Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 closer look at why the Wells Fargo Active Cash® card stands out.

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• The card offers a straightforward, unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, which removes the hassle of tracking spending categories.
• Paying your monthly phone bill with the card grants you cell phone protection, covering up to $600 per claim for damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible.
• With a $0 annual fee, there's no spending required to break even, making every dollar of cash back you earn pure value. (publisher-formulated estimate)

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Pros

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• Offers a high, flat-rate cash back on all purchases, with no rotating categories to track or earning limits to worry about.
• Comes with no annual fee, maximizing the value you get from your rewards.
• Provides valuable cardholder perks, including an introductory APR offer and cell phone protection.

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Cons

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• Foreign transaction fees apply, making it less suitable for purchases abroad.
• Cash back redemption is less flexible compared to other cards.
• Approval typically requires a good to excellent credit score.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Wells Fargo Active Cash, depends entirely on your spending habits and what you want from a rewards card.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - This card is best for entry-level travel. It is ideal for frequent travelers who want strong rewards and protections without a premium annual fee.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card - This card excels in the cash back category. It offers straightforward, flat-rate rewards on all purchases for users seeking simple, uncapped cash rewards.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: You can redeem your points for cash back or gift cards, but they are most valuable when used for travel. Points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or redeemed through the Chase travel portal for a bonus.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Redemption is simple and flexible, allowing you to receive your cash rewards in several ways. You can redeem your rewards for a statement credit, a direct deposit into a Wells Fargo account, or even get cash from a Wells Fargo ATM.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is designed with travelers in mind. Its travel ecosystem is centered around the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, where points have an increased value when redeemed for travel. You can also transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners. It offers a strong package of travel protections, including trip cancellation insurance and a primary auto rental damage waiver. A key benefit for international travelers is that it does not charge foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive an annual hotel credit.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: As a straightforward cash back card, its travel perks are minimal. It does not offer bonus redemption values through a travel portal or the ability to transfer rewards to travel partners. This card does charge a foreign transaction fee, which can add up on purchases made abroad. It also lacks the comprehensive travel insurance and protections that are hallmarks of a dedicated travel card.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized comparison, tools like Kudos can help you evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Unlock $100 in Kickstart+ Rewards when you add select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points with Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores.
• Track your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses for free.
• Discover new cards with personalized matching based on your spending history.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months of approval.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want a powerful rewards card without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals with good to excellent credit who can take full advantage of its flexible rewards, valuable transfer partners, and strong travel insurance protections. If you're looking to earn a generous welcome bonus and maximize rewards on dining and travel, this card offers a compelling package, as detailed in our full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Review.

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 prefer a simple, flat-rate cash back system over complex rewards categories. It's particularly well-suited for those with good to excellent credit who need to make large purchases or transfer balances, thanks to its 0% intro APR period. This business card review also highlights key benefits like unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases and cell phone protection, making it a strong contender for businesses that don't travel internationally frequently.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Wells Fargo Active Cash® comparison didn't yield a winner for your wallet? Let's explore a few other top-tier cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and financial goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score, as most premium cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer application rules, like Chase’s 5/24 rule, which could affect your eligibility.
• Plan for the welcome offer spend to ensure you can meet the requirement with your normal purchasing habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application around large, planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Understand if an issuer allows you to decline an offer without impacting your credit score, as some do.
• Apply through a single, trusted platform to avoid hunting for the best offers across different browsers.

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 travel rewards?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is generally better for travel, offering bonus points on travel and dining, plus valuable redemption options through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal and transfer partners.

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Is there an annual fee for either card?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee, while the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has no annual fee.

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Which card is simpler to use for earning rewards?

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is simpler, offering a flat 2% cash rewards on purchases without needing to track bonus categories.

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