Compare the top Shell fleet card alternatives for 2025

Shell offers business fleet cards that pair per-gallon savings with spending controls and basic reporting. Companies use these cards to track fuel by driver or vehicle, set purchasing rules, and make billing easier across their fleets.

Whether another program is a better fit comes down to how your fleet operates. When you compare Shell fleet card alternatives, focus on practical factors that drive total cost and day-to-day usability. This includes network coverage along your actual routes, fee structure beyond headline rebates, discount mechanics (fixed vs. tiered), the depth of spend controls, and more.

Here are Shell fuel card alternatives to consider in 2025, starting with the Ramp, followed by WEX, Coast, Fuelman, and Comdata, so you can match each option's strengths to your routes, vehicle mix, and budget.

How Shell's fleet card works

Fleet cards are commercial payment tools that help businesses manage vehicle expenses. They route fuel and approved maintenance purchases through a program that enforces rules (like fuel-only spend or dollar limits), captures detailed transaction data (driver, location, tax, fuel type), and provides reports for reconciliation.

Shell's business cards follow this model: they offer ongoing, per-gallon savings at Shell stations (up to 6¢/gal based on billing-cycle volume), acceptance at 12,000+ Shell locations and participating Jiffy Lube sites.

Their current features include automated fuel accounting, real-time expense views, downloadable reports, a web portal and mobile app for card management, 24/7 support, and the option to pay in full or pay over time.

For fleets that routinely fuel at Shell, these features can make oversight easier and centralize fuel and basic maintenance activity. But for small businesses that want a top-rated fleet card with more controls and savings, here's what to look for in fuel card alternatives.

What to look for if you're comparing Shell with alternatives

1. Coverage model vs. your routes

Start with where your vehicles actually fuel. Brand-centric programs like Shell concentrate savings and controls at their own stations, which can work well if your routes regularly pass Shell locations or if Jiffy Lube maintenance discounts matter.

If your footprint spans many brands or regions with limited Shell presence, a universal or dual-network card may reduce detours. A quick test is to list your top 20 stations over the last 60 days and check how many are in a given program's accepted network.

2. Net economics and pricing transparency

Look at your "all-in" cost, not just the headline rebate. For Shell, factor ongoing rebates of up to 6¢/gal at Shell stations, then layer in any monthly, per-card, or transaction fees from whichever program you're looking at.

Consider whether you'll reliably fuel at participating locations often enough to realize the published savings and whether ancillary benefits offset maintenance costs you actually incur. Run a sample month using your real gallons, stations, and transactions to compare net price per gallon across options.

3. Controls, data, and workflow fit

The right card should enforce policy at the pump and keep your books clean with minimal manual work. Shell provides expense details, automated fuel accounting, and downloadable reports.

When comparing programs, verify the specific controls you need (fuel-only, product and category restrictions, dollar or gallon caps, time-of-day or location rules), the detail level of the data you'll get back (driver, vehicle, tax fields), and how easily that data moves into your accounting or fleet tools.

Ultimately, the best fleet fuel card should match your team's processes today so savings show up both at the pump and in month-end close.

5 of the best Shell fleet card alternatives

1. Ramp business credit card

Ramp is a corporate charge card with built-in spend management that you can set up for fleet use without a personal guarantee. Cards work anywhere Visa is accepted, so drivers aren't boxed into a closed network.

Finance teams can lock cards to fuel-only, set real-time policy alerts, and auto-match receipts to transactions. Fleet reporting lets you analyze costs by truck, driver, or date and capture odometer and VIN data for deeper visibility. Many businesses see average savings of about 5¢ per gallon, alongside broader time and cost savings from automation.

Ramp also integrates with popular accounting platforms, has no annual or foreign transaction fees, and charges no interest.

Pros

• Flat cashback on all purchases, including fuel
• Fuel-only controls, real-time alerts, and automated receipt matching
• Reporting by truck/driver/date with odometer & VIN capture
• No annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, no interest, and no personal guarantee
• Universal acceptance anywhere Visa is accepted

Cons

• Requires a $25,000 minimum U.S. business bank balance
• Not available to sole proprietors
• Charge card structure: balance must be paid in full monthly

2. Fuelman

Fuelman focuses on flexibility, control, and visibility. Businesses can earn fuel rebates across the Fuelman Network, including up to 8¢/gal at 40,000+ Discount Network locations. Plans come in Basic, Pro, and Enterprise tiers so teams can choose the level of controls, analytics, and maintenance management they need.

Reporting covers driver- and vehicle-level views along with detailed fuel and tax reporting to speed reconciliation, and admins can set up customizable fuel controls, driver profiles, and real-time fraud or misuse alerts.

