Motorbook vs PetrolPrices: Best UK Fuel Price App 2026
Both apps help UK drivers find cheaper petrol and diesel. PetrolPrices is the long-running, cross-platform specialist with a big community. Motorbook is an ad-free iPhone app that pairs official fuel prices with MOT, tax and service reminders. Here is a fair, sourced comparison of where each one is stronger.
TL;DR
PetrolPrices is the longer-established choice: it has helped UK drivers compare fuel since 2005, runs on iPhone, iPad and Android, and adds community price updates, station reviews, facility checks, partner offers and price alert emails. Motorbook is a newer iPhone app with no adverts and no account that shows UK government Fuel Finder prices from about 8,100 forecourts, dates every price and flags older ones, puts EV charge points on the same map and keeps fuel next to MOT, tax, insurance and service reminders. Pick PetrolPrices for Android, destination searches or community features, and pick Motorbook for an ad-free iPhone app that handles fuel and the rest of your car admin.
Disclosure: Motorbook publishes this page and is one of the two apps compared. Every PetrolPrices detail comes from PetrolPrices' own website, its app store listings or GOV.UK, listed in the sources at the end of this page. Where a detail is not published, the table says "Not stated" rather than guessing.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Motorbook | PetrolPrices |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone, iPad and Android, plus a website |
| Fuel price data source | UK government Fuel Finder, the statutory retailer feed | Fuel Finder (named by GOV.UK), retailer feeds and community updates |
| Station coverage | About 8,100 UK forecourts listed in Fuel Finder | UK wide; station count not stated. Android listing also covers France |
| Price freshness | Synced every 5 minutes, with the date each price last changed | Not stated |
| Stale-price labels | Older prices flagged, very old prices hidden | Not stated |
| Map and nearby search | Map and list, 2 to 20 mile radius, sort by cheapest, nearest or open | Map or list, any UK postcode, town or city, filter by distance, brand or fuel |
| Community price updates and reviews | No | Report prices and review stations |
| EV charging | Charge points with power and connector details | Not stated |
| MOT, tax and service reminders | MOT, tax, insurance and service reminders, plus MOT history | MOT reminders via the Garage; tax and service not stated |
| Offers and discounts | No | Partner offers on fuel, parking, insurance, breakdown and more |
| Price | Free for two cars; Premium £3.99 a year or £9.99 once | Free; no in-app purchases listed |
| Ads | None; App Store label: data not collected | Contains advertising; data may be used for tracking |
| Account required | No account | Optional; guest mode covers some features |
PetrolPrices details come from its App Store and Google Play listings and petrolprices.com, checked on 22 October 2026, and may change. Motorbook details come from its App Store listing and this site. Spotted something out of date? Let us know and it will be corrected.
How Motorbook handles fuel prices
Motorbook reads the UK government's Fuel Finder service, which forecourts are required to report their prices to. Its copy refreshes every 5 minutes, and every price shows when the retailer last changed it, so an older figure is easy to spot before you set off.
- Petrol, diesel and premium grades near you
- Opening hours, 24-hour sites and closures
- EV charge points on the same map
- No adverts, no account, no data collected
Want the national picture first? See today's UK average petrol and diesel prices, built from the same Fuel Finder data.
When PetrolPrices is the better pick
PetrolPrices has been publishing UK fuel prices since 2005 and is available on iPhone, iPad and Android, so it suits mixed-phone households that Motorbook cannot serve yet. You can search any UK postcode, town or city, which helps when planning a trip, and filter by brand or fuel type. Its community can report prices and review stations, you can check facilities such as a car wash before you go, and it offers partner discounts and a Price Alert email service for drivers who would rather not open an app. Its Android listing also covers France.
When Motorbook is the better pick
Motorbook suits iPhone drivers who want fuel prices without adverts, tracking or an account. Every price is dated and older prices are flagged, EV charge points sit on the same map, and the app also handles MOT and tax dates, insurance and service reminders, MOT history and running costs. Two cars are free for good, and Premium is £3.99 a year or £9.99 once if you need more.
