Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card 2024 Review
If you're interested in earning cash back on purchases, choosing the right rewards card is essential.
The offers unlimited 2% cash back rewards, along with a lengthy low introductory APR period.
In addition to generous rewards, this card also comes with some attractive features and benefits. Those include Visa Signature benefits.
There's no annual fee to earn cash back with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. And you have multiple ways to redeem the rewards you earn.
Looking for a new cash back rewards card? This Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review can help you decide if it's right for you.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Pros & Cons
Main Highlight: Unlimited 2% Cash Back
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card makes it as easy as possible to earn cash back rewards.
This card offers unlimited 2% cash back on purchases.
There are no rotating bonus categories. And you don't have to worry about reward tiers.
That means you can earn 2% cash back on:
- Dining out
- Travel, including airfare and hotels
- Supermarket purchases
- Shopping
- Bill payments
- Streaming services
Or anything else you typically spend money on.
There's no cap on the amount of cash back you can earn. And this card does come with an introductory rewards bonus offer.
You'll need to meet the minimum spending requirement to qualify. But it's an easy way to add to your cash back total.
When you're ready to use your cash back rewards, you have four options:
- Redeem for purchases with as little as $1 in rewards
- Redeem as a credit to a qualified Wells Fargo mortgage, loan or credit account
- Redeem for cash at an ATM in $20 increments when you use your Wells Fargo debit or ATM card
- Redeem for gift cards from partner merchants
You can also share your cash back rewards. This is an option if you know someone who's also a Wells Fargo accountholder.
You don't need to have a Wells Fargo bank account to open a Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
But you'll need a Wells Fargo deposit account with a debit or ATM card to redeem rewards for cash at ATMs.
Low Introductory APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers an introductory APR period for both purchases and balance transfers.
Compared to similar cash back cards, the offer terms are competitive.
So why does that matter?
You might consider a zero interest introductory offer if you have a big purchase planned. Or you could use 0% APR promotions to consolidate high interest debt.
Just keep in mind that you may pay a fee for balance transfers.
Here's how the balance transfer fee works with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card:
- 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
You'll also need to check the timing.
If you can't pay a purchase or balance transfer off before the promo period ends, the regular APR will apply to the remaining balance.
What Else Do You Get With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card's best feature is its cash back rewards program.
But there's more to it than just earning cash back rewards.
As a cardmember, you can also enjoy:
- Up to $600 per year in cellphone protection when you use your card to pay your cellphone bill (subject to a $25 deductible; terms apply)
- Zero liability protection
- Control Tower, which makes it easy to manage multiple Wells Fargo accounts in one place
- Built-in security features and protections
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a Visa Signature card. So that means you get Visa Signature benefits, including:
- 24/7 concierge service
- Luxury Hotel Collection access
- Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Roadside dispatch
This isn't specifically a travel rewards card. But it does come with benefits that could make it more attractive for booking travel.
Card Fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card doesn't have an annual fee, which is a plus.
There is a 3% foreign transaction fee, however. That could make purchases more expensive if you use the card while traveling outside the U.S.
But overall, this card could be a good pick for earning cash back rewards with no annual fee.
Just be sure to pay on time, as the late payment fee is on the higher end.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Other Rewards Cards
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers a solid cash back rewards program.
But there are other cash back cards you might consider. Here are three other options for earning cash rewards.
Citi Double Cash
Citi Double Cash Card Pros & Cons
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The offers 2% cash back total on purchases. Here's how it breaks down:
- 1% cash back on purchases as you make them
- 1% cash back on purchases as you pay them off
You have to pay at least the minimum due to earn the second 1% cash back. But there are no caps on the cash back you can earn.
Cash rewards can be redeemed for statement credit, direct deposit or a check. You can also convert them to Citi ThankYou points.
You might appreciate that if you have another Citi card that earns ThankYou points.
This card has no annual fee. But it does have a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Read the full editor's review of Citi Double Cash.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited Card Pros & Cons
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The offers cash back with a tiered structure.
Here's how rewards work with this card:
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3% back on drugstore purchases
- 1.5% cash back on other purchases
Cash back rewards are unlimited. There's also an introductory cash back bonus for qualifying cardmembers.
There are no rotating bonus categories to activate. And if you spend heavily on travel or dining, you could earn a decent amount of cash back.
This card has no annual fee but it does have a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Read the full editor's review of Citi Double Cash.
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Pros & Cons
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The earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
That's less than what you'll get with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. But this card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
So if you're looking for a cash back card for overseas travel, this could be it.
You can redeem rewards for cash, gift cards, purchases or as a deposit to a PayPal account.
This card also comes with travel accident insurance and emergency travel assistance.
Read the full editor's review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card.
Final Verdict: Should You Apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card comes with a great cash back rewards rate and a low introductory APR.
You might like this card if:
- You want to earn unlimited cash back rewards
- You'd rather not pay an annual fee to earn rewards
- You're looking for flexible redemption options
On the other hand, you might prefer a different card if you're interested in travel benefits specifically. Or if you want to earn a higher cash back rewards rate.
Keep in mind that earning a higher rewards rate may mean dealing with tiered or rotating categories.
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, your purchases earn the same rewards rate. So that could be a better choice if you prefer simplicity.
Remember also to compare the regular purchase and balance transfer APR so you know what you'll pay if you carry a balance month to month.
