Best ARCO Fuel Card Alternatives for Business Fleets

If you’re considering an ARCO fuel card or already using one and exploring other options, it’s worth comparing it with other fleet cards. While ARCO has a strong presence on the West Coast and offers competitive fuel prices, it may not always be the best fit depending on where and how your fleet fuels.

ARCO’s value comes from helping businesses control fuel costs while taking advantage of its competitive pricing, but some fleets may prefer a card with broader acceptance, fewer fees, or ongoing discounts across more locations instead of a short-term introductory offer.

In this guide, we highlight five ARCO fuel card alternatives and compare how they differ in discounts, fees, acceptance networks, and fleet management tools so you can find the best fit for your business.

ARCO Fuel Card Alternatives Comparison Table

Top ARCO Fuel Card Alternatives

1. Voyager

The Voyager fuel card is accepted at over 97% of gas stations and truck stops nationwide, including major brands and independent locations. Its broad acceptance and scalability make it a strong fit for businesses of almost any size or industry.

How Voyager Compares to the ARCO Fuel Card

Pros

• More accepting locations
• No monthly card fee
• No late fee
• More personalized customer support

Cons

• No introductory discount at ARCO

Good fit if: You want a fuel card that can still be used at ARCO, but offers fewer fees, broader acceptance, and more personalized customer support.

2. Coast

Coast is a fintech company that offers a fleet fuel card with nationwide acceptance anywhere Visa is accepted. Its platform is designed for fleets of all sizes across different industries. Unlike traditional fuel cards, drivers use the Coast mobile app or SMS at the pump to authorize purchases. This added step can improve security and data collection, but it may be a challenge for teams that prefer a more traditional “swipe and go” fueling process.

How Coast Compares to the ARCO Fuel Card

Pros

• Accepted anywhere Visa is accepted
• Ongoing discounts at a wider range of locations
• Smaller late payment fee
• Can also capture field and other business expenses

Cons

• Visa network has fewer purchase restrictions than traditional fleet card networks, but Coast does make up for this with their SMS card unlock feature.
• SMS card unlock can be challenging for fleets where drivers don’t like using tech or personal phones for fuel purchases, and companies may need to reimburse drivers for phone use or provide company phones.

Good fit if: You want a card that has more tech features and has the option to purchase and capture field expenses. 

3. CFN

The CFN fuel card is designed for business fleets in the Western U.S., with a focus on cost-plus fuel pricing at 3,000 cardlock locations, primarily located in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada. It also provides access to 65,000 gas stations and truck stops nationwide, giving fleets coverage for both local and regional operations.

CFN is widely used by fleets in the West because pricing at these CFN sites is often lower than retail fuel prices. The card also has no monthly or late fees, making it a straightforward and cost effective option for fleets that want consistent access to discounted fuel without ongoing account costs.

How CFN Compares to the ARCO Fuel Card

Pros

• Cost-plus pricing at CFN stations
• No monthly fee
• No late fee

Cons

• Limited discount locations outside the Western U.S.

Good fit if: Your fleet operates in the Western U.S., CFN can be a strong discount alternative to ARCO, since both networks have a strong presence in the region.

4. RoadFlex

Similar to Coast, RoadFlex is a fintech company that offers a fleet card designed for broad acceptance and flexible expense management. Unlike traditional fuel cards, it functions more like a business charge card and is accepted anywhere Visa is accepted, giving businesses greater purchasing flexibility. 

How RoadFlex Compares to the ARCO Fuel Card

 Pros

• Accepted anywhere Visa is accepted
• Ongoing discounts at a wider range of locations
• Prepaid fuel card option
• Smaller late payment penalty

Cons

• Because the Visa network has fewer purchase restrictions than traditional fleet card networks, RoadFlex uses SMS card unlock to add an extra layer of control.
• Like other fintech fuel cards, SMS card unlock can be challenging for fleets where drivers don’t like using tech or personal phones for fuel purchases, and companies may need to reimburse drivers for phone use or provide company phones.

Good fit if: You want to try a card with broader acceptance and more tech features. The prepaid option is also nice for businesses that don't want a credit line or don't have established credit.

5. WEX

WEX is the largest fuel card provider in the U.S. and a direct competitor to Fuelman, which powers the ARCO fuel card. Its cards run on a dedicated fuel network and are accepted at about 95% of gas stations and truck stops nationwide. WEX also offers a range of branded fuel cards for specific gas station chains, which typically include discounts at those locations.

How WEX Compares to the ARCO Fuel Card

Pros

• More accepting locations
• Ongoing discounts at a wider range of locations
• Other gas station branded fuel card options

Cons

• More line item fees
• Monthly fee per card is more expensive for fleets with more than 3 fuel cards

Good fit if: You want a fuel card that offers flat rebates across different fuel brands, or you’re looking to switch to a different branded card that provides discounts at a specific station brand.

How to Choose the Right ARCO Fuel Card Alternative

• Choose Voyager if you want a fuel card with fewer fees and more accepting locations.
• Choose Coast or RoadFlex if you want a fuel card that also allows field purchases and uses a mobile app or SMS to authorize transactions.
• Choose CFN if you want a strong West Coast fuel network that provides cost-plus pricing at CFN locations.
• Choose WEX if you want a fuel card with broad acceptance and fees that are charged per card rather than per account or if you want a branded fuel card with rebates at a specific station brand.
  
  

To explore other fuel card options, check out the best fuel cards for business.