Every major gas brand has a loyalty program now, and they all promise to save you money at the pump. But some of them are genuinely great and others are barely worth the effort of signing up. I went through all the major programs to figure out which ones actually put money back in your pocket and which ones are mostly marketing.
Here’s how they all stack up, ranked from best to worst.
1. Costco (+ Costco Visa Card) – Best Overall Value
How it works: Costco doesn’t have a traditional loyalty program for gas. They just charge less. Typically 10-30 cents below surrounding stations, sometimes more. Add the Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi and you get 4% cashback on Costco gas on top of the already-low price.
What you actually save: At 25 cents below average + 12 cents back from the Visa card (at $3/gallon), you’re looking at roughly 37 cents per gallon in total savings. That’s more than any brand loyalty program can match.
The catch: You need a Costco membership ($65/year), lines can be long during peak hours, and not every Costco has a gas station. Also no Mastercard or Amex accepted – Visa and debit only. We did a full breakdown of Costco gas vs the big brands if you want the details.
Best for: Anyone who already has or would get a Costco membership. The savings are unmatched.
2. Shell Fuel Rewards – Best Traditional Loyalty Program
How it works: Free tier-based system. Every fill-up at Shell earns you status and guaranteed per-gallon discounts:
Silver – 3 cents off per gallon (base level, everyone gets this)
Gold – 5 cents off per gallon (6 fill-ups of 10+ gallons in 3 months, or free for first 6 months)
Platinum – 10 cents off per gallon (12 fill-ups in 3 months, or 6 V-Power fill-ups)
All savings stack with partner rewards from AAA (extra 5-10 cents off during promotions), T-Mobile Tuesdays, AARP (complimentary Gold status), and American Airlines. A Platinum member with AAA could realistically save 15-20 cents per gallon on promotional days.
What you actually save: Most regular users will sit at Gold status, saving 5 cents per gallon consistently. Heavy users can hit Platinum for 10 cents. With partner stacking, 15+ cents is doable.
The catch: Shell tends to price their gas a few cents higher than competitors in most markets. So some of your “savings” are just offsetting the higher base price. Still, net-net, you come out ahead vs paying full price at Shell or filling up at a non-Top Tier station.
Best for: Drivers who fill up at Shell regularly and want predictable, automatic savings without thinking about points. The partner integrations (especially AAA and AARP) make it the most stackable program out there.
Full details in our Shell Gas Stations guide.
3. Chevron Texaco Rewards – Best Sign-Up Bonus
How it works: Points-based system at Chevron and Texaco stations. Earn 5 points per gallon, redeemable for up to 50 cents off per gallon on future fill-ups. Works at both Chevron and Texaco – same program, same points.
The headline feature is the welcome offer: 25 cents off per gallon on your first 5 fill-ups after completing registration. On a 15-gallon tank, thats $3.75 saved per visit, or $18.75 across all 5 visits. That’s hard to beat as a sign-up incentive.
The Techron Advantage Visa (no annual fee) adds 62 cents off per gallon for the first 30 days, then 3 cents off ongoing. Plus up to 10 cents extra in statement credits when you spend at non-fuel merchants.
What you actually save: After the welcome bonus expires, ongoing savings depend on how you use the points system. For a typical driver, expect around 3-7 cents per gallon in ongoing savings. The credit card pushes that higher.
The catch: The points system is less intuitive than Shell’s flat per-gallon discount. You have to accumulate enough points to redeem, and there’s a 6-month inactivity expiration on points. Also, the program is still expanding – not every Chevron/Texaco station participates yet, though most do.
Best for: New users who want a big immediate payoff. That 25 cent x 5 visit welcome bonus is the best in the industry right now. Also great if you’re on the West Coast where Chevron is everywhere.
Full details in our Chevron Gas Stations guide.
4. ExxonMobil Rewards+ (with Walmart+) – Best If You’re Already a Walmart Shopper
How it works: ExxonMobil Rewards+ is a free points-based loyalty program. You earn points on fuel and in-store purchases, redeemable for dollars off. Make 3 qualifying purchases in a month and you earn “Premium Status” for extra points.
But the real story is the Walmart+ integration. If you have Walmart+ ($98/year or $12.95/month), you get an instant 10 cents off per gallon at nearly 12,000 Exxon and Mobil stations. No points, no tiers, no app required beyond the Walmart app. Just show up, pay through the Walmart app, and the discount applies.
AARP members can also link their membership for a 500-point bonus and extra earnings.
What you actually save: Without Walmart+, the standalone rewards program saves you maybe 2-4 cents per gallon equivalent through points – honestly one of the weakest standalone programs. With Walmart+, you’re saving a flat 10 cents per gallon every time, which is competitve with Shell’s Platinum tier but much easier to qualify for.
