Head-to-head comparison
WorthThePump vs PetrolPrices.com
PetrolPrices.com shows you the cheapest price nearby. WorthThePump tells you whether driving there actually saves you money after factoring in your car and the detour.
Quick comparison
| Feature | WorthThePump | PetrolPrices.com |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drivers who want to know if a cheaper station is worth the detour | Drivers who want a quick overview of the cheapest station prices nearby without needing vehicle-specific calculations |
| Price | Free — no account required | Free to use on web and app |
| Data source | UK Government Fuel Finder API (hourly) | Largest UK station database |
| Vehicle-specific calc | DVLA lookup + MPG derivation | Not available |
| Net saving shown | £ saved or lost per fill | Price per litre only |
| DVLA integration | Enter reg, vehicle confirmed | Not available |
What is PetrolPrices.com?
PetrolPrices.com is the UK's largest independent petrol price comparison service, with a database of over 8,000 stations updated by community members and direct feeds. It lets drivers search for the cheapest petrol or diesel near them via web or mobile app, view price history charts, and set up email alerts when local prices drop. The platform has been running since 2004 and is widely cited in the press as the go-to source for UK pump prices. It covers petrol, diesel, E10, and premium fuels across all major and independent retailers.
Best for: Drivers who want a quick overview of the cheapest station prices nearby without needing vehicle-specific calculations. Good for manually comparing prices before a fill-up.
What is WorthThePump?
WorthThePump is a free UK fuel saving calculator. Enter your number plate, confirm your vehicle, and WorthThePump fetches live prices from every nearby station — then tells you exactly how much you'll save (or lose) by driving to each one, after accounting for the detour fuel cost.
Best for: Drivers who want to know whether a cheaper station is genuinely worth the trip — not just the cheapest price, but the actual net saving for their specific car.
Where PetrolPrices.com wins
- Largest UK station database — 8,000+ stations with community-verified prices
- Price history charts — see trends over weeks and months
- Mobile app for iOS and Android with map view
- No registration required for basic searches
- Covers premium fuels, E10, and AdBlue alongside standard petrol/diesel
Where WorthThePump wins
- Calculates whether the detour is actually worth it — not just the price
- DVLA registration lookup — no need to know your MPG
- Real-world MPG derivation from official VCA data with test penalty applied
- Live prices from UK Government Fuel Finder API — all major UK retailers
- Net saving in £ shown per station — green pins mean worth it, red means false economy
- Completely free — no account, no registration
PetrolPrices.com limitations
- Does not show whether the detour to a cheaper station is actually worth it
- No vehicle-specific saving calculation — shows price only, not net saving
- No DVLA registration lookup — you must know your car's MPG manually
- Community-reported prices can be out of date by hours or days
- Cheapest price shown may be further away, making it a false economy for many drivers
WorthThePump limitations
- UK only — uses the UK Government Fuel Finder API which covers Great Britain only
- Requires browser geolocation to find nearby stations
- MPG estimate is derived, not measured — can be overridden manually but defaults to official figures
- Does not show price history — current prices only
The verdict
Choose PetrolPrices.com if you simply want to browse raw pump prices across many stations and don't mind doing the detour maths yourself. Choose WorthThePump if you want to know instantly — for your specific car — whether driving to that cheaper station will actually put money back in your pocket or cost you more in fuel burned getting there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WorthThePump and PetrolPrices.com?
Choose PetrolPrices.com if you simply want to browse raw pump prices across many stations and don't mind doing the detour maths yourself. Choose WorthThePump if you want to know instantly — for your specific car — whether driving to that cheaper station will actually put money back in your pocket or cost you more in fuel burned getting there.
How much does PetrolPrices.com cost?
Free to use on web and app. A premium membership (approx. £1.99/month) removes adverts and unlocks additional filtering. No per-search fees.
Does PetrolPrices.com show how much I'll actually save?
No. PetrolPrices.com shows the price per litre at nearby stations but does not calculate whether the detour fuel cost makes it a saving or a false economy. WorthThePump factors in your car's MPG, your fill amount, and the detour distance to show a net saving (or loss) in pounds.
Which app has more up-to-date fuel prices — PetrolPrices or WorthThePump?
Both use UK Government Fuel Finder API data. WorthThePump refreshes its station database every hour automatically via a cron job. PetrolPrices.com combines direct feeds with community-reported prices, which can vary in freshness.
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