Amex Green vs Wells Fargo Active Cash: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons this card earns our recommendation.

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• It earns a consistent, high cash-back rate on every single purchase, with no complicated bonus categories to track.
• You get complimentary cell phone protection against damage or theft just for paying your monthly bill with the card.
• Cardholders can enjoy all the benefits and earn rewards without being charged an annual fee.

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Pros

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• Unlimited cash back on all purchases with a simple, flat-rate rewards structure.
• No annual fee and an introductory APR offer for new cardholders on purchases and balance transfers.
• Valuable cardholder benefits, including complimentary cell phone protection.

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Cons

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• Foreign transaction fees apply, making it less than ideal for use abroad.
• Reward redemption is limited to statement credits or deposits into an eligible Wells Fargo account.
• Approval generally requires a good to excellent credit score, which may be a barrier for some applicants.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® vs American Express® Green Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Green or Wells Fargo Active Cash, depends entirely on your spending habits and reward preferences, as these two cards cater to very different types of users.

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• American Express® Green Card: This card is best categorized as a travel and dining rewards card, ideal for those who want to earn flexible points on a broad range of travel, transit, and restaurant purchases worldwide.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: This card is best for users, including small business owners, who prefer a simple, flat-rate cash back rewards structure on all purchases without needing to track spending categories.

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Redemption

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American Express® Green Card: You can redeem points by transferring them to various airline and hotel partners or by booking travel directly through the American Express travel portal.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: This card offers straightforward cash rewards that can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposits, or even cash from an ATM.

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Travel Perks

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• American Express® Green Card: This card is designed for travel, offering access to the American Express travel portal for bookings. It has no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international spending. Cardholders also receive an annual statement credit for CLEAR Plus membership and a credit for purchasing airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy. Terms apply.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: While travel can be booked through the Wells Fargo rewards portal, this card's travel features are minimal. It includes a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad and does not offer premium travel perks such as airport lounge access.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to make a data-driven decision, a financial companion tool like Kudos allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the perfect match for your spending.

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• “Test drive” a credit card before you apply by simulating your potential earnings based on your actual spending history.
• Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report without a hard credit pull.
• Access a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Earn extra rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Use the autofill feature at checkout to automatically select the best card for any given purchase to maximize your rewards.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is a great fit for frequent travelers who can make use of its valuable transfer partners, rich rewards, and generous credits. It’s particularly suited for those who dine out often and are willing to put in the time to maximize the value of their points by transferring them to airline and hotel loyalty programs. Cardholders who will use the travel perks, like the up to $209 annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership, can easily offset the $150 annual fee (Terms apply).

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Active Cash®?

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice for small business owners who value simplicity and want to earn a straightforward, flat-rate cash back on all their purchases without tracking spending categories. This card is particularly well-suited for those who primarily make domestic purchases and prefer tangible cash rewards over complex travel points systems. Furthermore, business owners looking to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance will benefit from the introductory 0% APR period, while the included cell phone protection adds a layer of security for business-related devices.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've weighed the Amex Green vs Wells Fargo Active Cash comparison and neither card feels quite right. Let's explore a few other top contenders that could be a better fit for your financial strategy.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to ensure it meets the good-to-excellent requirement for most premium cards.
• Plan your spending to meet the welcome offer threshold naturally without going into debt.
• Have a rewards strategy, whether that means researching transfer partners or knowing your cash back redemption options.

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Application Strategy

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• Check for offers without risk since some issuers let you see your offer before a hard credit inquiry.
• Leverage your banking relationships as some issuers favor existing customers during the approval process.
• Know the issuer’s rules because many have limits on how many cards you can open in a certain period.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for beginners?

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For those new to credit card rewards, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is often the better starting point due to its simple cash back program and no annual fee. The American Express® Green Card's travel-focused benefits and annual fee are typically better suited for more experienced cardholders.

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Can I have both the American Express® Green Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card?

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Yes, holding both cards can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. You can use the Active Cash card for general purchases and the Amex Green card for travel and dining to earn the most on every dollar spent.

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What credit score do I need for these cards?

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While specific requirements are not published, both cards generally require a good to excellent credit score for approval. Applicants with a credit history demonstrating responsible use are more likely to be approved.

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