Should you build a product in this niche? An answer from the numbers: search demand, competitors, napkin economics and what to build first.
Updated · How TGGET measures a niche
Verdict · confidence: medium
The 'gas price app' niche shows high initial demand but a strong declining trend (-64% YoY) and a crowded App Store dominated by giants like Waze and Upside. Search SERPs are closed with no weak entries, and CPC is high ($5.23). The verdict is 'maybe' because while user pain points (inaccuracy, bugs) exist, the market is shrinking and entry is difficult. Success requires a highly specialized angle (e.g., forecasting or hyper-local accuracy) rather than a generic competitor.
| Factor | Value | Level | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand | 18,100 searches a month | high | +1 |
| Change over a year | -64% over a year | declining | -1 |
| App store | 18 of 39 apps with 10,000+ ratings, median 1,511 ratings | held by large apps | -1 |
| Search results | 0 of 3 checked search results are weak, 0 strong | taken | -1 |
| Paid traffic | $5.23 a click, people pay in this niche | medium | 0 |
Sum of scores: -2. The verdict is computed by rules from the numbers of the research; its explanation is written by the model.
Source: TGGET, researched on 27 September 2026.
Entry point: None of the checked phrases has weak search results.
Positioning
A hyper-accurate, ad-free gas price locator and predictor that eliminates the frustration of outdated data and complex cash-back schemes found in competitors.
For whom: Price-sensitive drivers, road trippers, and fleet managers who prioritize data accuracy over gamification or cash-back complexity.
Main job: Find the cheapest, most reliable gas price nearby instantly without navigating bugs or verifying if the price is real.
Platform
IOS+ANDROID
Monetization: Freemium with optional premium features or non-intrusive ads · Top competitors are free; paid apps are 0 in App Store. Users are price-sensitive ('cheap', 'free' phrases).
1App shows wrong location or outdated prices, leading to wasted time and money. strong
Evidence: 12 complaints from reviews; users cite 'misdirection', 'different city', and 'price is higher' than app.
What the product does: Verified, real-time price updates with user reporting mechanisms for immediate correction.
2Complex cash-back processes and unclear terms make savings unpredictable. medium
Evidence: Complaints about 'unclear' offers and 'scam' feelings regarding Upside and Fuel Rewards.
What the product does: Simple, transparent price display without mandatory receipt uploads or complex loyalty loops.
3App is buggy, laggy, or breaks after updates. medium
Evidence: Multiple 1-star reviews for Waze citing 'broken laggy app' and 'blank screen'.
What the product does: Lightweight, stable core functionality focused solely on price and location.
| Feature | Pain | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time gas price map with verification badge | №1 | must | Directly addresses the 'accuracy' pain point from 12 complaints about wrong prices. |
| Nearest station finder with distance sorting | №1 | must | Solves the 'misdirection' and 'wrong city' complaints from Waze users. |
| Simple price history chart for local stations | — | should | Addresses the informational need for 'price forecast' and 'trend' from clusters. |
| No-login quick search | №2 | should | Reduces friction compared to Upside's complex account/receipt requirements. |
| Competitor | Type | Pricing | App | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wkfcu.org Willis Knighton Federal Credit Union - Credit Union - Shreveport - Bossier City | SaaS | no | yes | — |
| cluballiance.aaa.com AAA Membership, Roadside Assistance, Insurance, Travel & More | AAA Club Alliance | SaaS | yes | yes | — |
| Waze Navigation & Live Traffic waze | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 3,192,114 |
| Upside: Gas & Food Cash Back Upside Services Inc. | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 683,634 |
| Fuel Rewards® program Excentus Corp. | App Store | free | yes | 4.7 · 682,530 |
| Murphy Drive Rewards Murphy USA Inc | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 534,570 |
| 7-Eleven: Rewards & Shopping 7-Eleven, Inc. | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 466,615 |
Price
Free with optional $2.99/mo premium for ad-free and advanced forecasting
Competitors are free; paid apps count is 0 in app_store data.
Does it add up
Negative initially; requires organic growth or viral loops to break even due to high CPC.
Customer acquisition cost
Estimated $15-25 per install assuming 5% conversion from paid search ($5.23 CPC / 0.05 conversion rate)
Paid search: CPC $5.23 · bids $1.04–$5.21 · competition: Low
Revenue per customer
Estimated $10-15 LTV assuming 3-month retention and ad revenue or small subscription
Assumptions to validate:
Commercial · 30 · 67,710
cheap gas price app (22,200) · cheapest gas price app (22,200) · gas price app (18,100) · gas price locator app (3,600) · gas price finder app (480) · gas price app free (210)
Comparisons · 10 · 2,050
gas price comparison app (1,000) · best gas price app (880) · best android gas price app (40) · best gas price app for iphone (30) · best free gas price app (30) · best gas price finder app (20)
home · Core
title: Gas Price App - Find Cheap Gas Nearby (37)
H1: Find the Cheapest Gas Prices Near You
description: Real-time gas price locator app. Find cheap gas, track trends, and save money on fuel with accurate, verified prices. (117)
gas price app · gas price locator app · gas price finder app · cheap gas price app · cheapest gas price app
Competitors are strong; focus on 'accurate' and 'verified' keywords.
comparison · Comparisons
title: Best Gas Price Apps 2026 - Comparison (37)
H1: Best Gas Price Apps: Waze vs Upside vs Us
description: Compare the best gas price apps. See why our app offers better accuracy and no hidden fees compared to Waze and Upside. (119)
best gas price app · best gas price app for iphone · best free gas price app · gas price comparison app
Target comparison queries to capture users dissatisfied with incumbents.
faq · Informational
title: Gas Price App FAQ (17)
H1: Frequently Asked Questions
description: How does our gas price app work? Is it free? How accurate are the prices? (73)
gas price app free · gas price check app · gas price checker app
Answer common doubts about accuracy and cost.
| Topic | Format | When | Phrases |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Save Money on Gas in 2026 | article | March | cheap gas price app · gas price trends |
| Why Gas Prices Spike in Summer | article | June | gas price forecast · gas price cycle |
Yes, our gas price locator app is completely free to use. We make money through optional premium features and non-intrusive ads.
