ADVERTISEMENT: Products from our partners

Rake in 2% unlimited cash back with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

https://www.nerdwallet.com/cdn/img/partner/wells-fargo-card-v2.png
Disclaimer: This is an advertisement for the featured products and contains factual information about those products that are sourced directly from the issuers, who are NerdWallet partners. This page also includes NerdWallet's opinions, which are independent of any input from our partners.

In a nutshell, here’s why the Nerds like this credit card

  • The Nerds named this card “Best Credit Card for Simple Cash Back” in 2023’s Best-Of Awards.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge.
  • 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).
  • Nerdy tip

    Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases, without having to track a handful of different cards with rotating rewards categories? A flat-rate cash back card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a smart move.

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, enjoy unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, a sign-up bonus, and more.

    Apply on Wells Fargo's website. Rates & Fees

    This card has perks galore

    Not many cash-back credit cards earn 2% back on all purchases, so when a card joins the club, it’s a cause for celebration. The $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which became available in summer 2021, has much to offer: unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, a sign-up bonus, and a no-interest promotion on new purchases and balance transfers.

    Taken together, that's a value proposition that's difficult — if not impossible — to find on other cards in its class. It makes the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card an ideal match for those who prefer the ease of using one card whenever they shop.

    Check out these additional benefits

    Cell phone insurance: If you pay your monthly phone bill with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, it will cover up to $600 (up to twice per year) in the event of things like damage or theft. Note that this coverage is secondary to other insurance policies you may already have, including homeowners or renters insurance.

    Visa perks: As a Visa card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card grants you access to Visa Concierge, a service that assists you with travel or dining arrangements, event tickets and more. You also have access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, where you can book a stay at a selection of hotels and receive benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast, food and beverage credits, and more.

    A long break from interest: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card gives you a long break from interest, which is helpful if you use the card to make a major purchase you want to pay off over time, or if you’d like to move debt away from a high-interest card.

    To top it all off? There’s no annual fee.

    Annual fees may be the cost of entry for more premium rewards cards, but they do eat into these cards’ yearly value. The $0 annual fee makes this an easy card to hold onto for a long time.

    A few considerations

    There aren’t any bonus cash back categories with this card. Also, there are credit cards out there that offer a higher percentage of cash back — but with those there’s more to keep track of, and this card earns you unlimited cash back on all your purchases.

    When it comes to redeeming your rewards, you’ll have the most flexibility if you already bank with Wells Fargo. If you don’t bank with them, your redemption options are slightly more limited.

    Apply today for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

    There are no buts about it — the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a top choice among flat-rate credit cards. Its rich yet straightforward rewards rate means it can be ideal as either a single-card solution or as part of a multicard system, and it comes with incentives not usually found on other 2%-back cards. In short, it's hard to beat.

    BEST CREDIT CARD FOR SIMPLE CASH BACK

    Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
    Apply Now

    on Wells Fargo's website

    Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

    5.0

    NerdWallet rating 
    Apply Now

    on Wells Fargo's website

    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    2%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    $200

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • High rewards rate
    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period

    Cons

    • No bonus categories
    • 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 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% 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.
    • View Rates and Fees
    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    2%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    $200

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • High rewards rate
    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period

    Cons

    • No bonus categories
    • 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 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% 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.
    • View Rates and Fees

    Other cash back credit cards you might love

    The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is tough to beat — but if it's not right for you, check out these additional cards from our other partners.

    BEST CREDIT CARD FOR ENTERTAINMENT

    Capital One® SavorSM Cash Rewards Credit Card
    Apply Now

    on Capital One's website

    Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

    5.0

    NerdWallet rating 
    Apply Now

    on Capital One's website

    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    1%-8%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    $200

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period
    • Bonus categories
    • No foreign transaction fees

    Cons

    • Requires good/excellent credit
    • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
    • Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
    • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
    • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
    • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • No annual fee
    • View Rates and Fees
    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    1%-8%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    $200

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period
    • Bonus categories
    • No foreign transaction fees

    Cons

    • Requires good/excellent credit
    • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
    • Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
    • Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
    • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
    • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • No annual fee
    • View Rates and Fees

    Delicious Foodie-Focused Rewards, For No Annual Fee

    If your recycling bin runneth over with takeout containers or grocery bags, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice. It offers an unlimited 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), as well as on entertainment and popular streaming services. You'll get 1% back on everything else. The potential to earn such a rich rate on both eating out and eating in helps separate this card from many of its competitors.
    Discover it® Cash Back
    Apply Now

    on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

    Discover it® Cash Back

    4.9

    NerdWallet rating 
    Apply Now

    on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264

    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    1%-5%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    Cashback Match

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period
    • Bonus categories
    • Cash rewards

    Cons

    • Complicated rewards
    • Spending caps on bonus rewards
    • Lower acceptance abroad
    • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
    • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
    • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
    • Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
    • Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
    • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
    • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
    • Terms and conditions apply.
    • View Rates and Fees
    Annual fee

    $0

    Rewards rate

    1%-5%

    Cashback

    Intro offer

    Cashback Match

    Recommended Credit Score

    Pros

    • No annual fee
    • Intro APR period
    • Bonus categories
    • Cash rewards

    Cons

    • Complicated rewards
    • Spending caps on bonus rewards
    • Lower acceptance abroad
    • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
    • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
    • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
    • Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
    • Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
    • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
    • Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.49% to 27.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
    • Terms and conditions apply.
    • View Rates and Fees

    5% Rewards Are Worth a Little Work

    The Discover it® Cash Back features a high cash-back rate in rotating quarterly categories — but you don't get those rewards automatically, activation is required and spending caps apply. Even so, for people who prefer cash back and don't mind putting in a little work, this $0-annual-fee card is well worth it. Right now, as an intro offer, you can take advantage of an unlimited cash back match. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
    Updated --.