Best Wells Fargo credit cards of December 2023

More details on our best Wells Fargo credit cards

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Why we love it: The Wells Fargo Reflect card (see rates and fees) offers one of the longest introductory APR periods for both balance transfers and new purchases. It offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers within the first 120 days for 21 months from account opening (then a variable APR of 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% applies). The card also comes with cellphone protection and no annual fee. 

Who should use it: The Wells Fargo Reflect’s long introductory APR period makes it a great pick for cardholders who are looking to refinance their debt or finance a large purchase. 

Why it should be in your wallet: New cardholders could potentially save thousands in interest with this long introductory APR period. 

Alternative card options: If you are not a Wells Fargo user, Citi offers the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), which features a 0% introductory APR for new purchases for the first 12 months of account opening, and 0% introductory APR for 21 months from the date of the first transfer for balance transfers completed within the first four months of account opening. A variable APR of 18.24% to 28.99% will apply after.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Why we love it: The Active Cash card (see rates and fees) is a great pick for credit card beginners who want a simple cash back card. It offers a flat 2% back on purchases so you don’t have to overthink your credit card earning strategy. In addition, the card offers additional perks like cellphone protection, all with no annual fee.

Who should use it: Credit card beginners or people who are looking for a simple credit card strategy would benefit from the simple earning scheme on the Active Cash. 

Why it’s in my wallet: “This card offers a generous 0% intro APR period (over a year) and 2% cash back. When the time came to pay my daughter’s preschool tuition, I got the card. I figured I could split the expense up monthly and pay a service fee to the school, or I could spread it out with 0% APR and get 2% back. It was a no-brainer for me!” – Eileen Sullivan, Senior UX researcher

Alternative card options: If you are looking for a credit card with a simple earning model but looking to earn transferable points, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) which also offers unlimited cash back of 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy; 1% when you pay your bill). This can be turned into full Citi ThankYou Rewards points if you have a Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees), which greatly increases their value. 

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Why we love it: The Wells Fargo Autograph (see rates and fees) is a great way to start earning travel rewards. It has a welcome bonus, bonus earnings on multiple categories and Visa Signature® benefits — all for no annual fee. 

Who should use it: Credit card users that are looking for a simple introduction into the world of travel rewards would benefit from the Autograph’s lucrative earning structure, simple redemption options and no annual fee. 

Why it should be in your wallet: If you are looking to dip your toes into travel rewards, you are probably looking for a travel-focused card without a high annual fee and decent benefits. The Wells Fargo Autograph is a great card for new travelers, as it features bonus earning, cellphone protection and no annual fee. 

Alternative card options: If you are looking for a card with more benefits, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The miles earned can be redeemed for travel, and the card also comes with a reimbursement fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. It does feature a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). 

Bilt Mastercard®

Why we love it: The Bilt Mastercard (see rates and fees) allows you to earn points on your rent, generally a large monthly expense, without fees. In addition, you can earn elevated rewards on travel and dining. The Bilt Mastercard is a great way for renters to get cash back on their largest expenses, and the card comes with many travel benefits and no annual fee! 

Who should use it: Renters who are looking for a way to earn travel rewards on their rent, without fees, can find a lot of benefits in this card. 

Why it should be in your wallet: The Bilt card can be a great addition to your wallet because no other card lets you earn on rent as widely. In addition, it comes with travel and cellphone protection while featuring no annual fee — making this card a no-brainer for any renter’s wallet. 

Alternative card options: Unfortunately, there is no other credit card like the Bilt Mastercard. If you are looking for a simple cash-back card and your landlord takes credit cards without charging a fee, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card which earns 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill). 

Types of Wells Fargo credit cards

Wells Fargo offers multiple types of credit cards, but it’s up to you to figure out which one is best for your situation.

Cash rewards

Cash rewards cards typically earn rewards in the form of cash back. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a great example of this type of card. You earn 2% back on purchases you make on the card. For example, if you make a $100 purchase, you would earn $2 cash back in rewards. 

Earned cash-back is typically awarded in the form of a deposit to your bank account or as a statement credit. 

Travel rewards

Travel rewards are a more complex form of rewards. Typically, travel rewards are earned in the form of points or miles which can then be used toward travel (or other redemption options). However, the exact type of rewards you earn and how you can use them depends on the specific card.

For example, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns points on a variety of purchases, but those can only be redeemed for a fixed value.

On the other hand, the Bilt Mastercard earns transferable Bilt Rewards points, which can be redeemed for travel directly through Bilt or transferred to the program’s participating travel partners. Transferable points give cardholders greater flexibility to redeem rewards. 

Related: A guide to earning transferable points and why they’re so valuable

Balance transfer

Credit card debt can be debilitating with its steep interest rates and sky-high fees. You should aim to never carry a credit card balance, but a balance transfer card can be a good fit for those struggling to get out of existing credit card debt. 

The Wells Fargo Reflect offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on both balance transfers and new purchases made within the first 120 days of account opening. Following the introductory period, you’ll face a variable APR of 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99%, depending on your creditworthiness. If you transfer an existing balance from another card, you can start making aggressive payments on this credit card debt without being shackled by high-interest rates and extra fees. This can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in interest — as long as you finish paying off the entire balance by the end of the introductory period. 

How to choose a Wells Fargo credit card

Wells Fargo offers a relatively simple selection of cards. Consider what type of card you need for your life, what type of rewards you hope to earn and what types of benefits you seek from your Wells Fargo credit card. There is no right answer; you should consider what card best matches your spending habits and needs.

Wells Fargo credit card benefits

Cellphone protection

Many Wells Fargo cards come with cellphone protection. This typically requires paying your monthly service bill with an eligible card, but you’re then covered for loss, theft or damage to any phone on that account. Each claim is capped at $600, and you’ll face a $25 deductible with each one.

Related: The best credit cards for paying your cellphone bill

Visa Signature® benefits

Many Wells Fargo credit cards are Visa Signature® cards, which makes them eligible for a number of additional benefits. This can include access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection as well as travel and purchase protections.

How to maximize Wells Fargo rewards

How to maximize your rewards will depend on the type of Wells Fargo card you have. For example, no reward strategy is needed for the Active Cash card, which offers a flat 2% back on purchases. But suppose you also have the Wells Fargo Autograph. In that case, you’ll need to strategize on when to use it instead of the Active Cash (on bonus categories).

For Bilt cardholders, it can take even more effort to maximize your rewards. For starters, you must make five purchases per month on the card to earn any points (preferably on bonus categories). You can then redeem Bilt Rewards points in multiple ways, but the best value is often by transferring them to participating airline and hotel partners. There are some great sweet spots, and TPG values Bilt points at 1.8 cents per point – one of the most competitive rates in the travel card game, especially for a card with no annual fee. 

Methodology

We reviewed the Wells Fargo credit card options, their benefits and welcome offers to determine the best Wells Fargo cards currently available to customers. We utilized the following criteria in our search: 

• Travel benefits
• Reward programs
• Earning rate
• Sign-up offer
• Annual fee

The above cards offer the best combination of these characteristics.

For rates and fees on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

For rewards and benefits on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.