Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Which Is Better in 2026?

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Breakdown

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^{The information for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been collected independently by Kudos. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.}

The Active Cash earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, with no categories to track and no annual fee. Cash rewards don't expire as long as your account is open, and you can redeem them for as little as $1.

New cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, after that the variable APR will be 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74%. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee. The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee and includes cell phone protection of up to $600 against damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible.

Head-to-Head: How They Compare

Annual Fee

The Active Cash has no annual fee. The Sapphire Preferred costs $95 a year, so it makes sense only if you'll use its travel earning and benefits.

Dining and Travel

The Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining and 2x to 5x on travel, compared with 2% on the Active Cash. Heavy restaurant and travel spenders earn more with the Sapphire Preferred.

Everyday Non-Bonus Spending

The Active Cash earns 2% on purchases that fall outside the Sapphire Preferred's bonus categories, where the Sapphire Preferred earns 1x. Utilities, healthcare, and general retail earn more on the Active Cash.

Transferable Points

Sapphire Preferred points can be transferred to leading frequent travel programs through Chase. The Active Cash earns cash rewards. Our Wells Fargo trifecta guide explains how Wells Fargo cards can work together.

Travel Protections

The Sapphire Preferred includes primary auto rental coverage up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage on most rental vehicles, trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip, and trip delay reimbursement. The Active Cash includes cell phone protection and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

Intro APR

Only the Active Cash has an intro APR, which covers both purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months.

International Travel

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees. The Active Cash charges 3% on each foreign transaction, which adds up on a trip abroad.

The Travel vs. Cash Back Decision

Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if:

• You travel at least a few times a year
• You want to transfer points to airline and hotel programs
• You want primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation protection
• You spend a lot on dining, streaming, gas, and online groceries

Choose the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card if:

• You want strong rewards on every purchase with no management
• Most of your spending falls outside the Sapphire Preferred's bonus categories
• You want an intro APR on a large purchase or balance transfer
• You don't travel enough to justify an annual fee

Consider holding both. Use the Sapphire Preferred for dining and travel and the Active Cash for everything else. Our guide to credit card pairing strategies explains how to split spending, and the free Kudos extension recommends the card that earns the most at online checkout.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?

• You travel several times a year and want those purchases to earn more
• You want transferable points for flights and hotel stays
• You'll use the Chase Travel hotel credit and Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit
• You want built-in travel protections without buying a separate policy

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card?

• You want a flat 2% cash rewards rate with no annual fee
• Your spending is spread across many categories
• You want 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• You mostly spend in the U.S.
• You want a simple first rewards card

Alternatives to Consider

For premium travel perks, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees) has a $395 annual fee and earns 2X miles on every purchase, plus 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. It includes a $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings.

For flat-rate cash back with an intro balance transfer offer, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay) with no annual fee.

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Tips for Application Success

Before you apply:

• Chase says the Sapphire Preferred is unavailable if you currently have the card open, and the new cardmember bonus may not be available if you previously held the card or received a new cardmember bonus for it.
• Chase may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed in determining bonus eligibility. Our guide to the Chase 5/24 rule explains what many applicants watch for.
• Compare current welcome offers on both cards, since issuers change them over time.

Application strategy:

• Time your Sapphire Preferred application ahead of planned travel or dining spending so it counts toward any welcome offer.
• Chase and Wells Fargo are separate issuers, so you can apply for each card on its own merits, though approval is never guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth the annual fee compared to the Active Cash?

It depends on how much you travel and dine out. If you'll use the 3x and 5x categories, the hotel credit, and the travel protections, the $95 fee can pay off. If not, the Active Cash's 2% rate with no annual fee is the simpler choice.

Can I hold both cards at the same time?

Yes. They're issued by different banks, and many cardholders use the Sapphire Preferred for dining and travel and the Active Cash for everything else.

Does the Active Cash earn more on everyday purchases?

Yes, on purchases outside the Sapphire Preferred's bonus categories. The Active Cash earns 2% there, while the Sapphire Preferred earns 1x.

Which card is better for international travel?

The Sapphire Preferred, which has no foreign transaction fees and includes travel protections. The Active Cash charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Does either card have an intro APR?

Only the Active Cash, with 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, after that the variable APR will be 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74%.