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Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review Best flat-rate cash back card

Written by Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, Nov. 7, 2022 Edited by Credit Cards Editor Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards Reviewed by Editor Rebekah Hovey is an editor with nearly a decade of experience creating and shaping content in finance-related and health care fields. Rebekah holds a bachelor’s degree with a Nov. 7, 2022

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Snapshot

4.3 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon on Wells Fargo's secure site

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Rewards rate Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases Annual fee Intro offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Overview

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card isn't just one of the-it's one of the we've seen. on purchases aren't unheard of, but the Active Cash card cuts the strings typically attached to that sky-high rate and leads the pack when it comes to , even earning a top spot on our list of the . In fact, the Active Cash may even topple the as the long-reigning MVP of flat-rate cash rewards cards.

What are the advantages and disadvantages

Pros

Unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases with no gimmicks and diverse redemption options 0 percent intro APR on purchases and on qualifying balance transfers from account opening for 15 months (then 18.74 percent, 23.74 percent, or 28.74 percent variable APR); balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a balance transfer fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 Offers valuable benefits including cellphone protection and Visa Signature perks No annual fee

Cons

3 percent foreign transaction fee To earn the $200 cash rewards sign-up bonus, you’ll need to spend $1,000 within the first three months, which is high compared to other no-annual-fee cash rewards cards

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights

Rewards rate: Unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months Annual fee: $0 Purchase intro APR: 0 percent for 15 months from account opening Balance transfer intro APR: 0 percent for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular APR: 18.74 percent, 23.74 percent, or 28.74 percent (Variable APR)

Current welcome offer

The Active Cash card's sign-up bonus is typical for a no-annual-fee cash rewards card, but the spending requirement is a bit steep for the payoff. Cardholders will earn $200 cash rewards after they've spent $1,000 in combined purchases within the first three months. Considering other cash rewards card offer $200 in rewards for spending half that, this isn't the strongest welcome offer we've seen. Even so, it should be easily attainable since the Active Cash rewards purchases. It's also worth noting that you won't be able to sign up for the Active Cash card or be eligible for its welcome bonus if you've opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months. This buffer is standard for Wells Fargo credit cards, and a number of other issuers-like Capital One-make you for just as long. However, a few issuers, including Bank of America and American Express, have much shorter approval period wait times.

Rewards rate

With the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, you'll earn unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases. As far as goes, it doesn't get more flexible than a flat-rate card since you'll generally earn unlimited rewards on virtually any purchase without worrying about bonus categories or spending limits. Besides being easier to use for first-time cardholders than higher-maintenance , the Wells Fargo Active Cash could be key to .

How you earn

Although other flat-rate cards can earn unlimited 2 percent cash rewards, the Active Cash is one of the few that wipes away any footnotes attached to the claim. For example, the Citi Double Cash technically only earns up to 2 percent on all purchases since you earn 1 percent when you pay and another 1 percent when you pay off the purchase. The * earns 2 percent cash back on all purchases, but you'll need to maintain an eligible PayPal account to redeem or transfer your rewards.

How to redeem

You have an impressive variety of options, compared to other cash rewards cards, in which you can redeem your cash rewards with the Active Cash card: Redeem rewards to offset eligible purchases made on your credit card account. Redeem for
purchases as little as $1. Physical cash in $20 increments at Wells Fargo ATMs (using a Wells Fargo debit or ATM card) Direct deposits into Wells Fargo savings or checking accounts Gift cards (via Wells Fargo Rewards) Travel, including flights, car rentals and hotel stays (via Wells Fargo Rewards)

How much are rewards worth

Your Active Cash rewards : Each percentage point of cash rewards is worth 1 cent. That means every purchase will recoup 2 cents per dollar.

Other cardholder perks

Alongside its excellent rewards rate, the Wells Fargo Active Cash carries a solid portfolio of benefits as a -plus Wells Fargo's staple cellphone protection. However, the card's extra features aren't as strong as those you may get with other 2 percent cash rewards cards that carry .

Cellphone protection

As you can expect from a Wells Fargo credit card, the Active Cash card covers your cellphone against damage or theft for up to $600 per claim (subject to a $25 deductible) each month you pay your cellphone bill with the card. This perk comes in handy both at home and on the road, saving you on cellphone insurance while delivering one of the best cash rewards rates on your bill at the same time. Plus, Wells Fargo's protection plan can be a bit better than the World Elite Mastercard cellphone protection you'd get with the Citi Double Cash: You'll have a two claim/$1,200 annual limit instead of Mastercard's $1,000 annual limit (carries the same $600 per claim limit).

Visa Signature perks

On top of the basic Visa Traditional features like auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, zero liability for unauthorized purchases and roadside dispatch, you'll also qualify for . These include travel perks like Visa Signature Concierge Services and additional perks at Luxury Hotel Collection properties. You'll also get extra peace of mind from travel and emergency assistance services, extended warranty protection and online product registration for easier claim filing.

