If you drive a car in America, you've felt the pain at the pump. Gas prices fluctuate constantly. One week you're paying $3.50 a gallon. The next week, it's $4.20. And there's almost nothing you can do about it.
Or so you thought.
There's a free app that can save you up to $0.50 per gallon at thousands of gas stations across the country. And at three specific chains, the savings are consistently the highest.
Here's how it works—and which stations give you the best deal.
The App: Upside
The app is called Upside (formerly known as GasBuddy's "Pay with GasBuddy" program before rebranding). It's a free cashback app that works at over 50,000 gas stations nationwide.
Here's the simple version: You open the app, see which nearby stations are offering cashback, claim the offer, pay for your gas using the app (or by linking a debit/credit card), and the cashback appears in your account within days. You can cash out via PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards.
Unlike credit card rewards that give you 1-2% back, Upside offers per-gallon cashback that often ranges from $0.10 to $0.50 per gallon. On a 15-gallon fill-up, that's $1.50 to $7.50 back per tank.
The Three Best Chains for Upside Savings
Not every gas station participates. And among those that do, the cashback rates vary significantly. Based on nationwide data and user reports, these three chains consistently offer the highest per-gallon savings.
1. Shell
Shell is one of Upside's largest partners. Thousands of Shell stations across the country participate in the program.
Typical cashback: $0.15 to $0.40 per gallon
Best time to fill: Midweek (Tuesday–Thursday) when demand is lower
Shell stations are everywhere—highways, suburbs, cities. That convenience combined with Upside cashback makes them a top choice. You're already stopping at Shell. Now you can get paid to do it.
Pro tip: Shell also has its own Fuel Rewards program. You can stack Upside cashback with Shell's own loyalty program for even greater savings. Fill up at Shell, scan your Fuel Rewards card, and claim the offer in Upside. The discounts add up.
2. BP
BP is another major partner with wide national coverage. Their stations are common along interstates and in suburban areas.
Typical cashback: $0.10 to $0.35 per gallon
Best time to fill: Early morning or late evening when station traffic is lower
BP's cashback rates are slightly lower than Shell on average, but they're more consistent. You'll almost always find some offer at a BP station, even if it's not the highest rate of the day.
Pro tip: BP also has a partnership with Amex Offers and other credit card reward programs. Check your credit card app for additional BP offers that you can stack with Upside.
3. Marathon
Marathon is less flashy than Shell or BP, but that's exactly why their Upside offers are often higher. They're aggressively trying to win customers from bigger brands.
Typical cashback: $0.20 to $0.50 per gallon
Best time to fill: Weekends, when Marathon often runs boosted cashback promotions
Marathon consistently offers some of the highest per-gallon cashback rates in the Upside app. On a good day, you can find $0.40 or $0.50 back per gallon. That's $6 to $7.50 back on a 15-gallon tank.
Pro tip: Marathon stations are more common in the Midwest, South, and East Coast. If you live in these regions, check Upside before filling up anywhere else.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Let's do the math.
Assume you drive 12,000 miles per year. Your car gets 25 miles per gallon. That means you buy about 480 gallons of gas annually.
Without Upside: At $3.80 per gallon, you spend $1,824 per year.
With Upside (average $0.25/gallon cashback): You get $120 back per year.
With Upside at Marathon ($0.40/gallon): You get $192 back per year.
That's not life-changing money. But it's also not nothing. For about 30 seconds of extra effort per fill-up, you're getting $120 to $190 back annually. That's a free tank of gas every few months.
And if you drive more than 12,000 miles? Or have a less fuel-efficient car? Your savings go up.
How to Use Upside (Step by Step)
Step 1: Download the app.
Upside is available for free on iOS and Android. No subscription required. No hidden fees.
Step 2: Create an account.
Use your email or sign in with Google/Apple. You'll need to add a payment method—either a debit/credit card or link a bank account.
Step 3: Check nearby offers.
Open the app and look at the map. Gas stations with active cashback offers are highlighted. The app shows you the current price per gallon and the cashback amount per gallon.
Step 4: Claim an offer.
