Money Management Product Reviews
2025 Pay with GasBuddy+ Review: Yes, You Can Legitimately Save Money Every Time You Fill
I don’t remember what it was like to drive to new places before I had GPS on my phone — how did I get anywhere? Similarly, I don’t know how I survived road trips before I had GasBuddy to lead me to the best gas stations along the way. As a fan of the app, a few years back, I decided to try out their Pay with GasBuddy card to see how it works. Now, that offering has been updated to become Pay with GasBuddy+.
Put simply, the value proposition of Pay with GasBuddy+ is that you can use a special card in order to save a few cents off of every gallon of gas you buy. That sounds good — almost too good if you think like me.
Recently, I decided to take Pay with GasBuddy+ for a test drive and see how this updated offering works. So, let’s take a closer look at what the service is and how it could save you money on the road.
Pay with GasBuddy+ Card
Pay with GasBuddy+Review: It Can Save You Money, But How Much?
4
Card type
Charge card
Price
Basic: Free, Premium: $9.99 a month
Savings
3-33 cents with free card
Could score you big savings (or not)
The Pay with GasbBuddy+ card is free and can save customers up to 33 cents per gallon at stations nationwide (any that take Mastercard). However, finding that top discount isn’t always easy and does require users to activate deals in the app. On top of that, rewards credit cards or the cash prices offered by gas stations may ultimately best what Pay with GasBuddy+ can if there’s not a top-tier deal at the time. Still, seeing as the card is free and easy to sign up for, there’s little reason not to at least give it a try.
Pros
- Free version available
- Save up to 33 cents per gallon
- Now accepted at any station that takes Mastercard
Cons
- Discounts will vary by station, time, etc.
- Some gas stations may change a premium to use a card (instead of cash)
What is Pay with GasBuddy+ and How Does it Work?
What is Pay with GasBuddy+ and How Does it Work?
Pay with GasBuddy versus Pay with GasBuddy+
In 2025, GasBuddy unveiled the Pay with GasBuddy+ card. Meanwhile, although the original Pay with GasBuddy card is still technically available to new customers, it will be discontinued this year.
Despite what you might think given the name, Pay with GasBuddy+ is still a free product. Moreover, it continues to allow customers to save money at the pump. So what’s the difference?
Easily the biggest change is that Pay with GasBuddy+ is a charge card (that functions a lot like a debit card) that can be used at any pump where Mastercard is accepted. Previously, the card could only be used at participating stations and nowhere else. The new card is also equipped with a chip for more secure transactions. While Pay with GasBuddy was already usable at 95% of gas stations nationwide, Pay with GasBuddy+ takes that up to nearly 100%… unless the station in question doesn’t take MasterCard.
The ability to use the card at any station where Mastercard is accepted opens the door to some new features in addition to the Pay with GasBuddy+ card retaining all of the perks of the previous card. Therefore, even though you can still get the original for a bit longer, I personally see no reason why you would.
Joining Pay with GasyBuddy+
The first thing you should know about Pay with GasBuddy+ is that it is completely free to sign-up and start using the service. All you’ll need to do is either select the Pay with GasBuddy+ option in the app or go to their website to begin the process. On top of basic information like your name, address, and phone number, as well as less-common info such as your driver’s license number and income, you’ll also be asked to link a banking account.
Keep in mind that the account you select will be the one that’s charged whenever you use the service. To verify this bank account, you can either select the Instant option via ValidiFI (where you’ll log into your account to securely link it) or you can opt to have micro-deposits made to your account — which will take between one and six business days.
Technically, there are two options when signing up for Pay with GasBuddy+: Auto Pay or Manual Bill Pay. As mentioned, with Auto Pay, purchases you make with the card will automatically pull funds from your linked checking account. With this option, you’ll have a $100 daily spending limit (reset every 24 hours) and a $400 weekly spending limit. Meanwhile, you can also opt for a Manual Bill Pay option and pay off your purchase balance seven days after a statement is sent. However, if you select this you’ll not only be left out of fuel savings but you’ll also have a weekly spending limit of $50. In other words, there’s not really a benefit to this version so I wouldn’t recommend it.