Rates and fees

Part of what makes the Wells Fargo Active Cash so enticing is its low ongoing cost and well-rounded zero-interest offers. There is no annual fee, no penalty APR and a 15-month 0 percent intro APR for purchases from account opening and qualifying balance transfers from account opening. Depending on your creditworthiness, the 18.74 percent, 23.74 percent, or 28.74 percent Variable APR can be lower than the . Not a ton of rewards cards offer zero-interest on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers at the moment, so the Active Cash is one of your better options if you want to or if you have a big purchase coming up. Just keep in mind there's an intro 3 percent balance transfer fee ($5 minimum) for the first 120 days from account opening, then up to 5 percent ($5 minimum). It's also worth being aware of the 3 percent foreign transaction fee if you plan to travel with your card.

How the Wells Fargo Active Cash card compares to other cash rewards cards

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is an excellent cash rewards credit card for people looking for a no-frills card with a generous sign-up bonus, no annual fee and a simple rewards structure-but experienced credit card users may find it lacking additional benefits typical of cash back cards or feel that they would not be able to maximize earnings. Given this, it may be worthwhile to compare the Active Cash card to some of the best cash rewards cards on the market to decide which would be the right choice for you.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. on Wells Fargo's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months Rewards rate Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's secure site Annual fee Intro offer One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening Rewards rate Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Citi® Double Cash Card

on Citi's secure site Annual fee Intro offer For a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. Rewards rate Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

The is one of the most popular no-annual-fee cards for straightforward rewards, but the Wells Fargo Active Cash beats its 1.5% flat-rate cash back and is perhaps just as low maintenance. You can't set automatic redemption intervals with the Active Cash like you can with the Quicksilver although you can simply withdraw cash back from issuer ATMs. Still, the Active Cash card removes much of the fine print you'll find on other cards that earn unlimited 2 percent cash rewards.

Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Citi Double Cash

While the Citi Double Cash card is the most popular 2 percent cash back card, you might not actually earn 2 percent rewards. You'll only earn 1 percent back until you pay off your purchase, and carrying a balance would eat through those extra rewards anyway. Granted, the Double Cash card has a slightly longer 0 percent intro balance transfer APR period (18 months) and lower ongoing interest rate (17.74 percent to 27.74 percent variable APR), but it doesn't carry a zero-interest purchase APR-which is more helpful for a flat-rate card focused on new spending. However, the Double Cash does have a slight advantage over the Active Cash when it comes to benefits because of its network's higher-tier .

Best cards to pair with the Wells Fargo Active Cash

The beauty of flat-rate cash rewards cards is that they pair well with almost any card combination you already use. The best way to is to pair it with a card that earns a higher rewards rate on your biggest specialized spending categories, such as groceries, dining or gas. Then, use the Wells Fargo Active Cash to earn more rewards on spending outside those categories. For example, you can use a card like the to earn cash back on your U.S. supermarket, select U.S. streaming subscription, transit and U.S. gas station spending, while the Active Cash would cover everything else or any U.S. supermarket purchases not eligible for the Blue Cash Preferred card's full cash back rate.

Bankrate s Take-Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash card worth it

In short: Yes, wholeheartedly. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card has debuted as one of the best flat-rate cash rewards credit cards on the market. The Active Cash is a low-maintenance rewards card with top-rate rewards potential and redemption options that make it an easy fit in any wallet. Its unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases doesn't come with strings attached, plus it offers a well-rounded roster of intro APR periods and other benefits-all for no annual fee. *The information about PayPal Cashback Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which purchases do not earn cash rewards with the Wells Fargo Active Cash card

Although the Active Cash card earns cash rewards on purchases, however a few expenses outlined by Wells Fargo don’t earn rewards (mainly account- and gambling-related):

Account activity like ATM transactions, cash advances and balance transfers Account fees or interest posted to a linked account, including returned payment fees, late fees and annual fees “Superchecks” (Wells Fargo convenience checks) Cash equivalents like money orders, prepaid gift cards and wire transfers Gambling-related expenses like casino gaming chips, off-track wagers, lottery tickets, bets or internet wagers

Should I get the Wells Fargo Active Cash card or the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa card

Now that the Wells Fargo Active Cash is here, it seems like the issuer’s old flat-rate cash rewards card—the * (This card is no longer available) —has become obsolete.

They both offer unlimited rewards for no annual fee with identical intro APR offers and benefits, but the Active Cash’s 2 percent cash rewards rate outmatches the Cash Wise card’s 1.5 percent cash rewards (1.8 percent on eligible digital wallet purchases during the first 12 months). The only advantages the Cash Wise card scrounges up are its slightly lower ongoing APR (See Terms) compared to the Active Cash card’s 18.74 percent, 23.74 percent, or 28.74 percent variable) and its easier-to-earn $150 sign-up bonus, which requires half the spend within the same timeframe as the Active Cash ($500 on purchases within the first three months).

However, these pluses don’t make up for the almost $80 more cash rewards you'd earn on a $15,900 yearly spend with the Active Cash card versus the Cash Wise card. Written by Garrett Yarbrough Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers. Edited by Credit Cards Editor Reviewed by Editor

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