Drivers often waste time and money by not knowing where the cheapest gas is nearby. Frequent commuters, rideshare drivers, and budget-conscious consumers could benefit from real-time, easily accessible price information without needing to open a full app.

A Smarter Way to Track Gas Prices

One approach could be a smartphone widget that continuously monitors gas prices within a user-defined radius. Instead of requiring users to open an app, the widget would display the cheapest available options at a glance. Key features might include:

• Real-time price updates from nearby stations
• Customizable search radius and fuel type filters
• Integration with navigation apps for instant directions
• Optional alerts when prices drop below a set threshold

Why This Could Work Better Than Existing Options

While apps like GasBuddy and Waze already provide gas price information, they require opening the full application. A dedicated widget could offer faster access to the same data. Gas stations might participate because being listed as the cheapest option could drive more customers to their location, potentially offsetting lower margins with higher volume.

Getting Started

A simple version could begin by:

1. Partnering with one gas price API for basic data
2. Creating an Android widget with default settings
3. Testing in a limited geographic area

From there, additional features like price alerts and iOS compatibility could be added based on user feedback.

For frequent drivers, even small savings per gallon could add up significantly over time, making this potentially valuable while requiring relatively simple technology to implement.