When it comes to choosing the right fuel card for your trucking company or business fleet, EFS and Comdata are two popular over-the-road (OTR) fuel cards you're likely familiar with. Both offer tools to help you manage your fuel expenses, simplify your fuel reporting, and keep your operations running smoothly. But while they may seem similar at first glance, there are differences in where they’re accepted, the discounts they offer, and the fees they charge.
In this guide, we’ll compare the key features of each card and introduce a couple of alternatives to help you choose the best fuel card for your business.
Table of Contents
- EFS vs. Comdata: overview
- Accepting locations
- Discounts
- Fees
- Reviews
- Fraud protection
- Controls and reporting
- EFS and Comdata alternatives
- Which fuel card is best for your business?
EFS vs. Comdata: Overview
Use this chart for a quick side-by-side comparison of both fuel card providers. The information is based on data gathered from their websites and third-party customer review sites.
EFS | Comdata | |
Accepting locations | 16,000 truck stops | 8,000 truck stops |
Discounts (per gallon) | Cash price at truck stops | Cash price and 8-25¢/gal at select truck stops |
Monthly card fee (per card) | N/A | Up to $8 per card |
Reviews | WalletHub: 3.8/5 Trustpilot: 4.4/5 (WEX Capital) Trustpilot: 1.4/5 (WEX) |
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 |
Fraud protection |
|
|
Controls | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Reporting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
EFS vs. Comdata: Accepting Locations
EFS | Comdata | |
Accepting locations | 16,000 truck stops | 8,000 truck stops |
Mastercard optional add on | ✅ | ✅ |
Comdata and EFS are both OTR trucking fleet cards that are accepted at truck stops. The Comdata card is accepted at 8,000 truck stops while the EFS fuel card is accepted at 16,000 truck stops. Both fuel cards offer an optional Mastercard add-on, allowing purchases at any location that accepts Mastercard. However, fees and discounts may vary between transactions made on their OTR networks and those processed through the broader Mastercard network.
See accepting locations for each fuel card:
✅ Pro tip: Start with your fleet’s regular routes. Make a list of truck stops you frequent most and confirm card acceptance and available discounts at those locations.
EFS vs. Comdata: Discounts
EFS | Comdata | |
Discounts (per gallon) | Cash price at truck stops | Cash price plus up to an additional: -25¢ off per gallon at TA Petro -10¢ off at Pilot Flying J - 8¢ at Casey’s, Love’s, AMBEST, Speedway / 7-Eleven -7¢ at Sheetz locations |
Comdata offers discounts at up to 25¢ per gallon off the cash price. EFS doesn't list discounts on their website so you'll have to contact sales to get a quote for your company.
EFS vs. Comdata: Fuel Card Fees
EFS | Comdata | |
Monthly card fee (per card) | N/A | Up to $8 |
Extended network fee | N/A | $3 per transaction |
Account set-up fee | N/A | $50 |
Comdata clearly lists their fees. EFS doesn’t publish its fee structure online. You’ll need to contact their sales team directly for a list of fees if they have any.
✅ Pro tip: Add up all the fees based on your number of cards you'll need to get an idea of total expected monthly fee cost.
EFS vs. Comdata: Reviews
EFS | Comdata | |
Reviews | WalletHub: 3.8/5 Trustpilot: 4.4/5 (WEX Capital) Trustpilot: 1.4/5 (WEX) |
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 |
Customer service is often overlooked when comparing fuel card companies. The best way to compare customer service is to look at online ratings and read the reviews. EFS's parent company WEX is rated 4.4 and 1.4 stars on Trustpilot and 3.8 stars on WalletHub. Comdata has a 1.8 star rating on Trustpilot.
✅ Pro tip: Call the customer service phone number before you sign up to see how long you will wait and how quickly you can expect to get a problem resolved.
EFS vs. Comdata: Fraud Protection
EFS | Comdata | |
Fraud protection |
|
|
Both fuel cards have mobile apps for drivers to authorize transactions at the pump which greatly reduces the chances of fraud. EFS uses a two-factor authentication app that sends a code when the driver is going to use the fuel card. It will only send the code if the driver is at a fuel station. Comdata uses a similar system where a driver clicks the mobile app to activate the fuel card and then the activation will timeout after fueling.
Both cards also offer additional advanced fraud protection features that verify a truck’s location and fuel tank level before authorizing a purchase. EFS refers to this system as SecureFuel, while Comdata brands it as Proximity Solutions.
EFS vs. Comdata: Fuel Card Controls and Reporting
EFS | Comdata | |
Card Controls | ||
PIN required | ✅ | ✅ |
Odometer prompt | ✅ | ✅ |
Fuel only restriction | ✅ | ✅ |
Time of day restriction | ✅ | ✅ |
Weekend lock-out | ✅ | ✅ |
Transaction limit | ✅ | ✅ |
Dollar limit | ✅ | ✅ |
Purchase alerts | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting | ||
Driver & vehicle usage | ✅ | ✅ |
MPG & CPM | ✅ | ✅ |
IFTA fuel summary | ✅ | ✅ |
Fuel tax exemptions | ✅ | ✅ |
GPS integration | ✅ | ✅ |
When it comes to controls and reporting, you can’t go wrong with either card. Both Comdata and EFS have very similar features that can be customized for your fleet.
✅ Pro tip: Identify your fleet fueling problems and discuss them with your fuel card sales rep to understand how their fuel card can help solve your problems. This ensures you choose a card with the right features for your needs.
EFS and Comdata Alternatives
If EFS and Comdata don’t quite provide the solutions you are looking for, here are other fuel cards you should consider:
CFN Fuel Card
For trucking companies located on the West Coast, check out the CFN fuel card which has access to the largest discount fuel network in the Western U.S. CFN is accepted at 3,000 18-wheel access discount cardlock fuel stations and 65,000+ retail truck stops and gas stations. Since there are more CFN cardlock locations than truck stops in the West, many companies utilize the CFN card to get fuel savings and control their fuel purchases.
Voyager Fuel Card
For trucking fleets that need more flexible fueling options beyond truck stops, the Voyager fuel card is a great fit. It's accepted at 97% of fuel stations across the country and comes with zero card fees, offering both convenience and savings.
Here's a breakdown of these alternative fuel card options:
CFN | Voyager | |
Best for | Fleets located in the Western U.S. | Companies located across the U.S. that need wider station acceptance |
Accepting locations | 3,000 discount locations; 65,000 gas stations and truck stops | 97% of gas stations and truck stops |
Discounts (per gallon) | Estimated 35¢/gal at discount locations | 2-8¢ at select locations |
Monthly card fee (per card) | $0 | $0 |
Reviews | Trustpilot: 4.8/5 | Trustpilot: 4.8/5 |
Fraud protection | Free fraud loss coverage, real time fraud monitoring and alerts | Free fraud loss coverage, real time fraud monitoring and alerts |
Controls | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Reporting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
You can also compare other top business fuel card options by reviewing the best fleet fuel cards for businesses in 2025, which provides a detailed comparison of leading cards.
EFS vs. Comdata vs. Alternatives: Which Card is Best for Your Business?
Choosing between EFS and Comdata or another alternative comes down to which card works best for your fleet. Here are a few things to keep in mind when weighing out your options:- Where do your trucks fuel most often?
- Which card provides the best discounts at the stations you use?
- Which card offers the best fee structure?
- Do your drivers need to access stations other than truck stops?
- Which fuel card has the best controls and reporting for your needs?
- Which card has the best customer reviews?
By answering these questions, you’ll be equipped to choose the fuel card that offers the best fit for your fleet’s needs.