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

WEX and Coast are two popular fuel card options for fleets, but they take very different approaches. WEX is one of the most established names in fleet payments, built on a traditional fuel card network with deep controls and a savings network. Coast is a newer, fintech-style fuel card that runs on Visa, positioning itself as a modern alternative fuel card with simpler pricing and easy card management tools.

In this comparison guide, we’ll break down accepting locations, discounts, fees, reviews, fraud protection, and reporting so you can see how WEX and Coast stack up and decide which fuel card is the better fit for your fleet.

Table of Contents

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

WEX vs. Coast: Overview

Use this chart for a quick, high-level comparison of both fuel card companies. The data comes from their official websites and trusted third-party review sites, making it easy to see how they stack up.

WEX vs. Coast: Accepting Locations 

WEX and Coast are both considered universal fuel cards because they’re accepted at fuel stations across the U.S. WEX is accepted at 95% of fuel stations nationwide, while Coast can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. 

WEX vs. Coast: Discounts 

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-gas station purchases.

WEX’s discount program is a little more complex. They offer 3-15¢ per gallon rebates at stations in the WEX nationwide savings network. Outside that network, they offer a volume rebate for the first 180 days of opening an account of 1-3¢ per gallon based on your monthly gallons purchased at eligible locations. WEX also offers brand specific cards that can provide up to 8¢ per gallon at certain branded stations.

✅Pro tip: Review your fuel purchases to see which brands your drivers use most, then compare which fuel card offers the best discounts at those locations.

WEX vs. Coast: Fuel Card Fees 

Both WEX and Coast charge $4 per card per month. The difference is WEX also adds extra fees like an account setup fee, extended-network truck stop fees, and other line-item charges that Coast doesn’t charge. Coast is clearly the better choice in this category.

WEX vs. Coast: Reviews

WEX has several financial products in addition to their fleet cards, so keep that in mind when looking through their reviews. Their Trustpilot reviews are split between two accounts, WEX Capital and WEX. 

It’s important that you read through the comments to see common feedback for both fuel card companies. 

✅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.

WEX vs. Coast: Fraud Protection

Both WEX and Coast offer strong fraud protection. You get real-time fraud monitoring and alerts, app-based card unlock before fueling, and telematics integrations that can validate vehicle proximity and tank level before a transaction goes through, which helps reduce the risk of fraud. Coast also gives you SMS unlock as an alternative to the app if your drivers would rather use text.

Coast goes beyond fraud security by offering fraud loss coverage of up to $25,000 per account per year in case fraud were to ever take place on your account. WEX has a link to submit transaction disputes, but there is no public statement of fraud loss coverage on their website.

WEX vs. Coast: Fuel Card Controls and Reporting 

Both cards give you strong controls and reporting, but they work a little differently. WEX is a traditional fleet fuel card that runs on a dedicated fuel card network. That network is built for fleet controls, so merchants 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 close that gap, Coast uses SMS unlock. Before fueling, the driver texts the Coast number with their Card ID, then Coast walks them through a few quick prompts (like driver, vehicle, and info) to authorize the purchase before the transaction goes through. This also collects the prompted fleet data for your fuel 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.

WEX and Coast Alternatives 

If WEX or Coast aren’t the right fit, the Voyager fleet fuel card is worth a look. It’s a strong alternative to WEX and Coast, with nationwide acceptance, robust spending controls, and clean, easy-to-use reporting. You can also compare other fuel card options by checking out our list of the top fuel cards for 2026.

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

When choosing between WEX and Coast, the best option depends on how your fleet fuels. WEX is a strong fit for fleets that want a more traditional fuel card setup with controls enforced through a dedicated fleet network. It can be a good choice if you plan to use the WEX savings network or branded card programs to capture rebates. However, WEX tends to come with more line-item fees beyond the monthly card fee.

Coast is great for fleets that want Visa acceptance with a modern fuel card experience. Coast keeps fees simple, adds 1% cash back on non-fuel spend, and uses SMS verification to tighten control at the pump. It’s a great option if you want strong controls and real-time visibility without the extra program fees that show up on a lot of traditional fuel card programs.

If you want a widely accepted card with tighter default purchase controls that doesn’t rely on Visa or Mastercard, consider Voyager. It’s accepted at about 97% of gas stations and truck stops, limits purchases to fuel only or fuel plus maintenance, and has no monthly card fees, late fees, or out-of-network fees.