By the way, although Pay with GasBuddy+ is technically a charge card (which makes it sound like a credit card), there is no credit check when you apply and the card does not show up on your credit report. Moreover, the card functions much more like a debit card if you have it set to Auto Pay.
After you sign up, a Pay with GasBuddy+ card will be shipped to you (again — this is all free). Once your card is activated, you’re ready to go. You’ll be able to insert your card at the pump and automatically save a minimum of 3¢ per gallon. In theory, however, you could save up to 33¢ per gallon.
Gas Savings and Deal Alerts
When you use Pay with GasBuddy+ at the pump, you’re guaranteed to save a minimum of 3¢ per gallon, with this base increasing to 5¢ per gallon at select stations. To be clear, you’ll save this amount just for paying with your card and not doing anything else. Be aware, however, that the adjusted price will not display on the pump or your receipt. Instead, the transaction will updated in the GasBuddy app after it processes and the right amount will be debited from your account (if you selected the Auto Pay option, of course).
To save even more, you can watch out for Deal Alerts in the GasBuddy app. When using the Find Gas tab in the app, you may see Deal Alert banners on select station listings. Tapping this banner will then give you the opportunity to activate an offer. After doing so, you’ll have four hours to make your purchase before the deal expires. Again, keep in mind that the adjusted price will only appear in the app after your purchase posts and won’t show on the pump itself.
Note that, when you use a Deal Alert, the stated discount amount will supersede the base discount. In other words, if a Deal Alert is for 9¢ off per gallon, you will just get 9¢ off and not 12¢ (the Deal Alert plus the minimum discount).
According to GasBuddy, these Deal Alerts can be for as high as 30¢ off per gallon. Personally, I haven’t seen any that high — but I’m not suggesting that they don’t exist. These deals can also vary widely as I’ve seen ones for 6¢ and others for 17¢. So, you’ll need to keep an eye out for good deals and compare the overall price to other stations in your area.
Convenience Store Offer
Now that you can use your Pay with GasBuddy card in more places, the app has added a new perk aimed at convenience store shoppers. Now, for every $25 in non-fuel purchases you make using your Pay with GasBuddy+ card inside a convenience store, you’ll earn 3¢ off per gallon. Once you earn this reward, it will automatically apply to your next gas purchase with your card. By the way, this is where that “up to 33¢ off” figure comes in as you could save up to 30¢ with Deal Alert plus the 3¢ from this offer.
By the way, I had some trouble with this feature, but we’ll talk about that later.
GasBack Offers
There is another way to save using Pay with GasBuddy+ and that is via their GasBack offers. Similar to how Rakuten offers result in cash back, taking advantage of deals offered by multiple online retailers in the “Rewards” section of the app will deliver a percentage (or flat dollar amount) of your purchase in GasBack. For example, current offers include 4% GasBack from JCPenney online, 2% from Petco, $3 from HelloFresh, as well as many others.
To earn GasBack, you’ll want to shop at the participating retailers using the links found in the GasBuddy app. Also note the “Fine Print” for each offer that will list what types of items will be eligible, how long your GasBack will take to process, and more. Once you’ve received your GasBack, you’ll be able to spend it using your Pay with GasBuddy card. Plus, these savings come in addition to the per-gallon savings you’d normally receive.
Personally I have yet to try out any GasBack offers but I will say that GasBuddy does seem to have a pretty decent line-up. Unfortunately, since you’ll need to use their link for purchases, these offers would have to take the place of those you’d get from Rakuten or others. That means GasBack is just one more thing to consider when you’re shopping for the best deals online.
In addition to online offers, there are also card-linked GasBack deals as well. Looking in my area, there are several restaurants where I could earn 4% GasBack on my purchase. Plus, you don’t have to use your Pay with GasBuddy+ card in order to earn this rate. Instead, you can link any Mastercard, Visa, or American Express card. However, with this feature being powered by Rewards Network, adding a card to GasBuddy for this feature may disable rewards you’re earning elsewhere. For example, when I tried it, I was notified that I was no longer earning rewards from Bilt Neighborhood Dining. Other Rewards Networks offierings include T-Mobile Dining Rewards, SkyMiles Dining, and many more.
