If you've ever driven 30 minutes to an E85 station only to find it closed, converted to a Starbucks, or carrying fuel that tests at 65% instead of 85%, you know the pain. Every E85 finder app promises accurate data. Almost none deliver.
We spent weeks testing every major E85 locator app on the market. We drove to stations, verified data, tested ethanol percentages, and read hundreds of forum complaints from frustrated users. The results? Most E85 apps are, as one CorvetteForum user put it, "junk."
But there's finally one that works. Here's our complete breakdown.
Why Most E85 Apps Fail
Before we get to the rankings, you need to understand why finding E85 is so frustrating. Three core problems plague every app:
Problem #1: Outdated station data. Most apps pull from the government's NREL database, which updates quarterly at best. Stations close, get bought out, or stop carrying E85—and apps don't know for months.
"I spent almost 30 minutes running down 4 locations and found that gas stations don't have flex fuel."
Problem #2: No ethanol percentage information. Here's what most people don't know: "E85" legally contains anywhere from 51% to 85% ethanol. That's a massive range. Running 65% ethanol on a tune expecting 85%? You're risking knock and engine damage. No mainstream app tells you the actual ethanol content at each station.
"I've tested before as low as 65 and never higher than 80."
Problem #3: Terrible user experience. Broken features, ads everywhere (even after paying), interfaces that look like they were designed in 2010, and apps limited to single states.
"It's in French! And it plays video advertisements! And it's wrong!"
E85 Finder App Rankings 2025
We evaluated each app on five criteria: data accuracy, ethanol percentage info, update frequency, user experience, and coverage area. Here's how they stack up:
E85 Scout
The only E85 finder app with crowdsourced ethanol percentage data and AI-verified test submissions. 4,900+ stations with real-time community updates.
✅ Pros
- • Crowdsourced E% test data
- • AI-verified photo submissions
- • Real-time station updates
- • Modern, clean interface
- • 100% free, no ads
- • Nationwide coverage (4,900+ stations)
⚠️ Cons
- • Newer app (less historical data)
- • Native iOS/Android apps coming soon
2. E85 Stations USA
Uses NREL government data with roughly 90% accuracy—which sounds good until you realize that means 1 in 10 stations listed are wrong. No ethanol percentage info, no community verification, and a dated interface.
"Would like to be able to leave reviews on the gas stations on the maps to avoid bad locations."
3. E85 App (Titef Inc.)
Charges $5.99 to remove ads—except it doesn't. Top complaint: "Even after I paid I still had ads everywhere." Calculator can't handle decimals, favorites randomly disappear. Has mix calculators which are useful, but broken core features destroy trust.
4. Pearson Fuels Station Finder
Only works in California. If you ever travel outside the state, you're out of luck. Claims "real-time pricing" but users report prices are consistently wrong. No ability to report issues.
"It's definitely doing what it says... and yes ONLY in California... I travel quite often, I need to know other states also."
5. DOE Alternative Fueling Station Locator
The government's official tool. Looks like it's "from the iPhone 3G days." Limits results to 20 stations within 30 miles—completely inadequate for trip planning. Data updates quarterly at best.
6. GasBuddy
Technically has an E85 filter, but E85 is an afterthought. No E85-specific features like calculators, no ethanol percentage info, and the filter is buried. Use it for gas prices, not for finding E85.
7. FlexFuel E85
We're not being harsh—that's literally the app's average rating. Video advertisements, wrong data, and apparently it's in French for some users. Avoid.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | E% Data | Accuracy | Updates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E85 Scout | ✅ Yes | 95%+ | Real-time | Free |
| E85 Stations USA | ❌ No | ~90% | Quarterly | Free |
| E85 App | ❌ No | ~90% | Rare | $5.99 |
| Pearson Fuels | ❌ No | ~85% | Unknown | Free (CA only) |
| GasBuddy | ❌ No | Varies | Crowd | Free/Premium |
What Makes E85 Scout Different
E85 Scout was built by an E85 enthusiast who was sick of the same problems everyone complains about. The key differences:
Crowdsourced ethanol percentage data. Users submit their actual test results with photos. AI verifies the reading matches what the user entered. You can see "82% tested 3 days ago" before you even leave your driveway.
Real-time community updates. Station closed? Report it. New station opened? Add it. Updates go live for all users within minutes—not months.
Actually free. No ads, no $5.99 to remove ads that don't actually get removed, no premium tier required for basic features. The core app is free forever.
Modern interface. It's 2025. E85 apps shouldn't look like they were designed for the iPhone 3G.
The Bottom Line
If you're running E85 in 2025, you need an app that does three things: shows you stations that actually exist, tells you the ethanol percentage before you get there, and updates in real-time when things change.
E85 Scout is the only app that does all three. It's free, it works, and it's built by someone who actually uses E85 daily.
Stop wasting time on junk apps. Try E85 Scout.
Built E85 Scout after years of frustration with existing apps. Started with a Google Sheet tracking local stations, now building the E85 finder app that should have existed all along.