Wells Fargo Active Cash card review: 2% cash back with no strings attached and no annual fee

Review: Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash the best credit card for you?

There's a lot to like about the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card, and that's especially true if you're looking for a card that offers a high rate of rewards without rotating categories or earning caps. The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card earns a flat 2% cash back for each dollar you spend, and without any hoops to jump through.

This card also comes with no annual fee, and new cardholders get an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card starts you off with a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card, which makes it more rewarding than its closest cash-back competitor — the Citi® Double Cash Card. Most people know the Citi® Double Cash Card as the other major rewards card that offers 2% back on all purchases, but there are some major differences.

Read more: The best no-annual-fee credit cards of 2021

With the Citi® Double Cash Card, you earn 2% back but your rewards are doled out in two segments — you get 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. Also note that the Citi® Double Cash Card does not offer a sign-up bonus, and that its 0% introductory APR only applies to balance transfers and not to purchases.

If you opt for the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card instead, you'll get the chance to earn a sign-up bonus and 2% back for each dollar you spend, and the card comes with benefits like cell phone protection and Visa Signature Concierge to boot.

Comparison: Wells Fargo Active Cash vs other Wells Fargo credit cards

*Welcome bonus reward nights on the Hotels.com Rewards Visa®️ Credit Card exclude taxes and fees, and if your reward night costs less than $125, you won't get the difference

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs other cash-back credit cards

How to earn cash back with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card offers 2% back on everything you buy with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activation. This means you can use it for all your purchases and earn this flat rate of rewards for each dollar you spend.

Read more: The best cash-back credit cards of 2021

It doesn't get any more simple than that, which is one of the biggest upsides of this card. 

How to redeem rewards from the Wells Fargo Active Cash

Rewards earned with the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card belong in the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards program, which means you can redeem them in several ways. For example, you can:

• Redeem to cover purchases charged to your card in amounts starting at $1 in rewards
• Redeem for statement credits to a Wells Fargo mortgage, loan, or credit product account
• Redeem at an ATM in increments of $20, although you'll need a Wells Fargo debit card to do so
• Cash in your rewards for gift cards
• Use your rewards to book travel, including airline tickets

This kind of flexibility is good news for consumers who want more than one way to redeem their cash back. However, you should note that a few of the redemption options available are only for Wells Fargo customers, including payments to Wells Fargo loan products and cash back at an ATM. 

Read more: Many people are reconsidering earning travel rewards, but it's impossible to get stuck with flexible credit card points that work for both travel and cash back

Benefits and features

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card comes with decent benefits for a no-annual-fee card. 

Introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers

New Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card cardholders are eligible for a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card. 

Read more: The best low-interest and 0% APR credit cards

Cell phone protection

Pay your phone bill with your Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card and you'll become eligible for cell phone protection coverage. This benefit is worth up to $600 per claim against damage or theft, although a $25 deductible applies. There's a maximum of two claims per 12 month period.

Read more: The best credit cards with cell phone protection

24/7 Concierge Service

Visa Signature concierge can help you make travel or dining plans or provide other types of personal assistance. This benefit is offered for free and 24 hours a day provided you're a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card customer.

Read more: Visa Signature credit cards offer perks at luxury hotels and benefits that can save you money and hassle, but many cardholders aren't aware they have one

Emergency card disbursement and card replacement

If your credit card is lost or stolen, this protection can replace your card in as little as 24 hours.

Roadside dispatch

This benefit includes a phone number you can call for pay-per-use assistance when you're on the road. For example, you can call roadside dispatch for help with a flat tire, tire changes, lockout service and more.

Travel and emergency assistance services

This benefit is offered 24 hours a day, and it comes in the form of an assistance hotline. You can use this hotline to get help with medical or legal referrals, emergency transportation assistance, emergency translation services and more. The service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs.

Read more: 6 lesser-known credit card travel benefits that can save you thousands of dollars if things go wrong on a trip

Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

Cardholders can book through the Visa Signature Hotel Collection and receive additional perks, including:

When you make a reservation through Visa Signature Hotels, you're automatically entitled to the following:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Free in-room Wi-Fi
• Late check-out upon request, when available
• Complimentary breakfast for two
• A $25 food or beverage credit

Read more: Hotel programs from Amex, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits — here's how

Fees and costs

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card doesn't charge an annual fee, which is a major benefit considering the high rate of cash back you get. 

With that being said, there are some other additional charges that can apply. For example, fees can be charged for balance transfers and cash advances, and you could be charged a late fee or returned payment fee up to $40. This card also charges 3% in foreign transaction fees when you make purchases abroad. 

Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

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