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Recommendations on GasBuddy replacement? (lemmy.today)

submitted 5 days ago by unitedwithme@lemmy.today to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Title. I've used forever, suspected they're not great, but recently saw just how awful they truly are having partnered with Allstate and their data hoarding practices. The app hasn't been granted permissions but that doesn't stop them into uninstalled.

I need another foss or crowd-sourced fuel price app. A couple mentioned in online articles I can't find shit on like Fuelmap, Stationpass, etc. Nothing in F-Droid but auto mando? Doesn't quite fill the need.

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[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm genuinely curious why people actually use it. Is it worth it for like $5 in savings on a fill, if that?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 2 points 4 days ago

For the Chicagoland area, premium us generally $1-1.20/gallon more. Sometimes GB or the station itself would run a deal of $.25/gal off using the app. When I fill my 19.5gal tank, it's easily saving $5 fill up, or about $20/mo or $280-300/yr.

At least it's somewhat benefiting me by selling my data where usually there's no perk at all. But when I learned just how bad, I'm definitely done. Basically you have no rights to your data, indefinitely, whether you're a customer or not. And the Allstate partnership is a big no from me.

[–] jello@programming.dev 6 points 5 days ago

I haven't been able to find one. As a workaround I use gasbuddy in a browser with ad blocking. I get information from them and they get nothing from me.

Would be ideal if there were a better replacement, but it would be hard to get a solid userbase.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 5 points 5 days ago

I use the gasbuddy web site now and then. I've refused to install the app just like I refuse any app like that. The web site is a pain but you can use it with some persistence. It's surely invasive too, and it's probably best to access it through a VPN, but it can't be as bad as the app sounds.

[–] dennajort@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Not sure where you live, but I know some governments require gas stations to report prices so you might check that if that applies to you.

I am in Quebec and we started to have that since April 2026

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

never heard of it before, that'd be so good to have worldwide

[–] ReverendIrreverence@piefed.social 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

So... if I am on LineageOS, rooted, with adaway running am I as "safe" from GasBuddy's BS as if I am accessing them through a browser with ad blocking?

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 2 points 5 days ago

Not sure, for GasBuddy still work even though you don't have any Google Services? I know Hushed, Traccar, and 1 other I forget, won't work, so I doubt GB would work without at least MicroG.

You could maybe make a separate profile in that phone with microG so you at least could test?? I don't know of Adblock would be enough, I'd be more worried about port scanning or invisible trackers.

[+] Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca -10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

I use my eyeballs while I'm driving past gas stations. it's never failed to let me know how much gas is.

actually, not tire. it's failed me a few times, but only when the cheap gas is sold out and they sell the high octane stuff for the cheap stuffs cost to empty the tanks.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 14 points 5 days ago (2 children)

You drive around in circles inspecting all your local gas stations? That seems silly.

Sometimes things just aren't for you, and that's okay. If you're not looking to optimize your spending on gas, then this app or concept isn't for you.

I know I personally don't use it. I don't drive much, so the extra $2 a month from unoptimized gas purchasing isn't worth thinking about.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

same, I used it for a few months, but I realized I was just saving a few dimes on every purchase, so it was barely worth the hassle. Instead I just rotate brands and dollar cost average fuel (i.e. spend the same $ amount every time instead of filling it up).

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah I do about a tank a week and use premium (US 92-93 octane), so it matters as it's a lot more expensive than other areas. I've noticed around Chicago, premium goes for $1-1.20 more per gallon, but if I travel to other areas like Indianapolis, St Louis, etc, its only maybe $.50 more (though it's been a while since I've been in Indy).

Anyway, with a 19gal tank, that's a big amount over time. If I save $.25/gal, that might only be $5/fill up, but in a month it's $20+. I also seek the better 93 octane since technically 91-while "premium" doesn't give me as good of mileage or power either.

[–] whatiswrongwithyou@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I drive a little more than that a month and tbh I’d pay $20 to not have to worry about the calculus of what distance and time would save me an acceptable amount of money with minimal inconvenience.

I can’t speak for you or your budget, but worrying less was worth it for me.

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I gotcha. Over the life of using the app, it's saved me damn near 500, and that's odd I tracked it through the app which I didn't always do.

I take premium though, so when prices shot up above $6.30/gal, it was nice to see who hadn't jumped yet and save a little. Being that it went from ~$4 to $6.20-6.30, an extra $40/week in gas was killing me. That's over $150/mo and, honestly, money is tight with everything else bring high, so. Just feels good to not feel like it's money wasted. I know it's not much, but it males up for times I'm not so stingy with money.

[–] whatiswrongwithyou@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

Yeah I use e free so there’s a an even narrower range of places to go.

The answer is unfortunately: spend more of your time looking for deals.

You’ll probably have to go back to looking at either their website or one of the other websites before you get to running and plan your day based at least in part on that.