Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card [2024]: Which One is Better?

If you’re interested in Wells Fargo credit cards, two popular options include the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card. Both cards offer helpful benefits, but which one might be better for you?

In this Wells Fargo Reflect vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card review, we break down both products to see where their strengths lie. This will help you understand which card might be a better fit for your financial needs.

Wells Fargo Reflect vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash

Both the Wells Fargo Reflect and Active Cash credit cards use the Visa card network to process payments. At a quick glance, these cards have many similarities. However, their differences show they’ve been designed for distinctly different users.

Here are some quick facts about each card’s benefits, perks, and credit requirements.

	Wells Fargo Reflect® Card	Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Card type	Balance transfer	Cash back
Credit card issuer	Wells Fargo	Wells Fargo
Credit card network	Visa	Visa
Annual fee	$0	$0
Welcome bonus	Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers	$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Earning rate	None	Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases
Redemption methods	None	Statement credits ATM cash withdrawal (with eligible Wells Fargo ATM or debit card) Gift cards PayPal checkout Charitable donations Merchandise Travel
Intro APR	0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 21 months from account opening, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR	0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Travel perks	Roadside dispatch	Roadside dispatch Visa Signature Hotel Collection 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge
Other benefits	Cell phone protection	Cell phone protection
Foreign transaction fee	3%	3%
Credit needed	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good
	Learn more	Learn more

What both cards excel at

The Wells Fargo Reflect is considered a balance transfer card because of its generous intro APR offers, whereas the Active Cash falls into the cashback credit card category.

But despite these different categories, both cards have many similarities:

• No annual fee: The Wells Fargo Reflect Card has a $0 annual fee, and the Active Cash Card has a $0 annual fee.
• Intro APR on balance transfers: The Reflect Card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR. The Active Cash Card offers 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR. These are intro APR offers that compete with the best 0% APR credit cards.
• Intro APR on purchases: Both cards also have intro APR offers on purchases. Reflect offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 21 months from account opening and then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR. Active Cash offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR.
• Cell phone protection: Both cards offer cell phone protection if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card. This benefit covers up to two claims per year at a maximum of $600 per claim, with a $25 deductible.
• Roadside dispatch: A pay-per-use roadside assistance program is available from the Reflect and Active Cash cards. You don’t need to pay for a membership, but you will pay a set price for the offered services. This includes towing, tire changes, jump-starts, lockout service, fuel delivery, and more.
• Visa: Because both cards use the Visa network to process payments, they’ll work just about anywhere credit cards are accepted — that’s over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Just keep in mind that making purchases abroad would likely incur foreign transaction fees. These fees are 3% with Reflect and 3% with Active Cash.
• My Wells Fargo Deals: These are offers from Wells Fargo in partnership with merchants and vendors to offer discounts or deals on certain purchases. Most Wells Fargo cards — including debit cards — offer these deals. Available offers can be found in eligible debit or credit card accounts.

4 important differences between Wells Fargo Reflect and Wells Fargo Active Cash

The Wells Fargo Reflect and Active Cash cards have plenty of similarities, but you’ll find where they most stand out by comparing their differences.

Welcome bonus

Welcome bonuses are commonly found on many rewards cards. These typically allow new cardholders to earn bonus rewards after spending a certain amount of money over a certain time period.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers $200 in cash rewards after you spend $500 in the first 3 months. The Wells Fargo Reflect Card, however, doesn’t offer a welcome bonus.

Earning a welcome bonus is a large incentive to apply for certain credit cards. In the case of Reflect, there’s no welcome or introductory offer to earn rewards. But with Active Cash, you’re able to earn a welcome bonus with a $0 annual fee.

Rewards

Rewards credit cards typically offer cashback rewards, points, or miles. Depending on the card, you’ll have different redemption options. These could include using your rewards for statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, or travel.

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card has no rewards rate and isn’t part of a rewards program. By comparison, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card allows you to earn 2% cash rewards on purchases. If you want to earn rewards, Active Cash is the clear winner.

Redemption options for cash rewards on the Active Cash Card include:

• Statement credits
• ATM cash withdrawal in $20 increments using a Wells Fargo ATM or debit card
• Physical or electronic gift cards
• Making purchases with PayPal checkout
• Charitable donations
• Merchandise
• Travel

For more details, check out our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

Visa Signature

Although both the Wells Fargo Reflect and Active Cash cards use the Visa payments network, they’re different types of Visa credit cards. Visa cards typically offer additional benefits on top of what the card issuer might offer, but there are different levels of benefits.

Reflect is a Visa Platinum card, whereas Active Cash is a Visa Signature card. Although both offer benefits such as cell phone protection and roadside dispatch, the Active Cash Card provides additional benefits as a Visa Signature card.

These benefits include access to a 24/7 concierge service and the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. Both are considered travel benefits because concierge service can help you with travel bookings.

Overall, the Active Cash beats out the Reflect for its included benefits.

Intro APR

Both Wells Fargo Reflect and Active Cash cards provide intro APR offers on qualifying balance transfers and purchases. This is expected from the Reflect, as it’s considered a balance transfer card. But the Active Cash is a cashback card, so an intro APR offer is an added benefit.

However, the Reflect Card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers and then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR. It also offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 21 months from account opening, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

The Active Cash Card offers 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers and then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR. For purchases, it’s 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

Although both cards have generous intro APR periods, the Reflect Card would likely be the better option if you want to avoid interest on balance transfers or purchases.

For more details, check out our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.

Which card should you choose?

The better card for you depends on your lifestyle and financial needs. But it’s generally clear that each card was designed for different situations.

Because the Wells Fargo Reflect Card has long intro APR periods, it’s likely best if you:

• Want to do a balance transfer
• Have upcoming large purchases

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card also has intro APR periods, but they’re not quite as long as those on the Reflect Card. You might prefer this card if you:

• Want to earn flat-rate rewards on everyday spending
• Want to earn a welcome bonus
• Want a rewards card with intro APR offers

Neither card is necessarily ideal for travel because they both come with foreign transaction fees. Check out our list of the best travel credit cards for better cards with travel benefits.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Wells Fargo Reflect and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards have some similarities, but they’re different cards overall. While both offer introductory APR periods, the Reflect card offers more time than Active Cash. However, unlike the Reflect Card, the Active Cash Card lets you earn and redeem rewards.

Comparing credit cards side-by-side could help you figure out which one makes the most sense for you. From student cards to travel cards and more, you can use our dedicated page to compare credit cards and continue your financial journey.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

5.0

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Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

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

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
• Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• Has foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• 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.