Pros

• Rebates on the Fuelman Network. 8¢/gal at 40,000+ Discount Network locations
• Driver- and vehicle-level reporting, including detailed fuel and tax data
• Customizable controls, profiles, and real-time alerts

Cons

• Monthly plan fees add fixed costs. Maintenance may be an add-on in lower tiers
• Realized savings depend on using participating Discount Network locations
• Broader acceptance and benefits can vary by setup and require careful configuration

3. Comdata

Comdata is geared toward fleets that rely on commercial fueling. Coverage concentrates along major trucking routes and transportation hubs, including access to more than 8,000 truck stops. Discounts are volume-based, with savings up to $0.08 per gallon at partner truck stops and commercial sites.

The platform also supports detailed card controls with real-time purchase authorization to curb misuse, and FleetAdvance gives drivers and managers more visibility into price opportunities and spend.

Pros

• Strong commercial network along primary freight corridors
• Highly specific authorization parameters and card controls
• Ongoing, volume-tied fuel discounts at preferred locations

Cons

• Spend management and visibility tools can be lighter than some competitors
• Reporting depth may be limited for complex reconciliation needs

4. WEX

WEX provides broad U.S. coverage (about 95% of gas stations and 180,000+ locations) paired with purchase controls and real-time monitoring. Potential savings include up to 15¢/gal through its nationwide savings network and up to 3¢/gal elsewhere (subject to program terms and participation).

Admins can require driver PINs, set limits by amount, time of day, or product, and monitor transactions instantly. Fuel accounting and detailed transaction capture streamline reconciliation, and the mobile app helps managers look up PINs and spot potential misuse.

Pros

• ~95% station acceptance and 180,000+ locations
• Published savings up to 15¢/gal in-network and up to 3¢/gal elsewhere
• Robust spend controls with real-time monitoring
• Automated accounting and detailed transaction data

Cons

• Actual savings vary by program terms and network participation
• Paying in full monthly is encouraged to maximize savings

5. Coast

Coast is a software-forward program on the Visa network, aiming for broad retail acceptance with modern controls. Admins can issue physical or virtual cards, set merchant and category rules, and act on real-time alerts. Reporting emphasizes clean dashboards and automated exports, with integrations focused on common small-business stacks.

Pricing and incentives vary by plan and usage and are positioned for transparency. Small teams that want fast rollout, clear controls, and wide acceptance without heavyweight complexity.

Pros

• Broad retail acceptance via the Visa network
• Merchant/category rules and real-time alerts
• Clean dashboards with automated exports

Cons

• Savings depend on plan incentives and merchant participation
• Feature depth for heavy-duty/enterprise needs can be lighter than specialized providers
• Broad acceptance may require tighter controls to limit non-fuel spending

Fleet size suitability: Which card fits your business?

Small fleets (1–10 vehicles)

If you want minimal friction and broad station choice, start with Ramp (universal Visa acceptance plus tight controls) or Coast (modern admin and fast rollout). Choose Shell only if your regular routes already favor Shell locations, and Fuelman if the Discount Network closely matches where you fuel today.

Mid-sized fleets (11–50)

As volume grows, controls and reporting matter more. WEX and Ramp tend to hit the balance of coverage and oversight, while Fuelman can work well when most fueling is in-network. Comdata becomes compelling for trucking-heavy mixes that rely on commercial sites. Shell remains viable in Shell-dense regions.

Enterprise fleets (51+)

For complex routing and multiple vehicle types, look first at WEX and Comdata for scale, coverage, and enterprise controls. Shell fits where your footprint is already rich with Shell stations or you've chosen a tier that broadens acceptance.

Key takeaways

Bottom line: Begin with your routes and pick a program that covers the stations your drivers already use. Then calculate the true price you'll pay by modeling all fees and the discounts you'll actually earn. Choose a card that enforces policy at the pump and returns clean data to your systems so reconciliation stays light.

Before you switch, run a short pilot to confirm station coverage, test controls and alerts in real time, and verify that transaction data lands correctly in accounting. Close by choosing clear contract terms and responsive support so the program keeps pace as your fleet scales.

Manage fleet fuel and expenses with Ramp

Many businesses don't overspend because of higher mileage—they overspend because they lack visibility into purchases. The Ramp business credit card addresses this by combining everyday corporate spend management with fleet-friendly oversight. Accepted anywhere Visa is, it comes with no foreign transaction fees and requires a minimum $25,000 balance in a U.S. business bank account. On average, companies see around 5¢ per gallon in savings, with the ability to track fuel data down to odometer readings, VIN numbers, and driver- or vehicle-level reports.

For fleets with several vehicles or monthly fuel costs above $1,000, Ramp delivers the control and transparency that traditional fuel cards often lack—reducing waste and showing exactly where every dollar goes.

Explore how the Ramp business credit card can function as a smarter fleet card for controlling fuel and vehicle expenses.

Information about third-party card providers is based on publicly available sources and may change over time. Details have not been independently verified or endorsed by the providers themselves.