Prime Visa vs Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Prime Visa leads on gas stations; the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Prime VisaChase · No annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWells Fargo · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Prime Visa$0Wells Fargo Active Cash Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Prime Visa$150 gift cardWells Fargo Active Cash Card$100 cash back
- Rewards
- Prime VisaCash backWells Fargo Active Cash CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Prime VisaNoneLowestWells Fargo Active Cash Card3%
- Network
- Prime VisaVisa SignatureWells Fargo Active Cash CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Prime Visa2%Wells Fargo Active Cash Card2%
- Gas Stations
- Prime Visa2%Wells Fargo Active Cash Card2%
- Transit
- Prime Visa2%Wells Fargo Active Cash Card2%
- Everything else
- Prime Visa1%Wells Fargo Active Cash Card2%Highest
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Prime Visa—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- 900+ luxury hotel properties with exclusive perks
- Other perks
- Prime Visa—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
- Extra cash back at select merchants with personalized deals
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Prime Visa
- Up to $500,000 travel accident coverage
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card— - Rental car
- Prime Visa—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- Up to $50,000 rental car coverage when you decline the count
- Purchase & returns
- Prime Visa
- $500 per claim on damage or theft
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card— - Cell phone
- Prime Visa—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- Up to $600 coverage for damaged or stolen phones
- Other protections
- Prime Visa—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- Get emergency cash and card replacement worldwide
- Check your FICO score anytime for free
- 24/7 roadside help with free towing up to 5 miles
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Prime Visa
- 5% back at Amazon.com, Audible.com, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel with an eligible Prime membership
- 5% back on Chase Travel portal bookings with no cap
- 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and transit - solid everyday categories
- $150 Amazon Gift Card welcome bonus with no minimum spend required
- No annual fee on the card itself (Prime membership separate)
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase with no category limits
- No annual fee
- $100 welcome bonus after just $500 spend in 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim when paying bill with card
- Cons
- Prime Visa
- Requires an eligible Amazon Prime membership to earn 5% (3% without Prime)
- Rewards locked to Amazon ecosystem - cannot transfer to airlines/hotels
- Only 1% back on non-category purchases - below average for catch-all spending
- No premium travel protections like trip delay insurance or lounge access
- Sign-up bonus is gift card, not flexible cash or points
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- 3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
- No bonus categories - heavy dining/travel spenders earn less than category cards
- Points have no transfer partners (cash back only)
- Requires good to excellent credit
- Penalty APR of 29.99% for late payments
Category-by-Category Winner
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card wins in 1 of 1 categories. The Prime Visa leads in 0.
Everyday purchases
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Prime Visa | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $150 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $150 Year one: $300 | Rewards: $348 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $348 Year one: $448 | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $600 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $600 Year one: $750 | Rewards: $1,392 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,392 Year one: $1,492 | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Prime Visa if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
Get the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card if you:
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 2X on the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Prime Visa or Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
- The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- What benefits does the Prime Visa have that the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card doesn't?
- The Prime Visa focuses on earn rates, while the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers cell phone protection.
- Should I get the Prime Visa or the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.