Pay with GasBuddy Premium
WWhile the regular Pay with GasBuddy+ product is free, there’s also a paid Pay with GasBuddy+ Premium product. The most notable perk here is that you’ll get a guaranteed 20¢ off (or 22¢ off at select stations) your first 50 gallons each month. Then, with Deal Alerts, you can apparently save up to 50¢ off per gallon. However, the other perks that come with Membership are more akin to what AAA or others might offer.
According to the site, Pay with GasBuddy+ Premium also includes Roadside Assistance (powered by Allstate), which offers:
- Free towing up to 5 miles
- Flat tire replacement
- Jump starts
- Fuel delivery of up to 2 gallons (although you’ll need to pay for the fuel itself)
- Lockout service
- And more
Currently, Pay with GasBuddy+ Premium comes at a cost of $9.99 per month or $99 a year if you pay upfront. Also notable is that the Roadside Assistance features are available for up to three events per year and won’t be available until 72 hours after you join (so no signing up while you’re stranded on the side of the road).
I will note that, since the last time I updated this review, there have been a few changes to this product. While the gas savings potential has increased, the Roadside Assistance has been downgraded slightly. Previously, it offered free towing up to 10 miles versus five now. Moreover, fuel delivery is now limited to two gallons instead of three previously. Obviously these aren’t huge changes, but they are still worth pointing out.
Maximize Your Gas Rewards
In our Guide to Gasoline Rewards Credit Cards we take a look at some of the best credit cards for earning at the pump.
Personally, I haven’t signed up for GasBuddy Membership, so I can’t speak to the quality of their services. However, just looking at the list, I can see some pros and cons compared to AAA. First, depending on where you live, AAA membership may actually cost less. For example, my annual bill in Missouri is $61 — although some of the benefits do differ from GasBuddy’s.
On the other hand, the 20¢ off per gallon (up to 50 gallons) could change the math if you’re driving a lot. Not only would this rate best anything from my credit cards but might also help make up for that price difference with AAA. Therefore, if you’re not already a AAA member or are willing to try something else, this route might make sense.
GasBuddy Mastercard Credit Card
One of the most common misconceptions about Pay with GasBuddy is that people thought it might be a credit card. This notion was only further confused by the existence of the GasBuddy Mastercard Credit Card. However, as I’m updating this in 2025, I no longer see mention of this product on GasBuddy site or anywhere else for that matter. Perhaps they too realized the confusion and got rid of it before launching Pay with GasBuddy+.
In any case, to be 100% clear yet again, Pay with GasBuddy+ is not a credit card product.
Using Pay with GasBuddy
Using Pay with GasBuddy
Over the years, I’ve updated this review plenty of times, adding my latest experiences with the product to older stories. But, with the launch of Pay with GasBuddy+, it’s time for a fresh start. So, on a recent drive to Marceline, Missouri, I had a chance to try out my new card.
To test the updated card, I decided to fill up at my local gas station without activating the Deal Alert (even though one was available). My first surprise came when I wasn’t asked to provide a PIN or “Driver ID” number as I was would be when using the previous card. Instead, after leaving the chip card in the reader for a few second, I was able to remove it and go about my fueling. Actually, after removing my card, I could have also entered a loyalty number for this particular station if I had one. While I can’t confirm, this suggests to me that double dipping loyalty rewards and GasBuddy+ savings is possible — as long as your loyalty card isn’t also a payment card, of course.
As I noted, you won’t see the price update on the pump when using your card and, if you print off a receipt, the total will reflect the normal price. So, after filling up, I headed to the app to see how much I’d actually spent. However, I found that the transaction was still pending and would take a couple of days to post properly. Once it did, I was able to confirm that I’d managed to save 3¢ per gallon, with the adjusted amount then being taken out of my checking account.
When I was leaving Marceline, I found a Casey’s on the way home that was offering a 17¢ Deal Alert. Sure enough, when this transaction posted later, I could see the savings deducted from my initial total. Success!
Overall, while Pay with GasBuddy+ is remarkably similar to the prior version, I think it’s an upgrade in (nearly) every way. For one, not having to worry about whether or not it’s a “participating location” is nice and it’s great that you no longer need to enter a PIN. As for downsides, I don’t recall there previously being a pending period to view completed, adjusted transactions. Maybe I’m misremembering, but I feel as though that’s a change. Then again, this really isn’t that big of a deal.