Which should you choose?
- You use Android, or share a car with Android users: choose PetrolPrices. Motorbook is only on iPhone for now.
- You want to see prices at a destination before you travel: PetrolPrices lets you search any UK postcode, town or city. Motorbook focuses on stations around you.
- You like contributing and reading reviews: PetrolPrices has community price updates and station reviews. Motorbook relies on the official Fuel Finder feed instead.
- You want no adverts, no tracking and no account: choose Motorbook. Its App Store privacy label says no data is collected, while PetrolPrices' listing says it contains advertising.
- You drive an EV or a mix of fuel and electric cars: Motorbook shows charge points with power and connector details alongside fuel prices.
- You want fuel prices and car admin in one place: Motorbook adds MOT, tax, insurance and service reminders, MOT history and a cost log to the fuel map.
Whichever app you use, check the date on a price, confirm it at the pump and weigh the saving against the extra miles. The best fuel price apps in the UK guide compares Motorbook, PetrolPrices, Google Maps, Waze and FindPetrol.
Frequently asked questions
Is Motorbook a good alternative to PetrolPrices?
Yes, if you use an iPhone and want fuel prices without adverts or an account. Motorbook shows UK government Fuel Finder prices with the date each one last changed, adds EV charge points, and keeps MOT, tax and service reminders in the same app. PetrolPrices is the better fit on Android or if you value community price updates, station reviews and partner offers.
Where does PetrolPrices get its fuel prices?
PetrolPrices says its prices come from a variety of sources, including the stations themselves, and that its community can confirm or update prices. GOV.UK named PetrolPrices.com in March 2026 as one of the services displaying real-time prices from the government's Fuel Finder scheme.
Where does Motorbook get its fuel prices?
Motorbook uses the UK government's Fuel Finder service, which petrol stations are required to report their prices to. It lists about 8,100 UK forecourts, and Motorbook refreshes its copy every 5 minutes and shows when each price last changed.
Is PetrolPrices free?
Yes. PetrolPrices is a free download on the App Store and Google Play, and its App Store listing does not show any in-app purchases. The listing says the app contains advertising, and its privacy label says identifiers and usage data may be used to track you.
Does PetrolPrices show EV charging points?
Its App Store description does not mention EV charging. In July 2025 PetrolPrices replied to an App Store review asking for charging stations with the words "Watch this space for EV data". Motorbook shows charge points with power and connector information on its nearby map.
Is Motorbook available on Android?
No. Motorbook is currently only for iPhone, although its UK average petrol and diesel prices page works in any browser. Android drivers should look at PetrolPrices or another cross-platform app.
Do I need an account for either app?
Motorbook needs no account at all. PetrolPrices recommends creating an account with your email address for the best experience, but says some features can be used as a guest.
Sources checked 22 October 2026
- Apple App Store: PetrolPrices: UK Fuel Prices: description, version history, App Privacy label, price and "Contains: Advertising"
- Google Play: PetrolPrices: UK and France: Android availability
- PetrolPrices.com homepage: guest use, account sign-up, partner savings and MOT garage
- PetrolPrices.com: Our free app: price sources, community updates, reviews, facilities and filters
- PetrolPrices.com: About us: history since 2005 and Price Alert emails
- GOV.UK: Fuel Finder now helping drivers shop around for the best deals (31 March 2026): PetrolPrices.com named as a Fuel Finder publisher
- Apple App Store: MOT Tax Service Log: Motorbook: features, platforms, in-app purchase prices and privacy label
- Motorbook pricing and Motorbook UK fuel prices: plans and Fuel Finder methodology
Motorbook is independent and is not affiliated with PetrolPrices, Automate App Limited, DVLA, DVSA or GOV.UK. PetrolPrices is a trademark of its owner. Fuel prices change often, so always confirm the price at the pump.
Try Motorbook free.
Official UK fuel prices with a date on every one, plus MOT and tax reminders. Two cars free, no account and no adverts.
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