The Card Rewards King: Unlock Unlimited Cash Rewards and a Lucrative Welcome Offer (Plus 0% Interest until nearly 2026)

CREDIT CARDS - CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS
Last updated July 18, 2024 | By Tracy Odell

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A simple, but high-earning cash back card that you can grab for your everyday purchases is a must-have for everyone. The FinanceBuzz editors reviewed dozens of cash back credit cards and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) is a top pick for its simple cash back structure, $0 annual fee, and cell phone benefits. In fact, our editors estimate the value of this card to be $870 in the first year based on the welcome bonus and potential rewards earned via spending.1

Top Pick
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>Cash<sup>®</sup></span> Card
5.0
on Wells Fargo's secure website
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What you need to know:

  • Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
  • $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • Intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft
  • $0 annual fee

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card stands out from other cash back cards for its simplicity and amazing rewards. It's hard to find another option that offers so much value with no annual fee.


What we like about the Wells Fargo Active Cash

Where this card really shines is the opportunity to rack up cash rewards, especially in year one with its generous welcome offer. You can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. That is a relatively low spending threshold compared to other cash back cards. For example, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express allows you to earn a $200 statement credit but only after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.

You can also earn a flat, unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. It's super simple - there are no spending categories to think about. Whether buying groceries or filling your gas tank, you'll earn the same rate.

More Benefits and Perks

  • 0% intro APR offers: If you want to avoid interest on balance transfers or purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers and purchases (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable).
  • Cell phone protection: This isn’t a common benefit, especially for a card with no annual fee, but the Active Cash offers up to $600 of cell phone insurance against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card. Be aware there's a modest $25 deductible with this protection.
  • Plenty of redemption options: Your rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and travel. And if you have an eligible Wells Fargo account, you could also redeem your cash rewards for credits to a mortgage or loan account, cash redemptions when you use your Wells Fargo ATM or debit card at a Wells Fargo ATM, or direct deposits to a savings or checking account.
  • No annual fee: Keep even more money in your wallet - with the Active Cash, the annual fee is simply $0.

Apply online now

How to secure $870 worth of value

Reward credit cards can provide huge value, but pinpointing exactly how much value can be a challenge. That's where we, the FinanceBuzz editors, come in. We've created a valuation formula to help you compare rewards across cards. We estimate the value of this card to be $870 in the first year.1 Taking advantage of other perks like the cell phone protection could increase the value even more. This is an estimated value — your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend in a typical year.

Who is this card best for?

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is great choice for anyone who:

  • Has good credit or better: Active Cash applicants should typically have good to excellent credit for the best chance of approval.
  • Hates complicated reward structures: The flat rewards structure is perfect for anyone who wants to earn unlimited cash rewards without needing to track spending categories.
  • Spends more than $500 in first 3 months: The $200 welcome offer is easy to earn and quite generous. Use your card just for essentials at the gas station or grocery stores, and you could easily meet the spending requirement.
  • Wants to save money on high-interest debt: You can't beat a high-earning rewards card that has a 0% introductory APR period for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers.
  • Needs to pay off a large purchase over time: You can breathe a little easier and give yourself time to pay off your balance before interest kicks in with the Active Cash's 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases. After the intro period for balance transfers and purchases, the APR is 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable.

Is there a better card to earn rewards and cash back?

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is hard to beat with its welcome offer, unlimited cash rewards, and intro APR period. Getting all this with a $0 annual fee is rare. But, if you want to consider other options, here are some contenders:

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.4
on Bank of America's secure website
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If you want cash back with bonus categories:

A flat cash back structure can be great for simplicity, but bonus categories can really amp up your cash back earning potential. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card enables you to earn cash back your way by selecting the highest-earning category. You can select a 3% cashback category in the category of your choice — gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter). This flexibility enables you to earn rewards based on your specific spending habits. All with no annual fee.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
4.5
on Capital One's secure website
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If you want cash back with a side of fun: 

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) doesn't have rotating categories and there's no limit to how much you can earn. You can earn unlimited 1.5% on every purchase, every day; plus you can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Enjoy a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months and 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable) APR thereafter; Balance transfer fee applies. You can have some fun with this card too — as a Capital One cardmember, you’ll get access to premier culinary events, concerts, music festivals, and sporting events. The annual fee is $0.

Bottom Line

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great choice for almost everyone. Cardholders can benefit from a generous welcome offer, earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers and new purchases — all without an annual fee.

  • Welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Unlimited cash rewards: Cardmembers earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. If you love earning unlimited cash rewards but prefer to avoid the hassle of tracking spending categories, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card card could be a good option for you.
  • Cell phone protection: Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card. (subject to a $25 deductible).
  • Intro APR: Enjoy a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter. You also get a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter.

  • No annual fee: The Active Cash card has a $0 annual fee, which is perfect for someone looking to maximize their rewards.

» Click here to apply now and start earning unlimited cash rewards, a $200 cash rewards bonus, and 0% intro APR until nearly 2026

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
  • Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
  • Apply Now
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Wells Fargo Active <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>Cash<sup>®</sup></span> Card
5.0
Apply Now

on Wells Fargo’s secure website

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Intro Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

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Why we like it