Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Autograph: Which No-Annual-Fee Card Offers Better Rewards?
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Written by
Lee Huffman
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
When you’re looking for a rewards credit card, the decision often boils down to earning cash back or travel points. I love that Wells Fargo credit cards include options that earn cash rewards, flexible points and hotel points.
But, how do you choose between the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card versus Wells Fargo Autograph® Card? Learn more about these cards, including their welcome bonuses, earning power, benefits, fees and more.
How the Cards Compare: Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Autograph
Side By Side Comparison
Annual Fee
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
Welcome Bonus
Ongoing Rewards
Pros & Cons
- Low spend requirement for bonus offer
- Long intro APR period
- Cell phone protection option
- Higher than average base rate of 2%
PROS
- Has a foreign transaction fee so it’s not the best option for purchases outside of the U.S.
CONS
- Generous bonus offer
- High rewards rate on popular categories
- Cell phone protection option
- No Foreign Transaction Fee
PROS
- No intro APR on balance transfers
CONS
Learn More
Welcome Bonuses
A welcome bonus is an incentive for new customers who meet minimum spending requirements. This is one of the easiest ways to earn a bunch of rewards quickly. Spending requirements vary by card, so make sure that you can comfortably earn the bonus without overspending or going into debt.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Welcome Bonus
When you apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening. Most people can spend this amount by putting everyday purchases on the card, such as groceries, gas and dining.
Wells Fargo Autograph Welcome Bonus
The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. With Wells Fargo rewards, you have numerous redemption options, including using points for cash back, booking travel or transferring to Wells Fargo transfer partners.
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Autograph Card welcome offer is the better deal because it has a higher potential value with transfers to airline and hotel partners. However, it takes a higher level of spending to earn the bonus. Even with the higher spending requirements, most cardholders can easily earn the offer through their everyday purchases.
Earning Rewards
With both cards, you can earn valuable rewards based on your spending. While the Active Cash Card earns a flat rate on all purchases, the Autograph Card offers bonus categories that award extra points on select purchases.
How To Earn Rewards With Wells Fargo Active Cash
The Active Cash Card is ideal for people who want to earn cash back rewards on every purchase without having to remember bonus categories or sign up for limited-time promotions. This card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, regardless of how much you spend or where you shop.
How To Earn Rewards With Wells Fargo Autograph
The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers:
- 3x points on dining, travel, gas, EV charging, transit, popular streaming services and cell phone plans
- 1x points on all other purchases
CardCritics™ Opinion
For consumers who spend more on the Autograph Card’s bonus categories, it is a solid choice. If your spending is more spread out, then the Active Cash Card is the best option. To maximize rewards on every purchases, some people combine the power of both cards as a Wells Fargo duo. With this strategy, you’ll earn 3x points on eligible bonus categories and 2% cash rewards on everything else.
Redeeming Rewards
Once you’ve earned rewards from the welcome offer and your regular spending, you’ll have the option to redeem them. Each card offers a variety of redemption choices, depending on your needs.
How To Redeem Rewards With Wells Fargo Active Cash
Cash rewards earned from the Active Cash Card can be redeemed for cash in several ways, as well as other options:
- Statement credit or deposit: Get credits on your credit card bill or deposits into a linked Wells Fargo bank account
- ATM withdrawal: Redeem cash rewards in $20 increments at the ATM when using your linked Wells Fargo ATM or debit card
- Purchase travel: Book flights, hotels and more through the Wells Fargo travel portal
- Online shopping: Link your account to PayPal, then use rewards to pay at checkout
- Gift cards: Use points to purchase gift cards through your Wells Fargo account
How To Redeem Rewards With Wells Fargo Autograph
On top of the redemption methods available to Active Cash Card holders, the Autograph Card adds Wells Fargo transfer partners as an option:
- Transfer to travel partners: Your rewards combine with points and miles already in your loyalty account to accelerate your ability to book award reservations for flights and hotels. Transfer partners include Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Club, Iberia Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Virgin Red and Choice Privileges
- Purchase travel: Purchase travel through the Wells Fargo travel portal as if you were paying cash. You can book flights, hotel rooms and car rentals for your next trip
- Statement credit or deposit: Reduce your credit card statement balance or have cash deposited directly into your Wells Fargo bank account
- Gift cards and online shopping: Use points to purchase gift cards or pay with rewards when checking out at participating retailers by linking your account to PayPal
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Autograph Card has the advantage because you can redeem points with Wells Fargo transfer partners. These redemptions may offer significantly more value compared to other options, depending on how you use your rewards.
