The minimum credit limit you receive with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is $1,000. However, the limit you’ll ultimately receive depends on your credit score, credit history and income.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases with a $0 annual fee, offering a straightforward way to earn rewards — ideal, if you prefer simplicity. It also includes travel and purchase protections that are rare among $0-annual-fee cards.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is well worth considering if you want to earn 2% cash rewards on purchases without having to keep track of rewards categories or spending caps. Plus, it offers an easily attainable sign-up bonus, as well as interest-free periods on purchases and balance transfers for a year.
That said, you won’t get robust benefits with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card — but that’s to be expected from a flat-rate cash back card with a $0 annual fee. To help you decide if this is the right card for you, we’ll highlight its pros and cons and show how it compares to similar cash back credit cards.
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening; then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers; then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Other benefits
Recommended credit: Good / Excellent
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | Regular APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*
|
2% cash rewards on purchases
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
| $200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
| 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR | ||
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
1% - 8% cash back
| $200 Cash Back
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | ||
Citi Double Cash® Card
 Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
2% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
| 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
1.5% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
| 18.99% - 28.49% Variable |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Easy-to-earn sign-up bonus
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Meaning, you only have to spend approximately $167 per month for three months to earn the sign-up bonus.
This is a higher-than-average sign up bonus when you compare it to other cash back cards — a LendingTree study notes that the average sign-up bonus for cash back cards is $161.37. Even better, the rewards rate gives the card solid long-term value.
For example, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card also lets you earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening but offers a lower cash back rate on general purchases.
Check out our picks for the best credit card sign-up bonuses.
“I used the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card together with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card to pay for expensive orthodontist work. This kicked back a total of $400 as the sign-up bonuses for both cards. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card works great for everyday spending, especially when used together with other cards!”
– Isabella Kok, credit cards writer at LendingTree
Flat cash back rate on purchases
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you won’t have to keep track of bonus earning categories or spending caps. Instead, you’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. This is one of the highest flat rates you can earn from a cash back credit card.
If you want to maximize your cash back, consider pairing it with another cash back card that earns higher rewards in select categories that you frequently use.
See our picks for the best cash back credit cards.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is my go-to, everyday credit card. I pair it with my Amazon Prime Visa to earn cash back on every single purchase I make. I love that there are no categories to keep track of and no limit to how much I can earn. And by using it on most purchases, I was able to earn the sign-up bonus easily.
– Will Collicott, credit cards writer at LendingTree
Multiple cash back redemption options
As long as your credit card account is active, your Wells Fargo rewards won’t expire. However, one of the perks of earning cash back is using it to get money back in your wallet or to pay for other items. Wells Fargo has a multitude of ways in which you can redeem your cash back, including:
Get more value by transferring points to a Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
You can potentially stretch the value of your cash back by transferring your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card rewards to a Wells Fargo Autograph® Card. From there, you can transfer your points to one of Wells Fargo’s travel partners.
This can be done online or through your mobile app, allowing you to move rewards from one Wells Fargo credit card to another.
Solid intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
If you want to make a big purchase and pay it off over time, this card lets you do so without incurring interest charges for a year. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. After that, a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR applies.
Or, if you have a large amount of high-interest credit card debt that you want to transfer, the card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. After that, a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR applies.
Here’s a look at how much you could save:
| Purchases | Balance transfers | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers |
| Regular APR | 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR | 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
| Estimated savings | $1,107* | $949* |
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology
Access to My Wells Fargo Deals
In addition to earning cash back on your purchases, Wells Fargo Deals lets you earn additional cash back on certain purchases made through exclusive offers found in your Wells Fargo mobile app.
To activate a deal, simply click on the “+ Activate” button and pay with your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
Some current deals include
Helpful travel and purchase protections
Most no-annual-fee credit cards are pretty bare bones when it comes to protections and insurance. However the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card includes Visa Signature® benefits, which offer solid value.
