Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.

If you want to earn rewards on your everyday purchases without the hassle of tracking bonus rewards categories, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a standout credit card option. It has a higher-than-usual flat rewards rate of 2% on all purchases, no annual fee, and includes a generous intro APR.

For a no-annual-fee card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash offers some surprising benefits.

Cellphone protection: Use the card to pay your cellphone bill and you’ll automatically receive cellphone protection. This benefit reimburses you up to $600 — subject to a $25 deductible — if your phone is stolen or damaged. There’s also a maximum of two paid claims (and $1,200) per 12-month period.

Concierge: As a Visa Signature card, the Active Cash gives you access to a concierge service to help with dining reservations, travel, event tickets, and more.

Luxury Hotel Collection: Access to the Luxury Hotel Collection is another Visa Signature benefit. When you use your card to book stays at eligible hotels, you'll get benefits like automatic room upgrades, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and late checkout (when available).

Emergency cash disbursement: If you lose your card, you can get an emergency cash advance (fees apply) or your card replaced within one to three business days.

Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a vehicle on vacation, use your card to pay for the rental, and you can get automatic coverage against damages or theft.

Travel and emergency assistance: When you’re traveling, unexpected emergencies may pop up, like an illness or stolen passport. The travel and emergency assistance hotline can help you handle it with medical and legal referrals, passport services, and more. However, you’re responsible for paying the fees for any services provided.

Roadside dispatch: With your card, you can contact roadside dispatch for help with a flat tire, dead battery, or tow. You’re responsible for paying for any services provided.

With its simple rewards structure and great earning rate, the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card is ideal for maximizing your everyday spending. From groceries to gas and everything else, you’ll earn 2% cash rewards.

To demonstrate the kind of rewards you could earn, consider the latest consumer expenditure data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On average in 2023, American households spent the following amounts:

$3,933 on food consumed away from home

$2,449 on gasoline

$3,635 on entertainment (including hobbies, fees and admissions, pets, toys, and more)

Combined, households spend an average of $10,017 on those purchases. If you used your Wells Fargo Active Cash to pay for that entire amount, you’d earn $200.34 in rewards.

You can redeem your Wells Fargo Active Cash rewards in the following ways:

Purchases: Redeem them as a statement credit to offset recent purchases and you can apply them to amounts as low as $1.

Deposit to checking account: You can request your rewards be deposited into your checking account.

Debt payments: If you have a Wells Fargo loan, credit card, or mortgage, you can redeem your rewards for payments toward those accounts.

Redeem for ATM cash: Accumulate at least $20 in rewards, and you can redeem them for cash at a Wells Fargo ATM.

Gift cards: Purchase gift cards in $25 increments from major retailers and restaurants.

Travel: You have the option of redeeming your rewards for certain travel. Some options, like vacation packages, require calling a customer service representative to book.

Typically, Wells Fargo Active Cash rewards points are worth 1 cent each. But some redemption methods, such as gift cards or travel, have varying values.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is best for individuals new to credit card rewards or who want a straightforward option for everyday purchases. You don’t have to keep track of special bonus categories or rotating calendars, and you’ll earn a flat cash rewards rate on every purchase. Plus, the card has some generous added perks and benefits.

It's also worthwhile for anyone looking to take advantage of a into APR offer. Whether you have a purchase you’d like to pay off over time without interest or you’re working to pay down existing debt, the Wells Fargo Active Cash’s intro APR offer can be useful.

Just note that you’ll need a solid credit score to qualify. If you’re new to credit or are in the process of rebuilding, approval may be difficult. Instead, you’ll want to check out a card geared toward those wanting to build credit.

Solid cash-back rate: There are other rewards cards that offer cash-back but usually at a lower rate of 1.25% to 1.5%. The Wells Fargo Active Cash’s 2% cash rewards rate is relatively generous.

No annual fee: The Wells Fargo Active Cash card doesn’t have an annual fee. Assuming you always pay your statement balance in full every month, you can earn rewards without paying added fees or interest.

Robust benefits: Cards that offer perks like cellphone protection or auto rental coverage often charge an annual fee, which makes the Active Cash’s no-fee benefits stand out.

Foreign transaction fees: If you love to travel, you may need another credit card. The Wells Fargo Active Cash charges foreign transaction fees, so you’ll pay a 3% fee for every transaction you make outside of the U.S. If you travel, you’ll want to consider a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Poor customer service reviews: Wells Fargo doesn’t have the best reputation as a bank or credit card issuer; J.D. Power ranked Wells Fargo lower than the industry average in customer satisfaction in its 2024 Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

Only certain travel rewards can be booked online: Although you can redeem your rewards for travel arrangements, how you redeem will vary depending on what you want to book. For certain events and vacation packages, you have to call customer support and book your travel through a representative.

Good-to-excellent credit required: Not everyone will qualify for the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card. According to Visa, a good credit score of at least 670 is required.

Since the Wells Fargo Active Cash® is a Visa, it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. This includes domestic and international locations. Your card can also be used for transactions in person or online.

Payments for the Wells Fargo Active Cash can be made online, through the Wells Fargo mobile app, at an ATM, or by calling customer support. You can choose to make payments each month or set up autopay.

Online

Mobile app

Phone: Call the number on the back of your card to make a phone payment

ATM: Use your card to make a payment at a Wells Fargo ATM nationwide

Wells Fargo has a 24/7 customer support line for payments and to report lost or stolen cards. You can reach customer support by phone, or you can make an appointment with a local branch.

Customer service availability info:

24/7

Phone number: 1-800-642-4720

Branch locator

Wells Fargo Active Cash login page

If you spend significantly in specific categories, like restaurant meals or fuel, you may be better off with another rewards card that offers a higher rate. Here are our favorite options.

Why we like it: Like the Wells Fargo Active Cash card, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates & fees) and a generous APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. But rather than a flat rewards rate, you can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. You’ll earn the full 3% on the first $6,000 you spend per category annually, then 1% (and 1% on all other purchases).

If your spending is focused across these categories, you could potentially earn more. Compare your spending to decide whether the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express could be a better cash-back option for you.

Why we like it: The Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card from Capital One doesn't have an annual fee, and you'll earn a flat 1.5% cash-back rate on all purchases. While the rewards rate is lower than that of the Wells Fargo Active Cash, the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has other advantages.

In addition to the flat rate, you can earn 5% cash back on travel purchases through Capital One Travel. The Capital One Quicksilver also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so it may be a good choice when traveling outside the country, and it offers perks like an intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers, extended warranty protection, and travel accident insurance.

Why we like it: For those looking to maximize travel rewards, the points you’ll earn with a Chase Sapphire Preferred may be a more lucrative option than the Wells Fargo Active Cash’s cash rewards.

Although it has a $95 annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred earns points you can redeem through Chase Travel℠. You’ll earn 5x points on travel you purchase through Chase Travel; 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2x points on all other travel; and 1x points on all other purchases. Plus, the card has added perks like trip cancellation or interruption insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Learn how the Wells Fargo Autograph Card can help you earn an excellent travel rewards rate on everyday expenses, including gas, dining, and transit.

The Wells Fargo Reflect card has one of the best introductory APR offers available for purchases and balance transfers.

Wells Fargo's newest card is ideal for jetsetters or frequent business travelers. See what it earns and how to redeem points.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card offers solid rewards and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.

The Savor Cash Rewards card from Capital One offers solid rewards in popular categories, plus a generous 0% intro APR offer.

We've reviewed the best cash-back cards available today that we believe can offer maximum savings on the purchases you make most often.