We verify prices through a combination of station feeds and community reporting. If a price is outdated, users can flag it for instant correction.
Yes, our app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
Name: Gas Price Finder (16/30)
Subtitle: Find Cheap Gas Nearby (21/30)
Keywords: gas price,fuel,cheap gas,gas station,locator,map,savings,tracker,forecast,nearest (81/100)
Category: Navigation
Promotional text: Find the cheapest gas near you with real-time, verified prices. No ads, no hassle.
Screenshots:
Name: Gas Price Finder (16/30)
Short description: Find cheap gas nearby with real-time prices. Accurate, fast, and free. (70/80)
Key phrases: gas price, cheap gas, gas station, fuel tracker, gas locator, gas savings, gas map, gas forecast, gas checker, gas finder, gas price app, gas price app free
Find the cheapest gas near you instantly. Our Gas Price Finder app provides real-time, verified gas prices from stations near you. Unlike Waze or Upside, we focus solely on accurate price data without complex cash-back schemes or buggy navigation. Track price trends, forecast cycles, and save money on every fill-up. Available for Android and iOS.
The research has no Google Play data: recommendations rely on queries and the App Store.
Benchmarks: 4.5+ (targeting higher than Waze's 4.8 but with fewer complaints) · 100+ (initial goal to establish social proof) · Localizations: en
| Name | .com | .app | App Store | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GasLoc gasloc | taken | free | free | Short, memorable, combines 'Gas' and 'Location'. |
| FuelFind fuelfind | taken | taken | similar exists | Clear value proposition: finding fuel. |
| GasPrice gasprice | taken | taken | similar exists | Direct keyword match, high relevance. |
| CheapGas cheapgas | taken | — | free | Targets high-intent 'cheap gas' queries. |
| GasMap gasmap | — | — | free | Describes the core map functionality. |
Domains checked via RDAP, names via the App Store. Check trademarks before registering.
Find the Cheapest Gas Near You
Real-time, verified gas prices. No ads, no bugs, just savings.
Yes, the core app is free. We offer an optional premium tier for advanced forecasting.
We use a combination of station feeds and community verification to ensure prices are up-to-date.
| Channel | What the data supports | First step | Effort | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEO for Long-Tail Keywords Organic search | Commercial clusters have low competition scores for specific phrases like 'gas price locator app' (score 6.4). | Create landing pages for 'gas price locator app' and 'gas price finder app'. | medium | now |
| App Store Optimization App stores | High competition in App Store requires strong keywords and screenshots to stand out. | Optimize title and subtitle with 'gas price' and 'cheap gas'. | medium | now |
| Reddit and Forums Communities | Users discuss gas price frustrations on HackerNews and Reddit; direct engagement builds trust. | Post in r/driving and r/personalfinance about saving on gas. | low | at launch |
| Google Ads Paid traffic | CPC is $5.23, which is high. Only use if LTV is proven. | Test 'gas price app free' keyword with low budget. | high | later |
Metrics:
Interview questions:
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Data accuracy maintenance is costly and difficult. | Use community reporting and partner with a few major chains initially. |
| High CPC makes paid acquisition unprofitable. | Focus on organic SEO and viral loops (share savings). |
| Market demand is declining. | Expand to other fuel types (electric charging, diesel) or regions. |
| Giants like Waze and Upside may copy features. | Build a niche community and focus on pure utility without bloat. |
The report was written by a language model from the collected research data and may be inaccurate; each recommendation cites its source, verify it against the raw data. Generated 2026-09-27T18:12:16+00:00.
Data: search demand, search results, the App Store, public-interest and developer community signals. The verdict is computed by rules from these numbers; the explanation and the plan are written by a language model. Both are evidence to check, not a promise.
There is demand, but not everything is in its favour. TGGET scored “gas price app” -2 on a scale from -6 to +5. In its favour: demand is high. Against it: interest is falling, the app stores are crowded with large apps, search results are held by strong sites. The verdict is “Needs validation”.
TGGET measured 18,100 monthly searches for “gas price app” in the United States in September 2026. Search interest fell by 64% over a year.
0 of 3 checked search results are weak and 0 are strong. 39 competing apps were found in the App Store; 18 of them have more than 10,000 ratings, and the median app has 1,511 ratings.
A click in paid search costs about $5.23, and competitors in this niche charge for their products.
None of the phrases TGGET checked has weak search results, so there is no easy way in through search.
TGGET computes the verdict by rules from five measured factors: demand, its change over a year, competition in the app stores, the strength of the search results and the cost of paid traffic. Each factor adds or takes away points and the sum decides, so the same numbers always give the same answer. A language model writes the explanation and the plan; it does not choose the verdict.
Three full researches are free: demand, sub-niches, competitors, App Store and community signals, and a report like this one. Type a phrase or describe the idea in your own words.
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