Best Cash-Back Apps for Gas

Jami Farkas
Double_Vision / Getty Images
Double_Vision / Getty Images

The sting of gas prices has seemingly become sharper over the last few years. Having a car is a necessary part of life for most people to get to and from work or even take the occasional trip. There may be no way out of buying gas, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to alleviate your wallet burn and save money every time you visit the pump.

Read: How to Get Money Back on Your Everyday Purchases

6 Best Gas Cash-Back Apps

If you travel with just the right gas apps at your fingertips, you’ll ease the pain at the pump. Using apps with cash back or discount options will help to keep your budget under control for your summer road trips. Here are six great ways to earn cash back on gas:

  1. Credit card apps

  2. Upside

  3. Speedway

  4. Checkout 51

  5. Trunow

  6. GasBuddy

1. Credit Card Apps

Before investigating any other apps, look into the credit card already in your wallet. Sign in to your app or online account to determine if your card offers cash back on gas purchases. You might need to set gas as your top choice for cash back, such as with the Bank of America, Member FDIC, Customized Cash Rewards card. This card gives you 3% cash back on your preferred category, including gas.

  • Pro: Today’s high gas prices can result in bigger-than-expected rewards. If you spend $500 a month on gas, your reward will be $15. At the end of the year, that’s $180 in your pocket.

  • Con: Your existing cards might not offer a cash-back benefit for gas.

2. Upside

By using the Upside app, you can earn cash-back rewards when you fill your tank, buy groceries and eat in restaurants. Before making a purchase, claim your offer through the app, then pay by credit or debit card and be sure to grab your receipt. Your cash back will be paid to you via transfer to your bank account, PayPal or on a gift card. On its website, Upside says it has paid out more than $150 million to its over 10 million users.

  • Pro: Thousands of gas stations, restaurants and grocers partner with Upside, allowing you to achieve greater cash-back rewards.

  • Con: To get credit for your purchases, you’ll need to submit photos of the receipts through the app.

3. Speedway

With over 3,000 locations, you quite possibly could have a Speedway near you. Download the Speedway app and register to earn points for filling up your tank. While your points don’t give you cash back, they accrue for redemption on merchandise in the station’s convenience store, for cents off per gallon or for gift cards for fuel.

  • Pro: Speedway has many locations.

  • Con: It can take a while to reach the best rewards level. For example, you need 10,450 points for a $10 Speedy Cash gift card.

4. Checkout 51

Much like Upside, Checkout 51 gives users cash back on gas and groceries. Users will save at the pump at more than 5,000 participating gas stations. Offers change from week to week, and you can check what’s available beginning at midnight each Thursday morning in your time zone. The offers are good for one week.

  • Pro: A variety of offers are available.

  • Con: You must submit photos of the receipt through the app while the cash-back offer is live.

5. Trunow

With Trunow, you earn cash back on almost everything you buy — gas, restaurant meals and groceries. Again, you’ll get your receipt at the gas pump, then take a picture and upload it on the Trunow app.

  • Pro: You can redeem your rewards for cash or spend it on more gas.

  • Con: Requires photos of sales receipts.

6. GasBuddy

You might have used the GasBuddy app to enter your ZIP code and find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood, but delve further and you’ll find a trove of savings — even if it isn’t a cash-back app.

If you sign up for a free GasBuddy card, you’ll unlock savings of up to 25 cents per gallon and other benefits. The card isn’t a credit card and no credit approval is required. Instead, it’s linked to your debit card, and purchases will come out of your bank account.

  • Pro: GasBuddy’s website says the card is accepted at 95% of stations nationwide.

  • Con: You’ll need to take the extra step of signing up for the GasBuddy card, meaning you have one more card to carry and keep track of.

Final Take To GO

While you might think the last thing you want to do is download the app for another product, when it comes to combating gas prices, that extra cash-back app or two can turn into more money in your pocket. Finding the best loyalty programs and fuel rewards ultimately equals cheaper gas for you in the long run.

FAQ

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about cash-back apps for gas.

  • What app gives you cash back on gas?

    • Though many credit card companies offer fuel rewards as a part of their loyalty programs, there are great gas cash-back apps such as:

      • Upside

      • Speedway

      • Checkout 51

      • Trunow

      • GasBuddy

  • What app pays 25 cents a gallon for gas?

    • If you sign up for a free GasBuddy card, you'll unlock savings of up to 25 cents per gallon as well as other perks.

  • Is Upside a legitimate app?

    • Yes, Upside is a legitimate app where you can earn cash-back rewards when you get gas, buy groceries and eat in restaurants.

  • Is there a better app than GasBuddy?

    • Though GasBuddy is a great cash-back gas app, other apps also may work for you such as Upside, Speedway, Checkout 51 or Trunow.

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of July 3, 2023. 

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Best Cash-Back Apps for Gas

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