Card Benefits
Many credit cards include perks that offer additional value beyond earning rewards. These benefits can save money, protect purchases and help build your credit score.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Benefits
The Active Cash Card offers several handy features, including:
- Cell phone protection: Paying your monthly wireless bill with the Active Cash Card unlocks up to $600 in cell phone protection against damage or theft (there is a $25 deductible for each claim with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period)
- Rental car insurance: Receive secondary rental car insurance when you use your Active Cash Card to pay for your rental and decline the rental company’s collision loss/damage insurance
- My Wells Fargo Deals: Personalized deals at participating merchants to earn account credits on shopping, dining and other qualifying purchases with your Wells Fargo credit card
- Credit Close-Up: Monthly FICO score updates and insights on how to boost your credit score
Wells Fargo Autograph Benefits
The Autograph Card offers the same perks as the Active Cash Card, and adds a few more benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees: Avoid fees of up to 3% when making purchases outside the US
- Autograph Card Exclusives: Get access to exclusive ticket offers featuring fan-favorite artists and popular events
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Autograph Card offers all of the same benefits as the Active Cash Card. However, it also includes Autograph Card Exclusives and no foreign transaction fees, which makes it the winner.
Fees and Costs
Fees, interest rates and other costs reduce the value of the rewards you can earn. It is important to understand these to ensure you’re not losing money or selecting the wrong card.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Fees and Costs
- Annual fee: $0
- Intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction converted to US dollars
- Balance transfer fees: 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
- Cash advance fees: 5% of the cash advance amount (minimum $10)
Wells Fargo Autograph Fees and Costs
- Annual fee: $0
- Intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, followed by a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR. A 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR will apply for balance transfers.
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fees: None
- Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
- Cash advance fee: 5% of the cash advance amount (minimum $10)
CardCritics™ Opinion
The best choice depends on how you plan on using the card. The Autograph Card is the best card for international travelers because it doesn’t add foreign transaction fees. However, if you’re looking for a balance transfer credit card, the Active Cash Card is a better choice because the Autograph Card does not include an intro APR offer on balance transfers.
How To Choose Between Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Autograph
The choice between the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Card comes down to how you plan to use the card. Both cards include attractive welcome offers, earning power and benefits. Here are a few scenarios that can help you decide the right card for you:
- Busy consumers: The Active Cash Card earns a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases, so you don’t have to remember which categories earn extra rewards
- Frequent travelers: Unlock Wells Fargo transfer partners with the Autograph Card and earn points on flights, hotels and more
- International travelers: Choose the Autograph Card to avoid foreign transaction fees
- Paying off debt: Gain access to a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers with the Active Cash Card (0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR)
I upgraded from the Autograph Card to the $95-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card because I value its travel benefits and additional perks. I’m considering adding the Active Cash Card as an everyday card to pair with my Autograph Journey Card. That way, I can earn 2% cash rewards on spending outside of bonus categories, then combine the rewards to unlock transfer partners.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Active Cash
Is the Wells Fargo Autograph worth it?
Yes, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers a generous welcome offer, bonus points in useful categories and complimentary benefits. It doesn’t have an annual fee, so you don’t need to out-earn the costs to justify keeping the card year after year. With the addition of Wells Fargo transfer partners, it offers even more value to cardholders.
Is a Wells Fargo Autograph hard to get?
The Autograph Card requires good to excellent credit, which makes it harder to get for some applicants. To be considered, you should have a credit score of at least 670 on FICO’s scale.
What credit score do you need for Wells Fargo Active Cash?
For the best approval odds, you should also have at least a good credit score (670 or better on FICO’s scale) when applying for the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. If your score falls below that level, take steps to boost your score by fixing any errors, paying your bills in full and on time, and reducing your total debt.