Tap on a station and click "Claim." This locks in the cashback rate. Offers typically expire after 2–4 hours, so claim it when you're ready to go.
Step 5: Pay for your gas.
There are two ways to pay:
- Pay in app: Use Upside's digital payment card at the pump (works at most major chains).
- Pay with card: Link a debit/credit card in the app. Pay normally at the pump or inside. Upside matches the transaction automatically.
Step 6: Get your cashback.
Within 24–72 hours, the cashback appears in your Upside account. Once you reach $15 in total cashback, you can withdraw via PayPal, Venmo, or gift cards.
Tips to Maximize Your Savings
Check before you leave.
Don't just drive to your usual station. Open Upside first and see which nearby station has the best offer. Sometimes driving 2 minutes further saves you $0.30 more per gallon.
Fill up when your tank is low.
Upside offers are per-gallon, not per-transaction. A 15-gallon fill-up gives you more cashback than a 5-gallon top-off. Wait until you need a full tank.
Combine with loyalty programs.
Shell Fuel Rewards, BP Driver Rewards, and Marathon's own programs can stack with Upside. Fill up, scan your loyalty card, and claim the Upside offer. The discounts combine.
Look for boosted offers.
Upside occasionally runs promotions—first fill-up bonuses, referral bonuses, and "boosted" cashback days (often on holidays or weekends). Check the app's notifications.
Refer friends.
Upside gives you a referral bonus (typically $5–$10) for each friend who signs up and fills up. Share your code on social media or with family.
What About Other Gas Station Apps?
Upside isn't the only game in town. Here's how it compares:
| App | How It Works | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Upside | Per-gallon cashback | $0.10–$0.50/gallon |
| GasBuddy | Pay with GasBuddy card | $0.05–$0.20/gallon |
| GetUpside (same as Upside) | Same as above | Same as above |
| Credit card rewards | Percentage back (1-5%) | $0.04–$0.20/gallon |
Upside consistently offers the highest per-gallon savings. GasBuddy is more convenient (just one card) but lower returns. Credit cards are fine but rarely beat Upside's rates.
Best strategy: Use Upside for the cashback offer, pay with a credit card that gives you additional gas rewards (like the Citi Custom Cash or Abound Visa Platinum), and stack both.
What Upside Doesn't Tell You
A few honest caveats.
Cashback isn't instant. It takes 1–3 days to appear in your account. If you need the money immediately, this isn't for you.
Minimum withdrawal is $15. You can't cash out after one fill-up. You need to accumulate $15 in total cashback first. For most drivers, that's 3–5 fill-ups.
Offers expire. That $0.40/gallon offer you saw this morning? It might be gone by this afternoon. Claim it only when you're ready to go.
Not every station participates. Major chains like Shell and BP do. But smaller local stations? Probably not. Check the app before you drive.
Prices aren't always the lowest. A station with $0.40/gallon cashback might have a base price that's $0.20 higher than the station across the street. Do the math: compare the final price after cashback, not just the cashback rate.
Real-World Example
Let's say you're in Dallas, Texas. You open Upside and see:
- Shell: $3.59/gallon + $0.25/gallon cashback = $3.34 effective price
- Marathon: $3.69/gallon + $0.40/gallon cashback = $3.29 effective price
- Local no-name station: $3.49/gallon + $0 cashback = $3.49 effective price
Marathon is the winner: $3.29 effective price per gallon. On a 15-gallon fill-up, you pay $49.35 after cashback, compared to $52.35 at the local station. You saved $3—about 6%.
Not huge. But do that 30 times a year? That's $90 back in your pocket.
The Bottom Line
Gas prices are largely out of your control. But how much you pay doesn't have to be.
Upside won't make you rich. But it will put $100–$200 back in your pocket every year with almost no effort. And at Shell, BP, and Marathon—three of the biggest chains in America—the savings are consistently the best.
Download the app. Check before you fill up. Claim the offer. Get your cashback.
Your wallet will thank you.
This article is based on publicly available information about Upside (formerly GasBuddy's Pay with GasBuddy program), user reports, and current cashback rates. Cashback amounts vary by location, time, and station participation. Always check the app for current offers before filling up.