Fuelman vs. Coast: Fleet Fuel Card Comparison Guide [2026]

Fuelman and Coast are both widely accepted fuel cards that offer solid spend controls, reporting, and fraud protection, but they’re built differently. Fuelman runs on a dedicated fuel card network with flat rate discounts and offers different subscription levels. Coast is a fintech fuel card built on a modern platform that runs on the Visa network, giving fleets broader acceptance and a simple fee structure.

In this guide, we break down accepting locations, discounts, fees, reviews, fraud protection, and controls so you can see how Fuelman and Coast compare side by side. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which card aligns best with your business needs.

Table of Contents

• Fuelman vs. Coast: overview
• Accepting locations
• Discounts
• Fees
• Reviews
• Fraud protection
• Controls and reporting
• Fuelman and Coast alternatives
• Which fuel card is best for your business?
  
  

Fuelman vs. Coast: Overview

Use this chart for a quick side-by-side overview of both fuel card companies. The information comes from their official websites and third party review platforms, so you can easily compare how they stack up.

Fuelman vs. Coast: Accepting Locations 

Fuelman and Coast are both considered universal fuel cards because they’re widely accepted at fuel stations across the U.S. However, Coast has broader coverage since it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, while Fuelman is accepted at about 60,000 locations nationwide.

Fuelman vs. Coast: Discounts 

The biggest difference in these discount programs is how the rebates are structured. Fuelman uses a flat rebate at every discount location, while Coast’s rebates vary by brand and location.

Coast offers rebates ranging from 3-9¢ per gallon, depending on the brand, at more than 30,000 locations. They also offer 1% cashback on all non-fuel purchases.

Fuelman offers a flat 8¢ per gallon rebate at 40,000 locations with the Fuelman Mixed Fleet Card. For diesel fleets, the Fuelman Diesel Fleet Card offers 12¢ per gallon back on diesel.

✅Pro tip: Review your fuel purchases to identify the brands your drivers use most, then compare which fuel card delivers the strongest discounts at those specific locations. 

Fuelman vs. Coast: Fuel Card Fees 

Fuelman offers three subscription plans: Basic ($39 per month), Pro ($59 per month), and Enterprise ($99 per month). The subscription fee applies to the entire account, not per card. Fuelman also charges an extended network fee of $3 per transaction at extended network locations.

Coast has a simpler fee structure. It charges $4 per card per month and does not charge extended network transaction fees. Coast's late fee is also much lower than Fuelman's.

Fuelman vs. Coast: Reviews

It’s difficult to make a direct rating comparison since the two fuel cards are reviewed on different platforms. However, it’s still important to read through the comments to see what customers consistently like and where common complaints show up.

✅Pro tip: Test the customer support by calling the customer service phone number for each fuel card company to see how quickly they respond and can resolve an issue.

Fuelman vs. Coast: Fraud Protection

Fuelman and Coast both offer strong fraud protection, including real time fraud monitoring and alerts, and both provide fraud loss coverage options. Fuelman offers fraud loss coverage of up to $10,000 per card, or up to $25,000 per account per year if you upgrade to its Pro or Enterprise plans. Coast offers fraud loss coverage of up to $25,000 per account per year.

Coast adds extra security with SMS and mobile app card unlock. Drivers have to unlock the card via text or the mobile app before they can fuel, and it locks again after the purchase. Coast can also connect to telematics to confirm the vehicle is near the station and the tank level makes sense before approving the transaction. Together, these features make it much harder for fraudulent purchases to go through, because you need a verified driver, a verified vehicle at the station, and a valid tank level before authorizing a transaction.

Fuelman vs. Coast: Fuel Card Controls and Reporting 

Both cards offer strong controls and reporting, but they work differently. Fuelman is a traditional fleet fuel card that runs on a dedicated fuel network. Because that network is built for fleets, stations are set up to enforce prompts and capture Level III purchase data at the point of sale.

Coast runs on the Visa fleet network, and not every station consistently supports Level III data or enforces fleet prompts the same way. To keep controls tight, Coast uses SMS unlock. Before fueling, the driver texts Coast with their Card ID and answers a few quick prompts, like driver and vehicle details, to approve the purchase. Coast uses that info to enforce controls and capture the data needed for reporting.

✅Pro tip: Make a list of the specific goals you want to achieve, then ask the sales team how their fuel card can help you get there. That way, you know you’re choosing a card with the features you actually need.

Fuelman and Coast Alternatives 

If Fuelman or Coast aren’t the right fit, the Voyager fleet fuel card is worth considering. It offers nationwide acceptance, strong spending controls, and straightforward reporting that makes it easy to track fuel costs and manage drivers. You can also compare more options in our list of the top gas cards for 2026.

Fuelman vs. Coast vs. Alternatives: Which Card is Best for Your Business?

The best fuel card depends on where your drivers fuel, how the fees add up for your fleet, and whether your drivers are comfortable using SMS or a mobile app to unlock the card at the pump.

Fuelman works well for fleets that can take advantage of its flat rebate structure at 40,000 locations. If your drivers stay inside the discount network, the rebates can be competitive. Just make sure you factor in the monthly subscription cost and the $3 extended network fee if drivers fuel outside the core network.

Coast is usually a better fit for fleets that want maximum flexibility. Since it runs on the Visa network, drivers can fuel almost anywhere. Coast also keeps pricing simple with a flat per-card fee and no extended network transaction charges. It also adds stronger fraud controls with SMS and app-based unlock, plus optional telematics verification. The tradeoff is that your drivers need to be comfortable using SMS or the mobile app to unlock the card before fueling. You’ll also need to decide whether to provide company phones or have drivers use their personal phones in which you may need to reimburse them for it.

If neither option checks all the boxes, Voyager is a strong alternative. It offers nationwide acceptance at about 97% of fuel stations, solid controls and reporting, and no monthly card fees or extended network fees. For fleets that want broad coverage without subscription pricing, it’s worth considering.