Chase Sapphire Reserve 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 closer look at why the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.

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• It offers exceptionally high rewards rates on travel and dining without forcing you to book through a specific portal.
• The card includes robust travel protections, including trip cancellation insurance up to $15,000, which is unusually generous for its class.
• After using the $50 annual airline credit, you only need to spend $1,500 on dining and travel each year to offset the remaining annual fee. (publisher-formulated estimate)

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Pros

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• Earns high rewards rates on travel and dining purchases without needing to book through a specific portal.
• Offers valuable travel protections, including trip cancellation insurance and a standout cell phone protection plan.
• Provides an annual airline credit and flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to travel partners.

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Cons

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• Comes with an annual fee, which may not be worthwhile for those who don't travel often.
• The list of travel transfer partners is smaller than many competitors, offering less flexibility for point redemptions.
• Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or annual hotel credits.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, depends entirely on your travel style and budget.

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve® - This card is designed for frequent travelers who want to maximize premium travel benefits, including airport lounge access and comprehensive travel protections.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card - This mid-tier travel card is ideal for travelers who want to earn high rewards on travel and dining without paying for premium perks like lounge access.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, and travel, with points being worth more when used for travel bookings through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Cardholders also have the flexibility to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: Rewards are flexible, allowing you to redeem points for travel, statement credits, or gift cards. You can also transfer your points to a curated list of airline and hotel partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes complimentary airport lounge access through Priority Pass™ Select. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card does not offer this perk.
• Annual Credits: Cardholders receive a flexible annual travel credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card provides an annual statement credit specifically for airfare purchases.
• Application Fee Credits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. This benefit is not available with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.
• Travel Protections: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is known for its premium travel protections, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card also comes with a solid set of protections, including trip cancellation coverage.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent choices for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
• Booking & Transfers: Both cards allow you to book travel through a portal and transfer points to airline and hotel partners. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives your points a value boost when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal and features a broad range of transfer partners. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card provides transfers to a curated list of loyalty programs.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your spending habits, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of options and maximize your rewards.

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• Test drive a credit card: Use your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections for any card before you apply, all without a hard credit pull or commitment.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting approved through Kudos, they will match it.
• Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis based on your credit report to better understand your chances of approval for different cards.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is tailored for the frequent traveler who spends heavily on dining and travel and wants to maximize every dollar. This user will consistently take advantage of the $300 annual travel credit, enjoy Priority Pass™ lounge access, and leverage comprehensive travel protections. Ultimately, this premium travel card is for points enthusiasts who can justify the $795 annual fee by extracting significant value from its suite of benefits and transfer partners.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is designed for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's an ideal choice for those who spend regularly on flights, hotels, and dining, and who value the flexibility to redeem points for travel, cash back, or transfer them to airline partners. Essentially, this card hits a sweet spot for travelers seeking strong earning rates and practical benefits, like travel and cell phone protection, over luxury perks such as airport lounge access.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the detailed Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey comparison has revealed that neither card is the right fit for you, other excellent options are available. The travel rewards space is broad, with several cards that might better align with your spending habits and travel goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Have a spending plan – Make sure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirement organically without overspending.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Be aware of any issuer-specific application rules, like restrictions on how many cards you can open in a certain period.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
• Research issuer rules – Some issuers, like Wells Fargo, may limit how often you can open new cards.
• Explore different channels – If you don’t see the best offer, try applying through different methods or platforms.

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 Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is often a better starting point for beginners due to its lower annual fee and simpler rewards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium card with benefits that are most valuable to frequent, experienced travelers.

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Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card's high annual fee justified?

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Whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card's significant annual fee is worth it depends on your ability to maximize its premium benefits. For travelers who fully use the annual travel credit and perks like lounge access, the value can certainly justify the cost.

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How do the travel credits differ between the two cards?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a flexible $300 Annual Travel Credit that applies to a broad category of travel expenses. In contrast, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey provides a more specific $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases.

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