The catch: The standalone program is confusing compared to Shell or Chevron. The app has mixed reviews – people complain it logs them out randomly and doesn’t always connect to the pump. Without Walmart+, this program is kind of mediocre. With Walmart+, it’s excellent.
Best for: Walmart+ subscribers, full stop. If you already pay for Walmart+ for grocery delivery and shipping, the fuel discount is essentially free. If you don’t use Walmart, look at Shell or Chevron instead.
Full details in our ExxonMobil Gas Stations guide.
5. BPme Rewards – Best App Experience
How it works: BP’s program runs through the BPme app. New users save 5 cents per gallon the first month. After that, you earn 1 point per gallon on regular fuel and 2 points per gallon on premium, redeemable for fuel discounts and gift cards.
The standout feature is the in-app payment. You can pay for gas directly through your phone without touching the pump keypad – enter your pump number, approve payment, fuel up. It’s the slickest mobile payment experience among the gas brands, which matters if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to touch those grimy pump buttons.
The BPme Rewards Visa (no annual fee) is actually quite competitive: 50 cents off per gallon for the first 60 days, then 15 cents off per gallon ongoing at BP and Amoco. Plus 3 points per dollar on dining and groceries. For a free card, thats a strong offering.
What you actually save: Without the credit card, ongoing savings from the points system are modest – roughly 2-3 cents per gallon. With the Visa card, you’re saving 15 cents per gallon ongoing, which actually makes BP’s card the most generous ongoing fuel credit card of the bunch.
The catch: BP has around 7,000 stations (including Amoco) – less than Shell or ExxonMobil. The rewards program without the credit card is underwhelming. And the BPme app, while good for payment, sometimes gets bogged down by connection issues.
Best for: People who like paying through their phone and are willing to get the BPme Visa. That 15 cents per gallon ongoing is quietly the best gas credit card deal available. Also worth it if BP or Amoco is your most convenient station. We covered the full Shell vs Chevron comparison here if you’re deciding between those two instead.
Full details in our BP Gas Stations guide.
Don’t Forget: Grocery Fuel Programs
These aren’t gas brand programs, but they’re some of the best fuel savings available and most people underuse them:
Kroger Fuel Points – Earn 1 point per dollar spent on groceries, 2x on gift cards. Every 100 points = 10 cents off per gallon at Kroger fuel stations or participating Shell stations. Buy a $100 Amazon gift card at Kroger and you just earned 20 cents off per gallon. Heavy grocery spenders can stack discounts of $1+ off per gallon.
Safeway/Albertsons Rewards – Similar points system. Earn points on groceries and redeem for fuel discounts at participating stations.
HEB Fuel Points (Texas) – Points from grocery spending redeemable at HEB fuel stations.
These programs stack on top of whatever gas brand rewards you’re using, so you can combine Kroger points with Shell Fuel Rewards for double savings at participating Shell stations. That’s the real power move.
Quick Comparison Table
If you just want the tldr, here’s how they compare:
Biggest savings overall: Costco + Costco Visa (roughly 37 cents per gallon)
Best loyalty program: Shell Fuel Rewards (most structured, most stackable)
Best sign-up bonus: Chevron Texaco Rewards (25 cents off x 5 visits)
Best with Walmart+: ExxonMobil Rewards+ (10 cents off, no effort)
Best credit card: BPme Rewards Visa (15 cents off per gallon ongoing, no fee)
Best mobile payment: BPme app (pay from your phone at the pump)
Best for stacking: Shell Fuel Rewards + grocery points + AAA
My Actual Strategy
Since people ask – here’s what I personally do. I fill up at Costco whenever its convenient (which is most weeks). When Costco isn’t on my route, I use Shell because I’m enrolled in Fuel Rewards at Gold status and have AAA linked. I signed up for Chevron Texaco Rewards to grab the 25 cent welcome bonus, used it for 5 fill-ups, and haven’t been back since because there isn’t a Chevron near my usual routes.
Is this optimal? Probably not. But it saves me money without turning every gas stop into a research project, and thats good enough for me.
The worst thing you can do is use no program at all and just swipe your debit card at whatever station is closest. Even signing up for just one program – any of them – puts you ahead of most drivers.
Related Guides
- Costco Gas vs Shell, Chevron and BP – is cheap gas just as good?
- Shell vs Chevron – which gas station is actually better?
- Cheapest Gas Stations Near Me – 12 ways to pay less at the pump
- Gas Stations Near Me – complete guide
- Shell Gas Stations
- Chevron Gas Stations
- BP Gas Stations
- ExxonMobil Gas Stations
Last updated: July 2026