Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review 2023

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There’s a lot to like about the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, and that’s especially true if you’re looking for a card that offers a high rate of rewards without rotating categories or earning caps. 

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns 2% cash rewards on all purchases, and without any hoops to jump through. This card also comes with no annual fee, and new cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, followed by a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR.

It starts you off with a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening, which makes it more rewarding than its closest cash-back competitor — the Citi® Double Cash Card. Most people know the Citi® Double Cash Card as the other major 2% cash back credit card, but there are some major differences.

With the Citi® Double Cash Card, you effectively earn 2% cash back but your rewards are doled out in two segments — you get 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you make a purchase and another 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you pay it off. The Citi® Double Cash Card has a 0% introductory APR that only applies to balance transfers and not to purchases (0% intro APR for 18 months from date of first transfer for balance transfers made within 4 months of account opening, then 18.49% – 28.49% Variable).

If you opt for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card instead, you’ll get the chance to earn a welcome bonus and 2% cash rewards for each dollar you spend, and the card comes with benefits like cell phone protection and Visa Signature Concierge to boot.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash welcome bonus offer

New cardholders can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s a competitive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee credit card, and the minimum spending requirement is easily attainable for most folks.

It’s also similar to offers on comparable cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠
and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

How to earn cash rewards with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

With this card, you’ll earn 2% cash rewards on purchases with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activation. This means you can use it for your purchases and earn this flat rate of rewards for each dollar you spend.

It doesn’t get any more simple than that, which is one of the biggest upsides of this card. 

How to use rewards from the Wells Fargo Active Cash

Rewards earned with the card belong in the Wells Fargo Rewards program, which means you can redeem them in several ways. For example, you can:

• Redeem to cover purchases charged to your card in amounts starting at $1 in rewards
• Redeem for statement credits to a Wells Fargo mortgage, loan, or credit product account
• Redeem at a Wells Fargo ATM in increments of $20, although you’ll need a Wells Fargo debit card to do so
• Cash in your rewards for gift cards
• Use your rewards to book travel, including airline tickets

This kind of flexibility is good news for consumers who want more than one way to redeem their cash rewards. However, you should note that a few of the redemption options available are only for Wells Fargo customers, including payments to Wells Fargo loan products and cash rewards at a Wells Fargo ATM. 

Do Wells Fargo Active Cash rewards expire?

Your cash rewards won’t expire as long as your card is open and in good standing (meaning paid on time). If you’re late with a payment, you won’t be able to redeem rewards until your account isn’t delinquent.

And, if you close your account, be sure to redeem your rewards before doing so. You’ll forfeit any rewards in your account if you close it, unless you have another Wells Fargo Rewards card.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Benefits and Features

Since this is a no-annual-fee card, there aren’t a ton of flashy benefits. But it does come with a couple of perks that can save you money and make your life easier.

Introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers

New cardholders are eligible for a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, followed by a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR.

This isn’t the longest intro APR Wells Fargo offers (that honor goes to the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card), but if you’re looking to save on interest in the short term, it’s a very good deal.

Cell phone protection

Pay your phone bill with your card and you’ll become eligible for cell phone protection coverage. This benefit is worth up to $600 per claim against damage or theft, although a $25 deductible applies. There’s a maximum of two claims per 12-month period.

24/7 Concierge Service

The Visa Signature Concierge can help you make travel or dining plans or provide other types of personal assistance. This benefit is offered for free 24 hours a day.

Emergency card disbursement and card replacement

If your credit card is lost or stolen, this protection can replace your card in as little as 24 hours.

Roadside dispatch

This benefit includes a phone number you can call for pay-per-use assistance when you’re on the road. For example, you can call roadside dispatch for help with a flat tire, tire changes, or lockout service.

Travel and emergency assistance services

This benefit is offered 24 hours a day, and it comes in the form of an assistance hotline. You can use this hotline to get help with medical or legal referrals, emergency transportation assistance, emergency translation services, and more. The service itself is complimentary, but you’re responsible for any third-party costs.

Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

Cardholders can book through the Visa Signature Hotel Collection and receive additional perks, including:

When you make a reservation through Visa Signature Hotels, you’re automatically entitled to the following:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Free in-room Wi-Fi
• Late check-out upon request, when available
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• A $25 food or beverage credit

Wells Fargo Active Cash Annual Fee and Other Costs

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has no annual fee, which is a major benefit considering the high rate of cash rewards you get. You’ll want to avoid carrying a balance, though, because a regular APR of 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable applies.

There are some other additional fees to keep in mind:

• Foreign transactions: 3% of each transaction converted to US dollars (if you’re traveling overseas, consider using one of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees instead)
• Balance transfers: Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening; after that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5
• Cash advances: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater
• Late payments: Up to $40

How the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Compares

Active Cash vs other Wells Fargo credit cards

Active Cash vs other cash-back credit cards

Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Active Cash

If you’re considering this card, you’ll want to also look at its closest competitor, the Citi® Double Cash Card, which earns 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you buy, plus 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) when you pay your bill.

That earning structure already puts the Citi® Double Cash Card at a slight disadvantage, along with the fact the card doesn’t currently offer a welcome bonus. Where the Citi® Double Cash Card shines is in its long intro APR on balance transfers. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for 18 months from date of first transfer for balance transfers made within 4 months of account opening, then a 18.49% – 28.49% Variable APR, making it one of the best balance transfer credit cards.

For a deeper dive into the differences between these cards, check out our Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Active Cash card comparison.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Wells Fargo Active Cash

If you don’t mind juggling a few bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be a good alternative to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can earn 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back).

Plus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining, 3% cash back at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on everything else, with no limits. So if you spend a lot on travel, restaurants, and drugstores, you could earn more rewards with this card. It also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 19.49% – 28.24% Variable APR. 

Best cards to pair with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

This card’s strength is its 2% cash rewards rate across the board, which makes it great to use for purchases that don’t earn a bonus with other cards. The best strategy is to pair it with another that earns a high rate of rewards in categories where you spend the most.

For example, if you spend a lot on groceries, gas, and online shopping, you could pair the card with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, which earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1% back), 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1% back), and 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1% back). 

Alternately, you could consider pairing with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through November 14, 2024, 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One travel, and 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Methodology: How we reviewed the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Insider’s credit cards team evaluated the card in comparison to similar no-annual-fee cards that earn cash rewards. We looked at several factors, including:

• Ease of use — Are the rewards from the card easy to earn and redeem, and are there various options for using rewards? Are there any spending caps or other limitations?
• Earning potential — How does the card’s earning rates compare to similar cards in the same category? If there are bonus categories, do any of them have a spending cap, and do they apply to typical everyday spending?
• Perks — While most cards of this type are fairly no-frills, does the card come with benefits that similar cards lack? For example, cell phone protection, travel insurance, or a strong intro APR offer?

You can find out more about Insider’s methodology in our how we rate credit cards guide.

Holly Johnson

Freelance Writer

Angela Fung

Marketing Compliance Manager

Angela Fung is a marketing compliance manager at Personal Finance Insider, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice. She is the primary contact for credit cards compliance and has experience managing content and partnerships for the banking, loans, and investment verticals as well. 
Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love.
The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
Prior to joining Insider in February 2021, Angela worked at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Chicago. As a digital marketer on the in-house communications and programming team, she supported startups and individuals looking to commercialize their research, partner with other companies, or attract venture capital.

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