United Gateway vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7644", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Mid-Tier Travel Rewards"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

This section breaks down why we like the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.

‍

• It offers high rewards rates across several popular spending categories like travel and dining without needing to book through a specific portal.
• Despite its annual fee, the card provides valuable perks like cell phone protection and a yearly airline credit.
• The annual $50 airline incidental credit effectively lowers the card's annual fee, making it easier to justify for regular travelers (publisher-formulated estimate).

‍

Pros

‍

• High rewards rates on travel and dining without needing to use a specific portal.
• Flexible redemption options, including point transfers to travel partners.
• Valuable built-in protections for travel and your cell phone.

‍

Cons

‍

• Charges an annual fee.
• The list of travel transfer partners is limited compared to some competitors.
• Lacks premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs United Gateway

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, the United Gateway or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, depends on your travel style and airline loyalty. Each card is built for a different type of traveler, making the best choice a personal one.

‍

• United Gateway℠ Card is designed for occasional United Airlines flyers and brand loyalists. It serves as an entry-level option for those who want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is geared toward frequent travelers seeking a flexible, mid-tier travel rewards card. It's ideal for those who want to earn points quickly on various travel and dining purchases.

‍

Redemption

‍

United Gateway℠ Card: Rewards are earned as miles within the United MileagePlus program. These miles can be redeemed for flights with United and its partners, as well as for seat upgrades, hotel stays, and other travel experiences.

‍

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card offers flexible redemption options for its points. You can book travel directly through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer your points to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• United Gateway℠ Card: This card operates within the United Airlines ecosystem and has no annual fee. However, it does charge a foreign transaction fee. Cardholders get a discount on in-flight United purchases but do not receive lounge access or travel credits.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: Built for flexibility, this card has an annual fee but no foreign transaction fees. It features its own travel portal and allows point transfers to various airline and hotel partners. While it doesn't offer lounge access, it includes an annual statement credit for airfare purchases.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

If you're looking to simplify the decision-making process, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

‍

• Test Drive a Credit Card: Before applying, you can use your real spending data to see personalized calculations of how much a new card would earn you. This feature provides a complete breakdown of potential rewards without requiring an application or a hard credit pull.
• Personalized Recommendations: The platform analyzes your transaction history to match you with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your specific spending patterns.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Kudos offers a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report, helping you make more informed application decisions.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you get a card through the platform and find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Earn Extra Rewards: By creating an account, you can earn extra rewards (called Kudos Boost) on top of your credit card rewards when shopping at your favorite stores through the platform.
• Centralized Management: You can manage multiple credit cards, track your spending, and monitor your credit score all within the Kudos platform.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

‍

The United Gateway℠ Card is ideal for occasional United flyers, credit card beginners, or budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee. It's a solid choice for those who want to avoid foreign transaction fees on international trips and benefit from travel protections like trip cancellation coverage. As a great entry-level option, it allows users to accumulate MileagePlus miles on everyday spending categories like gas and local transit.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

‍

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is designed for frequent travelers who want premium-style rewards without the high annual fee of a top-tier card. It’s an excellent fit for those who travel several times a year and dine out regularly, especially younger travelers like millennials and Gen Z who value high, flexible rewards on their spending. Individuals with good to excellent credit will find this card particularly useful for its straightforward perks and valuable points system, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

So, you've weighed the United Gateway℠ Card vs. the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card and neither one feels quite right? No problem—the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and there are other excellent options that could be a perfect match for your wallet.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["509", "118"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Exceptional Value", "Generous Travel Rewards"]} ]]

‍

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit score: Most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.
• Understand the ecosystem: Research issuer-specific rules and how you plan to use the rewards.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Check issuer application rules: Be aware of policies like the Chase 5/24 rule or Wells Fargo's limit on new cards.
• Start with the right card: Consider a no-annual-fee card if you're new to rewards or a mid-tier card for higher earning.
• Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.

Our Methodology

‍

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.

‍

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

‍

Which card is better for beginners?

‍

The United Gateway Card is often a great starting point due to its lack of an annual fee, making it an accessible option for earning airline miles. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card may appeal to beginners with broader spending habits who want to earn flexible travel rewards not tied to a specific airline.

‍

Can I have both the United Gateway and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey cards?

‍

Yes, since the cards are issued by different banks, you can hold both at the same time. This allows you to take advantage of United-specific benefits from one card while earning flexible points on broader travel and dining with the other.

‍

Do the rewards earned with these cards expire?

‍

United MileagePlus miles earned with the Gateway card do not expire. Wells Fargo Rewards points earned with the Autograph Journey card will not expire as long as your account remains open.

‍