Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Shell vs Upside

Shell 4.8★ · Free to download 30
Winner Upside
Upside 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Upside is the better choice for consistent cash back on everyday purchases, despite some processing issues, while Shell's app is plagued by widespread technical problems and unreliable reward redemption.

Full reviews: Shell · Upside

Shell's app, designed for fuel purchases and rewards at Shell stations, is frequently criticized for being buggy, difficult to log into, and failing to apply discounts. Upside, a broader cash-back app, offers savings on gas, groceries, and dining, though users report varying offer values and occasional receipt verification challenges.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: UpsideR1R3R4R9
Shell Shell's app is intended for paying at the pump and managing Fuel Rewards, but users report it often fails to connect to pumps, process transactions, or apply discounts R1R4R9R32. Many find the map feature inferior to the old Fuel Rewards app, as it doesn't readily display gas prices R3R12R31R38. There are also complaints about the app logging users out, showing incorrect pump information, and having a daily purchase limit R9R10.
Upside Upside offers cash back on gas, groceries, and restaurant purchases R62R66R71. Users appreciate the ability to earn money or gift cards on purchases they would make anyway R62R71. The app is generally described as easy to use for finding deals and redeeming earnings , and it works with fleet cards . However, some users note a limited selection of participating locations R66R75.
Ease of Use and Reliability edge: UpsideR10R13R14R15
Shell Shell's app is widely reported as unreliable and difficult to use, with frequent login issues, password reset problems, and inability to access fields on certain phones R10R13R14R15. Many users complain about the app's instability and frequent crashes . The forced transition from the old Fuel Rewards app to the new Shell app has caused significant frustration and technical difficulties for many R12R15R18.
Upside Upside is generally considered easy to use for claiming offers and redeeming rewards R62. However, a significant number of users experience issues with transactions not being approved or verified, even with valid receipts R61R69R70R72. Some also report delays in receiving rewards .
Price/Value and Rewards edge: UpsideR6R15R17R18
Shell Shell's app is meant to provide fuel discounts and rewards, but many users report that discounts are not applied, rewards don't count, or promised higher discounts are not received R6R18R25R32. Some feel the effort required for rewards is disproportionate to the small discount received R15. There are also complaints about false gas prices displayed in the app R17.
Upside Upside offers real cash back that can add up to significant savings over time R62R71. Users report earning anywhere from a few cents to hundreds of dollars R71. However, the value of offers can decline over time or with frequent use of the same location . Some users feel the cash back amount is too low for the effort . There are also complaints about misleading offers and reduced payouts R61.
Customer Support tieR14R23R30R32
Shell Shell's customer service is widely criticized as poor, unresponsive, and unhelpful R23R30R32. Users report difficulty getting issues resolved, being blamed by different departments, or dealing with unknowledgeable representatives R14.
Upside Upside's customer support is frequently described as inadequate, with users struggling to get responses or resolve issues through chatbots . Many report that support tickets go unanswered or that they are stuck in unhelpful automated loops .
Pick Shell if

You are a loyal Shell customer willing to tolerate significant app bugs and unreliable reward redemption for the potential of Shell-specific discounts .

Pick Upside if

You want to earn cash back on a variety of everyday purchases, including gas, groceries, and dining, and are comfortable with the possibility of occasional receipt verification issues and varying offer values R62R71.

Evidence note: Shell's reviews are heavily skewed negative, focusing on technical failures and customer service issues, which aligns with its lower recent ratings despite a high lifetime average. Upside's reviews show a mix of strong satisfaction with cash back and frustration with receipt processing and support, reflecting its high lifetime rating but also common pain points.

