Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Wells Fargo Autograph.

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• You'll earn an unlimited 3X points on a wide range of popular spending categories—including restaurants, travel, gas, and streaming—all without paying an annual fee.
• It offers valuable perks uncommon for a no-annual-fee card, such as cell phone protection and the ability to transfer points to travel partners.
• With no annual fee to offset, you start getting positive value from your very first swipe, making it easy to come out ahead (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• No annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for earning rewards.
• Generous rewards structure that offers bonus points on a broad range of popular spending categories like dining, travel, and gas.
• Access to premium benefits rarely seen on a no-annual-fee card, including cell phone protection and the option to transfer points to travel partners.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or credits for expedited security screening.
• Cardholders must keep track of bonus categories to maximize rewards, which may be less convenient than a flat-rate card.
• The selection of travel transfer partners is more limited compared to other major rewards programs.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Wells Fargo Autograph, depends on your spending habits and travel goals. Both are strong contenders, but they excel in different areas.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best categorized as an entry-level travel card. It is designed for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards and receive robust travel protections without paying for premium-tier perks.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a versatile travel card that also excels at rewarding everyday spending. It is ideal for users who want to earn valuable rewards across a wide range of categories without a yearly cost.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners, making it ideal for maximizing travel rewards.

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Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card offers flexible redemption options for its points, including travel, statement credits, and gift cards, providing a straightforward choice for those who value simplicity.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal and Partners: With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal. It also boasts an extensive list of 1:1 airline and hotel transfer partners, a key feature for maximizing value. The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card features its own travel portal and has recently introduced transfer partners, though its partner network is not as expansive.
• Travel Protections: The Sapphire Preferred offers a strong safety net for travelers with comprehensive benefits like primary auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and baggage delay insurance. The Autograph card’s protections are more basic, including an auto rental waiver and emergency assistance services.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Lounge Access: If airport lounge access is a priority, you’ll need to look elsewhere, as neither card includes this perk.
• Annual Fee: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card carries an annual fee, which is common for cards with its level of travel benefits. The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, on the other hand, has no annual fee.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-backed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply.
• Receive a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report to make confident decisions.
• Compare nearly 3,000 credit cards with data-driven recommendations.
• Benefit from a welcome offer guarantee that matches better offers found within three months.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who value robust travel protections and flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners. Ideal candidates typically have good to excellent credit and spend regularly on dining, travel, and online groceries, making the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a powerful tool for maximizing everyday purchases.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent fit for consumers who want to earn high rewards on everyday spending—like dining, gas, and travel—without paying an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for those who value a straightforward rewards structure and practical benefits, such as up to $600 in cell phone protection, over luxury travel perks. With flexible redemption options that include statement credits and point transfers to travel partners, the card serves as a strong primary card for both rewards beginners and seasoned optimizers, as noted in a NerdWallet review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Wells Fargo Autograph comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better fit.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific policies, like the Chase 5/24 rule, that may affect eligibility.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Research transfer partners - Know how you plan to use your points before applying to maximize their value.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Try different methods - If you don't see the best offer, try applying through different browsers or in an incognito window.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card?

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Yes, it is possible to hold credit cards from different issuers at the same time. Your eligibility for each card will be determined independently based on your credit history and each bank's application rules.

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Do points from these cards transfer to the same travel partners?

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No, each card has its own unique set of airline and hotel transfer partners. Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Wells Fargo Rewards have different partner lists, so it's wise to review them to see which best fits your travel habits.

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Which card is better for a beginner?

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For those new to travel rewards, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card can be a simpler starting point due to its straightforward rewards structure and lack of an annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers more robust travel benefits that may be better suited for those with more experience in maximizing points.

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