No bonus earning categories
Depending on your spending habits, you could earn more cash back with a card that offers elevated rewards in specific categories, like groceries and gas. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has these categories — though there is a limit to how much you can receive in elevated rewards, and earning is limited to U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is another card that lets you earn higher rewards — you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
If you don’t mind using a few different credit cards, you can maximize your cash back earnings and use the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card as a catch-all card. It pairs well with the above-mentioned cards — even after you earn the maximum elevated rewards in the grocery and gas categories, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn double what you would if you continued to put your groceries on your Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
Cash back is my family’s top priority, so I rely on the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card to earn at least 2% cash rewards on purchases. I use it alongside a few other cash back cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for dining and the Prime Visa for Amazon purchases. Since we don’t travel often, I appreciate being able to use the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card for hotel and Airbnb stays, earning solid cash back on larger purchases without paying an annual fee for a travel card that wouldn’t get much use.
– Sammi Scharf, credit cards writer at LendingTree
Charges foreign transaction fees
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card charges foreign transaction fees of 3% of the amount of each transaction when you use your card to make purchases outside the U.S. So if you’re planning a trip abroad, leave this card at home and take a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Balance transfer fee
If you transfer your existing credit card debt to this card, you’ll be subject to a balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5. For example, if you transfer $6,000 to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you’ll be charged a balance transfer fee of $180 if transferred within the first 120 days, and $300 if transferred after the first 120 days.
Note that there are a handful of credit cards that don’t charge balance transfer fees, but they’re mostly issued by credit unions and typically offer shorter interest-free periods on balance transfers than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
Some rewards redemptions are not instant
Unlike the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, your cash back isn’t available upon making a qualifying purchase. Newly earned rewards are updated after each closing statement is posted. Any unused rewards can be used at any time after they are made available.
When you redeem cash back for gift cards and statement credits, it may take a few days or more for your transaction to process. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but still notable since other major credit card companies handle this differently.
Restrictions for recent Wells Fargo cardholders
You may not qualify for a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card if you’ve opened any other Wells Fargo consumer credit card within the last six months. If you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card recently, you should be able to find out when it was opened in your online account portal or by checking your credit report with Spring.
In addition, former Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card cardholders may not be eligible for the special officers (like introductory APRs and sign-up bonuses) if they’ve had a card open within the last 48 months.
In addition, it comes with an introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, so you can pay off high-interest debt or finance a large purchase over a long period of time. There is a balance transfer fee, but the money you save on interest could be well worth the cost (see rates & fees).
Similarities to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card include a $0 annual fee and an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus that will help you maximize your rewards (see rates & fees).
You’ll earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. Along with redeeming your rewards for statement credit, direct deposit, checks, travel, merchandise and gift cards, you can transfer them to a few of Citi’s hotel and airline partners.
The Citi Double Cash® Card also offers a very long 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers. After that, an 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR applies.
If you’re concerned about the higher credit score requirement for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, the Citi Double Cash® Card might be a better choice, since it has a recommended credit score of fair / good / excellent.
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. This $0 annual fee credit card also comes with some consumer protections, including extended warranty, purchase protection, rental car, insurance and trip cancellation interruption insurance.
But similar to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® charges foreign transaction fees.
If you value simplicity and want to earn consistent cash back on purchases for a $0 annual fee, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice. But if you prefer longer intro APRs, the Citi Double Cash® Card may be a better option for balance transfers, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card have long intro APR offers for both purchases and balance transfers.
And if your main goal is to maximize your rewards and you don’t have a problem shifting between two cards, consider pairing the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card with another card. For example, if you spend heavily on groceries and entertainment, use the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, and for everything else, use your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
The minimum credit limit you receive with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is $1,000. However, the limit you’ll ultimately receive depends on your credit score, credit history and income.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card suggests applicants have good / excellent credit. If you’re unsure of your approval odds, consider contacting the bank for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card preapproval.
You can request a credit limit increase with Wells Fargo by calling 800-642-4720.
Since the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card reports your payment activity to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), it can help you build credit with responsible usage. This includes paying your bill on time and in full each month (whenever possible), as well as keeping your credit utilization ratio at or below 30%.
Yes, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has auto rental collision damage waiver that you can use as rental car insurance. Note that you’ll need to decline coverage from the rental company and pay for your rental with your Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It’s secondary coverage, and restrictions apply.
Yes, if you use this card to make purchases outside of the U.S., you’ll have to pay foreign transaction fees of 3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.
No, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is not a metal credit card.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Wells Fargo Autograph® Card and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.