Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Shield Insurance

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card are strong contenders in the cash back category, offering no annual fee and enticing introductory APR offers. However, the Wells Fargo Active Cash edges ahead with its straightforward unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases.

By contrast, the Blue Cash Everyday offers a higher cash back rate in specific categories like supermarkets and gas stations. It’s a valuable option if you spend heavily in its bonus categories and can benefit from its introductory APR period and welcome offer.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Blue Cash Everyday if you frequently spend on groceries, gas and online shopping within the U.S. The card's tiered cash back system rewards these specific categories, and the welcome offer, along with additional perks like subscription service credits, can add significant value if these align with your spending habits.

You might prefer the Wells Fargo Active if you value simplicity and flexibility in earning rewards. The card's unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases make it easy to earn cash back without tracking categories. The lower spending threshold for the welcome bonus, along with benefits like phone protection, make it a compelling choice for a straightforward rewards card.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. Use this section to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the Blue Cash Everyday and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards, considering factors like cash back rates in specific categories versus a flat rate on all purchases, and the potential impact of balance transfer fees on your wallet.

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    Regular APR: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is the better choice, offering a lower starting APR of 18.74% compared with the Wells Fargo Active Cash's 20.24%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Wells Fargo Active Cash have no annual fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards offer 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

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    Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    For simplicity and consistent rewards across all purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash is better. It offers unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. By contrast, the Blue Cash Everyday provides 3% Cash Back in specific categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations, up to a cap, then 1%.

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    Welcome Offers: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is better for welcome offers, featuring a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in the first three months, compared to the Blue Cash Everyday's $200 statement credit after $2,000 in purchases over six months.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Wells Fargo Active Cash require a credit score range of 670 to 850 (good to excellent).

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    Penalties and Fees: Wells Fargo Active Cash

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash is better for penalties and fees. Both cards charge up to $40 for late fees and have similar cash advance fees. However, the Wells Fargo Active Cash does not apply a penalty APR, unlike the Blue Cash Everyday, which has a 29.99% variable penalty APR.

    But the foreign transaction fee is slightly higher for the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card at 3% compared with the 2.7% for the Blue Cash Everyday.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    American Express leads with a higher issuer satisfaction rating of 5.0, compared with Wells Fargo's rating of 4.0.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. The Blue Cash Everyday provides up to $15 back on Home Chef subscriptions and a $7 monthly credit for The Disney Bundle. Wells Fargo Active Cash offers Visa Signature Concierge and up to $600 in phone protection.

Rewards Comparison

The Wells Fargo Active Cash stands out for simplicity and value, offering an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases. This flat rate is particularly appealing for those who prefer a straightforward rewards program without the need to track spending categories.

On the other hand, the Blue Cash Everyday offers a tiered rewards system, with 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year), U.S. online retail purchases and U.S. gas stations, then 1%.

While the Blue Cash Everyday Card can outperform in these categories, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card may be more rewarding for non-category spending. The choice comes down to whether you value higher rewards in specific categories or a consistent reward rate across all purchases.

The following table provides a visual comparison of the bonus categories for each card.

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
Wells Fargo Active Cash

U.S. Supermarkets

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

2%

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

2%

U.S. Gas Stations

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

2%

All Other Purchases

1%

2%

Redeeming Rewards

The Blue Cash Everyday allows redemption as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout, with no minimum amount required. On the other hand, the Wells Fargo Active Cash provides a broader range of redemption choices, including cash, merchandise, and travel, starting at $20 increments. Neither card imposes an expiration date on rewards as long as the account remains open, ensuring that the rewards you earn are yours to use whenever you decide.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like Blue Cash Everyday and Wells Fargo Active Cash based on their performance in various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Blue Cash Everyday vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory offers for these cards?
Are there any unique perks associated with each card?
How do the APRs compare between the two cards?

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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