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

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.

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• It offers high-earning bonus categories on travel and dining without forcing you to book through a specific travel portal.
• The card includes valuable benefits like trip cancellation coverage and cell phone protection up to $1,000 for damage or theft.
• Its $50 annual airline credit effectively reduces the $95 annual fee to just $45, making it easy to justify keeping the card year after year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• High rewards on travel and dining without being restricted to a specific booking portal.
• Points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
• Includes an annual airline credit and valuable travel protections.

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Cons

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• Carries an annual fee.
• Its list of travel transfer partners is smaller than many competitors, particularly lacking domestic U.S. airlines.
• Does not include premium travel perks such as airport lounge access or free checked bags.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, depends on your travel habits and what you value in a rewards card. Both are strong contenders in the travel card space, but they cater to slightly different types of users.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top choice for entry-level travel, making it ideal for those just starting to maximize travel rewards without committing to a premium annual fee.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card targets frequent travelers looking for mid-tier travel rewards, offering premium-like benefits without the premium price tag.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Points offer great flexibility, providing increased value when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal or transferred to airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem points for cash back, gift cards, and experiences.

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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: You can redeem points for travel through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer them to a selection of travel partners. Alternatively, points can be redeemed for statement credits or gift cards.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portals: The Sapphire Preferred offers a 25% boost in point value when booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. The Autograph Journey lets you book travel through the Wells Fargo portal, but without an equivalent built-in point value increase.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international trips, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Annual Credits: Each card offers a different type of annual credit. The Sapphire Preferred provides an annual hotel credit, whereas the Autograph Journey offers an annual statement credit applicable to airline purchases.
• Travel Insurance: You'll find robust travel protections with both cards, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver, offering peace of mind on the road.
• Airport Lounge Access: Neither card provides complimentary airport lounge access, a benefit more commonly found on premium travel cards with higher annual fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a data-driven approach, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of cards using your own spending habits.

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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 maximize rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's widely considered a top-tier entry-level travel card, making it ideal for those just starting with travel rewards or seeking a high-value, mid-tier option. With robust travel protections and flexible redemption options, it provides significant value and peace of mind for its cardholders.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is tailored for frequent travelers who want premium-like perks without the high-end annual fee. It's an ideal choice for individuals who dine out regularly and travel several times a year, whether for work or leisure, and want to rack up points quickly on those expenses. Those who value flexible redemption options, a generous welcome bonus, and useful protections like cell phone insurance will find this card to be a strong contender.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market to consider.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer.
• Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific rules that may affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Align your application with a planned large purchase to help meet any minimum spending requirements.
• Consider issuer-specific rules, such as the Chase 5/24 rule, which can impact your eligibility.
• Know that some issuers, like Wells Fargo, may limit you to one new card application every six months.

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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Which card is better for someone new to travel rewards?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is often recommended for beginners due to its straightforward rewards structure and valuable transfer partners. However, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is also a strong contender with its simple, high-earning bonus categories.

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Can I hold both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey cards?

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Yes, you can absolutely hold both cards simultaneously, as they are issued by different banks. This can be a great strategy to maximize rewards across different spending categories and take advantage of two separate travel portals.

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How do the annual fees compare?

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Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card have a $95 annual fee. You should weigh the benefits of each card to determine which one provides more value for your spending habits.

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