United Club vs Wells Fargo Active Cash: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Active Cash® 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 Active Cash® Card.

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• You’ll earn a simple, unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, which is great for maximizing rewards without tracking categories.
• The card has no annual fee, though it does charge foreign transaction fees.
• To earn $100 in cash back, you would need to spend $5,000 on the card (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• New cardholders can take advantage of a welcome bonus and an introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
• The rewards structure is refreshingly simple, offering unlimited cash back on every purchase without any caps or complicated categories to manage.
• It comes with valuable cardholder perks, including cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your bill with the card.

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Cons

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• This card isn't the best choice for purchases made abroad.
• Redemption options for your cash rewards are restrictive.
• Approval typically requires a good to excellent credit score.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or Wells Fargo Active Cash, comes down to your personal spending habits and what you value most in a credit card.

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• The United Club℠ Card is a premium travel card best suited for frequent United Airlines flyers who value airport lounge access and other exclusive travel benefits.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a straightforward cash back card ideal for those who prefer earning a simple, flat-rate reward on all purchases without tracking spending categories.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are earned as miles that can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines, seat upgrades, and other travel-related expenses.

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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: You earn cash rewards that can be redeemed for a statement credit, withdrawn from an ATM, or deposited directly into an eligible Wells Fargo account.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card includes a United Club membership, providing access to its lounges and participating partner lounges. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card does not offer any lounge access benefits.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: As a travel-focused card, the United Club℠ Card does not charge foreign transaction fees on international purchases. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card does have a foreign transaction fee.
• Airline-Specific Perks: The United Club℠ Card is tailored for the United flyer, offering benefits like free first and second checked bags for the cardholder and a companion, as well as priority boarding on United flights. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card does not offer any airline-specific benefits.
• Travel Portal & Protections: The United Club℠ Card's ecosystem is built around the United MileagePlus program and typically includes a suite of travel protections. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card provides access to the Wells Fargo Rewards portal for travel bookings but has limited travel protections compared to a premium travel card.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, Kudos offers a suite of tools designed to help you maximize rewards and make informed decisions.

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• Test Drive Cards: Simulate potential earnings from a new card using your actual spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card’s standard rewards when shopping at participating retailers.
• Approval Odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Exclusive Offers: Gain access to special promotions, including a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding certain cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium choice for loyal United Airlines flyers who will maximize the complimentary United Club membership. It's also particularly valuable for business and international travelers who benefit from Premier Access® services and extensive Star Alliance lounge access worldwide. Additionally, those chasing MileagePlus Premier status will find the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) a significant perk of the card.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Active Cash®?

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice for small business owners who prefer a simple, flat-rate cash back structure over complex rewards categories. This card is particularly beneficial for those who want to earn unlimited 2% cash back on all business expenses and take advantage of perks like cell phone protection, which offers up to $600 per claim. As detailed in this business card review, it's also ideal for entrepreneurs with good-to-excellent credit who need a 0% introductory APR period for large purchases or balance transfers.

Alternatives to Consider

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Still on the fence after our United Club vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® comparison? If neither of these cards feels like a perfect match, here are a few other top contenders 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: Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer's rules: Some issuers have restrictions on how many cards you can have or how often you can apply.
• Review the card's benefits: Make sure the card's perks and rewards align with your spending habits and lifestyle.

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Application Strategy

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• Match the card to your habits: Choose a card that rewards your existing spending, whether for specific airline loyalty or simple cash back.
• Plan for the spending requirement: Make sure you can comfortably meet the welcome offer's spending threshold with your regular purchases.
• Don't settle for a lesser offer: If you don't see the best bonus, you can often decline and try again later without impacting your credit.

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 airport lounge access?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the clear winner for lounge access, as it includes a United Club℠ membership. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card does not offer any airport lounge benefits.

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Do both cards have an annual fee?

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The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for earning cash rewards. In contrast, the United Club℠ Infinite Card carries a significant annual fee in exchange for its premium travel perks.

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Can I use the rewards from one card on the other?

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No, the rewards programs are entirely separate. You will earn United MileagePlus miles with the United Club℠ Infinite Card and cash rewards with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, and they cannot be combined or transferred.

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