Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash better than the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers a larger base cash back of 2%. However, the spending categories of the Chase Freedom Unlimited are higher than that. In addition, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers valuable benefits that trump the Wells Fargo Active Cash.

Can you switch from Wells Fargo Active Cash to Chase Freedom Unlimited?

No, as these two cards are provided by two different credit card companies, you cannot switch between the two.

What’s harder to get, Wells Fargo Active Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Both cards require good to excellent credit scores.

How much do you have to spend for the Wells Fargo Active Cash vs the Chase Freedom Unlimited to get the welcome bonus?

Both cards provide a $200 welcome bonus. The Wells Fargo Active Cash card requires a $1,000 minimum spend in the first three months of card membership. The Chase Freedom Unlimited requires a $500 minimum spend in the first three months of card membership. In addition, the Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on gas station purchases up to the first $6,000 in the first year of card membership.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Is Best for You?

If you’re looking for a credit card that can help you earn unlimited cash back, then you may consider either the Wells Fargo Active Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited. MoneyGeek compares both cards to help you choose the one that will suit you best.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/6/2022

Reviewed By

Brett Holzhauer

Last Updated: 11/6/2022

Both the Wells Fargo Active Cash card and Chase Freedom Unlimited card offer cardholders unlimited cash back on purchases.

However, there are notable differences between the two cards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns up to 5% cash back on purchases, whereas the Wells Fargo Active Cash provides 2% cash back on purchases irrespective of the category.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card at a Glance
Chase Freedom Unlimited at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Good-Excellent
Excellent

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card At a Glance

If you spend $1000 or more within the first three months of card membership, you will earn a $200 welcome bonus. And as you spend, you will earn 2% cash back on all purchases.

The card also comes with cell phone protection against theft or damage worth up to $600, if you pay the phone bill using the card.

And the card comes with a valuable 0% intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months of card membership.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
A great no annual fee cash back card with a 0% APR offer
- Good-ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 2% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 2xRewards Rate on Gas
- 2xRewards Rate on Groceries
Pros
2% cash back rewards on all spending
Unlimited cash back rewards that don't expire
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
$200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases within three months from account opening
Access to Visa Concierge and Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Balance transfer fees
Limitations on welcome bonus eligibility
No annual fee
2% cash back on all purchases
Redeem cash back as a statement credit, a direct deposit to a Wells Fargo account, or a mailed check
Spend $1,000 within three months from account opening to earn a $200 welcome bonus
Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for first 15 months
3% foreign transaction fee
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated credit cards.

Chase Freedom Unlimited At a Glance

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card comes with no annual fees and offers unlimited cashback up to 5% depending on the spending category.

The card also comes with a solid welcome offer where you can earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In addition, you will earn 5% cash back on gas station purchases, up to $6,000 in spending in the first year of card membership.

The card also comes with several helpful benefits, including: travel insurance coverage, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Chase Freedom Unlimited
An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $0Annual Fee
- 1.5–5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Dining
- 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
Pros
No annual fees
0% APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening
Intro bonus cash back offer
Earn 5% cash back on travel purchases through through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Earn 3% cash back on dining-related purchases
Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
You may earn unlimited cash back that never expires
Redeem rewards for cash back, for gift cards, for travel or through Amazon.com
Get complimentary purchase and travel coverage

Cons
Foreign transaction fees
Cash advance and balance transfer fees
Penalty APR may apply in case of late and returned payments
Pay $0 annual fee for the life of your card
Pay no interest on purchases for the first 15 months, after which a creditworthiness-dependant APR of 17.99% to 26.74% applies
Travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards earn 5% cash back
Spending at restaurants, on takeout and through other eligible delivery services, as well as drugstore purchases, earn 3% cash back
All other purchases earn 1.5% cash back
You get to earn unlimited cash back rewards, and they don't expire as long as your account remains active
Different ways to redeem your cash back include receiving a statement credit, withdrawing it through a direct deposit, using it to get gift cards or using it to pay for travel
Zero liability protection, 24/7 fraud protection, purchase protection and extended warranty protection are in place to provide extra peace of mind
Feel better when traveling by knowing that you have access to travel and emergency assistance services, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage coverage.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other cards with lower interest rates.

Comparison Summary

Here is a detailed difference between the Wells Fargo Active Cash and Chase Freedom Unlimited to help you choose the best credit card for your needs.

Card Detail
Comparison Summary
Travel Coverage
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car insurance and travel and emergency assistance services.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash card doesn’t offer any travel coverage.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome Bonus
Both cards offer a $200 welcome offer bonus. The Chase Freedom Unlimited requires you to spend $500 in the first three months while the Wells Fargo Active Cash requires $1,000 in spending in the first three months.
Lastly, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers 5% cash back on gas station purchases, up to $6,000 in purchases in the first year.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Rewards
The Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers a flat 2% cashback on purchases.
The Chase Freedom offers 5% cashback on travel purchases, 3% cashback on dining-related purchases, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Purchase Protection
The Chase Freedom Unlimited provides purchase protection up to $500 per claim and $50000 per account.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash card only provides cell phone protection, up to $600.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Which Card Should You Get?

Before comparing the Wells Fargo Active Cash and Chase Freedom Unlimited, it’s best to evaluate your own financial situation first. Once you understand your needs, it will help you choose the right card.

Who Should Consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card?

The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card is a solid option for consumers looking for unlimited cash back from their credit purchases.

Small business owners could benefit from making their regular office purchases using the card and earning 2% cash back.
Travelers can also enjoy additional benefits at select luxury hotels using this card.

Who Should Consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great credit card option for consumers that travel often, and would rather earn cash back than travel rewards.

If you regularly spend on travel including air fares, hotels or rental cars, you could benefit from the 5% spending category when you book through the Chase travel portal.
This card is a great fit for someone who wants a few extra spending categories to earn additional cash back, but is also content with earning a base 1.5% cash back.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

EXPERT OPINION

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is definitely the winner in this comparison. At the minimum, you will earn 1.5% cash back, which is slightly lower than the 2% cash back on the Wells Fargo Active Cash. For the small sacrifice in cash back, you can earn a significant amount of benefits including travel insurance coverage, purchase protection and more.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

It can sometimes be difficult to pick between two credit cards. However, MoneyGeek has answered some of the most commonly asked questions to help you understand the differences between the Wells Fargo Active Cash and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card and Chase Freedom Unlimited card are two solid cash back credit cards. However, if neither of these cards fit your needs, you can also check other credit cards which offer cashback.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

Wells Fargo. "Wells Fargo Active Cash." Accessed March 9, 2022.
Chase . "Chase Freedome Unlimited Card." Accessed March 9, 2022.

*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.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
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