Gas prices are still high. These apps can help find it cheaper in the Triangle
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- North Carolina drivers pay about 30 cents more per gallon now than a month ago.
- Upside offers cash back and shows nearby station prices.
- GasBuddy offers at least 3 cents per gallon in savings with a Pay with GasBuddy+ card.
North Carolina drivers are paying, on average, about 30 cents more per gallon of regular gasoline than they were a month ago.
The trend is true for Raleigh-area drivers too, according to GasBuddy.
Gasoline and diesel prices have remained high since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. Since then, Iran has limited shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
With prices at the pump reaching their highest levels in years, Triangle drivers may be looking to pinch pennies.
One way to save is by being intentional about where you buy gas. Prices vary among stations due to a variety of factors, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.
Stations don’t all pay the same price for gas or buy gas on the same day. They don’t control the price they pay, but they still need to make a profit, so consumers — drivers — may end up seeing higher prices if the stations are paying more for gas.
“With the market so volatile right now, that is much more common than you might think, that stations are all paying a different price,” De Haan said.
But finding the cheapest gas doesn’t require a ton of research. There’s an app — actually, several apps — for that.
3 apps for finding cheaper gas
GasBuddy is one of the most popular apps for finding the best gas prices, with more than 100 million downloads in North America, according to the company.
The app shows the cheapest gas available in your area, with prices reported by other users. It includes when prices were last updated, down to the hour.
You can view stations in a list, choosing to sort stations by price, distance or both. Or, you can view stations on a map.
If you tap on a particular station, you can easily get directions to it, find the phone number and see ratings for the station.
GasBuddy offers additional savings of at least 3 cents per gallon with the Pay with GasBuddy+ card. Applying for the card is free and doesn’t require a credit check. Users link the card to their bank account, which is debited to make payments.
Upside offers cash back at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, enticing users by offering benefits for purchases they’re already making.
In the app, users can narrow their search to gas stations to see prices at nearby locations.
Once you create a free account, you can claim personalized cash back offers in the app.
But make sure to read the fine print. The offers come with a deadline — you have a limited amount of time to visit the station and purchase the gas. And combining the offer with other discounts may reduce the cash back offer.
Waze is a popular navigation app, but it can also be used to find cheap gas.
Like GasBuddy, it relies on users to report prices. The app clearly labels when prices were last updated, but prices may be several days old.
You can sort stations by price, gas type and brand. When you tap on a station, you’ll see additional details about it, such as opening hours and photos. Plus, Waze will show you the best routes to the station.
