Head-to-head comparison
WorthThePump vs Waze Fuel Prices
Waze shows fuel prices while you navigate. WorthThePump calculates whether stopping at a cheap station mid-journey actually saves money for your car.
Quick comparison
| Feature | WorthThePump | Waze Fuel Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drivers who want to know if a cheaper station is worth the detour | Drivers in the US or major urban areas who already use Waze for navigation and want a quick glance at nearby prices without switching apps |
| Price | Free — no account required | Free |
| Data source | UK Government Fuel Finder API (hourly) | Integrated directly into navigation |
| 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 Waze Fuel Prices?
Waze is a community-driven navigation app owned by Google that displays nearby fuel prices as part of its driving interface. Users can report pump prices in real time, and the app surfaces nearby station prices while navigating. While this integration is convenient for drivers who already use Waze for directions, the fuel price feature is community-reported, varies significantly in accuracy and freshness outside major US cities, and does not calculate whether stopping at a cheaper station actually saves money after accounting for the detour.
Best for: Drivers in the US or major urban areas who already use Waze for navigation and want a quick glance at nearby prices without switching apps.
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 Waze Fuel Prices wins
- Integrated directly into navigation — no need to switch apps while driving
- Real-time community-reported prices in active markets
- Large global user base providing frequent price updates in busy areas
- Shows station on route, reducing detour distance
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
Waze Fuel Prices limitations
- Does not show whether the detour to a cheaper station is worth it for your car
- Community-reported UK prices are often stale or missing entirely
- No MPG calculation — price shown, not net saving
- No DVLA vehicle lookup
- US-centric data quality — UK coverage is patchy compared to PetrolPrices.com
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 Waze if you're navigating and want a rough indicator of nearby prices without leaving the app — especially in the US. Choose WorthThePump if you're in the UK and want accurate live prices from the official Government Fuel Finder API, plus a calculation that tells you whether diverting to that station will genuinely save money given your car's MPG.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WorthThePump and Waze Fuel Prices?
Choose Waze if you're navigating and want a rough indicator of nearby prices without leaving the app — especially in the US. Choose WorthThePump if you're in the UK and want accurate live prices from the official Government Fuel Finder API, plus a calculation that tells you whether diverting to that station will genuinely save money given your car's MPG.
How much does Waze Fuel Prices cost?
Free. Waze is ad-supported. No subscription required for fuel price features.
Are Waze fuel prices accurate in the UK?
Waze UK fuel price accuracy is inconsistent. Because the feature relies on community reports, prices in less active areas can be hours or days out of date. WorthThePump uses the UK Government Fuel Finder API, which is updated by station operators and refreshed hourly.
Does Waze calculate fuel savings for my specific car?
No. Waze shows a price per litre but does not factor in your car's MPG, your fill amount, or the extra fuel burned on a detour. WorthThePump uses your registration number to look up your vehicle via the DVLA and derive an accurate real-world MPG for the calculation.
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