With that, I’ll say that I was pleased with my first pair of Pay with GasBuddy+ experiences after using the previous system for so long.
However, when I went to try out another new feature, I wasn’t as successful. I wanted to test the convenience store purchase perk, but didn’t see myself spending $25 at a regular c-store — so I headed to Buc-ee’s. After selecting my items and heading to the register, I was disappointed (and slightly embarrassed) that my card was declined. A second try produced the same result, so I ended up paying with another credit card.
Looking in the app, these failed transactions didn’t show and I couldn’t find a solid reason why this purchase wouldn’t be allowed. Alas, given this experience, I’m not too excited to give this another shot. Granted, I wouldn’t use this offer very often anyway, but I’m annoyed that I wasn’t able to get to it to work in the first place.
The Pros and Cons of Pay with GasBuddy+ (Free Version)
First, one of the biggest benefits of the original Pay with GasBuddy+ card is that it was accepted at a long list of gas stations. Now, the Pay with GasBuddy+ card only expands that reach, which is nice.
In terms of cons, I have seen some users question whether it makes sense to use Pay with GasBuddy+ at stations that charge extra for credit or debit cards. Put simply, the answer is “probably not” — after all, these stations typically tack on 10¢ per gallon whereas GasBuddy will only save you between 3¢ and, if you’re a Premium customer, 20¢. However, while these heightened prices for credit/debit may be popular in some parts of the country, it’s not a nationwide standard. In my case, even though I saw stations all over California charging more for card transactions, I have yet to encounter one in my area of Missouri. Additionally, if you are able to find a max Deal Alert of 33¢, this should more than offset the card fee… hopefully.
Also, this dilemma is only a factor if you actually have cash on you. If you do, it is probably a better idea to pay cash and get that discount. However, if you don’t, then I don’t see any harm in using your GasBuddy card instead.
The only other con also relates to Deal Alerts. In short, it’s hard to predict how much you’ll be able to save at a given station on a given day. Therefore, while it’s possible you could save dollars on fill-ups, it’s more likely that you’ll only save cents.
Final Thoughts on Pay with GasBuddy
Final Thoughts on Pay with GasBuddy
I was really surprised and impressed with the Pay with GasBuddy product when I first tried it years ago. Thankfully, while I was a bit nervous when I saw that it was being revamped and rebranded, I think that Pay with GasBuddy+ delivers on being the upgrade it’s presented as (my convenience store issues not withstanding). Although your actual savings results will depend heavily on the types of Deal Alerts you can find, there is definitely savings potential to be found with this card.
Of course, one disadvantage for people like me is that I’d be missing out on credit card rewards by using this service instead. With one of my cards granting me 4% back on gas, that might best the amount GasBuddy would offer for more fill-ups — unless of course I’m regularly finding Deal Alerts of 10¢ off or more. Additionally, as I mentioned, those in certain areas may need to weigh the benefits of using Pay with GasBuddy against potential card fees. Meanwhile, the Premium option offers yet another set of factors to consider, making it difficult to recommend generally.
With all that said, if you don’t have a credit card that puts a premium on gas and don’t live in an area that charges more to use cards, Pay with GasBuddy+ could be a good option for saving at the pump given its wide acceptance, ease of use, and the GasBack offers. Therefore, I’ll still be taking my Pay with GasBuddy+ card along with me for future road trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Is Pay with Gasbuddy+ secure?
A:
Pay with Gasbuddy+ securely connects to your bank account using the API ValidiFI. Moreover, the card can only be used at gas pumps, limiting the potential impact should your card number become compromised.
Q:
Is Pay with Gasbuddy+ a credit card?
A:
No. Pay with Gasbuddy+ is technically a charge card but acts somewhat similarly to a debit card, with gas purchases (minus any savings) being deducted directly from a linked bank account.
Q:
How does Pay with Gasbuddy+ work?
A:
Pay with GasBuddy+ cardholders can use their card at any U.S. gas station that accepts Mastercard to save on each gallon they buy. These savings — which can be increased through GasBack offers and Deal Alerts — are subjected from the total and funds are directly debited from a linked bank account.
Q:
Where is Pay with Gasbuddy accepted?
A:
Pay with GasBuddy+ is accepted at any gas stations in the United States that takes Mastercard.
Author
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