Wells FargoActive Cash

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Cash Back Cards · United States

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

4.6 / 5 editorial rating

Best for: Anyone wanting simple 2% on everything plus phone protection

Reviewed by the CreditCardCompare editorial team · Fees and rates checked September 2026 — confirm on the issuer's site before you apply

Annual feeNo annual fee

IssuerWells Fargo

NetworkVisa

Purchase APR18.49%–28.49% variable

Foreign transaction fee3%

Credit neededGood (690+)

Pros

No annual fee
Flat 2%
Cell phone insurance included

Cons

Charges a foreign purchase fee

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Rates and offers change. Confirm today's terms on the issuer's official site before applying. Independent comparison — not financial advice.

Our take on the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is the best choice for someone who wants a single no-fee card that pays 2% on every purchase and also protects their phone, because the cell phone coverage is worth real money if you would otherwise pay for insurance. As of September 2026 Wells Fargo lists up to $600 of coverage against damage or theft with a $25 deductible, for up to two paid claims in a 12-month period.

The 2% cash rewards are credited on purchases rather than split between buying and paying, so what you see is what you get. It has no bonus categories, which is the trade-off: for someone spending $600 a month on groceries, a supermarket card would out-earn it, but most people have spending spread across enough places that a flat 2% is hard to beat.

The weak point is foreign spending, where a 3% fee applies to each transaction converted to U.S. dollars. The 0% intro APR lasts 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, shorter than the 15 months some Chase and Discover cards offer, so it is less suited to paying down a large balance slowly.

Good fit if

You want one card for all spending without tracking categories
You don't have phone insurance and would use the coverage
You're moving a balance and 12 months at 0% is enough time to pay it off

Skip it if

You spend in foreign currencies, where the 3% fee applies
A large share of your budget goes to one category like groceries or dining

Worked example

If you put $1,800 a month on the card, that is $21,600 a year earning 2%, or $432 in cash rewards with no annual fee. A 1.5% card on the same spending would return $324, so the Active Cash comes out $108 ahead. If you later file an eligible claim for a $250 phone screen repair, the coverage would pay $225 after the $25 deductible, subject to Wells Fargo's terms and the $600 limit. Values here are conservative: each cash reward dollar counts as one dollar, and the phone coverage counts for nothing unless you claim.

How it stacks up

The Citi Double Cash reaches the same 2% but splits it between buying and paying, and adds 5% total on hotels, car rentals and attractions through Citi Travel. The Capital One Savor is worth a look if dining, entertainment and groceries dominate your spending, since it pays 3% there and has no foreign transaction fee, though it pays only 1% on everything else.

If you want one card that pays well on everything with no fee, this is the flat-rate benchmark: 2% on all purchases, full reward up front, no waiting until you pay like the Citi Double Cash. On $20,000 of spend that's a clean $400. It also bundles cell-phone protection when you pay your phone bill with it. The downside is no elevated category rates, so a heavy grocery or dining spender earns more with a category card. Verify the intro-APR length on wellsfargo.com.