Frequently asked

Does the Shell app reliably apply fuel discounts?
No, many users report that the Shell app frequently fails to apply advertised fuel discounts or track rewards correctly, leading to frustration and perceived false advertising R6R18R25R32.
Can I use Upside for more than just gas?
Yes, Upside allows users to earn cash back on gas, as well as at participating restaurants and grocery stores, making it a versatile savings tool for various everyday purchases R62R66R71R75.
Are there common issues with Upside's cash back redemption?
Yes, common issues with Upside's cash back redemption include transactions not being approved or verified, even with valid receipts, and delays in processing rewards R61R69R70R72.
Does the Shell app show gas prices on its map?
No, many users are disappointed that the Shell app's map does not readily display gas prices, requiring extra steps to view them, which is a downgrade from the previous Fuel Rewards app R3R12R31R38.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Shell 1/5 · US Buggy: Pay at pump processing is very buggy. Couldn’t process transaction in store or at pump😡
  2. [R3] Shell 3/5 · US Disappointed with map: This map is a step backwards when compared to the Fuel Rewards map. The prices are not readily seen on the map as one needs to push into each station or look at the list of stations. The FR map really needs to be ported to this app.
  3. [R4] Shell 1/5 · US Will gladly take your money: Every time I use the app, it takes the surcharge and takes forever to give that money back because for some reason it just does not want to connect to my car and charge correctly so I end up having to cancel and wait up to 15 days
  4. [R9] Shell 3/5 · US When it works, it’s real good: The app makes it easy to pay at a Shell station. It’s very finicky though. Prepare for hiccups or technical difficulties during purchasing and no way to get out of the loop. It also has a purchase limit per day, so it’s not great for long road trips. It also hasn’t been keeping tabs on my rewards to the next status level. I’d give this an average rating, which is “it
  5. [R10] Shell 1/5 · US Brings surprises and inconvenience: App automatically logged the user out from time to time, showing incorrect information of the pump (e.g., pump in use) and hence exceeded purchases that ban the user from pumping gas. Never improved for years.
  6. [R13] Shell 1/5 · US Unusable UI: You would think a multi million dollar company would be able to make a UI that allows me to access the make a password field. Also blood money and data collection
  7. [R14] Shell 5/5 · US Impossible: Won’t let me login. Keeps wanting to send code to old phone number. Even talked to a live person twice. Second guy was a complete idiot that couldn’t understand basic English. Worst digging app ever.
  8. [R15] Shell 1/5 · US Shell has somehow made logins difficult: Used to have Fuel Rewards for many years. Then the Shell App came around (genius to have 2 apps /s). Linked my FR to the Shell app once… then stopped working due to e001 error. Tried deleting accounts to recreate and now it complains my mobile is in use. Way too much aggravation for a few cents off.
  9. [R6] Shell 3/5 · US Rewards: Still waiting on my 5 cents off a gallon of gas been waiting for 4years
  10. [R17] Shell 1/5 · US False Prices: With gas prices sky rocketing im sure lots of people are using the in app feature to find the best price. Unfortunately, this app is inaccurate by $1/gallon. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. I drove 7miles to fill up (makes sense because I'm in a Prius with high mpg) from E to save some bucks turns out I payed full price due to the app inaccuracy.
  11. [R18] Shell 5/5 · US App is flaky at best: They’ve tied the Fuel Rewards app with this Shell app. Since then none of my fill ups are being recognized. To the developer please reference the Exxon Mobile app for a useful and functional app. Please do better Another attempt using app. It allows you to go through the motions to pay with card but it doesn’t allow fuel discount App is a scam
  12. [R23] Shell 2/5 · US Poor customer service: The app doesn’t always work and trying to get customer service to respond is a joke. I literally gave up on customer service.
  13. [R30] Shell 1/5 · US Liar, liar liar: In all my years, dealing with big companies, I have never been lied to as much as I had been lied to from Michelle Oil company and the last month in the past month, I have been called a immigrant five or six times I am not an immigrant. I was born in Pennsylvania. A little town called Easton. I was in the army in 1966. When the war of Vietnam was going on, they needed volunteered.
  14. [R32] Shell 1/5 · US Not all that: Started good but pay at the pump doesn’t 50% of the time . Pay inside failed also. Didn’t get the race day discount or credit towards platinum status a few times. They sent an email to make you search for help that makes you more frustrated than standing at the pump trying to fuel up while other people wait in line giving you the stink eye, I downgraded my opinion of this app for add
  15. [R25] Shell 2/5 · US Rewards don’t count: Every time that fuel up the tank, you need to get in contact with fuel rewards team to manually add your rewards. Painful.
  16. [R62] Upside 5/5 · US Upside Is Wonderful!: Such an easy app to get money or gift cards for buying gas or using restaurants that you’d spend money on anyway!
  17. [R66] Upside 3/5 · US Select Cash Back: There is only a small selection of cash back and not full access to all gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. If you’re watching diet or want local no name gas stations then it’s limited. And if you use tap it doesn’t register with this app that it was paid with a specific card. But at least it has true cash back since selections fall short.
  18. [R71] Upside 5/5 · US Great for saving: I make typically around $100 a month. Especially driving a company vehicle with a fleet card. My local grocery store and a couple of my favorite restaurants give cash back too. The app gets better all the time
  19. [R75] Upside 3/5 · US Needs to cover more places: It’s says it covers taco bell and other places, but no it doesn’t. Taco Bell is one of my favorite places and its not on upside like they say
  20. [R61] Upside 1/5 · US Misleading offers: App never honors bonus offers- there is always some “couldn’t verify receipt or purchase” when the documents work every time for normal purchases. Manual review of the purchases do not honor bonus offers, and ends up “you need to do another purchase and can’t get the bonus again that we didn’t honor”.
  21. [R69] Upside 3/5 · US Works good except: The don’t approval all the transactions. It’s in processing for some and not all. I can go to the same gas station 5 days in a row at same pump and they only take 2 of the 5 receipts.
  22. [R70] Upside 1/5 · US Don’t download: I have never gotten any money back. I feel this is a scam. Don’t download it. It is very convent that they can never verify the receipt.
  23. [R72] Upside 3/5 · US It’s an okay app the food works but not the gas: I have submitted several receipts that have shown proof of purchase and proof of fuel. All I get is a need review for a receipt that shows all information asked. The gas station doesn’t allow you to link a card. Very frustrating to tell me I didn’t make a purchase when I did.
  24. [R12] Shell 3/5 · US Unwanted “upgrade”: I hate that they are forcing us to use this app instead of the Fuel Rewards app. If they are going to make it mandatory, they should still offer the same features as the FR app (ie: show gas prices, not just where gas stations are. )
  25. [R31] Shell 2/5 · US Station gas prices display: The new Shell app is not as good as the old Fuel Rewards app. I prefer how the FR app shows the fuel prices directly on the map. With the Shell app you now have the extra step of scrolling through the station list to find the lowest priced stations after accessing the map. I will continue to use the FR app until this bug is fixed in the Shell app.
  26. [R38] Shell 1/5 · US Downgrade vs Fuel Rewards: No prices on the map? The FR shows the prices on the map. This app does not.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store